This weekend will continue the late summer trend downward with no obvious blockbusters set to arrive. As we draw closer to the start of the new school year studios are not exactly clamoring to release big budget fare. Instead we get films with more moderate aspirations like The Rocker and The Longshots. This is not to say they are bad or that we should expect bad films, just films that did not cost as much to make and are not expected to make as much as, say, The Dark Knight. Still, I urge you to get out there and see something!
The Rocker. (2008, 96 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) This one landed in theaters this past Wednesday, and I have already seen it, so I cannot quite give you a preview. What I can tell you is that it is not a great movie, but it has a good heart and I found it to be quite entertaining and worth checking out. Rainn Wilson stars as a never-was (as opposed to a has-been) drummer who ends up in his nephew's band as they climb the ranks. The supporting cast is good and there are plenty of laughs — not big belly laughs, more like a steady stream of chuckles.
Death Race. (2008, 89 minutes, R, action, trailer) This was launched from the cult Roger Corman production of Death Race 2000. It appears that the premise has been modified somewhat to make it grittier and more violent, or at least not violent in the same way as the original. Something tells me this one won't have people yelling "Score!" or having euthanasia day at the hospital. The original starred Sylvester Stallone and David Carradine; this one inserts Jason Statham and Tyrese Gibson. The trailers make this road race look like fun, although I doubt it will be good, at least not in the traditional sense.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
I like Faris
So you're the one!
2 - Nik
Hmm, House Bunny apparently is at #1, so guess lots of people like Faris too! Sheesh.