Reel News: Week of Oct. 31 — Birdman, Nightcrawler, Before I Go to Sleep

Upcoming Theatrical Releases

Before I Go To Sleep
Director: Rowan Joffe
R; 1 hr. 32 mins.
Trailer

A taut thriller based on the worldwide best-selling novel by S.J. Watson, BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP is the story of a woman (Nicole Kidman) who wakes up every day with no memory as the result of a traumatic accident in her past. One day, terrifying new truths begin to emerge that make her question everything she thinks she knows about her life – as well as everyone in it, including her doctor (Mark Strong) and even her husband (Colin Firth). (Synopsis by Clarius)

This has all the right stuff to be enjoyable, but struggles to be anything more than average. The cliché premise is bad enough, but Joffe piles on with a lackluster adaptation. Skip it.

Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
R; 1 hr. 59 mins.
Trailer

BIRDMAN or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) – famous for portraying an iconic superhero – as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself. (Synopsis by Fox Searchlight)

Check out my review later this week on The Dagger.

Nightcrawler
Director: Dan Gilroy
R; 1 hr 57 mins.
Trailer

NIGHTCRAWLER is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling — where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou thrives. In the breakneck, ceaseless search for footage, he becomes the star of his own story. (Synopsis by Open Road)

Gyllenhaal pulls off a top-shelf performance in a tough role. This is a film that needs to be dark and the script delves relentlessly into that pit. Add some cynical commentary on media exploitation and this is the thriller that you want to check out this weekend. See it.

Upcoming DVD Releases

None of note.