What To Watch This Coming Week:
Film Releases for Feb. 28 – Mar. 6
This week in film, Liam Neeson tries his best to save the passengers of a hijacked airplane in “Non-Stop,” the story of Christ comes to the screen once again in “Son of God,” and Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-nominated final film, “The Wind Rises,” gets a wide release.
“Non-Stop”
The latest collaboration between director Jaume Collet-Serra and star Liam Neeson is better than it looks – and that’s a pleasant surprise. Perhaps the best aspect of the film is that it takes the now mundane airplane setting and provides us with some new, chewy thrills. Even through some rather incoherent plot twists, there’s an upbeat freshness to the whole thing that makes it worthwhile. It’s decent fare for an early-year release but still lacks in some areas.
See it or skip it? It depends on what you want in your movie-going experience. If you’re looking for some cheesy, fun action, this is as good as it gets.
“Son of God”
The History Channel miniseries “The Bible” was a huge hit, so it’s no surprise that there’s a condensed film edition being released now. Completed by editing together footage from Jesus’ story arc in the 10-part miniseries, “Son of God” follows Christ from his miraculous birth to his crucifixion and finally to his glorious resurrection. It’s directed by Christopher Spencer and stars Diogo Morgado as Jesus.
See it or skip it? See it, if you’re religious.
“The Wind Rises”
From “Spirited Away” to “Howl’s Moving Castle,” Hayao Miyazaki has continuously proven himself as a master storyteller. It was a hit to the film community when Miyazaki announced this as his final film – but it’s not without a silver lining. “The Wind Rises” follows Jiro Horikoshi, a young dreamer who becomes entangled in the ugly atrocities of World War II. It’s poignant and ultimately optimistic – a great film to end a career with.
See it or skip it? See it!
Television:
Two of the best shows on television air this coming week: “Hannibal” and “True Detective.”
“Hannibal”
Season 1 of Hannibal was great television. It was thrilling, delicately crafted and beautifully acted. Following the shocking and immensely intense finale of its first season, we’ll continue where we left off. We’ll follow Will Graham as he tries to prove his innocence against the conniving Hannibal Lecter (played by Mads Mikkelsen, one of the greatest actors working today in the business). Season 2 of “Hannibal” premieres Friday, Feb. 28, at 10 p.m. on NBC.
See it or skip it? See it!
“True Detective”
“True Detective” is something special. I think we all realized that after the show premiered, but we never really grasped its full potential until its fourth episode – where we were left with an intense six-minute tracking shot, a closing scene that I would file into a “Greatest Television Moments Ever” folder if I had one. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson return in the truly brilliant series that is “True Detective” on HBO this Sunday at 10 p.m.
See it or skip it? See it!
DVD Releases for Tuesday, Mar. 4:
“12 Years a Slave”
Available formats: Blu-ray, DVD
By now, we’re all aware of the power of “12 Years a Slave.” Being released on DVD and Blu-ray, Steve McQueen’s beautifully shot slavery epic is about Solomon Northup, a free black man in New York who is kidnapped and sold into the South’s brutal slave trade. Boasting career-defining performances from both Chiwetel Ejifor and Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave” is a must-see for all film buffs.
See it or skip it? See it!
“The Grandmaster”
Available formats: Blu-ray, DVD
When “The Grandmaster” was released in China, it received huge praise from critics and audiences alike. However, when the Weinstein Company got their hands on the martial arts film for American distribution, they cut it down by nearly 22 minutes, removing many building-block scenes, making the film less artsy –and ultimately more choppy – because that’s totally what Americans want. Now being released on Blu-ray, “The Grandmaster” is essential viewing, but only for art-house film fans who can also enjoy a good dose of stylized martial arts.
See it or skip it? See it, but only if it’s the original 130-minute cut.
“Oldboy”
Available formats: Blu-ray, DVD
Spike Lee’s lackluster remake of classic Korean film “Oldboy” is completely uncalled for. This film echoes Gus Van Sant’s remake of “Psycho” back in the ’90s – unnecessary and, quite frankly, just plain dumb. Josh Brolin’s performance in the movie is a decent one, but it’s hardly enough to carry this mess on its shoulders.
See it or skip it? Skip it.
