This week theatrical releases present a pair of do-gooder lawyers, a pill-popping pretty boy, a pot-smoking extraterrestrial, music for all the stoners out there, and we present some supplementary cinema for you to enjoy at home.
—-
Limitless
An average man (Bradley Cooper) taps into his limitless potential by taking a top-secret drug that allows him to unlock all of the power in his brain! However, things turn dark as a shadowy businessman (Robert De Niro) aims to exploit his new prowess and this intoxicating substance threatens his life and sanity.
Strange Days (1995) A strange take on the danger-of-drugs tale, Kathryn Bigelow’s adrenaline-pumping thriller follows a cop-turned-dealer (Ralph Fiennes) who traffics in virtual reality clips that prove frightfully addictive. Blending science fiction with gritty crime drama tropes, this mind-bending thriller is in turns tantalizing and terrifying. Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, and Tom Sizemore co-star.
Crank 2: High Voltage (2009) Hit man Chet Chlios (Jason Statham) returns to track down the man who tried to kill him – but of course he’s running on a bum ticker that he has to keep fully charged or risk death. “Adrenaline junkie” takes on a whole new meaning in this high-octane crime thriller that is unapologetically insane. Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakam, and Corey Haim co-star.
Man with the Golden Arm (1955) For a more classic spin on the drugs-are-bad subgenre, try this Oscar-nominated drama directed by acclaimed auteur Otto Preminger. Frank Sinatra memorably plays a cardsharp caught in a downward spiral of heroin addiction; Kim Novak co-stars.
—-
Paul
From Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the comedic duo who slayed zombies while rockin’ out to Queen in Shaun of the Dead, comes this zany road movie about two nit-wit Brits who meet a real alien (voiced with slacker savoir faire by Seth Rogen).
Star Trek (2009) Sadly Spaced is not available online, but this space-set reboot is! In J.J. Abrams’ lens flare-happy space odyssey Pegg appears as the prat-fall prone Scotty. For more adult-themed fun, do a shot everytime the fresh-faced cast spouts a famed catchphrase like, “I’m giving her all she’s got, Captain!”
The Iron Giant (1999) Before Brad Bird brought forth The Incredibles, he crafted this truly awe-inspiring sci-fi adventure. This underrated gem centers on a young boy, the regrettably named Hogarth, and his extraterrestrial bestie, a humongous metal man that fell from the sky in the midst of Cold War paranoia. Features voice work by Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston and Harry Connick Jr.
Starman (1984) In John Carpenter’s memorable sci-fi tale, alien and human relations turn romantic when a starman (pre-beard sporting Jeff Bridges) takes the form of a woman’s recently deceased husband. A little twisted but surprisingly sweet, this drama earned Bridges his first Oscar nomination for a leading role.
—-
The Lincoln Lawyer
Matthew McConaughey stars as a low-rent lawyer who operates out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car. When a big case lands in his lap, he can’t help but sign on – whatever the consequences. Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe co-star.
The Sweet Hereafter (1997) This courtroom drama was based on a novel by Russell Banks, which was loosely based on a real school bus accident and the following frenzy. The film is directed by Atom Egoyan, who is known for twisted character-driven narratives, and features Ian Holm as a lawyer trying to reconstruct the events preceding a horrendous accident that left many children dead. Sarah Polley co-stars as a teen left physically and emotionally damaged by the event.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) If you like your crime-dramas with a little more Southern flare, try out this star-studded murder-mystery helmed by Clint Eastwood. Also based on a bestseller, this scandalous biopic follows a journalist (John Cusack) on his investigation into the death of a young hustler (Jude Law), who was shot on the estate of an affluent antiques dealer (Kevin Spacey.) Peppered with oddities and the local flavors of Savannah, Georgia, Midnight is a dark delight.
The Client (1994) Also set in the south, this Joel Schumacher crime-thriller stars a young Brad Renfro as a boy who seeks out a scrappy lawyer (Susan Sarandon in an Oscar-nominated turn) after he witnesses the death of a man with mafia ties. Based on the popular John Grisham novel, this fraught mystery also stars Tommy Lee Jones and Mary-Louise Parker.
—-
Win Win
In writer/director Tom McCarthy‘s third feature, Paul Giamatti stars as a family man struggling to keep his law practice afloat. He is delicately balancing his obligations to work, his family, and the high school wrestling team he coaches, when a stranded boy (newcomer Alex Shaffer) shows up on his doorstep, resulting in a pivotal friendship. Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor and Bobby Cannavale co-star.
Cold Souls (2008) For a Giamatti double-bill, pair Win Win with this self-reflexive comedy, in which the charming curmudgeon plays himself. Burdened by the weight of his own soul, Paul puts said soul into storage. But when it’s kidnapped by the Russian mob, he has to go on an unexpected adventure to get it back. Incisively funny and undeniably poignant, this clever tale of self-discovery contains a blend of Woody Allen-styled wit with Charlie Kaufman-like surrealism.
The Last Station (2009) Another indie option with a strong performance from Giamatti, this docudrama unveils the heartbreaking tale of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy’s last days. Giamatti plays Vladimir Chertkov to Christopher Plummer’s Tolstoy, but the real scene stealer here is Helen Mirren, who plays the long-suffering wife to the recently celibate author. A moving tale of marriage, this drama rightfully earned Oscar nods for both Plummer and Mirren.
Half Nelson (2006) This indie drama does not feature Paul Giamatti, but it does feature a complicated teacher-student bond. Here Ryan Gosling stars as a crack-addicted middle school teacher who strives to be a suitable mentor to Drey (Shareeka Epps), a young girl being drawn into the dealer lifestyle that got her brother sent to jail. Anthony Mackie co-stars.
—-
The Music Never Stopped
J.K. Simmons stars in this Sundance selected drama as a father who attempts to reconnect with his terminally ill son through the music of the Grateful Dead.
The Vicious Kind (2010) This compelling indie drama also features Simmons as a dad struggling to reconnect with his son, in this case a manic (yet undeniably appealing) Adam Scott. Wickedly funny and thoroughly riveting, Vicious co-stars Alex Frost and Brittany Snow.
Party Down: Season 1 & Season 2 (2009) This woefully short-lived Starz sitcom stars Adam Scott as a has-been actor relegated to the thankless world of catering. With a cutting comedic cast that includes Lizzy Caplan, Martin Star, and Ken Marino, this sharp satire is full of wit and guest stars, including Simmons as a rage-filled film producer who elevates cursing to a mortifying and fun art form.
The End of the Road: The Final Tour ’95 (1995) If music’s soundtrack has got you jonesing for some more of the Grateful Dead, this sentimental documentary should satisfy. Following a flock of devout Deadheads, the film reveals life on the road and includes footage of the band’s final tour with its iconic front man, Jerry Garcia.
—-
Can you think of a connection/suggestion we missed? Share them in comments!