Psychotic roommates, underground caves and stepmothers take over Friday and Saturday
Associated Press
This weekend brings another stellar round of movies to local theaters, including dramas and a 3-D adventure movie.
Big names like James Cameron and Natalie Portman hit the big screen in two movies: Sanctum for Cameron and The Other Woman for Natalie Portman. While fans of both are excited for these latest releases, these two are relatively quiet compared to previous works. Portman’s “Black Swan” earned her a Golden Globe and a Screen Actor’s Guild, while “Avatar” won three Oscars last year.
Here’s the lineup of this weekend’s movies.
The Roommate (R)
What it’s about: Two college roommates, Sara and Rebecca, start their freshman year as friends. But soon Rebecca, who is emotionally unstable, starts to obsess over Sara’s life, family and other friends. The weird antics start with Rebecca obsessing over when her roommate’s coming back to their dorm. It progresses to Rebecca stalking Sara’s boyfriend in the library and eventually attacking one of Sara’s other friends in the shower.
Why you should see it: Leighton Meester’s performance as a psychotic college roommate is convincing, and one well worth seeing on the big screen. For those who like Meester’s role on Gossip Girl, this movie might be one to skip out on unless you can handle scary.
Starring: Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly, Alyson Michalka, Cam Gigandet and Danneel Harris.
Sanctum (R)
What it’s about: Frank McGuire, a deep-sea diver, attempts to be the first to explore the biggest underground cave system in the world. With a group of friends including his financier and his 17-year-old teenage son, he sets out on what he sees as the last place left on the planet to explore. When a massive flood blocks the way they came in, the group is forced to swim with the underground river to the sea.
Why you should see it: If you like underground adventure stories like The Core, then this larger-than-life movie is for you. James Cameron’s vision of otherworldly scenes trickles down from his vision for Avatar, although “Sanctum” isn’t as good as Avatar. For the more phobic audience members ”” if claustrophobic situations in movies make you uncomfortable, forego this one.
Starring: Richard Roxburgh, Ioan Gruffudd, Alice Parkinson, Rhys Wakefield, Christopher Baker and Dan Wyllie.
Waiting for Forever (PG-13)
What it’s about: Childhood friends Emma and Will spend every minute together ”” until Will moves away. Years later, they both come back to their hometown and reunite as adults. Will expects their long-lost friendship to grow into a relationship, but Emma gave up on Will years ago. The contradiction of their expectations grows makes for a good “Will-they-won’t-they” story.
Why you should see it: For moviegoers who love to be in love, ‘Forever’ is a romantic film that won’t disappoint. More critical audience members will notice that most of the actors throw themselves into their roles, with the exception of Rachel Bilson. She doesn’t live up to the emotional capacity of her character the way Bilson’s on-screen love, Tom Sturridge, does.
Starring: Tom Sturridge, Rachel Bilson, Blythe Danner, Richard Jenkins, Matthew Davis, Jaime King, Scott Mechlowicz and Jaime King.
The Other Woman (R)
What it’s about: Emilia, mistress-turned-second-wife to businessman Jack, tries to fit in with her husband’s son as she tries to figure out how to handle her new family with Jack’s old one. While she and Jack grieve the death of their first baby, she tries to become the mother she wants to be by spending time with her stepson, William.
Why you should see it: “The Other Woman,” the third Natalie Portman film to be released in two months, features nothing short of exemplary work on Portman’s part. Her role as young stepmom to a stubborn preteen son creates a heartstring-tugging connection with her character.
Starring: Natalie Portman, Lisa Kudrow, Charlie Tahan and Scott Cohen.