New Releases: September 19, 2013

1. Prisoners (Warner Brothers, 3,260 Theaters, 153 Minutes, Rated R): This film has a lot going for it. Most of the cast have Oscar nominations or wins (only exceptions are Maria Bello, who has two Golden Globe nominations, and Paul Dano, who has a BAFTA nomination to his name). It has comeout of the Toronto and Telluride film festivals with rave reviews, with people raving about its script and acting. The film has also started to receive Oscar buzz.

But I don’t think I’ll see it.

The film centers on two families gathering for Thanksgiving dinner. When the small daughters of the couples (Hugh Jackman and Bello, Terrence Howard and Viola Davis) go out to play and never come back, a race against time to find them begins. A mentally challenged man (Dano) becomes the main suspect, but the police have no evidence to hold them. While a police detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) searched for some connection to the girl’s disappearance, Jackman’s character takes the law into his own hands to find out where his daughter is.

As the father of a young daughter, a kidnapping drama would not be my cup of tea to start with. But this film seems like two and a half hours of bleakness and darkness. And I can probably guarantee you that Dano’s character didn’t do it. I know the fall is the time for dramas, but this might just be too much for me.

2. Battle of the Year (Sony/Screen Gems, 2,008 Theaters, 109 Minutes, Rated PG-13): Since we are talking about depressing things, let’s talk about Josh Holloway’s career.  Lost made him a breakout star, and at one time, fans were suggesting him for every big role that came down the pike (people are still saying he should play the X-Men’s Gambit). And here he is, in his first “above the title” role since that show ended, and this is he’s in this film. Yeah, I guess all that heat cooled way down didn’t it?

This film focuses on Holloway’s character trying to assemble an all-star troupe of dancers so America can once again win the international Battle of the Year dance competition (which apparently is a real event), So, it’s Miracle with more popping and locking.

If you needed another reason not to see the film, it also stars pop star Chris “I punched Rihanna” Brown. He’s never going to live that down, and he shouldn’t. I don’t want him to get my money.