By Chris Kavan - 01/22/20 at 12:27 PM CT
So the MPAA Ratings Board has slowed down a bit from their red-hot pace they've been racing at for 2020. I'll still take a couple of solid movies to talk about over one (or none). This week, Vin Diesel goes back to what he's good at... when he's not driving fast cars and pulling off impossible stunts - that is, playing the strong anti-hero. Also on deck is yet another interesting take on the classic Rear Window - in this case, an Agorapohobic woman witnesses a crime... until she begins to question what she saw. I'll take what I can get, along with the other random assortment of films.
As I said, when Vin Diesel isn't out driving around with his family, he's usually playing some intense anti-hero characters (and occasionally a talking tree). Case in point Pitch Black and the subsequent Riddick films, Babylon A.D. and even the xXx series. It looks like he's going to continue on that tradition with Bloodshot. This time around Diesel plays Ray Garrison, who was an elite soldier in life and is now is even more dangerous thanks to experiments and advanced technology that have brought him back to life. Thinking he is punishing those responsible for the death of his wife, he soon starts to realize he is being manipulated and that he may not be able to trust anyone... including himself. This is exactly the kind of role Diesel excels in - brooding hero, lots of action, memory problems - it's all here. Plus Diesel is in good company with Toby Kebbell, Guy Pearce, Eiza González, Sam Heughan, Talulah Riley and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson along for this ride. If you're an action fan, this is probably going to be worth checking out. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some suggestive material and language.
Another tried and true movie formula is someone who sees something they shouldn't have seen - and the consequences of said action. We're going back to that well with The Woman in the Window. This time around Amy Adams plays an agoraphobic woman who finally makes a connection with the outside world when a new neighbor, Jane Russell (Julianne Moore) moves in across the street. But things take a dramatic turn when she witnesses a violent crime only to be told that her Jane doesn't exist and instead husband Alistair Russell (Gary Oldman) presents an entirely different woman (Jennifer Jason Leigh) as his wife. Thus she must ponder whether her medication caused her to hallucinate everything or if there is a deeper cover-up going on. Wyatt Russell, Anthony Mackie, Brian Tyree Henry and Fred Hechinger help round out the cast. And, sure, while the setup may be familiar, this looks like a fresh and interesting take on the genre. It's adapted from the novel from A.J. Finn and comes from director Joe Wright (Atonement and Hanna among others) thus I have a feeling it will manage to stand out on its own. Rated R for violence and language.
Those are the two big wide-release films for the week but be sure to check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
BENEATH US
Rated R for violence, language and some nudity.
BLACK WALL STREET BURNING
Rated R for some disturbing violent images.
BLOODSHOT
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some suggestive material and language.
EMPEROR
Rated PG-13 for violence throughout, language including racial epithets, and some disturbing images.
GUNS AKIMBO
Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and brief graphic nudity.
THE LAST VERMEER
Rated R for some language, violence and nudity.
THE RESCUE
Rated R for disasterrelated bloody/disturbing images.
TIGERTAIL
Rated PG for some thematic elements, language, smoking and brief sensuality.
THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW
Rated R for violence and language.
