CultBox takes a look at this month’s cinematic highlights…
Riddick (15)
Release date: Wednesday 4 September 2013.
The Talent: David Twohy (Dir.), Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, Katee Sackoff.
The Plot: Richard B. Riddick returns to find himself stranded on a hostile planet where everything is out to kill him. His only hope of escape is to steal a ship belonging to a collection of bounty hunters that Riddick himself has summoned to the planet.
The Buzz: In the aftermath of The Chronicles of Riddick it seemed unlikely that we’d see the shaven-headed, sparkly-eyed anti-hero on the silver screen again. But with Diesel bagging the Riddick character rights as part of his Fast and Furious return deal it seems that anything is possible if you wait long enough (*closes eyes and crosses fingers* “Dredd sequel, Dredd sequel”).
Rush (15)
Release date: Friday 13 September 2013.
The Talent: Ron Howard (Dir.), Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde.
The Plot: It’s 1976 and James Hunt and Niki Lauda find themselves battling it out for the Formula 1 World Championship. Will the British playboy come out on top or will the analytical Austrian steal his thunder? Well … you could always just Google it.
The Buzz: Ron Howard returns to the realms of the real-life biopic with a high-octane tale of sporting rivalry that is both intelligent and thrilling. Starring everybody’s favourite (Days of) Thunder God (sorry) Rush is already being lauded for depicting possibly the most exciting racing footage ever committed to film. Whether you know what happens in the end or not this film has been garnering a lot of plaudits and could be a contender to be showered with champagne come Oscar night.
White House Down (12A)
Release date: Friday 13 September 2013.
The Talent: Roland Emmerich (Dir.), Channing Tatum, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx.
The Plot: On the very same day that Capitol police officer John Cale (Tatum) takes his daughter on a tour of the White House it gets attacked by terrorists and only Cale can rescue the President. Now, what are the chances of that?
The Buzz: White House Down’s John Cale is only an ‘M’ and an ‘N’ away from being the easiest anagram ever in Countdown’s ‘80s action hero special. This film is so derivative that it isn’t even the first terrorists-take-the-White-House movie this year. Having said that, if you’re enjoying the ‘80s action revival and thought Olympus Has Fallen was a misunderstood masterpiece then the heavyweight cast and action packed direction will more than satisfy your needs.
R. I. P. D. (12A)
Release date: Friday 20 September 2013.
The Talent: Robert Schwentke (Dir.), Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon.
The Plot: A recently murdered cop is recruited to the Rest In Peace Department and is partnered up with a long dead Old West lawman in this latest spin on the mis-matched buddy cop formula.
The Buzz: Ladies and Gentleman … this year’s winner of the Failed Comic Book Movie Adaption Starring Ryan Reynolds goes too… (drum roll) …R.I.P.D. It seems almost unbelievable that an actor with the talent and charisma of Reynolds has been unable to find a successful franchise to attach himself too. Now we can add R.I.P.D. to Green Lantern and the long promised, but ever elusive, Deadpool movie to the list of movies Ryan will rue. Reviews have been universally ‘meh’ and this film is less dead cool sleeper success and more Men in Black R.I.P.D.-off.
Runner Runner (15)
Release date: Friday 27 September 2013.
The Talent: Brad Furman (Dir.), Ben Affleck, Gemma Arterton, Justin Timberlake.
The Plot: Timberlake’s university student finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to juggle the FBI and Affleck’s dodgy online gambling magnate in this tense thriller from the director of The Lincoln Lawyer.
The Buzz: How much more business will this film make off the back of the recent announcement that a certain Mr Affleck will be pulling on the Bat tights in the Man of Steel sequel? Still, the talent on display here ensures that this film can be judged on its own merits.
Timberlake is never less than watchable and no matter what anyone says Affleck, with a few dodgy films aside, in an excellent actor who has shrugged off the Bennifer/Gigli years to emerge as probably the best actor/director since Clint Eastwood. Go watch this film and judge Affleck on his merits rather than his Daredevil past.
What are you looking forward to at the cinema this month? Let us know below…