This week’s new releases feature two crime capers with big name stars in the cast.
1. The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Lionsgate/Summit, 3,377 Theaters, 118 Minutes, Rated R for strong violence and language throughout, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer at press time: 35% Fresh [80 Reviews]): Hey, look! It’s the Nick Fury/Deadpool team up that will never happen!
Ryan Reynolds plays a bodyguard whose latest client (Samuel L. Jackson) is a hit man who tried to kill him 28 times in the past. His job is to keep the hitman safe until he could testify in international court. That’s hard because nobody wants to kill the hitman as badly as himself.
Jackson and Reynolds are two actors who excel at playing characters with attitudes. However, they have made a lot of bad films in the past. Looks like they might have just made another one.
2. Logan Lucky (Bleeker Street, 3,031 Theaters, 119 Minutes, Rated PG-13 for language and some crude comments, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer at press time: 93% Fresh [107 Reviews]): Steven Soderbergh has been known to direct a great caper film or two. But it seems like he is channeling the Coen Brothers with this one, his fifth pairing with Channing Tatum.
Tatum and Adam Driver play brothers who are down on their luck. They decide that a change is in order, and, as such, resolve to make that change by robbing the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR race.
The trailer looks good and the cast is superb. So what if the characters are a bit more quirky than Soderbergh usually presents. This film is the week’s best bet.
Next week’s new releases include an animated tale of a girl ballerina and another biopic for the legendary Bruce Lee.
