By Chris Kavan - 01/28/20 at 08:11 PM CT
Now that we have entered winter's heart of darkness, otherwise known as late January, the MPAA Ratings Board, who has been in rare form this year, has decided to hibernate. Well, not quite, but they have slowed things down with but a single wide release to talk about - but I'm also going to mention another film, despite the fact it has yet to secure a release date, because I'm a big fan of Wes Anderson. So two for the price of one this time around - hopefully things thaw out and we get back to some bigger updates in the near future.
In what looks like a mashup up of Date Night and Game Night, Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae are a crime-solving couple in The Lovebirds. Perhaps I should rephrase that - by crime-solving couple, I don't mean they are crime-fighters or private eyes - no, they're just your standard couple who suddenly find themselves involved with a murder. Of course they are the culprits and they have to figure out how to survive the night - and clear their names - and hopefully work out the kinks in their relationship as well. As I said, the premise reminds me a lot of the above-mentioned films - both of which involve couples suddenly involved with unintentional crimes. This pairing seems like it will be interesting - I've been a fan of Nanjiani since Silicone Valley, and I know from The Big Sick he can excel on the big screen as well. Rae has been a standout with Insecure and I'm interested to see how she plays off of Nanjiani. They're the anchor here, with Anna Camp, Kyle Bornheimer, Paul Sparks and Moses Storm helping round out the cast. I'm sure it will be a hit with couples and looks like a lot of fun. Rated R for sexual content, language throughout and some violence.
As I said, while I usually stick with films that have a secure wide release date, I'm making an exception for The French Dispatch for the sole reason that it is the next film from Wes Anderson, one of my personal favorite directors. While I wholly admit his brand of films are not for everyone, I absolutely love his eccentric characters and equally charming/bizarre stories. The cast list for this has a lot of familiar faces from Anderson's past: Saoirse Ronan, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Léa Seydoux, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Frances McDormand are a few of the names who have graces previous Anderson films. But as Anderson is also good at adding new talent, such names as Timothée Chalamet, Elisabeth Moss, Christoph Waltz, Rupert Friend, Jeffrey Wright, Henry Winkler and Benicio Del Toro highlight some of the new faces joining the Anderson family. The film features a collection of stories that come to life from the pages of The French Dispatch, an American paper published in a fictional 20th Century French town. It is said to be Anderson's love-letter to journalists, which, given the current climate, may be just what the profession needs - nay - deserves at this time. Anderson's unique style should be a perfect fit for a collection of stories and I am highly anticipating the results. Rated R for graphic nudity, some sexual references and language.
There you have it, my contribution for the week, but for those completionists out there the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin can be found below:
CHANCE
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including suicide.
THE FRENCH DISPATCH
Rated R for graphic nudity, some sexual references and language.
HORSE GIRL
Rated R for language and some sexuality, graphic nudity and drug use.
IMPRACTICAL JOKERS: THE MOVIE
Rated PG-13 for suggestive content, language, some drug references and brief nudity.
THE LOVEBIRDS
Rated R for sexual content, language throughout and some violence.
MORTAL KOMBAT LEGENDS: SCORPION'S REVENGE
Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout and some language.
RIDE LIKE A GIRL
Rated PG for some thematic elements, language and suggestive comments.
TO GERARD
Rated G
THE VAST OF NIGHT
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
