Week of July 6 to July 12 (Rhoades)

Tropic Cinema’s Lineup Is Hot As a Firecracker

Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades

Now that you’ve been satiated with mustard-laden Fourth of July hot dogs and ear-shattering fireworks, it’s time to settle down again with an entertaining movie. And this week the Tropic Cinema has a wonderful selection to choose among.
Top of my list is “Before Midnight,” the third film in Robert Linklater’s trilogy about an American guy and a French gamin who meet on a train in the first film (“Before Sunrise”), reunite nine years later in the second film (“Before Sunset”), and now another nine years later are married (“Before Midnight”). Yes, I couldn’t resist checking in on Jesse and Celine (played each time by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy). You should too. Flick Filosopher calls it “Witty, wise, and -- most important of all -- truly romantic in ways that movies usually aren’t.” Ozus’ World opines that “the acting, the dialogue and direction are superb.” And Birmingham Mail says, “Hawke and Delpy are as believably real as any screen couple can ever be.”
Also worth your time is “Much Ado About Nothing,” Shakespeare’s comedy as told in modern-times by Josh Whedon. Yep, he’s the guy who directed the “Marvel’s Avengers” blockbuster, but don’t let that deter you from thinking he can’t handle the Bard. Detroit News tells us that it’s “a delightful mix of the modern and the Elizabethan, a sort of do-it-yourself re-imagination of a true comic classic.” And Chicago Sun-Times says, “The magic holds. It holds from beginning to end.”
You still have “The East,” Britt Mayling’s tale about an investigator who infiltrates an eco-terrorist group only to discover she agrees with them. Little White Lies describes it as “a zeitgeist-grabbing indie spy thriller exploring the rise of techno-savvy anti-authoritarian movements lurking in the darkest recesses of the Internet.” And Boston Globe nails it as “a watchably confused eco-thriller that's never sure who its heroes are.”
Also as a late show you can catch Sofia Coppola’s flashy film about “The Bling Ring,” five wealthy-but-not-wise kids who burglarize celebrities’ homes just for the fun of it. No, it doesn’t end well for them, as you may recall from the newspaper headlines about this true story. Time Out calls it “a funny, snarky, bang-on portrayal of the freakiness of celeb obsession.” And Richard Roeper reminds us that “Emma Watson is comedic gold.”
Rounding it out the lineup is “This Is the End,” the apocalyptic comedy where a number of real-life comics (including Seth Rogan, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, and Craig Robinson) party at James Franco’s mansion while the world comes to an end. Slate declares, “True to its subject matter, it’s as funny as hell.” Quad City Times calls it “profane, shocking, and absolutely hysterical.” And the Guardian sees it as “just one great big goofy joke.”
Just like those recent Fourth of July firecrackers, you’re sure to get a bang out of these five flicks.
srhoades@aol.com