Thisweek we have another unnecessary remake, The Magnificent Seven (54), which itself was a remake of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. Word is that this will be a huge hit, breaking the September record for openings. I guess that’s due to Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. I will likely pass. Matt Singer: “The group…make a fine crew. But the rest of the movie doesn’t find enough interesting wrinkles on the old formula to merit a reboot.”
The only other major release this week is for the kids, Storks (56). Do kids still think storks deliver babies? I think that was on its way out when I was a kid. But it’s apparently valid enough to make a movie. Interestingly, the stork myth goes back to ancient civilizations, and is present in the Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies. Neil Genzlinger:”This film, directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland, is a harmless enough way to occupy a youngster for an hour and a half. It’s just not especially rich in extraordinary characters or moments.”
A couple of limited releases hit here today. The more fascinating may be Max Rose (37) Jerry Lewis’ first film in twenty years. He’s 90, and many fans of Borscht Belt shtick are still obsessed with him, but he kind of rubs me the wrong way. His best appearance, other than The Nutty Professor, was in Scorsese’s King of Comedy. Glenn Kenny: “As conventional and stiff as Max Rose itself is, Lewis’ performance in it is full of virtues: he’s committed, disciplined, and entirely credible.”
Finally is The Hollars (53), directed by actor John Krasinski about a gasp! dysfuctional family. The only reason to see it may be Margo Martindale, a long-overlooked character actress who is getting early Oscar buzz. Marjorie Baumgarten: “A standard-issue family reunion dramedy, The Hollars has several genuine moments of human interaction that are near-magical to observe because they feel so plucked from real life.”
Gone Elsewhere 