We list’em, you pick’em.
Salt
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreibe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor
Director: Phillip Noyce
Genre: Action, Thriller
Running Time: 99 Min
Synopsis: CIA officer Evelyn Salt’s loyalty is tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt’s efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?
What We Think: Phillip Noyce brought to us in the past some excellent spy movies with Harrison Ford as CIA Agent Jack Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. Now he teams up with Angelina Jolie, THE femme fatale of our times, and hopefully this match will make for a great summer film. We say if you are into spy and chase movies, you should check it out.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Monica Belluci, Jay Baruchel, and Alfred Molina
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Genre: Action, Adventure
Running Time: 111 Min
Synopsis: Master sorcerer Balthazar Blake recruits a seemingly everyday guy in his mission to defend New York City from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath.
What We Think: This movie is from the same team (star Nicholas Cage, director Jon Turteltaub, and mega producer Jerry Bruckheimer) who brought you the National Treasure films. So if you like films with a convoluted plot yet a forgettable story and cool special effects, then this film is for you. Otherwise stay away.
Splice
Starring: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley and Delphine Chanéac
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror
Running Time: 104 Min
Synopsis: Superstar genetic engineers Clive Nicoli and Elsa Kast achieve fame by successfully splicing together the DNA of different animals to create incredible new hybrid animals. But they perhaps push the envelope too far when they use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine.
What We Think: Critics have been generally favorable to the film, which is always a plus point in the horror genre. Expect the censors to have snipped quite a few scenes off the screening, owing to the amount of sex & nudity this movie contains. Watch it if you are a fan of horror, or wait for the DVD if you are a purist and want an unadulterated experience.
Whatever Works
Starring: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, and Ed Begley, Jr.
Director: Woody Allen
Genre: Comedy, Romance.
Running Time: 92 min
Synopsis: Attempting to impress his ideologies on religion, relationships, and the randomness (and worthlessness) of existence, lifelong New York resident Boris Yellnikoff rants to anyone who will listen, including the audience. But all that starts to change when he lets the naive Mississippi runaway young Melody into his home and his life.
What We Think: It was written off by most of the critics for lacking freshness and recycling old Woody Allen material, and frankly, all modern Woody Allen films based in New York now suffer from this observation. This and the fact that when it comes to lovable neurotic, Larry David is no Woody Allen. We don’t think this film would work as an enjoyable experience in cinemas, unless you are a die hard Allen aficionado .
The Runaways
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, and Stella Maeve
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Genre: Biopic, Drama, Music
Running Time: 106 Min
Synopsis: Based on The Runaways lead-singer Cherie Currie’s book “Neon Angel”, the film tells the coming of age story of the 70′s girls band, the formation, the fame, the rock lifestyle, and the struggle with drugs.
What We Think: Aside from Michael Shannon’s performance as the manipulative band manager, critics were not so hot for it. We say wait for it on TV or rent it when it comes out on DVD.
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Khatta Meetha
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Makrand Deshpande, and Rajpal Yadav
Director: Priyadarshan
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: ?? Min
Synopsis: Struggling road construction contractor, Sachin Tichkule is doomed to dream big. There is no chance in hell that his dreams will ever come true, simply because he has no money to bribe. To make matters worse, the new Municipal Commissioner turns out to be his ex girlfriend who now hates him.
What We Think: Akshay Kumar/Priyadarshan team strikes again. Their previous collaborations have been consistently fruitful as they made one hilarious film after another. We say go see it, if you can get tickets, because this one will pack the theaters.