Five New Movies This Weekend in the Quad Cities

Five new movies are opening at Rave 53rd and IMAX this weekend but how will you decide which one you want to see? I’m here to help with your new release report card, a concise guide to all five movies opening in the Quad Cities.

“The Artist”

Starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman and Uggie

Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius

Story: A fading silent movie star (Dujardin) crosses paths with a beautiful up and coming actress (Bejo) just as each of their careers change trajectories. As the movie star fades, the up and comer rises and the film follows these to exceptional characters as they deal with their lot in Hollywood life.

Roger Ebert raved about “The Artist” and gave the film four stars. At Rottentomatoes.com “The Artist” has earned 97% positive reviews. The critical praise has helped “The Artist” become one of the top contenders at the Academy Awards. When nominations are announced next week you can expect “The Artist” along with “The Descendants” to be among the top contenders.

“The Artist” is rated PG-13.

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”

Starring Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn and Viola Davis

Directed by Stephen Daldry (“The Reader,” “The Hours”)

Written by Eric Roth from the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer

Oskar (Thomas Horn) lost his father on September 11th 2001. When he discovers an odd looking key while searching through his father’s things he begins a strange and winding journey to discover the lock that the key belongs to; Oskar believe his father may have left him a message. Oskar’s journey takes him into the lives of hundreds of strangers, including a couple on the verge of divorce played by Viola Davis (The Help) and Jeffrey Wright. Sandra Bullock plays Oskar’s shell-shocked mother and Max Von Sydow is Oskar’s silent companion.

Roger Ebert gave “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” a mostly mixed review. The film has truly divided critics among those who found the film’s use of a little boy and September 11th to be manipulative and critics like me who found the film to be very emotional and very well acted. The critical divide is on display at Rotten Tomatoes where Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has earned 49% positive reviews.

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” is rated PG-13.

“Underworld Awakening”

Starring Kate Beckinsale

Directed by Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein

Written by Allison Burnett

Story: Kate Beckinsale is back in her sex black leather body suit in her third go around in the “Underworld” series. Beckinsale is once again Selene, a vampire who has long stood in the middle of a war between vampires and werewolves. Now, after having escaped being cryogenically frozen, Selene finds herself in the middle of a three way war with vampires, werewolves and humans. Also at the center of the war is a small child who holds the key to a weapon that could swing the war in favor of whoever controls the child.

“Underworld Awakening” has not been shown to critics so there are no opinions to work from here. I can say that I have been a fan of all three of Kate Beckinsale’s “Underworld” moves; “Underworld Awakening” is actually the fourth “Underworld” movie but Beckinsale was not part of “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.” “Underworld: Awakening” is playing on the IMAX screen at Rave 53rd and IMAX in Davenport in 3D.

“Underworld Awakening” is Rated R

“Haywire”

Starring Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas and Channing Tatum

Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s 11, Erin Brockovich)

Written by Lem Dobbs

Story: The CIA’s top agent, mixed martial arts star Gina Carano, has been betrayed and she’s out for revenge against the handlers, politicians and fellow agents who set her up to take the fall.

“Haywire” is getting phenomenal reviews with Roger Ebert giving the film 3 stars and Rotten Tomatoes critics gushing over the film’s high adrenalin action. “Haywire” has earned 86% positive reviews at RT. The trailer for Haywire is fantastic with great action and revealing an extraordinary cast that also includes Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas and Bill Paxton.

“Haywire” is Rated R

“Red Tails”

Starring Terence Howard (“Iron Man”), Cuba Gooding Jr. and Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”)

Directed by Anthony Hemingway

Written by Aaron MacGruder and John Ridley

Story: The true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American pilots who were pressed into action late in World War 2 and proved to be true heroes who overcame inexperience and people not believing in them to reveal true courage and heroism.

“Red Tails” was discovered by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas who came on board as a producer for the film and has taken a hands on role in promoting the movie a modern action movie that happens to be set during World War 2 and tell a mostly true story. Critics have not been kind to “Red Tails.” Roger Ebert gave the film a mixed 2 and a half star review while Rotten Tomatoes only has a handful of reviews for a rating of 43% positive. The few reviews that RT does have are mostly negative with critics praising the flying action and panning the stuff happening on the ground.

“Red Tails” is rated PG-13


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