KANSAS CITY, Mo —
1) GONE GIRL (R)
20th Century Fox
RUSS
Salacious? Yes. Lurid? You bet. Far fetched? Absolutely. “Gone Girl” is all of those things. And this adaptation of Kansas City native Gillian Flynn’s novel is also one of the best and most entertaining movies of the year.
SHAWN
‘Gone Girl’ is a stunning and breathtaking cinematic tour de force that redefines the definition of tense and edgy.
RUSS
Director David Fincher’s riveting and whip smart mystery thriller is a well-acted and meticulously constructed mind mender that also serves as a sharp critique of the scandal-obsessed media. “Gone Girl” could prove to be a star-making vehicle for British actress Rosamund Pike.
SHAWN
‘Gone Girl’ is a masterpiece on every level. It’s eerily unsettling, somewhat profane and scarily memorable. Perfectly cast, even Tyler Perry, with a performance of the ages by Rosamund Pike that deserves Oscar glory. One of the most suspenseful movies ever made. And the best movie I’ve seen so far this year. Worth he price of admission, parking, dinner and baby sitting fees.
RUSS: 5 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 5 Popcorn Bags
2) THE GOOD LIE (PG-13)
Warner Brothers
RUSS
If good intentions and sociological import were all a movie needed to win audiences’ hearts and critical acclaim, then “The Good Lie” would clean up both at the box office and at the Oscars. This well-meaning drama tells the story of some of the Lost Boys of Sudan, a group of refugees who fled their war torn villages in South Sudan and wound up in, of all places, Kansas City.
SHAWN
“The Good Lie” is an important story that needed to be told but given the “Blind Side” treatment to make it digestible. Props to the Sudanese actors all of whom were non-professionals.
RUSS
This incredibly compelling story should have made for a riveting emotional experience, but the movie’s austere and leisurely approach prevents it from being as successful as it could have been.
SHAWN
“The Good Lie” May lack in execution and creativity but it has plenty of heart and is actually a compelling story.
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags
ALSO OPENING THIS WEEK…
-ANNABELLE is a horror entry inspired by the movie, “The Conjuring.”
-HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS stars Simon Pegg in the adaptation of a best selling novel about a psychiatrist who chucks it all and goes on a global quest for enlightenment.
-20 THOUSAND DAYS ON EARTH is a fictionalized documentary starring musician Nick Cave.
-LEFT BEHIND stars Nicholas Cage in a reboot of the Christian movie franchise based on the Biblical Rapture.
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