The Grey took the #1 spot last weekend grossing $19.7 million knocking Underworld Awakening to 2nd place. At #3 was One for the Money taking in $11.5 million. Red Tails came in at #4 and Man on a Ledge took the #5 spot grossing $8 million. Last week we had 3 films open. Let’s see how well they did and if they are worth the money![1]
Note: We only review films in wide release.
The Grey – R – What’s the Buzz?
The Grey (starring Liam Neeson) is about an oil drilling team surviving in the Alaskan wilderness after their plane crashes. The Rolling Stone describes the film as “full of beauty and terror and a healing sense of grace, brings us face to face with our own worst fears.”[2] Click here to see the trailer.
So is it worth the money? Yes!
o Box Office Rank: #1
o Film Critics say: Metacritic – 64 (positive)
o Film Critics say: Rotten Tomatoes: 77% (fresh)
o Consumers say: Metacritic – 7.2 (positive)
o Consumers say Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
Man on a Ledge – PG-13 – What’s the Buzz?
This film is about a former police officer and now a wanted man (Sam Worthington) being talked down from the ledge of a high rise building by a police psychologist (Elizabeth Banks). As the film progresses things may not be as they first seemed. Roger Ebert felt like he was being “toyed with” when the movie “cuts back and forth between two preposterous plot lines and uses the man on the ledge as a device to pump up the tension.” [3]Consumers, however, still want to see it.
So is it worth the money? Maybe.
o Box Office Rank: #5
o Film Critics say: Metacritic – 40 (mixed)
o Film Critics say Rotten Tomatoes: 29% (rotten)
o Consumers say: Metacritic – 6.9 (positive)
o Consumers say Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
One For The Money – PG – 13 – What’s the Buzz?
One for the Money is about an unemployed and newly divorced woman, who convinces her cousin to give her a job in his bail bonding business. Her first case is to trail a former police officer, who is a suspect in a murder case, and is also her former romantic flame. Audiences seem to want to see this film even though it has a very low rating from the critics. The Los Angeles Times describes the move as an “ungainly mix of flat-footed gumshoeing and strained attempts at hilarity, all delivered with an unconvincing Joizy vibe.”[4]
So is it worth the money? Maybe!
o Box Office Rank: #3
o Film Critics say: Metacritic – 22 (negative)
o Film Critics say Rotten Tomatoes: 3% (rotten)
o Consumers say: Metacritic – 5.5 (positive)
o Consumers say Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
What’s opening in theatres this weekend?
Big Miracle (Latest review result- 68% Rotten Tomatoes)
Chronicle(Latest review result – 89% Rotten Tomatoes)
The Woman In Black (Latest review result – 69% Rotten Tomatoes)
comicreleaf
comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
Here is a really embarrassing story.
I saw “The Grey” where I don’t believe they ever defined what “the grey” was. If I’m wrong please someone correct me. My assumption was the wolves were grey or the atmosphere was grey. If you are in the southern or Caribbean part of the US, the sky is fairly grey the entire winter season, (like a rainy day). You may have never seen that but please, take my word for it.
I couldn’t believe how well-managed the wolves were. I spoke to Open Book about it, and she said they were fake wolves. “Ulp,” I’ve seen almost all of the Twilight movies at least 4 times and I still can’t distinguish a fake wolf. On top of that she thought they were poorly done. This is why I can’t patronize horror films; I am way too much of a sucker.
Liam and crew were great even if I didn’t philosophically agree with some aspects of the film.
* applause *
CR,
I’m going to let you guess which part of your paragraph I am applauding. You are a brave or masochistic soul. Hahaha!
I haven’t forgotten my EL&IC review…
Hi LB-
Great! Looking forward to your review. I have not seen the film yet and a little on the fence. So your review will be good.
Sorry, I meant to say;
If you are “NOT”in the southern or Caribbean part of the US, the sky is fairly grey the entire winter season, (like a rainy day).
CR-
I think the title is a description of the bleak grey winter of Alaska….
My point is ITA the title was never clearly defined. What were they referring to the weather or the wolves? Perhaps that was on purpose? Anyway, the reason I chose the weather because the wolves looked black to me. Like they were dipped in the Alaskan oil that’s so abundant there(product placement). LOL!! Plus u had two elements threatening the life of the antagonist (1. The weather and 2. The wolves). IMO!!
That’s cool with me.
CR-
Here is an article from National Geographic that might substantiate my comment about the wolves. I know it’s hard to see a film with me sometimes. Sorry!! But what I like about discussing a film with u is that your reactions are always open and pure and not jaded/cynical like mine….
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/03/would-real-wolves-act-like-the-wolves-of-the-grey/
Here’s another article. What do u think about this argument?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/29/the-grey-hollywood-s-big-bad-wolf-slammed-by-animal-rights-groups.html
OB,
Thanks for the extra information on wolves; it was helpful in judging the realism of the movie. Again, I guess this helps me appreciate the movie, though I thought I could enjoy it without the factual realism. Oh well, I met a few domesticated wolves and was surprised how much they are not like dogs.
Like you the wolf expert was extremely dismissive of the wolf portrayals.
In terms of good CGI wolves I thought the acting of a fake wolf was best portrayed in Katherine Hardwicke’s red riding hood. In terms of attitude, that wolf rocked.
OB,
Thanks for the secondary article. Sorry that PETA thought this film needed to be boycotted. They’re the experts on this kind of thing, and if they think this movie is bad for wolf conservation I imagine audiences should be more critical of their portrayals.