Reel News: Week of March 24 — Noah, Sabotage, The Lunchbox, The Wolf of Wall Street

Upcoming Theatrical Releases

Noah
Director: Darren Aronofsky
PG-13; 131 mins.
Trailer

Russell Crowe stars as Noah in the film inspired by the epic story of courage, sacrifice and hope. (Synopsis by Paramount)

While it has some flaws, Aronofsky differentiates this telling from other Biblical films with his artistic touches. It is stunning in scope, while at the same time being introspective and intelligent. See it.

Sabotage
Director: David Ayer
R; 110 mins.
Trailer

In “Sabotage”, Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite DEA task force that takes on the world’s deadliest drug cartels. When the team successfully executes a high-stakes raid on a cartel safe house, they think their work is done – until, one-by-one, the team members mysteriously start to be eliminated. As the body count rises, everyone is a suspect. (Synopsis by Open Road)

The story is more of a take on Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” than the drug cartel action romp it is being sold as. If you are coming for bullets, blood shed, and Ahhh-nald one-liners, you might be disappointed. Rent it.

The Lunchbox
Director: Ritesh Batra
PG; 104 mins.
Trailer

Middle class housewife Ila is trying once again to add some spice to her marriage, this time through her cooking. She desperately hopes that this new recipe will finally arouse some kind of reaction from her neglectful husband. She prepares a special lunchbox to be delivered to him at work, but, unbeknownst to her, it is mistakenly delivered to another office worker, Saajan, a lonely man on the verge of retirement. Curious about the lack of reaction from her husband, Ila puts a little note in the following day’s lunchbox, in the hopes of getting to the bottom of the mystery. This begins a series of lunchbox notes between Saajan and Ila, and the mere comfort of communicating with a stranger anonymously soon evolves into an unexpected friendship. Gradually, their notes become little confessions about their loneliness, memories, regrets, fears, and even small joys. They each discover a new sense of self and find an anchor to hold on to in the big city of Mumbai that so often crushes hopes and dreams. Still strangers physically, Ila and Saajan become lost in a virtual relationship that could jeopardize both their realities. (Synopsis by Sony Classics)

A romantic comedy that is slow to develop, but is still touching and personal enough to make you stick around. It is slightly bittersweet and genuinely funny at points. See it.

Upcoming DVD Releases

The Wolf of Wall Street
Director: Martin Scorsese
R; 179 mins.
Trailer

Martin Scorsese directs the story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort. From the American dream to corporate greed, Belfort goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s. Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title “The Wolf of Wall Street.” (Synopsis by Paramount)

A magnificently filthy black comedy with characters that will intrigue or repulse you with their depravity. The problem is there isn’t much to recommend it other than reveling in the excess. See it. Just don’t be this guy.