By Chris Kavan - 03/18/11 at 11:32 AM CT
Can we get rid of these winter blues, Hollywood? Week to week it seems the bad news keeps rolling in - but can these new releases finally turn things around?
1) For me, I have yet to be disappointed by the pairing of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Even with a film as off-the-wall as Paul looks to be, somehow I think it will work out if only because the duo are involved. Their comedic timing has been gold in the past and even with a story this wacky, I really want it to work again. It's a crowded market for sci-fi - here's hoping this comedy fares more like Battle: Los Angeles and less like Mars Needs Moms.
2) I guess if I happened upon an experimental drug that made me the most awesome guy in the world by tapping into the full power of my brain, I would kind of act like Bradley Cooper too. Cliff diving, beating the stock market, driving really fast, picking up chicks - or, you know, he could probably invent a cure for some horrible diseases, but no, picking up chicks is more important. Anyway, Limitless is about power, pure and simple, and how, as the saying goes power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely - just because you can get it in pill form doesn't make it any better. Interesting idea, and I'd be willing to see how it plays out.
3) Matthew McConaughey gets down to business in The Lincoln Lawyer. I know he can take on courtroom drama - I've seen A Time to Kill - and I much prefer him in a dramatic role compared to, say, Failure to Launch. We'll see if he can bring in the adult crowd and if his dramatic appeal, as opposed to sex appeal, is enough for the female audiences.
4) For those looking for something under the radar, Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan and Jeffrey Tambor give you Win Win. A modestly-budged comedy about a lawyer/high school wrestling coach dealing with money issues, this is just the kind of film that will go largely unnoticed, but deserves recognition. I've always liked Giamatti, and given the right script, he can deliver. It may not open as wide, but if you get the chance, I recommend it.
Well, come Sunday we'll once again see if this year's lineup can break the non-winning streak that has plagued this year. Stay tuned.
