WTWTW (8-9-13)

What To Watch This Weekend

(8-9-13)

Django Unchained (2012)

★★★ (Cole)

        If you love movies, especially Tarantino’s later works (as compared to his 90’s productions), Django Unchained is quite a bit to bathe in—though there may be too much. Homage, vibrancy, and lots of blood can be found here in this spaghetti western that managed to reel in an Academy Award and a few other nominations, including Best Picture. See the full review for a more in depth look at this film.

MPAA Rating: R
Available on Xfinity On Demand ($4.99) & Redbox ($1.20 Per Day)

Snitch (2013)

★★★ (Jesse & Cole)

Dwayne Johnson takes a break from being an action star to take on a more complex role in the Ric Roman Waugh directed Snitch. As a concerned dad trying to get his son out of jail for being set up in a drug deal, Johnson (character is John Matthews) gives a serious, and uniquely controlled performance. It's his best to date and it shows that he is trying his darndest to emote as an actor. The film is a little outlandish and it times, extremely far-fetched but it does a great job of ratcheting up tension throughout. Watch for the harrowing conclusion involving a nail-biting semi-truck chase (complete with elements of The Road Warrior and The Fast and the Furious). So far in 2013, I have to say that this is one of the best films to be released. Susan Sarandon and Barry Pepper add to the strong cast. See the full review for a more in depth look at the film.

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Available at Redbox ($1.20 Per Day) & Xfinity On Demand ($4.99)

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

★★★ ½ (Jesse)

As a Detroit police officer gone rouge trying to avenge the death of his best friend (he does this by venturing out to Beverly Hills, CA), Beverly Hills Cop is, by far, the best film to utilize Eddie Murphy's skills as a gifted comedic actor. In a role once rumored to helm Sylvester Stallone in the lead, Murphy as wisecracking detective Axel Foley, gives his best performance in, what I consider, his best movie to date. Expertly plotted and directed with controlled craftsmanship by Martin Brest (director of Scent of a Woman), this was a monster box office hit and it spawned 2 more sequels ("Cop II” is pretty solid but "Cop III" is the one you should skip). Watch for the scene where Foley makes a sort of off-duty arrest in a strip club. This is one of the more memorable moments in 80's cinema.

Available on Netflix Instant Streaming
MPAA Rating: R

Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)

★★★ ½ (Cole)

        Every member of the cast is more than ideal and every moment is savored in Charlie Wilson’s War, a movie that makes geopolitics supremely entertaining, more so than any other film I’ve ever seen. Between the sharp script and the nice, swift pacing, it’s impossible not to fall victim to the enjoyability of this film. I only wish that it could’ve been longer. Before overlooking this movie (because it’s a political film), know this: it will fool you if you have an attitude like that, undoubtedly!

MPAA Rating: R
Available at Your Local Video Store

-All Reviews Written by Cole Pollyea & Jesse Burleson