Week of October 17 - 23 (Rhoades)

Tropic Overview

Tropic Cinema Offers An Array of Films

Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades

Film Critic, Cooke Communications

From cyberspace to outer space, from a walk among the tombstones to a funeral wake, Tropic Cinema offers quite an array of films this week.

"Men, Women & Children" is Jason Reitman’s look at how the digital world has invaded our personal lives. An ensemble cast (Adam Sandler, Judy Geer, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jennifer Garner et al.), each deals with online or mobile sex in his or her own way -- porn sites, sexting, you name it. Seattle Times says the movie is "crowded with characters and subplots, a few of which resonate -- but more often, an individual's story seems lost in the cyberflurry." And Times calls it "an interesting film to be made about our increasingly complex relationship with technology…"

"Guardians of the Galaxy" takes into the Marvel universe with Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and a ragtag gang of rocket-powered heroes. Film School Rejects describes it as "A vibrantly exciting, immensely entertaining and frequently hilarious sci-fi adventure." And Vanity Fair says "Guardians bounces with the energy of pure invention."

"This Is Where I Leave You" is a dark comedy about family in mourning (Jason Bateman, Jane Fonda, and Tina Fey among them).

"A Walk Among the Tombstones" is another actioner starring Liam Neeson, this time as an ex-cop working as an unlicensed private eye, on the trail of kidnappers who prey on drug dealers. Laramie Movie Scope calls it "modern, gritty film noir storytelling." And Richard Roeper dubs it "a stylish and smart thriller."

"Hector and the Search for Happiness" stars Simon Pegg as a British shrink who sets off to China and other faraway ports in search of the meaning of happiness. You know where he finds it, don’t you? Beliefnet describes it as "a gentle fable." And Kaplan vs. Kaplan sums it up as "brilliant."

"The Two Faces of January" wraps up the lineup, a thriller based on a Patricia Highsmith novel. Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, and Oscar Isaac face off in this tale of con artists and intrigue in Greece. Minneapolis Star Tribune sees it as "a stylish directorial debut for screenwriter Hossein Amini." And Birmingham Mail describes it as "a sumptuous film to watch."

You’ll find lots to watch here.

srhoades@aol.com