6 films to see on the week of July 1-July 8, 2016
The Achy Breaky Hearts
DIRECTOR: Tonette Jadaone directs this Star Cinema romantic comedy about a 30-something year old woman with high standards who suddenly finds herself having to choose between two very desirable prospects. The film stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Ian Veneracion, and Richard Yap.
MTRCB Rating: PG
Before I Wake
A YOUNG COUPLE adopt an orphaned child whose nightmares manifest physically as he sleeps. Directed by Mike Flanagan, it stars Jacob Tremblay, Kate Bosworth, and Thomas Jane. “More than a horror film, this is a fantasy thriller with an original premise, but it’s ultimately forgettable,” writes Diana Sánchez Uranga of Cine Premiere.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
The Young Messiah
A RETELLING of the New Testament story of the early life of Jesus, directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, and starring Adam Greaves-Neal, David Bradley, and Sean Bean. “This uninspiring, borderline inept spiritual drama about the Son of God’s formative years preaches to the choir,” writes Keith Uhlich of the Hollywood Reporter.
MTRCB Rating: PG
The Trust
TWO POLICE officers unsatisfied with their careers attempt to pull a heist on a criminal’s mysterious vault. Directed by Alex Brewer and Benjamin Brewer, The Trust stars Elijah Wood and Nicolas Cage. “Cage supplies a stream of tension-defusing laughs while the script steadily applies the screws, but this disposable exercise in comic nihilism offers only a modest payoff at best,” writes Variety’s Justin Chang, though the Chicago Sun-Times’ Richard Roeper notes that “Wood and Cage have a terrific dynamic together.”
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Worry Dolls
A BOX of voodoo dolls are the trigger for a bloody crime. Then somehow the daughter of the investigating detective snags one of the dolls and all hell breaks through. Directed by Padraig Reynolds, it stars Christopher Wiehl, Kym Jackson, and Tina Lifford. “Reynolds having a great eye for gore, utilizing some unusual tools along the way and not shying away from making the suffering look genuinely painful… What is less convincing is the supernatural element that gets awkwardly explained,” writes the reviewer from horrorcultfilms.co.uk.
MTRCB Rating: R-16
Pinocchio
A MIX of computer graphics and live action tell the story of a puppet who comes to life and his adventures on this way to becoming a real boy. Originally a German TV show, it stars Inka Friedrich, Mario Adorf, and Sandra Huller.” “The effects are not always entirely convincing… Otherwise, however, the implementation of the classic children’s book is very nice, especially younger viewers will have fun with the varied adventures and the tourist class humor,” writes Oliver Armknecht of film-rezensionen.de.
MTRCB Rating: G
