This week's new movie releases - Rotten Tomatoes

This week's new movie releases - Rotten Tomatoes

There are three films in national release: one at a blockbuster level; one wide; one limited.

Taken 3. You know what this is. The critics say the filmmakers didn't even try with this one. (18% positive reviews, 3600 theaters, PG-13)

Inherent Vice. Thomas Pynchon's novel of incoherent genius adapted into a suitably incoherent film, but with only a smattering of the original genius. Some critics liked it, but a lot of that was the effect of PT Anderson's halo. I love his films, too, in general, but not this one. There are touches of Pynchon's mad humor, but many scenes are slower than tectonic shifting and the alleged plot is (a) almost impossible to follow, and (b) not worth the effort it would take to figure it out. (68% positive reviews, 600 theaters, rated R for - among other things - a great full-frontal nude scene with Katherine Waterston. So it has that goin' for it. Which is nice.)

Selma is a powerful recounting of the achievements of MLK. (98% positive reviews, 2100 theaters, PG-13)

Taken 3 should grab first place with a gross in the high twenties or low thirties.

Selma is expected to finish second by grossing in the mid-teens.

Inherent Vice is unlikely to make the top ten. It will probably gross $2-$3 million.