In a perfect world, Amy Schumer and Paul Rudd would be starring in the same movie. But it’s not a perfect world, is it?
All the Time in the World: “It’s like The Wilderness Family, but absolutely nothing happens and the image quality ranges from adequate to terrible!” I mean, there’s probably a better pitch for Suzanne Crocker’s twee vacation documentary, but you get the idea.
Ant-Man: Paul Rudd is a perfect casting choice as Scott Lang, and his delightful performance weirdly serves as a constant reminder of how great this superhero movie might have been if Marvel hadn’t been so determined to stitch it into its overarching continuity. Ah, well. It’s still fun, just not as much fun as it could have been.
Jimmy’s Hall: Ken Loach’s latest is a bit of a bust, taking a footnote in Irish history and turning it into the slowest, dullest riff on Footloose that you’ll ever see. And that includes the actual remake of Footloose.
Mr. Holmes: Ian McKellen’s marvelous, understated turn as an elderly Sherlock is pretty much the only reason to see Bill Condon’s nondescript period piece. But that’s still a very good reason.
1001 Grams: Rad loved Bent Hamer’s latest character study at TIFF, so I’m looking forward to catching up to it now that it’s unexpectedly materialized in commercial release.
Trainwreck: I had to miss the press screening of Amy Schumer’s big-screen debut, but by all reports — including Glenn’s — it sounds like she’s made the transition to movies with her acerbic sensibility intact.
The Tribe: Miroslav Slaboshpitsky’s Cannes-hailed debut — set in a world of deaf-mute characters who communicate entirely through (unsubtitled) sign language — is as manipulative as it is formally impressive. So that’s something.
Two 4 One: Gavin Crawford and Naomi Snieckus, two very talented actors, struggle mightily to make emotional sense of the total bullshit that is Maureen Bradley’s trans-themed romantic comedy. Susan didn’t fall for it either.
That’s actually a pretty wide range of cinema for a superhero weekend. Go enjoy something.