ign logo IGN.com | AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GameSpy | FilePlanet | TeamXbox | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | Direct2Drive

RottenTomatoes.com

RT Summer Movie Preview 2008
Home Movies DVD Celebrities News Critics Photos & Trailers The Vine Forums
Features | Columns | Guides
Register for free site & special features! | Log In | What is RT?
                       
news / Critical Consensus
Critics Consensus: Leatherheads Has its Ups and Downs; Nim's Island is Stranded; Guess The Ruins' Tomatometer!
Assessing the week in film criticism.
by Tim Ryan | April 03, 2008
Blog Article | Discuss Article
This week at the movies, we've got gridiron giggles (Leatherheads, starring George Clooney and Renée Zellweger), isle imagination (Nim's Island, starring Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin), and archeological anxiety (The Ruins, starring Shawn Ashmore and Jena Malone). What do the critics have to say?

George Clooney gets compared to Cary Grant all the time, so it's only natural he would try his hand at Grant's prime métier -- the screwball comedy. Unfortunately, critics say the football laffer Leatherheads, in which Clooney stars and directs, is something of a mixed bag. Set in the early days of pro-pigskin (in the days when college was king), Leatherheads tells the tale of the struggling, ragtag Duluth squad, which has scored a major coup by tapping a college gridiron hero (played by John Krasinski) to team with aging pro Dodge Connolly (Clooney); however, the team is also under fire from an aggressive beat reporter (Renée Zellweger). The pundits say Leatherheads is a funny, amiable affair, but it could take some pointers from the no-huddle offense, which, like screwball comedy, emphasizes quick thinking, deft interaction, and risk. At 54 percent on the Tomatometer, Leatherheads is being thrown for a loss. And it's Clooney's worst-reviewed directorial effort to date -- well below Good Night and Good Luck's 94 percent. (Check out our interview with George Clooney here.)

"Look, we're running a flea flicker, and that's final! Do I look like I'm negotiating?"

A sort of Swiss Family Robinson crossed with Indiana Jones, the critics say Nim's Island is solid family fare -- with the pros and cons that implies. Abigail Breslin stars as Nim, a precocious girl who lives on a South Pacific island with her father (Gerard Butler), a scientist; when he goes missing, Nim turns to the hero of her favorite book (also played by Butler) -- and the tome's author (Jodie Foster) -- for help. Critics say Nim's Island has an old-fashioned sense of wonder and adventure -- as well as a healthy dose of girl power -- that makes for an above-average kids' adventure. But they also note the movie offers a predictable storyline and some hackneyed slapstick. Nim's Island currently stands at 48 percent on the Tomatomenter. (Take a look at a clip from the film here.)

Abigail Breslin won't be so joyous when she realizes she'll need to eat grubs and berries to survive.

It appears the folks behind The Ruins feared its critical reputation would be left in ruins, since it was barely screened before its release. Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, and Shawn Ashmore star in this tale of a group of tourists who find danger lurking at a remote archaeological site -- an obvious oversight by the Lonely Planet people. Kids, take your noses out of that atlas and guess the Tomatometer!

"We should have brought a tent!"

Also opening this week in limited release:

The French import Water Lilies, a delicate coming-of-age drama involving a trio of middle school girls, is at 90 percent (check out our take from Cannes here);

Jellyfish, which follows three Israeli women as their lives intersect at a wedding reception, is at 87 percent;

Shine a Light, Martin Scorsese's document of the Rolling Stones live (with special guests like Jack White and Christina Aguilera), is at 82 percent (check out this week's Total Recall for a look at some of Scorsese's lesser-known work);

Flight of the Red Balloon, Hou Hsiao-hsien's remake of the French classic starring Juliette Binoche, is at 69 percent;

Wong Kar-Wai's latest, My Blueberry Nights starring Norah Jones, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman, is at 49 percent (check out our take here, and our interview with Jones here);

And Sex and Death 101, a black comedy starring Winona Ryder and Simon Baker, is at 40 percent.

"While I've got you guys here, I wanted to talk about my vision for Freejack 2..."


And finally, props to Grendel-san for correctly guessing Superhero Movie's 17 percent Tomatometer, presumably while doing battle with Beowulf-san. One question for ya, G.S: is it hard to type with only one arm?

Recent Jodie Foster Movies:
-----------------------------------
43% -- The Brave One (2007)
87% -- Inside Man (2006)
38% -- Flightplan (2005)
77% -- A Very Long Engagement (2004)
77% -- The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)

Recent George Clooney Movies:
-----------------------------------------
91% -- Michael Clayton (2007)
70% -- Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
33% -- The Good German (2006)
73% -- Syriana (2005)
94% -- Good Night and Good Luck (2005)


Related Items
Movie: Water Lilies
Good Night, And Good Luck
Superhero Movie!
Freejack
Shine a Light
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The Flight of the Red Balloon
Swiss Family Robinson
Nim's Island
Sex and Death 101
The Ruins
My Blueberry Nights
Celeb: John Krasinski
Jack White
Norah Jones
Abigail Breslin
Christina Aguilera
Kar-Wai Wong
Jodie Foster
Cary Grant
Winona Ryder
Martin Scorsese
Rolling Stones
Natalie Portman
Shawn Ashmore
Renee Zelwegger
Jonathan Tucker
Jena Malone
Gerard Butler
Jude Law
Simon Baker
George Clooney
Bookmark and Share
Comments (1-20 of 30 posts) | Reply
love_flag writes:
on Apr 03 2008 05:21 PM

The Ruins : 48%

I actually see a decent, if derivative, little creepfest that goes well beyond the, putrid horror offerings 2008 offered us. (One Missed Call, anyone?) So, yeah, basically, I don't think The Ruins is gonna suck. At all. Even if, chances are, it's not gonna be too good... and certainly not fresh.


(Reply to this)
431543
Talkintrumpeter2 writes:
on Apr 03 2008 05:28 PM

I just finished The book version of "The Ruins" today and liked it, so I really want the movie to be good, but the lack of screening scares me. So, I'm going to be fairly generous and say 52%. And yes, One Missed Call was bad.

(Reply to this)
431543
Talkintrumpeter2 writes:
on Apr 03 2008 05:29 PM

52%. I liked the book but the lack of screenings scares me.

(Reply to this)
407288
smartmoviekid writes:
on Apr 03 2008 05:39 PM

man i would love to watch "Shine a Light". the Stones, and Martin Scorsese? a dream combo.

(Reply to this)
~*Admiral Snowstorm*~ writes:
on Apr 03 2008 05:47 PM

33% for The Ruins. I somehow don't see it as too big of a failure, but of course, it's entirely possible. Pardon my optimism in my estimate, in that case.

(Reply to this)
470087
jokerboy1991 writes:
on Apr 03 2008 07:59 PM

Ill definately see LAETHERHEADS and SHINE A LIGHT this weekend.

(Reply to this)
BowieSwimmer writes:
on Apr 03 2008 08:02 PM

58% for The Ruins.
Horror critics loved the novel, which was actually a bit weak, and I feel that critics will give it a mixed bag, leaning towards the positive, but still leaving the movie Rotten.
I certainly want this to be amazing, I've been looking forward to it for a while. I just wish they had cast some more recognizable faces [not necessarily A-listers, mind you]as the four leads, to raise some more buzz for the film.
But I think the trailer is strong. We'll see what happens.


(Reply to this)
490133
blender715 writes:
on Apr 03 2008 08:08 PM

35% for The Ruins. I don't know, I just don't think it's gonna be very good, but I haven't read the book, so I don't really know what to expect.

(Reply to this)
lancerbird13 writes:
on Apr 03 2008 08:10 PM

48% for The Ruins.
Still have high hopes for it though.:)


(Reply to this)
283401
Battlebooze writes:
on Apr 03 2008 10:05 PM

Ruins... 12% Just watched a sneak of it.
Blah. It's both grim and boring.


(Reply to this)
283401
Battlebooze writes:
on Apr 03 2008 10:17 PM

Maybe it wasn't that bad. I just hate movies that end like it did.
No spoiler here though, you want to know you can suffer like I did.


(Reply to this)
484645
Comment writes:
on Apr 03 2008 10:42 PM

20%

(Reply to this)
522693
ARTaylor writes:
on Apr 03 2008 10:53 PM

My guess for The Ruins is 25%

(Reply to this)
347124
Coastermonkey61 writes:
on Apr 03 2008 11:44 PM

37% for The Ruins. Looks stylish enough to garner SOME good press

(Reply to this)
260621
schwal writes:
on Apr 04 2008 12:42 AM

22% for the ruins. i'm not a horror fan, but it didn't look /That/ bad.

(Reply to this)
405739
premierbaron writes:
on Apr 04 2008 01:12 AM

guessing 61%
just fresh but nothing like The Descent


(Reply to this)
Bloody Mathias writes:
on Apr 04 2008 03:39 AM

The Ruins - 35%



(Reply to this)
408335
Gimy writes:
on Apr 04 2008 05:34 AM

never even heard of the Ruins...sounds better than ANOTHER Butler chic flick/kiddie crap. seriously bro, you need to stop hangin' out with Vin Diesel and the Rock, you SHOULD be an action star. not starrin' in lame pics like this. you've followed up 300 with too much estrogen and spongebob. although sadly...it's actually a step up from the Saw 5: a Romantic Revenge flick he did when he died...yet planned all this stuff for his ugly gf. fire your agent...

premierb...hopefully its nothing LIKE Descent...since that was a crap movie. completely overrated and predictable. more funny than anything else and only for 5 seconds did it actually enter the realm of "thriller" or "scary".


(Reply to this)
FranklinStreet writes:
on Apr 04 2008 07:41 AM

67% on The Ruins, and it probably deserves much better than that. The book was fantastic, and the movie looks really solid.

(Reply to this)
John Z. Delorean writes:
on Apr 04 2008 08:39 AM

The Ruins is rated r and doesn't include mutants or eurotrash so I'm going 52% on the tomatometer and 12 mil at the box office still think 21 and horton will take money from the new movies but I'm going to give The Ruins a shot just because it seems to be the most entertaining of the movies in theaters right now.

(Reply to this)
Read More Comments
Page | 1 2
Post Your Comment
You must be registered to post comments. Login or Register.
Related Links
Leatherheads
  • Posters
  • News
  • About
  • Forum
Related Articles
  • UK Box Office Breakdown: Sony's 21 Gamble pays off 0
  • Box Office Guru Preview: Teens Dress Up For Prom Night 4
  • Critics Consensus: Leatherheads Has its Ups and Downs; Nim's Island is Stranded; Guess The Ruins' Tomatometer! 30
  • Box Office Guru Preview: Clooney Suits Up For Football Fun 6
  • George Clooney on Combining Football and Screwball in Leatherheads 6
  • Clooney Bails on Carnahan's White Jazz 9
  • Zellweger, Connick to Get Chilled in Miami 2
Most Discussed
  • Total Recall: 50 Most Memorable Movie Cars 91
  • Uwe Boll's Five Favorite Films 47
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Iron Man Rocks, Speed Racer Stalls 42
  • New Line Cinema: A Retrospective 36
  • Weekly Ketchup: Iron Man 2 coming in 2010 36
  • Peter Segal Talks About His Five Fave Films 31
  • Critics Consensus: No Go for Speed Racer, Vegas Cashes Out 30
  • Best and Worst Movie Moms 27
  • The RT Review Revue: What Happens in Speed Racer, Stays in Speed Racer 26
  • Indiana Jonesin': The Best of Harrison Ford 26
Latest News
  • Cannes 2008: Welcome to the Festival 1
  • Uwe Boll's Five Favorite Films 47
  • RT on DVD: Indiana Jones Box Set, Narnia in Blu-ray, and a Porn Virus Epidemic? 11
  • Indiana Jonesin': The Best of Harrison Ford 26
  • Peter Segal Talks About His Five Fave Films 31
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Iron Man Rocks, Speed Racer Stalls 42
  • Best and Worst Movie Moms 27
  • Weekly Ketchup: Iron Man 2 coming in 2010 36
  • For Your Eyes Only: RT in Austria with James Bond 4
  • Edinburgh International Film Festival Slate Announced 1
Latest Interviews
  • RT Interview: Morgan Spurlock on the Personal, the Political and Osama bin Laden 2
  • RT Interview: Jon Favreau on Iron Man, Effective CGI and the New Marvel Movies 14
  • RT interview: Roger Deakins on No Country for Old Men 16
  • RT Interview: Charlie Wilson 8
  • RT Interview: Colm Meaney on Three and Out, Life on Mars and life after Trek 2
  • Jackie Chan Picks His Five Favorite Movies -- And Only One of Them Stars Jackie Chan 14
  • RT Interview: Director Baillie Walsh on Ziggy, Roxy and Daniel Craig in Flashbacks of a Fool 1
  • RT Interview: Milo Ventimiglia Gets Dark in Pathology, Talks Role In Neveldine & Taylor's Game 7
  • RT Interview: Daniel Craig on Bond, Growing Up and Fading Out in Hollywood 6
  • Director Garth Jennings on Son of Rambow: The RT Interview 10
Latest Features
  • Uwe Boll's Five Favorite Films 47
  • Indiana Jonesin': The Best of Harrison Ford 26
  • Peter Segal Talks About His Five Fave Films 31
  • Best and Worst Movie Moms 27
  • New Line Cinema: A Retrospective 36
  • Neil Marshall's 10 Post-Apocalyptic Picks 18
  • Ole! Tour Mexico Through the Movies! 21
  • The Ghost Stays in the Picture 6
  • Exclusive: RT Visits the Set of An Education 0
  • RT Celebrity Showdown: Jessica, Jessica, and Jessica 31


About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | ModCenter | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive

By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2008, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.