NEW THIS WEEK
Opening dates are subject to change.
ALLSWELL IN NEW YORK Two sisters (Elizabeth Rodriguez and Liza Colón-Zayas) and their sister-in-law (Daphne Rubin-Vega) navigate the challenges of motherhood and family. R (for language). 95 mins. At Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley.
BOOKWORM An 11-year-old girl (Nell Fisher) has her life turned upside down when her mother is hospitalized and her estranged father (Elijah Wood), a washed-up magician, agrees to take her on a camping trip to search for a mythical beast. Not rated. 103 mins. At the Angelika Dallas.
(A) CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID! This revealing and fascinating documentary follows outspoken Democratic political consultant James Carville as he navigates the current political landscape and plays a pivotal role in urging President Joe Biden not to seek re-election. It’s a treat for political junkies. Not rated. 98 mins. At the Angelika Dallas.
(A) DAAAAAALÍ! Multiple actors portray surrealist artist Salvador Dalí in this daffy and delightful French comedy-drama. In French, with subtitles. Not rated. 77 mins. At the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
(A) EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS In this powerful drama, a painter (André Holland) has his career ascent interrupted by an unexpected visit from his estranged father (John Earl Jelks), a recovering addict who’s eager to reconcile with his son. The film sends you out on a note of hope, but it’s not exactly a feel-good movie. R (for profanity, alcohol and drugs, mild violence and gore.) 117 mins. In wide release.
GOODRICH After his wife enters a rehab program, a man (Michael Keaton) is left to care for their two young children alone. He leans on help from his adult daughter from his first marriage, Grace (Mila Kunis), as he strives to become the father that Grace never had. Also starring Andie MacDowell and Carmen Ejogo. R (for some language). 111 mins. In wide release.
GRACIE AND PEDRO: PETS TO THE RESCUE In this animated tale, a pampered show dog and a street-smart alley cat embark on an unexpected adventure after they’re separated from their family during a cross-country move. Featuring the voices of Danny Trejo, Bill Nighy, Susan Sarandon, Alicia Silverstone, Brooke Shields and Al Franken. PG (for mild action, peril and rude material). 87 mins. In wide release.
KENSUKE’S KINGDOM In this animated family adventure film, a boy and his dog are shipwrecked on a remote island and encounter a Japanese man who has lived there in secret since World War II. Featuring the voices of Cillian Murphy, Raffey Cassidy, Sally Hawkins, Ken Watanabe and Aaron MacGregor. PG (for violence, thematic content and peril). 85 mins. In wide release.
PANDA PLAN Movie star Jackie Chan sets out to rescue a beloved panda in this action-adventure flick from China. In Mandarin, with subtitles. Not rated. 99 mins. At Cinemark Legacy in Plano.
(B) RUMOURS While attending the annual G7 summit, the clueless leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies get lost in the woods in this very funny, truly silly dark comedy. The whole thing sometimes feels like a skit show that just barely holds together until the filmmakers and cast bring it all home. Like the best comic fantasies, this satire has more than a grain of tragic truth to it. Starring Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander, Rolando Ravello and Charles Dance. R (for some sexual content/partial nudity and violent content). 103 mins. In wide release.
SMILE 2 A pop star (Naomi Scott) experiences a series of increasingly terrifying and disturbing events in this horror thriller. Also starring Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley and Peter Jacobson. R (for strong bloody violent content, grisly images, language throughout and drug use). 127 mins. In wide release.
WE LIVE IN TIME Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield deliver quietly affecting performances in this time-hopping romance, experiencing the ups and downs of careers, childbirth, a cancer diagnosis and more. The story is charming, silly and sometimes cringey, and in the end it works exceedingly well because of the stars and their wonderful chemistry. R (for language, sexuality and nudity). 107 mins. In wide release.
COMING NEXT WEEK
CONCLAVE After a cardinal (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with leading the secretive process to select a new pope, he finds himself at the center of a controversy that could shake the foundation of the Catholic Church. Also starring Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini.
THE GOLDMAN CASE This French drama revisits the 1975 trial of leftist radical Pierre Goldman (Arieh Worthalter), who became a romantic figure and a hero of the intellectual left as he was subjected to police prejudice and antisemitism. In French, with subtitles.
LEAP OF FAITH This documentary follows a dozen Christian leaders over the course of a year as they seek to find common ground at a series of retreats in Michigan.
MAGPIE Married couple Anette (Daisy Ridley) and Ben (Shazad Latif) find their lives upended when their young daughter (Hiba Ahmed) is cast in a big-budget costume drama with an Italian movie star named Alicia (Matilda Lutz). Soon, Ben’s growing infatuation with Alicia puts their marriage on the brink.
1 MILLION FOLLOWERS A popular influencer invites a small-town woman (Shelley Q) to a mansion in Thailand for a chance to mingle with beautiful people and increase her own follower count to a million. But things soon take a dark turn. Also starring Evan Williams and Henry Ian Cusick.
VENOM: THE LAST DANCE Tom Hardy returns as the popular antihero in the final film in the Marvel trilogy.
YOUR MONSTER A down-on-her-luck actress (Melissa Barrera) forges a connection with a monster (Tommy Dewey) living in her closet in this romantic comedy/horror flick. Also starring Edmund Donovan.
CURRENT RELEASES
(B) ALIEN: ROMULUS Young space colonizers come face to face with a terrifying life form in the latest entry in the long-running franchise. The cast is appealingly plucky, and the screenplay is ruthlessly efficient while touching on recognizable themes from the series: pregnancy, feminine strength, and the clash between human and artificial intelligence. Starring Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson. R (for bloody violent content and language). 119 mins.
AM I RACIST? Conservative political activist Matt Walsh goes undercover to investigate and skewer diversity, equity and inclusion practices. PG-13 (for strong language, thematic material, some sexual references and smoking). 101 mins.
(B-) THE APPRENTICE In this spirited and entertaining docudrama, Sebastian Stan portrays Donald Trump as he builds his New York real estate business in the 1970s and ‘80s under the tutelage of infamous lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). For its first half, the movie is a knockout. Yet it never really solves the mystery of what Trump was thinking, deep down, when he chose to become Donald Trump. Also starring Maria Bakalova and Martin Donovan. R (for sexual content, some graphic nudity, language, sexual assault and drug use). 120 mins.
(A) BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE In this laugh-out-loud sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 Beetlejuice, three generations of the Deetz family return to Winter River. There, Lydia (Winona Ryder) has her life turned upside down when her teen daughter (Jenna Ortega) opens a portal to the afterlife, where the mischievous Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) awaits. Also starring Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe. PG-13 (for violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use). 104 mins.
BLINK This documentary follows a family taking a round-the-world trip to try to experience as much of the Earth’s beauty as they can before three of the four children lose their sight to a rare and incurable disease. PG (for thematic elements, some language and brief smoking). 84 mins.
(C) DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Two of Marvel’s most popular superheroes team up in this R-rated action-comedy flick filled with meaningless speeches, Hollywood inside jokes and zero-stakes fights. While it will probably amuse its target audience of comic book geeks and the terminally online, Deadpool and Wolverine is a whole lot of hot air and not much else. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Emma Corrin. R (for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references). 127 mins.
(C) DESPICABLE ME 4 Villain-turned-hero Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) would seem to have his hands full in this so-so sixth entry in the animated Minions franchise. His family keeps growing — in addition to wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) and three adopted daughters, there’s now the trouble-making Gru Jr. — and characters voiced by Will Ferrell, Sofia Vergara and Joey King are out to get him. The film is silly, breezy and not particularly memorable. PG (for action and rude humor). 95 mins.
THE FORGE In this faith-based drama, an aimless high school graduate (Aspen Kennedy) is challenged by his single mom and a successful businessman to chart a better course for his life. PG (for thematic elements). 123 mins.
I, THE EXECUTIONER In this action thriller from South Korea, a rookie detective and a veteran investigator team up to pursue a serial killer. In Korean, with subtitles. Not rated. 118 mins.
(A-) IT ENDS WITH US A woman (Blake Lively) overcomes a traumatic childhood to pursue her dreams in Boston in this twisty and affecting romantic drama based on a novel by Texas author Colleen Hoover. It’s an avid and emotional movie that pulls you right along. If you go in not knowing what it’s about, it may be even more effective. PG-13 (for domestic violence, sexual content and some strong language). 130 mins.
(B-) JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as the infamous Batman villain, who finds himself institutionalized and on trial in this uneven sequel. Lady Gaga is a compelling live-wire presence as his love interest, Lee, the character who will go on to become Harley Quinn. And the film’s splashy musical numbers have a vitality that the often dour film desperately needs. But the film feels narratively thin and at times dull. R (for some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality and brief full nudity). 138 mins.
(B-) MEGALOPOLIS Adam Driver stars in Francis Ford Coppola’s ambitious epic (self-financed to the tune of $120 million) that re-imagines the Roman Empire in a modern-day New York City on the brink of ruin. Megalopolis is anything but lazy, and while many of the ideas don’t pan out as planned, this is the kind of bold late-career statement that devotees wanted from the maverick filmmaker. Also starring Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza and Shia LaBeouf. R (for sexual content, nudity, drug use, language and some violence). 138 mins.
MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU’RE NEXT A high school student confronts a villain in the latest film in the Japanese anime series. PG-13 (for violence and bloody images). 110 mins.
(B) NEVER LET GO Halle Berry stars in this psychologically taut horror thriller about a woman who says she must stay connected to her twin sons (Anthony B. Jenkins and Percy Daggs IV) at all times because of an evil spirit. When one of the boys questions whether the evil force is real, it triggers a family crisis and a fight for survival. The actors’ performances are excellent; all that is lacking is a smart, satiating ending. R (for strong violent content and grisly images). 101 mins.
(B) PIECE BY PIECE This bright, clever and often adorable documentary uses Lego animation to examine the life of music star and cultural icon Pharrell Williams. But is it high concept or low? Like Williams, it’s a bit of both. PG (for language, some suggestive material and thematic elements). 93 mins.
(D+) REAGAN In this shallow hagiography of Ronald Reagan, Dennis Quaid offers a congenial impersonation but none of the 40th president’s folksy charisma. For a movie about the Great Communicator, the drama communicates surprisingly little about Reagan’s life, giving us the public moments and one-liners but little of actual substance. Also starring Penelope Ann Miller, Jon Voight, Kevin Sorbo and Mena Suvari. Not rated. 135 mins.
(B) SATURDAY NIGHT Director Jason Reitman’s comedy-drama, based on what happened during the night of the 1975 opening show of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, is as entertaining as a movie can be that has no genuine point beyond nostalgia. Starring Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt and Matt Wood. R (for language throughout, sexual references, some drug use and brief graphic nudity). 109 mins.
(B) SPEAK NO EVIL An American family is invited to spend the weekend at the country estate of a British family they befriended on vacation. But their dream holiday turns into a nightmare in this film that works best when it focuses on the Americans’ escalating fears before it collapses near the end. But for a good three-quarters of the way, this Blumhouse production is an entertainingly elevated genre piece. Starring James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy and Aisling Franciosi. R (for some strong violence, language, some sexual content and brief drug use). 110 mins.
(B+) THE SUBSTANCE In this stylish body horror film, a fading celebrity (Demi Moore) decides to try a black-market drug that claims to produce a younger, better version of herself (Margaret Qualley). Moore imbues her character with a visceral desperation, one that enriches the unsettling undercurrents of the film as it examines society’s ghoulish obsession with youth and beauty. Also starring Dennis Quaid. R (for strong bloody violent content, gore, graphic nudity and language). 140 mins.
(A) SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY This moving, wrenching and compellingly well-made documentary examines the late Superman star’s rise from unknown to iconic movie star, and his second act as an activist and advocate after being paralyzed in a near-fatal horse-riding accident. PG-13 (for some strong language and thematic elements). 104 mins.
TERRIFIER 3 After surviving a massacre by Art the Clown, two siblings struggle to rebuild their lives and embrace the holiday spirit. But the killer clown unleashes a new round of horrors on Christmas Eve. Starring Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton and Jason Patric. Not rated. 125 mins.
(B+) TRANSFORMERS ONE This animated film tells the origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, who were close friends before becoming sworn enemies. While still delivering the fun and excitement expected of Hasbro’s metamorphosizing robots, Transformers One approaches the well-known characters with a degree of nuance and complexity that marks their most sophisticated onscreen portrait to date. Featuring the voices of Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne and Jon Hamm. PG (for sci-fi violence and animated action throughout and language). 104 mins.
(B) WHITE BIRD A woman (Helen Mirren) tells her troubled grandson (Bryce Gheisar) the story of how she survived in Nazi-occupied France thanks to the kindness of a local family in this refined adaptation of a young adult graphic novel. Mixing the Holocaust and teen romance, the period piece hits the desired poignant and inspirational notes without belaboring them. Also starring Ariela Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Gillian Anderson, Jem Matthews and Olivia Ross. PG-13 (for some strong violence, thematic material and language). 120 mins.
(A-) THE WILD ROBOT In this gorgeous computer-generated cartoon with a human heart beating beneath its state-of-the-art surface, an intelligent robot named Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) is shipwrecked on an island and begins to build relationships with the island’s animals while caring for an orphaned baby goose. There’s never been an animated movie that reflects the world in quite this way. While the animals are somewhat disappointingly designed, the expressionistic environments can take your breath away. Also featuring the voices of Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Catherine O’Hara and Bill Nighy. PG (for action/peril and thematic elements). 101 mins.
Compiled from staff and wire reports
