This week: train pain, the worst years of most people’s lives, and a controversial movie hits the theatres.

BOX OFFICE WINNERS AND LOSERS

What I like to call the August virus has hit October with a questionable ferocity, that it’s almost sad. There’s still not much happening at the box office – though October shows some promise with quite a few films expected to seize the day. Deepwater Horizon is number one at the box office, drawing in nearly $27 million for its efforts in its first week out. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is number two, while The Magnificent Seven, Sully and Storks come in at three, four and five, respectively. Sully and Storks have been at the box office for what’s felt like a lifetime, and The Magnificent Seven is enjoying its second week in theatres.

OUT IN THEATRES

The Girl on the Train

Based on the novel by Paula Hawkins, and probably known more for its Gone Girl feel than anything else, the film stars Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett (who sure has come a long way from the film Music and Lyrics), and Justin Theroux. Blunt plays Rachel, a long-suffering alcoholic who can’t let her ex-husband go. She often calls him, much to the ire of his new wife, Anna. When Tom and Anna’s former nanny, Megan Hipwell (Bennett) goes missing, and Rachel finds out she may somehow be involved, she decides it’s up to her to find out what exactly happened to Hipwell – and to also remember what happened that night (because, conveniently, she can’t remember).

My review for the film can be found by clicking here. 

The Birth of a Nation

This is the controversial film I alluded to in our opening. Not because of the content, but because of who directed – and acted in the film. Nate Parker made headlines earlier this year after rape allegations against Parker that were first brought against him back in 1999. The person who co-wrote the script was also allegedly involved, and, while the duo were both acquitted, there has been enough scrutiny against Parker to have people taking their two cents on the whole thing to Twitter.

This film is about Nat Turner, a slave who led a rebellion back in 1831. It’s seen a lot of Oscar chatter, and is being compared to films like Selma and 12 Years a Slave. 

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life 

In what is essentially every rebellious kid’s dream, Rafe Katchadorian (played by Griffin Gluck) aims to break every single one of his principal’s rules. This is also based on the novel of the same name by James Patterson (yes, the Alex Cross James Patterson). I don’t know how to feel about that.

TRAILERS THAT HAVE PEOPLE TALKING

John Wick Chapter 2

It started off with a man and his dog…and now it’s about a man…and his suit? The trailer will have its debut at New York Comic Con.

You can also expect to learn more about Resident Evil: the Final Chapter, and War For the Planet of the Apes after their respective new trailers debut at NYCC, too.

Here’s a super-tease for War For the Planet of the Apes.

OUT ON BLURAY, DVD, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Earlier this week, there were a lot of 4K re-releases – they included The Great Gatsby (Leonardo di Caprio, Joel Edgerton), Pacific Rim (Charlie Hunman, Idris Elba) and Jupiter Ascending (Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis). 

Next week, we’ll see a lot of summer fare in our living rooms: The Legend of Tarzan, Ghostbusters, and Ice Age: Collision Course are all available on various platforms.

And here’s a Flashback Friday for you: The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons are both getting re-releases. The Da Vinci code is getting a tenth anniversary re-release, while Angels and Demons gets a 4K Ultra Bluray release. Both are conveniently out just a few weeks before Inferno hits theatres.

TAKE A LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT BELOW!

 

The Reel Report: Don’t Get On The Train…Unless It’s Cheap! https://t.co/RaC0SBvwKA

— Ria Renouf (@RiaCKNW980) October 7, 2016