This week’s column talks about a variety of movie genres from horror to dramedy and even a Western. Victor Frankenstein chronicles the tale of the origins of the famous monster from Igor’s perspective. Burnt follows a ruined chef, who looks to revamp his life and career by creating a top restaurant. Finally, The Hateful Eight tells the story of a group of bounty hunters caught in a blizzard in post-Civil War Wyoming and their fight to stay alive. All three films have incredibly popular celebrities in their casts with sizable fan bases, which is sure to pack in crowds on each movie’s opening day. In addition, all three flicks have distinctive plots that will also bring moviegoers to their local theaters. Also, the celebrities in these films are taking on roles that are outside their usual movie genre comfort zone, which could be either beneficial or detrimental to their careers.
Victor Frankenstein is a dramatic horror film starring Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy and Downton Abbey’s Jessica Brown Findlay. In this version, the creation of the legendary Frankenstein monster by Dr. Victor Frankenstein (McAvoy) is told from the outlook of the doctor’s assistant, Igor (Radcliffe.) The motion picture’s trailer illustrates how the renowned and feared monster came to life, but through the eyes of Dr. Frankenstein’s assistant, Igor. Both Radcliffe and McAvoy infuse their characters with such depth and emotion in their quest to create human life that admirers of both actors are guaranteed to flock to see this movie as soon as possible. It opens on Wednesday, November 25.
Burnt is a dramedy starring Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Uma Thurman, Emma Thompson, Ex Machina’s Alicia Vikander and Downton Abbey’s Lily James. Cooper plays chef Adam Jones, who destroyed his career through his drug use and diva-like behavior. Yet, upon returning to London, he endeavors to revitalize his career by creating a restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars, a great feat in the culinary world. The flick’s trailer shows Jones’ journey to fashion a restaurant worthy of one of the highest culinary awards in existence. It opens in theaters on Friday, October 23.
The Hateful Eight is a Western starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Channing Tatum, Samuel L. Jackson, Justified’s Walton Goggins, Michael Madsen, Selma’s Tim Roth and Kurt Russell. Directed by Quentin Tarantino and set in post-Civil War Wyoming, the film tracks a group of bounty hunters in search of shelter when a deadly blizzard hits. This gritty Western’s teaser trailer displays the harsh terrain as the group finds each other and deals with severe weather conditions in addition to duplicity and dishonesty in their battle to stay alive. It opens in theaters on Friday, January 8, 2016.