This week at the movies: A young woman finds herself trapped underground following a mysterious apocalyptic disaster; a pair of long-lost brothers reunite to save the world despite a series of silly setbacks; and the story of Jesus Christ’s childhood and journey as the young Messiah.
10 Cloverfield Lane
A young woman named Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) awakens after a horrible accident and discovers she is locked inside an underground shelter with two strange men. She soon learns that the outside world is uninhabitable due to an apocalyptic catastrophe, and one of the men, Howard (John Goodman), claims that he saved her life in the face of doomsday. Despite what the men tell her about the dangerous state of the world and needing to remain in the cellar to stay safe, Michelle is determined to escape at any cost.
Perfect for: Those who love sci-fi and apocalyptic flicks (especially ones produced by the notable J.J. Abrams, who also produced the film’s successful prequel, Cloverfield, in 2008).
What the Critics Say: Positive reviews all-around. USA Today praises the actors’ performances and their knack for creating suspense: “Proving again that he's undoubtedly one of the best character actors working, Goodman shines as Howard, an impossible-to-read lug of a guy with a burly, intimidating stature but also a sad sense of loneliness. Winstead is just as good, carrying the movie’s emotional burden on her shoulders much of the time… 10 Cloverfield Lane never tells the whole story and instead lets the viewer fill in their own blanks.” Variety calls it, “a perfectly tense thriller” that “shrewdly manipulates its unknowns to coil a knot of palpable dread and unease, giving us a few precious moments to laugh or catch our breath before the extremity of the situation, the impossibility of it, once again descends with a clang.”
Our Take: Exhilarating and suspenseful, 10 Cloverfield Lane will keep you on your toes. And just when you think you know what’s really going on, you’ll second-guess yourself again (and again). We’re very, very intrigued…
The Brothers Grimsby
Dimwitted Nobby (Sacha Baron Cohen) lives in an English fishing town with his loving girlfriend (Rebel Wilson) and nine children. For the last 28 years, he's been searching for his long-lost brother Sebastian (Mark Strong). When the two finally reunite, Nobby finds out that his sibling is a top MI6 agent who's just uncovered a sinister plot. Wrongfully accused and on the run, Sebastian now realizes that he needs Nobby's help to save the world and prove his innocence. Isla Fisher and Penelope Cruz also appear in this raucous comedy.
Perfect for: Those who saw Borat or The Dictator and are familiar with (and enjoy) Sacha Baron Cohen’s unique brand of crude humor.
What the Critics Say: The plot itself may be a little piece-y, but the critics are still calling it very funny. Says Cinemablend: “The Brothers Grimsby forgoes coherent action and a gripping story for stupid, grotesque humor, but still provokes a higher ratio of riotous belly laughs than most other Hollywood comedies combined.” The San Francisco Chronicle adds: “It's hard to give yourself over to a certain type of humor when you're still recovering from the shock of what you just saw or heard. And boy, does The Brothers Grimsby push those boundaries, over and over and over again…Whether or not that's a good thing can only really be determined by the individual viewer, and in some corners of the world, [it] might actually be well-positioned to become a cult classic somewhere down the line…”
Our Take: Sacha Baron Cohen, who co-wrote the script, is the master at inventing ridiculous characters and never fails at making situations even more hilarious than they already are. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, this movie will surely deliver lots of them.
The Young Messiah
The Young Messiah is an American biblical drama film based on the novel “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt” by Anne Rice. The film tells the story of Jesus through the lens of childhood before he fully discovers and grows into his Messianic role. At seven years old, Jesus and his family leave Egypt and journey back to their home in Nazareth, where he further realizes the truth about his life and divine purpose. Starring Adam Greaves-Neal as the young Jesus, Sara Lazzaro as Mary, Vincent Walsh as Joseph, Jonathan Bailey as Herod, and Sean Bean as Severus.
Perfect for: Those interested in biblical history; those who enjoy uplifting, spiritual films.
What the Critics Say: From the cinematography to the musical score, critics are describing The Young Messiah as an innovative and powerful portrayal of what Jesus’ youth may have really been like. The Huffington Post sums it up nicely, commending the film for its excellent casting and overall storytelling: “It was perfect casting as Greaves-Neal possesses just the blend of innocence and intelligence to make the character believable.He also has the look some artists have projected as being the look of Christ as a child. There is also strong casting in the roles of Mary and Joseph (Sara Lazzaro and Vincent Walsh)… [The Young Messiah] should be welcomed by those of faith and should be enjoyed by those who wish to be entertained with a story well told.”
Our Take: The Young Messiah seems to offer an interesting and imaginative vision we haven’t seen before: the childhood story behind one of the most iconic figures in human history. Inspirational entertainment, for sure.