Will’s Pick: Drive

Since Ryan Gosling is seemingly in a new movie every month it was only a matter of time before I picked a movie in which he was starring, in this case the movie is Drive. Carey Mulligan (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy) also have starring roles in the fast-paced action flick.

Driver (Ryan Gosling) is a professional stuntman by day and a “professional” getaway driver by night – I assume that explains the moniker. He doesn’t care what his employers are using his services to getaway from he only focuses on his expertise. I assume everything doesn’t run according to his plans because this movie would be more tutorial than potential blockbuster.

With the box office being held captive by the anti-human Contagion at the moment I don’t see an action film that isn’t starring “Autobots” or superheroes from the ranks of “Marvel” or “DC” taking over the reins immediately but it still looks like a solid action movie to start the Fall.

Nicole’s Pick: Straw Dogs

Straw Dogs is a remake of the 1971 film of the same name, which can mean either a colossal win or loss. The film stars James Marsden (X-Men, Sex Drive, Gossip, etc.), Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns, Rules of Attraction, The Horse Whisperer, etc.) and Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman from True Blood). This movie isn’t intended to be sexy, but what they have on their hands is a cast that provides eye candy for everyone. Thank you, sincerely.

Moving on to the plot, David (Marsden) and Amy Summer (Bosworth) are a married couple who move back to Amy’s hometown. Once there, Amy’s high school sweetheart, Charlie ( Northman Skarsgård), tries to win her back and this is where the “thriller” portion of the movie kicks in. As David attempts to keep Charlie far, far away from his wife, the tension builds between the couple and the locals of their Mississippi home. Early reviews note that the violence of the original is still intact. And any Truebie knows that Skarsgård does violence very, very well. Straw Dogs isn’t going against any huge new openings this week and if you’re in the mood for guaranteed violence, this could be your best bet.