This week at the movies, we've got creepy campers (Friday the 13th, starring Jared Padalecki and Danielle Panabaker), conspicuous consumption (Confessions of a Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy ), and corporate criminality (The International, starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts). What do the critics have to say?
Friday the 13th
You'd think Camp Crystal Lake would be closed by now. Not only does it have a higher per-capita murder rate than most major American cities, but the exploits of its most famous camper -- the masked Jason Voorhees -- have been pretty well documented at this point. That hasn't stopped Marcus Nispel from trying to reboot the Friday the 13th franchise, and critics say it isn't an embarrassment, just a derivative horror flick. A sort of greatest-hits compilation of the first three Friday movies, his installment finds a young man (Jared Padalecki) searching for his sister, who went missing after some woodland partying; he meets a young woman (Danielle Panabaker) who helps him, and soon they're crossing paths with aspiring goaltender/serial killer Jason Voorhees. The pundits say Friday the 13th is pretty generic stuff, filled with shopworn 1980s slasher tropes and lacking the low-budget panache of the early installments. (RT editor Alex Vo watched all the Friday the 13th movies in preparation for the new film; check out his write-ups here.)
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Given the wretched state of the economy, a light romantic comedy about spending beyond one's means may not be what the doctor ordered for filmgoers looking for an escape. But bad timing isn't the only thing wrong with Confessions of a Shopaholic, critics say. Isla Fisher stars as a deeply indebted columnist for a financial magazine with a crush on her editor (Hugh Dancy) and a serious jones for designer labels. Will our heroine learn to love the thrift shop? The pundits say Fisher is fine in her first starring vehicle, but director P.J. Hogan, who has a knack for crafting charming chick flicks, is not at the top of his game here. Worse, the screenplay doesn't explore the darker aspects of its protagonist's conspicuous consumption. (Check out our interviews with Fisher and producer Jerry Bruckheimer).
The International
If you're both an action fan and an architecture buff, the critics say you could do worse than The International, a conspiracy thriller with some electric scenes and plenty of intriguing locales. However, they also note the film is over-complicated and occasionally absurd. Clive Owen and Naomi Watts star as an Interpol agent and a Manhattan assistant D.A., respectively, on the trail of a rogue banker -- a globetrotting mission that puts them in the crosshairs of a vast criminal enterprise. The pundits say The International is good for a couple of exceptional set pieces, but it's ultimately undone by major gaps in logic and convoluted plotting.
Also opening this week in limited release:
- Great Speeches from a Dying World, a compassionate examination of the lives of nine homeless people in Seattle, is at 100 percent.
- The IMAX documentary Under the Sea 3-D, which gives a close-up look at the aquatic wildlife of the Pacific, is at 90 percent.
- The Italian drama Gomorrah, which examines organized crime and corruption in Naples and Caserta, is at 86 percent.
- Two Lovers, about a complex love triangle and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow, is at 79 percent.
- The Caller, starring Frank Langella and Elliott Gould in a tale of international corporate intrigue, is at 10 percent.
Related Items
| Movie: | Confessions of a Shopaholic |
| Two Lovers | |
| Gomorrah | |
| The International | |
| The Caller | |
| Great Speeches From a Dying World |
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tomwaitsjr writes: on Feb 12 2009 04:42 PM I hope Confessions of a Shopaholic does terrible. It has pretty much everything I hate about movies in it. I'm amazed women want to see this thing. They should be insulted by it. (Reply to this) |
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spitting into the wind writes: on Feb 12 2009 04:53 PM Shock Horror!!! The remake of classic horror movie isn't a patch on the original??? Who would have thunk it? Why does Hollywood persist in remaking movies that were previously successful and then go ahead and remove everything that made those movies a success from them. There are still creative people in this world. There are enough ideas for movies out there without having to remake classics of the Horror genre. I am aware of the ancient Greek notion that there are only 7 stories or types of story ever told but Hollywood seem to be taking this to extreme levels. Without taking risks on new talent and fresh ideas the industry is destined to be surpassed by those forms of entertainment that do challenge the accepted mode of doing something. Yes, the movie industry has to learn from the past but they cant just continue to bastardize and reheat leftovers which they serve to the public with a ****-eating grin. Movies need to inspire the public with fresh ideas and groundbreaking originality if they want to maintain their position at the forefront of modern entertainment. If they don't, they will become as relevant to tomorrow's society as drama on the radio and Vaudeville is to todays. (Reply to this) |
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Some guy you dont know writes: on Feb 12 2009 05:12 PM Lol wtf did people expect with Friday? Are you people retarded? Like critics care about Jason. Besides the most boring complaint in all of cinema is the whole ''zomg remakes suck hollywood has no ideas nor do i!!111'' thing''. Oh noes, not another remake! Shut the **** up. It clearly isn't a remake in the usual way. (Reply to this) |
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ledawg1138 writes: on Feb 12 2009 05:13 PM "Shopahalic" looks painful! A rich girl who buys stuff and gets a boyfriend at the end. OOOHHH! The lead reminds me way too much of a child, an annoying one at that. (Reply to this) |
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reavus4983 writes: on Feb 12 2009 05:39 PM I'm seeing Friday the 13th... if for nothing else than it comes out on Friday the 13th...and I don't want to see the Shopaholic movie, or the new (Reply to this) |
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gneah3 writes: on Feb 12 2009 06:37 PM reavus4983, Exactly. critics take slasher films too seriously. (Reply to this) |
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Hans M. writes: on Feb 12 2009 08:22 PM Though I enjoyed the first few Friday The 13th movies as a teenager, I'm so over that kind of dreck. I can't blame credits for putting it down. It's the "Confessions of a Shopoholic" for the warp-os. What really looks worthwhile is Gomorrah and Two Lovers, which would satisfy those with a more serious taste for violence and romance, respectively. Gomorrah was listed as one of the 20 best films of last year by Film Comment. (Reply to this) |
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Pierre Clouutier writes: on Feb 12 2009 08:30 PM I for one find most slasher films entirely boring and cliche ridden. They produce in me yawns of boredom most of the time. Basically the plot seems to boil down to bimbo babes getting offed after sex. With the audience getting "off" by watching people being tortured, mutilated and finally killed. Esspecially with bodies quivering has knives penetrate flesh and blood spurting. Its so obvious that the makers are getting back at the babes who woudn't "do" them in high school. And of course audiences can vicariously take part in torture, mutilation and murder. Most of the time its so dull. (Reply to this) |
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willpower writes: on Feb 12 2009 09:16 PM I agree about the critics/slasher flick thing. These movies should not be judged in the same way. They aren't the same as a normal movie, they are made for a specific audience and should be judged against other movies of the same type. (Reply to this) |
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WallyHawk writes: on Feb 13 2009 04:12 AM None of these were destined to be stellar releases. Sure they're releasing Friday the 13th on Friday the 13th but did they really have a choice in something so obvious? All of these movies have been over-advertised and are to be taken at face value as far as I'm concerned. Friday the 13th seems interesting enough if you're into the slasher genre. Will it have the same impact of the original? No. But I'm willing to be it'll run down the slasher movie checklist. Shopaholic. There are too many spoiled 14 year old girls who will go and see this. I know I'm not the target audience on this one, but it just looks awful. The International looked about as generic as action movies get. This reminds me of a release for the mid 90s more than anything. Since I'm a Clive Owen fan I may check this out if I'm really in the mood to see things explode but it'll probably be one I pick up for 8 bucks on DVD. Not a great week for movie releases if you ask me. (Reply to this) |
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Serum114 writes: on Feb 13 2009 04:47 AM NO good ones this week then, huh? (Reply to this) |
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collex writes: on Feb 13 2009 06:17 AM Not going to the movies this week. I had something planned on Friday night (my weekly movie night), so I'm missing a week. Not that I miss much tough. Next week will probably be Slumdog Millionaire, if it's still at my theater. (Reply to this) |
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67299709 writes: on Feb 13 2009 06:40 AM I want to see Friday the 13th,but my girlfriend dooesn't watch scary movies.She didn't even know who jason was,so im being drug see Confessions of a shopholic.God have mercy on my soul to make it thru that movie,maybe i will catch friday 13th next weekend,hopefully. (Reply to this) |
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Gimy writes: on Feb 13 2009 08:35 AM woo hoo!! critics don't like FT13, awesome...means it'll rock to those that go to the movie theater to be ENTERTAINED and not to learn. hopefully its scary, haven't seen a scary movie since i made my last home video with my ex. phew, some people just look that much fatter in HD...d3mn! 67299709, you need to get your testicles back dude..thats sad bra. the best lovin' is after a scary movie. i read somewhere a woman's lust level(thats the medical terminology...probably) goes up 40 percent when she watches a scary movie (Reply to this) |
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vitajex writes: on Feb 13 2009 01:53 PM Looking at this week's releases, all I have to say is: Does anybody know what time the Book-Mobile comes around? (Reply to this) |
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pota1974 writes: on Feb 13 2009 06:48 PM In reply to this comment (#2317456) That is one of the dumbest things I have ever read. (Reply to this) |
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Dadoo writes: on Feb 14 2009 07:52 AM Another Friday the 13th? It's time for a remake of "Manos: The hands of Fate" Camp Crystal's intelligent denizens have nothing on the brain power of those who meet their fate in Manos. (Reply to this) |
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Scott G. writes: on Feb 14 2009 12:50 PM Oh for christ's sake, get over yourselves. A slasher flick is just that, a slasher flick. Shopoholic is a chick flick and the International is an action thriller. What more do you want, it's freaking FEBRUARY! Good stuff doesn't come out until the summer. That being said, I'll still probably see all of them strictly for ENTERTAINMENT!!! If I feel like getting my girl to curl up next to me this weekend out of love, interest and finally terror, I'll take her to see all three of them. (Reply to this) |
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