FRIDAY PREVIEW: MAR 18th

With Spring right around the corner, we're coming around the bend towards blockbuster season as well. A few more heavily advertised movies are on the docket this week, hit the jump to see what March 18th in in for!

Limitless

Length: 1 hr 45 min

Directed by: Neil Nurger

Written by: Leslie Dixon (Screenplay), Alan Glynn (novel)

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish

Rated: PG-13

Synopsis:

A writer discovers a top-secret drug which bestows him with super human abilities.

I don't really have feelings about this movie, only because I'm still denying it's existence. The ONLY reason anyone would cast Bradley Cooper is because of his sex appeal for the ladies, drawing a slightly bigger crowd to a movie no one would see anyways. Looks like De Niro will be using his 'talent' towards another great film this year too. Limitless looks like the crap of the crop this week, keep your wallets thick and put your time somewhere productive.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Length: 1 hr 59 min

Directed by: Brad Furman

Written by: John Romano (Screenplay), Michael Connelly (Novel)

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas

Rated: R

Synopsis:

Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln sedan. Haller has spent most of his career defending garden-variety criminals, until he lands the case of his career: defending Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy accused of rape and attempted murder. But the seemingly straightforward case suddenly develops into a deadly game of survival for Haller. Based on the best-selling novel by Michael Connelly.

I'm not going to recommend this movie, just because it doesn't look entertaining enough to take up two hours of my time. As much as I love a good thriller, I would personally save my money and wait a few more weeks for something more worthwhile.

Paul

Length: 1 hr 44 min

Directed by: Greg Mottola 

Written by: Nick Frost, Simon Pegg

Cast: Simon Pegg, NIck Frost, Seth Rogen, Jeffrey Tambor (!), Jason Bateman

Rated: R

Synopsis:

Two British comic-book geeks traveling across the U.S. encounter an alien outside Area 51.

Nice, short synopsis, huh? Thanks IMDb. This one could go either way; I'm a sucker for the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost duo, and with the Jason Bateman/Jeffrey Tambor combo mixed in, this film could be golden. Although I'm kinda getting sick of this Seth Rogen phase that Hollywood is stuck in, Paul could be a good comedy when there is nothing else to compete with.

Win Win

Length: 1 hr 46 min

Directed by: Thomas McCarthy

Written by: Thomas McCarthy, Joe Tiboni (Story)

Cast: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor (!)

Rated: R

Synopsis:

Struggling attorney Mike Flaherty, who volunteers as a high-school wrestling coach, takes on the guardianship of an elderly client in a desperate attempt to keep his practice afloat. When the client's teenage grandson runs away from home and shows up on his grandfather's doorstep, Mike's life is turned upside down as his win-win proposition turns into something much more complicated than he ever bargained for.

Although I'm going to bet money that this is going to be on a limited release, this is the movie worth your time this weekend. Another Jeffrey Tambor supporting role (about time) rounds out an already talented cast, with Paul Giamatti at the helm. The story/drama looks promising, and although it may be predictable, it looks like a film that could ensure a few laughs in an otherwise dull weekend.




Conclusion:
If you're really Jonesing to get out of the house this weekend and check out the film, those of you lucky enough should check out Win Win. I'd give Paul a 50% chance at being decent, thanks to Pegg, Frost, and Bateman balancing out Rogen. Both Limitless and The Lincoln Lawyer are sure to be the moneymakers, but I wouldn't expect much substance from the two thrillers.


Happy St. Patrick's Day, watch responsibly.