“I'm still here.”
Directed by Walter Salles, this political drama follows a family whose lives are disrupted by a series of disappearances during Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s.
From our review:
“I'm Still Here” is not presented as a simple polemic about historical and political circumstances. That is the secret of this work's worldwide appeal. The film is also a moving depiction of how politics disrupts and reshapes the domestic sphere, and how solidarity, community, and love are the only viable paths to living through tragedy. It is also a portrait. And he warns against trusting those who try to erase or rewrite the past.
At the theater. Read the full review.
A romance that leaves something unsatisfying.
'I wish you were here.'
Directed by Julia Stiles, this romance tells the story of Charlotte (Isabel Fuhrman) who falls in love with Adam (Mena Massoud), a nice guy with baggage.
From our review:
Charlotte insisted early on that “finding a guy on a dating app doesn't determine the direction of your life.” Those familiar with the rules of the genre will know that this is intended as dramatic irony. But by the end of “Wish You Were Here,” I still wasn't sure she had actually found direction and purpose. Neither she nor Adam were convinced that they were as good as they claimed.
At the theater. Read the full review.
Relationships can be rocky.
“Wolf Man”
In this thriller directed by Leigh Whannell, Blake (Christopher Abbott) and Charlotte (Julia Garner) undergo a terrifying transformation when they hole up in the woods in hopes of repairing their marriage.
From our review:
In some ways, “The Wolf Man” is a generic, not particularly scary, cabin-in-the-woods horror that relies far too much on creepy lighting and deafening sound effects. Despite some dangerous moments, the film lacks the gangbuster pacing and psychological perversion that made “The Invisible Man” such a rush. …And yet the extreme pathos of Blake's plight is palpable, and Whannell is determined to make us feel it.
At the theater. Read the full review.
critic's choice
Broken characters, rich comedy.
“One of Them Days”
Kiki Palmer and SZA star as roommates on a reckless adventure to get enough cash to pay the rent.
From our review:
Borrowing from slacker and stalker comedies, “One of Them Days” is a ticking search for cash, complete with periodic freeze frames informing the women of how much time is left until they are evicted. But the film's great accomplishment is that it rarely descends into gory or injurious gags. …Director Lawrence Lamont and screenwriter Syreeta Singleton find the best humor on a character level in the clever dialogue and sharp dialogue from the entire ensemble.
At the theater. Read the full review.
The usual suspects (too).
“Return to activities”
In this action comedy directed by Seth Gordon, former spies (Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx) must come out of retirement to protect their children.
From our review:
Characters who seem designed more as replacements for future series than as a necessity for the current series… Back in Action has a cast that outperforms its (often eccentric) screenplay. I have it. Most of the time, familiarity is sacrificed.
Watch it on Netflix. Read the full review.
A thrilling thriller from Belgium.
“Night Call”
Directed by Michel Blanchard, this thriller finds Maddy (Jonathan Feltre), a locksmith in Belgium, drawn into a dangerous conflict during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests.
From our review:
The film may stick to the usual template of the average Joe getting sucked into the underworld, but Blanchard's snappy direction and the sheer mileage he gets from every corner of the city , this work has been pushed up to the totem pole of crime action. Even if you forget the details, you'll at least remember that it was a fun drive.
At the theater. Read the full review.
Consider this review a mercy murder.
“Aram”
Directed by Michael Polish, this bland action film follows rogue agent Joe (Scott Eastwood) on the run from assassin Chester (Sylvester Stallone), who is tasked with assassinating him.
From our review:
“Chester is dirty,” opines the grumpy boss. Perhaps, but he is not as chaotic as the script, which the author's common sense prevents me from naming. The bullet-riddled story, which traverses a bleak, undifferentiated Eastern European location (the less said about the cinematography, the better), is a flavorless salad of codenames and scavengers, drone strikes and gunfights.
At the theater. Read the full review.
Edited by Kelina Moore.
