Mr. Movie: ‘The Choice’ doesn’t offer much choice
I don’t read Nicholas Sparks books, so I can’t say he ought to stop writing. I am, however, familiar with all of the movies made from his books, and I can say for certain they ought to stop making them.
His latest book turned-to-movie is The Choice. This one is directed by Ross Katz, who was a producer for Lost in Translation. Copying that film’s style, Katz’s movie is gorgeous. Slow and dreamy shots of North Carolina Coast inlets, marshes and deltas and surrounding scenery are spectacular.
Dreamy works for material like this, but slow does not, and this one is painfully slow. It’s — like all Sparks’ works — a love story. Travis is played by Benjamin Walker (In the Heart of the Sea). He’s a player who meets and falls in love with Gabby. She’s played by Point Break’s Teresa Palmer. Their relationship is sky high love at first and turns tragic as the movie moves forward.
Maybe “moves forward” is misleading. There is little movement, and the acting is as tragically bad as the tragedy befalling the characters. My recommendation for your weekend movie choice? Skip this one.
The Choice
Director: Ross Katz
Stars: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Tom Wilkinson, Alexandra Daddario, Tom Welling
Mr. Movie rating: 1 star
Rated PG-13 for mature themes. It’s playing at Regal’s Columbia Center 8, the Fairchild Cinemas 12, the Fairchild Cinemas Queensgate 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen.
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it’s your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 7:05 AM with the headline "Mr. Movie: ‘The Choice’ doesn’t offer much choice."