Kip Mooney
On Vacation And The Rest Of The Weekend’s New Releases.
Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation.
Director: Christopher McQuarrie.
Writers: Christopher McQuarrie, Drew Pearce.
Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner.
Playing At: Wide.
In my opinion, Mission: Impossible is the best modern movie franchise. Tom Cruise is absolutely in his element as agent Ethan Hunt, with each installment outdoing the last. While too many blockbusters get bogged down with seriousness or introducing new characters, Mission: Impossible is solely about the business of entertaining. What's Rogue Nation about? Who cares? Tom Cruise is hanging off a plane!
Vacation.
Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein.
Writers: John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein.
Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth.
Playing At: Wide.
It's wildly unnecessary, but there is a slim chance that this sequel/reboot will bring the laughs. Ed Helms is the perfect choice to be playing a corny dad like Rusty, driving his family across country to an amusement park, just like his own dad (Chevy Chase) did 30 years before. But it looks like Chris Hemsworth will steal every scene he's in as Rusty's well-endowed brother-in-law Stone.
A LEGO Brickumentary.
Directors: Kief Davidson, Daniel Junge.
Playing At: Angelika Dallas, Angelika Plano.
Jason Bateman narrates this documentary about the Danish toy's ascent from kid's plaything to the world's most valuable brand, which our own Javier Fuentes called “An imaginative look at the surprisingly complex toy.”.
Samba.
Directors: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano.
Writers: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano.
Cast: Omar Sy, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Tahar Rahim, Izia Higelin.
Playing At: Angelika Dallas, Angelika Plano.
The Untouchables is one of my favorite movies of all-time. It's a genuinely moving experience. Here, the directors of that film reunite with star Omar Sy, who plays the title character, an illegal immigrant living in Paris, that crosses paths with a workaholic woman (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Expect lots of heart and subtitles.
Irrational Man.
Director: Woody Allen.
Writer: Woody Allen.
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Parker Posey, Jamie Blackley.
Playing At: The Magnolia, Cinemark West Plano.
Even mediocre Woody Allen comedy still has some bright spots. But mediocre Woody Allen drama can be a real drag. Joaquin Phoenix plays a philandering professor who woos his student (Emma Stone) while plotting a murder. Can he kill me instead?
Güeros.
Director: Alonso Ruiz Palacios.
Writers: Alonso Ruiz Palacios, Gibran Portela.
Cast: Tenoch Huerta, Sebastian Aguirre, Ilse Salas, Leonardo Ortizgris.
Playing At: Texas Theatre.
After getting a little too mischievous at home, Tomas (Sebastian Aguirre) gets shipped off to stay with his collegiate brother Sombra (Tenoch Huerta). But it turns out Sombra isn't exactly the parenting type, preferring to crush on his friend Ana (Ilse Salas) and slacking off to doling out any discipline. Easy-going laughs and a good soundtrack are on the menu.
The Third Man.
Director: Carol Reed.
Writer: Graham Greene.
Cast: Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard.
Playing At: Texas Theatre.
Showings: Saturday, August 1; Sunday, August 2.
One of the greatest films of all time, The Third Man is a thrilling, twisty, frequently funny drama. Joseph Cotton plays a writer who shows up in Austria after hearing his friend Harry Lime has died. The investigation into his death turns up more questions than answers, leading to one of the greatest reveals in film history. And this isn't some dusty ancient film print. This one's been remastered in 4K, which means it's never looked better.
