New Releases: January 9, 2015

1. Taken 3 (Fox, 3,593 Theaters, 109 Minutes, Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for brief strong language): First they kidnapped his daughter, then they kidnapped his wife. Now they killed his wife. I can see a story idea for Taken 4 forming already. I hope that Bryan Mills’ daughter has her life insurance paid up.

Of course, they say that there will not be a Taken 4. But they also said that there wouldn’t be a Taken 3, and, well, here we are.

This time around, things have changed a bit. Like I said in the first paragraph, no one is kidnapped in this one. No, this time the “taken” refers to Mills’ wife, Lenore’s life.  What’s more, Bryan is framed for the murder. Big mistake, because that only made him angry. And when he gets angry, bad guys start dying.

2. Selma (Entering wide release,Paramount, 2,179 Theaters, 128 Minutes, Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language): It’s about that time, when the Oscar contenders start filtering out into wide release. And if this does get the nominations that it should, it will make history.

The film focuses on the voting rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. While the film has caused stirrings about its historical accuracy, it has already received a number of award nominations and victories, including four Golden Globe nods. One of those nominations was for Ava DuVernay in the Best Director, the first time an African-American woman was nominated for that award. If DuVernay gets an Oscar nomination, that would also be a first.