Hey everybody! What’s going on in your world? Wait! Don’t tell me. I don’t really care. I kid, I kid. This weekend we have two (count them) two major releases… and very little else. Usually at this point I inform you about all the smaller films that are opening in and around the Sacramento area. Well, there isn’t anything new. Sorry about that. Call it the spring malaise if you will. You’re just going to have to settle with what is already out there. But as for those two new releases, go beyond the break and learn more…

In Wide Release…

WHEN IN ROME
I admittedly never witnessed the stardom of Kristen Bell by way of the cult favorite show Veronica Mars. I always heard many good things but never felt all that compelled to watch it since my distaste for most television prevents me from doing so. That said Bell is a very fetching young lady who has a spunk about her that will keep her relevant on the big screen for the while. After all, who else is going to fill in since Sarah Michelle Gellar is M.I.A. Where is that woman anyway? Anywho, Bell is going the Amy Adams route from a few weeks back and trying her hand at the romantic comedy. When in Rome is another one of those films where the beautiful woman can’t seem to find the right guy so she makes a wish to find said suitor only to have every guy around her vibing on her magical pheromones. At some point, Sacramento’s own Josh Duhamel slides in as the inevitable “right guy”. Uh….I‘ve said too much. This one will be avoided like the plague by yours truly.

EDGE OF DARKNESS
Ugh! Hate the title. Where was I? Mel Gibson returns after a near eight year absence as an actor to (ahem) Edge of Darkness, a movie about a father who investigates the death of his beloved daughter and learns more than he bargained for. We’re talking corporate cover-ups and government collusion here. Big yawn! On the plus side, the film is written by William Monahan who won Oscar gold for his work on The Departed. The real story here is the return of Gibson, all weary and pissed off looking for some vengeance for his departed daughter (snicker). I can’t say I’m all that psyched about seeing this. I’ve never been the biggest Mel Gibson admirer (though there are a handful of his films I enjoy), nor am I affected one way or another by director Martin Campbell being attached. Campbell for those not in the know directed Casino Royale, Goldeneye and the two recent Zorro flicks. If you liked those, then you may like this. Let me know what you thought of it OK?

In Limited Release…

NORTH FACE
Oh lookie! It’s a German mountain climbing movie based in the time of Nazism (the year is 1936). Yes please! Seriously though, it’s kind of interesting to see an actual German period piece not draped in Nazi uniforms (though the leads play soldiers apparently). It’s worth noting for me that one of the stars is Benno Furmann who was very good in a little seen movie from last year called Jerichow. That said, this movie being compared to Touching the Void since I considered that movie to be largely overrated. We’ll see….

SAINT JOHN OF LAS VEGAS
This movie wounded up as an “honorable mention” on my anticipated fall films list last year. It now finds its footing in the final days of January and the buzz is less than kind. Steve Buscemi plays a compulsive gambler who escapes Las Vegas to sell insurance. He soon however finds himself in a predicament where he has to return to Sin City to investigate a possible bout of insurance fraud. Sarah Silverman, Peter Dinklage and Romany Malco round out a promising cast in Hue Rhodes directorial debut. Based on that cast, I may throw caution to the wind and see the film regardless. That is if it ever ends up in Sacramento.

My Box Office Predictions…

Avatar should continue its reign at the top spot but this week it will be a lot closer. Mel Gibson’s return to acting should grab a reasonably big first weekend, but it won’t be enough to knock James Cameron’s monolith out of the top spot. The other new release When in Rome should dock into the third position, while holdovers Legion and The Book of Eli will grab spots four and five respectively.

1. AVATAR
2. EDGE OF DARKNESS
3. WHEN IN ROME
4. LEGION
5. THE BOOK OF ELI

Next week John Travolta and Nicholas Sparks kill people. Until then…