Nerve

After a run-in with mistruths, the Catfish guys succeeded again… if they were dared to make a film that follows neither common sense nor its own logic. Somehow they struck a nerve and still racked up viewers, perhaps due to the flashy look, successfully and ironically substituting style for content.

August: Osage County

A-list episode of family feud is another solid stage-to-screen adaptation, with obligatory exterior additions to make it a movie.  Struggles a bit with pacing and a clunky ending.  Mulroney plays the only flat note, while Cumberbatch and Nicholson’s amazing performances are overshadowed by strung out Streep and raging, running-things Roberts.

Due Date

Phillips’ follow-up film feels like bad hangover after great party. Foxx is Downey’s downfall and Soloist isn’t an isolated incident. Someone skipped script revision process and just threw two great actors into wacky situation with hope that it would work out. Poorly conceived, premature comedic bastard with appropriately terrible delivery.

Whip It

Barrymore directs herself, the unknown Wilson, and 30 actresses under 30 in this oddly compelling roller-derby romp. Juno plays an adorable Rocky on wheels who rockets the feisty ducks derby team to a rock-n-roll season in this fairly formulaic coming of age tale. Co-stars Juliette Clueless and Marcia Gay Hardass.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

Depp and Dicaprio spend time At World’s Endora before taking their careers to the seas. Young Romeo is so powerful that he inspires Scissorhands to embarrass himself in Benny and Joon, and Lewis sets in motion a string of trailer trash performances. Quirky Dewey and Willard are overshadowed by mother.