If you were one of the 42 million viewers of last Sunday’s three hour and 35 minutes Oscar telecast, then aside from enduring a schizophrenic show with <em>way</em> too much <strong><em>CHICAGO</em></strong>, you saw the love poured out to <strong><em>ARGO</em></strong> (best picture, best adapted screenplay, best film editing), <strong><em>LES MISERABLES</em></strong> (best supporting actress, best makeup and hairstyling, best sound mixing), <strong><em>LINCOLN</em></strong> (best actor, best production design)<strong><em>,</em></strong> and <strong><em>SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK</em></strong> (best actress).
The best news? If you haven’t seen any of these Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning movies, you can catch <strong><em>LINCOLN</em></strong>, <strong><em>LES MISERABLES</em></strong> and <strong><em>SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK</em></strong> at Logan North Main Megaplex theater, and you can pick up <strong><em>ARGO</em></strong> on Blu-ray or DVD online or at the store (and via Redbox on March 19<sup>th</sup>). Another Oscar-nominated movie, <strong><em>THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY</em></strong>, is still playing at the Providence Stadium Megaplex theater. All these movies are easily worth the full-priced ticket.
As for movies opening this weekend, you have four to choose from –
<strong><em>21 AND OVER</em></strong> (R)
When a movie boasts “from the writers of <strong><em>THE HANGOVER</em></strong>” and the trailer boasts copious amounts of booze and an Asian guy running around in a bra and underwear yelling, “Free O.J.,” you know exactly the kind of college-kids-gone-wild flick that awaits. Crude and rude with just enough heart to make it all go down with laughs and smiles.
<strong><em>JACK THE GIANT SLAYER</em></strong> (PG-13)
A new take on the old tale of Jack and The Beanstalk, this Bryan Singer (<strong><em>VALKYRIE</em></strong>) film has boasted multiple directors, delays, a name change (from <strong><em>KILLER</em></strong> to <strong><em>SLAYER)</em></strong> and Warner Brothers pushed the movie back from its original release date of June 2012 to March 1, 2013. I hate to play the skeptic, but Singer hasn’t given us much to cheer about recently and a movie with as much production trouble as CGI beanstalk-chucking giants makes me leery.
<strong><em>PHANTOM</em></strong> (R)
This Soviet submarine thriller set during the Cold War and the K-129 crisis of 1968 is an under-the-radar movie that proves Ed Harris (<strong><em>GAME CHANGE</em></strong>) and David Duchovney (<strong><em>GOATS</em></strong>) are alive and kicking and you don’t need to have HBO or Showtime to see these thespians strut their stuff.
<strong><em>THE LAST EXORCISM PART II</em></strong> (PG-13)
So apparently the last exorcism of <strong><em>THE LAST EXORCISM</em></strong> really wasn’t the last exorcism. Apparently when the found-footage movie caused screams and hands-over-eyes action in theaters, the studio decided to milk the scares in a sequel. This one isn’t in the found-footage style, but still looks to provide an up close look at Satan’s brand of back-bending devilish yoga.
If you’re not up for any new releases, you can still catch last week’s openers – <strong><em>DARK SKIES</em></strong> (PG-13) and <strong><em>SNITCH</em></strong> (PG-13) – in theaters, or you can hit up your local DVD rental spot or store for <strong><em>THE MASTER</em></strong>, an Oscar-nominated movie that, despite amazing acting, will make your head hurt. Or, if you’re into the whole sparkly vampire business, i.e. a love-struck teenager or creepy mom, <strong><em>THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 2</em></strong> is available tonight at midnight!
Check back next Friday for Andy’s review of <strong><em>OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL</em></strong>.