TGITDNMAR (9/14/12)

It’s that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It’s The Day New Movies Are Released.

Last week I questioned whether or not I was getting out of touch with contemporary cinema.  This week, it’s sadly been confirmed…see below.

Stolen
Now, I know your pal and mine, Nic Couch, puts out an ungodly number of films each year and is bordering on direct-to-DVD status as a film “star,” but this is ridiculous and proof that I’m slipping. I was unaware that he had a film being released Friday (Stolen, see below) until five minutes ago. To confirm my fears, I saw that it’s not even some near-B movie that snuck through the cracks, but a $35 million-budget film directed by Simon West and co-starring Josh Lucas and Malin Akerman.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure (and making me feel much better), I should mention that while it’s not a B-movie, it does appear to be going the new VOD route, as it’s hardly an art film yet will be opening in about 140 theaters this weekend, most likely angling for said VOD crowd with the slim, slim hopes that it takes off into more theaters via good word-of-mouth. Also, I’ve just learned that the trailer was only released a few weeks ago. All of a sudden, I’m feeling much better about my ignorance.

But still – I claim to be one of the preeminent Cage lover/haters in the film blogosphere…I should have been on top of this. Tsk-tsk.

Dylan’s Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 4%

Resident Evil: Retribution
Never seen more than 10 minutes of any of the preceeding four films…a fact that’s probably not going to bode well for my viewing of this fifth one.

Zzzzzzzzzz…..

Dylan’s Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 0%

LIMITED RELEASE LOOK

Sadly, it won’t hit locally (Phoenix) until next weekend, but if you’re lucky enough to live in one of the places (surely NYC and LA) where The Master takes its initial bow in four theaters, then — aw, who am I kidding?  With that few theaters, no one reading this will be seeing it in any of those four theaters.  If you’ve seen it already, you did so at a press screening (and I hate you for that); if you haven’t yet, get in line with me starting next weekend.  My most anticipated film of the year, shockingly beating outDjango.

It’s hardly limited, opening in 2900 theaters, but I didn’t feel that the 3D re-release of Finding Nemo warranted a spot above.  I’m not known as a fan of 3D in general (I’ll see maybe 1 or 2 films a year in the format), and I’m still on the fence as to whether or not to check out Nemo again with the added dimension.  I already love the film to death and have seen it plenty (though not too much) – would the theatrical experience and extra D add enough value to make it worth it for me?  If anything, the former benefit (seeing it in the theater) will entice me more than the latter, as I never saw it on the big screen to begin with.

Finally, Arbitrage may prove to do for Richard Gere what The Double couldn’t: make him relevant again.  It’s received pretty excellent reviews thus far, co-stars Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth and indie kinda-darling Brit Marling (Another Earth) and even features a “special thanks” to former MILFcast guest and writer-director of The Pill, J.C. Khoury, who’s friends with Abritrage director Nicholas Jarecki.