This week at the movies, we've got a bromantic comedy (I Love You, Man, starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel), ominous numerology (Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage and Rose Byrne), and corporate mischief (Duplicity, starring Julia Roberts and Clive Owen). What do the critics have to say?
I Love You, Man
The term "bromance" has reached a near-saturation point in the movie lexicon, and not a moment too soon. Critics say I Love You, Man is a warm, very funny example of the burgeoning subgenre, featuring some of the best comedic chemistry between two leads since Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Paul Rudd stars as Peter, a recently engaged guy who realizes that he has no one to be the best man at his wedding. After a series of man-dates, he finds himself (platonically, of course) bonding with Sydney (Jason Segel), a slovenly hipster with plenty of sound advice. The pundits say I Love You, Man is a perfect example of how old formulas can feel new again: with hearty laughs, nuance, and razor-sharp performances. I Love You, Man is Certified Fresh.
Knowing
Alex Proyas has established himself as one of the more interesting sci-fi directors in Hollywood, but critics say his latest, Knowing, crosses the line that separates profundity and preposterousness. The movie stars Nicolas Cage as an MIT professor who discovers that a random string of numbers on a piece of paper from a recently unearthed time capsule successfully predicted numerous disasters over the last 50 years. As he unlocks the secrets of this strange document, he discovers that the numbers predict future calamities as well. The pundits say Knowing has some interesting ideas and a couple good scenes, but it's weighted down by its absurd plot and over-seriousness. (Check out this week's Total Recall, in which we count down Cage's best reviewed films. Also, find out what Proyas' five favorite films are, and don't forget to play our "Name Nic's Movie 'Do" game.)
Duplicity
Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) is certainly a smart guy, but critics say his latest, Duplicity, may be just a little too brainy for its own good. The film stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen as an on-again, off-again couple of spies turned corporate fixers that get involved in an elaborate con game between two multinational companies; as a result, our heroes become increasingly concerned that they can't trust each other. The pundits say Roberts and Owen exude plenty of chemistry and star power, and Duplicity is nothing if not well-crafted. However, they also feel the film is more cerebral than visceral, and it gets bogged down in a densely complex plot and too many twists and turns.
Also opening this week in limited release:
- Sin Nombre, a thriller about a young Honduran woman who dreams of emigrating to the U.S., is at 83 percent.
- The Great Buck Howard, starring John Malkovich and Emily Blunt about a has-been mentalist looking to stage a comeback, is at 71 percent.
- Valentino: the Last Emperor, a documentary about the legendary Italian king of haute couture, is at 63 percent.
- Skills Like This, an indie comedy about a failed playwright who becomes a most unconventional bank robber, is at 43 percent.
- Feature, an essay-like documentary on filmmaker and artist Michel Auder, is at 33 percent.
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jokerboy1991 writes: on Mar 19 2009 05:41 PM I'm going to Duplicity tomorrow, looking forward to. I liked Knowing a lot (8/10), I dont understand how it has jut about the same rating as The Happening. Will see probably see I Love U Man some where down the line, but I'm in no rush to see it. (Reply to this) |
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jokerboy1991 writes: on Mar 19 2009 05:43 PM I meant I will probably see I Love You Man some where down the line, I think it looks good but I am just not in a rush to see it. But yeah Knowing, I think, is way better then most say but not as good as Roger Ebert is saying. (Reply to this) |
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SuckitBaby writes: on Mar 19 2009 06:06 PM I read Eberts review and he makes it sound like the 2nd coming of Dark City!! Going to a midnight show tonight but I'm not expecting to get blown away like I was with Dark City. Just gonna have a few beers and enjoy. (Reply to this) |
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Hans M. writes: on Mar 19 2009 07:37 PM Nice surprise to see I Love You, Man so highly rated. I was hoping they would do that topic some justice, like Role Models did. I'm just hoping these male characters are more real than the fare that seesm to be permeating these kinds of films as of late (I'm thinking about the loser wusses that head Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall). I'm looking forward to it! Knowing looked dumb and rote. Not surprised there. It's a fantasy film for those that take that Nostrodamus crap seriously. I was hoping Duplicity could have come across better since I did apreciate Michael Clayton, but it sounds like the director is selling his skills short by fluffing up his story too much to appeal to the masses that want to see Julia Roberts more. I'll akip it for sure now. As for the limited releases, only the Great Buck Howard sounds remotely interesting. Still, I have yet to see Watchmen... (Reply to this) |
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collex writes: on Mar 19 2009 08:07 PM I still hesitate between duplicity, knowing, Witch Mountain or maybe a quebecois movie this week. Knowing has the huge plus of being in English at my theater this week so... I just don't know. (Reply to this) |
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King Thor writes: on Mar 19 2009 09:10 PM Really excited to see I Love You, Man this weekend. I will see anything with Paul Rudd in it, he's awesome. (Reply to this) |
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ledawg1138 writes: on Mar 19 2009 09:20 PM I'd see "I Love You, Man" and "Knowing", but I hav no interest in "Duplicity". Julia Roberts? Booo-ring. (Reply to this) |
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ledawg1138 writes: on Mar 19 2009 09:26 PM In reply to this comment (#2384775) *Hav=Have I hate it when I do that! (Reply to this) |
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brandon s. writes: on Mar 19 2009 11:52 PM I can't wait to see 'I Love You, Man'...two winning leads with great comic timing, plus the commercials are funny, a rarity even for very funny movies. I didn't want to see 'Knowing' at first...then once I found out who directed it earlier this week I decided I wanted to see it....but now, with this score, I'm having second thoughts. Probably a rental for me. Duplicity is another movie I, up until now, knew nothing about....but knowing that the director of the fantastic 'Michael Clayton' is behind it means I might have to check it out. I couldn't honestly care less about 'Witch Mountain' or 'Last House...' (Reply to this) |
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Sulaco2k writes: on Mar 20 2009 03:45 AM I'll see 'I Love You, Man' this weekend and maybe rent Duplicity down the line, Knowing looks like typical Cage garbage. I'm boycotting his movies until the man decides he wants to give acting another shot, it's been a long, hard fall since Raising Arizona. (Reply to this) |
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sean f. writes: on Mar 20 2009 06:39 AM I love you man was GREAT!! Saw it on a pre screening, and if you liked Knocked up, 40 yr old virgin, or Rold Models you will like it. I have no intentions of every watching Knowing, but that is mainly because Nicolas Cage is in it and I hate him as an actor. He was in one movie I liked (The Rock) and he was not the reason I liked that movie. And personally I would rather take a rusted spear to the eye then watch Duplicity. You think when they were making that movie they knew it would suck? (Reply to this) |
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Gimy writes: on Mar 20 2009 07:06 AM Duplicity looks sorta ok but Roberts now is Kidman to me. you're pumped to see a movie until you realize she's in it. i saw the trailer for it and though coo...Clive owen, then she came on screen and it was the same reaction i had when i was pumped to see australia...and kidman showed up on screen. snoozer... I love you dude looks decent...but the trailers aren't impressive, especially since Rudd and Segel were hilarious in Sarah Marshall. hopefully its funny but i don't know. (Reply to this) |
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vitajex writes: on Mar 20 2009 09:07 AM I really don't think Duplicity will be breaking any records. How many people really want to see "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" again? (Reply to this) |
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the train writes: on Mar 20 2009 12:59 PM i'll probably see watchmen again. (Reply to this) |
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The Shoe writes: on Mar 20 2009 01:12 PM The trailers for I Love You, Man do the film no justice, even the red band trailer doesn't even come close to how funny the movie is. (Reply to this) |
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Dadoo writes: on Mar 21 2009 04:52 AM Speaking of the "lexicon", the phrase "I love you man", was part of a lame ad campaign for Bud Light, featuring this hapless guy trying to mooch beers. The only good commercial was when the great Barry White, the crooner of love, took pity on the stooge and handed him a beer, which the guy promptly allowed to s;ip from his grasp. (Reply to this) |
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simpleplaninator writes: on Mar 21 2009 07:26 AM In reply to this comment (#2384975) how true that is, almost every movie that cage has been in is bad, he's like the emotional version of keunu reeves (Reply to this) |
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