Opening This Week
Yassi Pressman in “Para sa Broken Hearted”
Para sa Broken Hearted
Directed by Digo Ricio; stars Louise delos Reyes, Sam Concepcion, Yassi Pressman, Marco Gumabao
Aspiring photographer, quirky artist, sensitive adventurer, go-getting girl and playboy jock discover the highs and lows of love. Flick is based on a popular novel by Marcelo Santos III, known for his hugot stories. Delos Reyes recalls: “I was excited to play a different kind of character. It’s not the usual broken-hearted film.”
Bryan Revilla in “Tres”
Tres
Directed by Dondon Santos, Richard Somes; stars Jolo Revilla, Bryan Revilla, Luigi Revilla, Assunta de Rossi
Three tales—“Amats,” “72 Hours,” and “Virgo”—tackle the dangers of illicit drugs. “It was fun and unforgettable, to get the chance to work with my siblings Bryan and Jolo,” Luigi recalls. “We really helped each other during filming. We gave our all to make our Papa (Bong Revilla) and Lolo Ramon proud of us.”
Tom Hardy in “Venom”
Venom
Directed by Ruben Fleischer; stars Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze
A journalist becomes a host to a powerful, symbiotic alien that bestows on him superhuman abilities. Screenrant.com’s Thomas Bacon remarks: “Some critics and fans may have written [it] off, but … the general moviegoers haven’t done so.” Commonsensemedia.org thinks it “looks darker than most of the Marvel films.”
Keanu Reeves (left) and Winona Ryder in “Destination Wedding”
Destination Wedding
Directed by Victor Levin; stars Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, DJ Dallenbach, Greg Lucey
Crabby guests at an out-of-town ceremony fall in love. Forbes’ Scott Mendelson quips: “If you like the idea of [the two] insulting each other … this is a genuinely funny treat.” Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers notes: “Natural charmers [are] challenged to bury any trace of their star shine. Mission accomplished. ”
Nicolas Cage in “Mandy”
Mandy
Directed by Panos Cosmatos; stars Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache
Outsider takes revenge on the sadistic cult leader who destroyed his peaceful life. New York Times’ Glenn Kenny raves: “Imagery is consistently unearthly; its pacing has a magisterial weight.” Newsweek’s Andrew Whalen agrees: “Every shot is composed with a directorial conviction heavy with hermetic knowledge.”
Little Italy
Directed by Donald Petrie; stars Hayden Christensen, Emma Roberts, Alyssa Milano
Boy and girl adore each other; problem is, they belong to feuding pizzeria families. Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz states: “A movie whose idea of both romance and comedy is stuck in 1985 … moldy.” Winnipeg Free Press’ Jill Wilson describes it as “a leaning tower of clichés built on a foundation of stereotypes.”
Buckout Road
Directed by Matthew Curie Holmes; stars Evan Ross, Danny Glover, Dominique Provost-Chalkley
College kids realize that the urban legends about America’s most haunted road are real. Pophorror.com’s Charlie Cargile says it “keeps moving at a steady pace [and has] a unique feel … keeps you on your toes.” Culturecrypt.com concurs: “Equally as entertaining as a creepy campfire tale, maybe mildly more believable.”
It Came From the Desert
Directed by Marko Mäkilaakso; stars Mark Arnold, Vanessa Grasse, Claudia Trujillo
Motorcross riders find themselves fending off giant ants. Sight and Sound’s Anton Bitel asserts: “Too adolescent … but for those still fixated on brewskies and fornication, [it] is a monstrously fun ride.” The Hollywood News’ Kat Hughes hails it as “campy, cheesy and oddly charming … a rare modern B-movie.”
