As a new and long overdue weekly feature at Should I See It, here is a quick and easy breakdown of all the new movies opening this weekend.
One independent film, with Oscar hopes, arrives alongside another R-rated comedy. The long-awaited follow up from the producers of the Christian-themed film “Fireproof” also arrives, as does an impressively credited Suspense/Thriller from acclaimed director Jim Sheridan.
50/50
(R for language throughout, sexual content and some drug use)
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Synopsis: Inspired by a true story, 50/50 is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis in this new comedy directed by Jonathan Levine from a script by Will Reiser. 50/50 is the story of a guy’s transformative and, yes, sometimes funny journey to health – drawing its emotional core from Will Reiser’s own experience with cancer and reminding us that friendship and love, no matter what bizarre turns they take, are the greatest healers. (Summary courtesy of Summit Entertainment)
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Additional content here:
Film Website
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COURAGEOUS
(PG-13 for some violence and drug content)
Starring: Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel, Ben Davies, Kevin Downes
Directed by: Alex Kendrick
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Synopsis: Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God … and to their children? Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous. (Summary courtesy of www.courageousthemovie.com)
Trailer:
Additional content here:
Film Website
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DREAM HOUSE
(PG-13 for for violence, terror, some sexuality and brief strong language)
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Synopsis: Successful publisher Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) quit a job in New York City to relocate his wife, Libby (Rachel Weisz), and two girls to a quaint New England town. But as they settle into their new life, they discover their perfect home was the murder scene of a mother and her children. And the entire city believes it was at the hands of the husband who survived. When Will investigates the tragedy, his only lead comes from Ann Paterson (Naomi Watts), a neighbor who was close to the family that died. As Will and Ann piece together the disturbing puzzle, they discover that the story of the last man to leave Will’s dream house will be just as horrifying to the one who came next. (Summary courtesy of Universal Pictures)
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Additional content here:
Film Website
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MACHINE GUN PREACHER
(R for violent content including disturbing images, language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality)
Starring: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Kathy Baker, Michael Shannon
Directed by: Marc Forster
Distributor: Relativity Media
Synopsis: When ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war, he is outraged by the unspeakable horrors faced by the region’s vulnerable populace, especially the children. Ignoring the warnings of more experienced aide workers, Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it’s most needed-in the middle of territory controlled by the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a renegade militia that forces youngsters to become soldiers before they even reach their teens. But for Sam, it is not enough to shelter the LRA’s intended victims. Determined to save as many as possible, he leads armed missions deep into enemy territory to retrieve kidnapped children, restoring peace to their lives-and eventually his own. (Summary courtesy of Relativity Media)
Trailer:
Additional content here:
Film Website
IMDB
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WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER?
(R for sexual content and language)
Starring: Anna Faris, Chris Evans, Joel McHale, Ari Graynor
Directed by: Mark Mylod
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Synopsis: Anna Faris is Ally Darling, who after reading a magazine article that leads her to believe she’s going to be forever alone, begins a wild search for the best “ex” of her life. (Summary courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation)
Trailer:
Additional content here:
Film Website
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ADDITIONAL OPENINGS (may not be playing in your area):
American Teacher (First Run)
Benda Bilili! (National Geographic Entertainment)
Filth To Ashes, Flesh To Dust (Nocturnal Features)
Force (Fox Searchlight)
Margaret (Fox Searchlight)
Munger Road (Freestyle Releasing)
Muran (UTV Communications)
My Joy (Kino Lorber)
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster (UTV Communications)
Sarah Palin – You Betcha! (Freestyle Releasing)
Take Shelter (Sony Pictures Classics)
Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil (Magnolia)
