KEY
Fork it over: Pay however much to see it.
Chance it: It could be really really good if you gave it a chance.
Time to spare: If it's a rainy day and you have a pocket full of cash.
Sneak in: Your money is better spent on popcorn.
Once again, these weekend's newbies face the challenge of beating out the magnanimous 300. But perhaps the hype has finally faded away, giving them unlimited access to your wallets. And the contenders are:
REIGN OVER ME
I first saw this trailer when I went to the movies for The Pursuit of Happyness to watch another comedian turn into a dramatic actor (Will Smith) before my eyes. Neither Smith's nor Adam Sandler's characters seemed that farfetched for a well-known comedian to play. In fact—although it may be because the plot has to do with 9/11—I was very moved by the trailer and the sorrow that overwhelms Sandler's character so much so that he ceases to function like a normal human being. It's easily relatable, whether 9/11 affected you or not, because one way or another we'll all eventually know what it feels like to lose someone you love. And it's more personal than United 93 or Oliver Stone's World Trade Center because it's about the after shock that can last forever. If you're looking for a break from all that carnage and implausible death that the theaters are offering you now, then check this movie out. Plus, it would be cool if we could officially declare that Sandler isn't a one-trick pony. Chance It
SHOOTER
Ok. So, I was just as surprised as the rest of you when Mark Wahlberg was nominated for an Oscar as a Supporting Actor. But that doesn't mean I don't love watching movies where he barely speaks and makes concerned and thinking faces, and where I can just sit back and watch the action. This film is sort of what Bourne Identity would be if Jason Bourne had his memory...if that entices. If not, you could go to see Michael Pena slum it after his Crash days. Or to see how long you can manage not to picture Kate Mara in her Zoom superhero outfit before you die laughing. Either way, there is surely some enjoyment to be had. Sneak In
TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Needless to say, if you grew up with these green karate kicking bad asses you are eager to see what they look like professionally animated and what the big wigs of Hollywood have mutated them into. This probably has the best chance of kicking 300 out of its top spot. It unites all the kids and the 20 year olds having flash backs. I've always loved TMNT, but I think I prefer them non-animated. Chance It
THE HILLS HAVE EYES II
If you're looking for better horror than Dead Silence... Time to Spare
The underdogs/indies:
FIRST SNOW
In this drama, Guy Pearce (Factory Girl) plays someone who learns of his fate from a psychic who tells him that he will die on the first day it snows. Sounds fairly simple and easy to predict. But with an interesting cast like Piper Perabo (Because I Said So), William Fichtner ("Prison Break"), and Rick Gonzalez (Roll Bounce), there's a good chance it won't greatly dissapoint. Sneak in
PRIDE
Terrence Howard and Tom Arnold battle it out in this drama about racism and equality. Going the Glory Road and Remembering the Titans route with the sport of swimming, Howard tries this timid attempt at perhaps more Oscar buzz recognition. But no matter how true the story might be, unless it's a fresh take—how many times can we explain how utterly retarded slavery and racism was and is—the critics won't bite. Time to Spare
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