by George Wolf
WARM BODIES
Around the time Twilight ruined vampires and werewolves, horror fans began to cling to zombies as the only real monsters left. You can’t Twilight a zombie, right? They aren’t wolf-boys who can’t keep their shirts on, they are stinking, rotting corpses out to eat your brain. Nothing romantic there.
If you’re thinking, “What about zombie Michael Jackson from the “Thriller” video?” I say, good point, but Zombie MJ was more dancer than romantic lead.
Well, it took Hollywood a while to catch up, but Warm Bodies shows they have figured out how to Twilight a zombie. They even hired that girl who looks exactly like a blonde Kristin Stewart (Teresa Palmer) to play romantic lead in this teen romantic comedy version of Romeo and Juliet.
Of course, in this particular case Romeo (Nicholas Hoult, “Beast” from X-Men: First Class) is a reanimated corpse that the young ladies should have no problem swooning over.
Working from Isaac Marion’s novel, screenwriter/director Jonathan Levine (50/50) mines adolescent anxiety for a sweetly charming if less than thrilling romance. Hoult is instantly likeable, while Rob Corddry and Analeigh Tipton draw a few chuckles.
While Warm Bodies falls far short of the greatest romantic comedy with zombies, Shaun of the Dead, it is harmless fun that would serve as a fine date night for the younger crowd. 3 stars (out of 5)
RUST AND BONE
Why do strangers Stephanie and Ali form such a fierce bond in Rust and Bone? Stephanie (Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard) trains orcas and struggles with tragedy, while Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts) lives in the present moment, accepting any offer, opportunity or bit of fun that presents itself without a thought of the consequences to himself or his young son.
Writer/director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet) doesn’t provide all the answers in his challenging exploration of their relationship. His drama, in French with subtitles, is a gritty, punishing tale of sexual redemption between two broken people unconventionally well suited to each other. The chemistry between the leads keeps the film taut, and Audiard’s wandering storyline and loyalty to his characters forever surprises. 4 stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyAJDL3mTxI