November 11, 2011 - 2:10pm
Weekend Movie Guide: Leo does 'J. Edgar,' Sandler's twin travesty
BY ADITI MISHRA
Judging by the looks of films opening today, we’re about to be faced with yet another mediocre, albeit diverse, week in cinema. From biographical dramas to “300”-esque fantasy adventures, this spicy mix should satisfy most, probably unseasoned, palettes.
Perhaps the epic savior of this week — or by measure of expectations, an epic disaster — might be Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar.” The reason for these lofty expectations is no doubt this film’s stellar cast. With Leonardo DiCaprio (“Inception”), Naomi Watts (“King Kong”) and Armie Hammer (fresh from his “I’m six-foot-five, 220 pounds, and there’s two of me” glory from “The Social Network”) in tow, this film will deliver on the acting even if the script falters. That said, the volatile life of J. Edgar Hoover and his controversial journey from the offices of the FBI to the White House is an exciting premise that shouldn’t disappoint.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have yet another collaboration between director Dennis Dugan (“Just Go With It”) and Adam Sandler (“Just Go With It”) in the form of “Jack and Jill.” Sandler plays an advertising executive who dreads Thanksgiving, an event that re-unites him with his passive-aggressive sister Jill. Best case scenario, this’ll be another mediocre Adam Sandler holiday-season comedy for the family. But there’s one catch — Jack and Jill are both, to much cringe-worthy dismay, played by Adam Sandler. And the unhappy connotations this has to Tyler Perry’s “Madea” series and Eddie Murphy’s “Norbit” are too grave to discard.
“Immortals” is probably the only guaranteed entertainer and box-office gold coming out this week. Filmed in 3-D and based loosely on the Greek myths of Theseus and the Minotaur, this film promises action, special effects and gore — a recipe sure to attract hordes of action and fantasy fans. But it’s in no way new or unique. “Immortals” will be hard-pressed to live up to the hype of “300,” and Luke Evans (“Clash of the Titans”) and Henry Cavill (“Stardust”) in lead roles won’t bring anything new to this genre. Still, it might be worth watching simply for some cheesy, 3-D fun.
