Sunday, September 22nd, 2024

EVIL DOES NOT EXIST - The Criterion Channel (Live, 8p ET/5p PT)

Synopsis: Takumi and his daughter Hana live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. One day, the village inhabitants become aware of a plan to build a camping site near Takumi's house offering city residents a comfortable "escape" to nature.

What we like:

• Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning Drive My Car won the Grand Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Award from the International Federation of Film Critics at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. It was awarded Best Film at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival.

• Hamaguchi started working on the film in January 2023, with the intention of it being a 30-minute short film accompanied by a live score composed by Eiko Ishibashi, the production ended up getting lengthier as the shoot went along and Hamaguchi decided to turn it into a feature film with dialogue.

• The film is streaming live on Sunday night, and will be available to stream on demand starting October 1st.

What we don’t like:

• The ambiguous nature of the ending may frustrate some viewers. But let’s be honest, if you’re watching a Ryusuke Hamaguchi film, you’re likely fine with not having everything spelled out for you.

Tuesday, September 24th, 2024

THE FRONT ROOM - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Synopsis: Everything goes to hell for newly-pregnant Belinda after her mother-in-law moves in. As the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda must draw the line somewhere.

What we like:

• Pop singer Brandy gets her very own prestige A24 horror film, though this one isn’t quite as highbrow as some of the distributor’s other genre titles.

• The voice of Kathryn Hunter! The actress so memorably played all three witches in Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth (she won the NYFCC Best Supporting Actress prize), and had an unforgettable role in last year’s Poor Things. Her rasp adds fantastic flavor to every film she’s in.

What we don’t like:

• We haven’t gotten a chance to check it out, but it sounds like the film leans more towards dark comedy than horror. Also…it has a tremendous amount of poo. If that’s not your thing, maybe steer clear.

THE THICKET - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Synopsis: An innocent young man, Jack, goes on an epic quest to rescue his sister Lula after she has been kidnapped by the violent killer Cut Throat Bill and her gang. To save her, Jack enlists the help of a crafty bounty hunter named Reginald Jones, a grave-digging alcoholic son of an ex-slave, and a street-smart prostitute. The gang tracks Cut Throat Bill into the deadly no-man’s land known as The Big Thicket — a place where blood and chaos reign.

What we like:

• A passion-project for lead Peter Dinklage, this Western thriller is adapted from the novel of the same name by Joe R. Lansdale. Lansdale is likely best known for his Hap & Leonard book series, which was turned in to an underrated (and under-seen) television series on the Sundance Channel.

• The supporting cast is stacked with talented actors, including Juliette Lewis, Arliss Howard, Macon Blair, Esmé Creed-Miles, and Metallica’s James Hetfield.

What we don’t like:

• This handsomely mounted, well-reviewed film was snickered at for being labeled ‘A Tubi Original Film.’ Much like any film under the ‘Ketchup Entertainment’ banner, there is an unconscious bias. But we should applaud distributors that put up the money for passion projects.

Wednesday, September 25th, 2024

INSIDE OUT 2 - Disney+

Synopsis: Teenager Riley's mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.

What we like:

• The sequel to the beloved 2015 film Inside Out, Inside Out 2 continues the story of Riley, who is now a 15-year-old teenager. The film explores the new challenges and emotional complexities Riley faces during her adolescence, including the introduction of four new emotions: Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos!)​

• How hungry are families for quality movies? Starving! The box-office stats on this one are insane. It’s the highest grossing domestic animated film of all time (surpassing The Incredibles). It’s on track to double the worldwide gross of its predecessor (currently at $1.67B). Pixar needed a hit, and they got one…big time.

What we don’t like:

• Following a dispute over pay, both Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling declined to reprise their respective roles as Fear and Disgust; they and the rest of the returning cast (except Amy Poehler) were reportedly offered $100,000 each. Let us reiterate: the film made $1.67B. Pay your talent, Disney.

Thursday, September 26th, 2024

KILLER HEAT - Prime Video

Synopsis: An expat PI is hired to investigate a suspicious death in Crete, Greece, where jealousies run deep amongst the victim's powerful family.

What we like:

• Our needs aren’t complicated. Give us a pulpy crime thriller based on a Jo Nesbø short story (The Jealousy Man), throw in three attractive leads (Gorden Levitt, Woodley, Madden) and set it in Greece. We’re in.

• Nesbø is the author behind the Harry Hole book series, which spawned the unforgettable (for all the wrong reasons) 2017 film The Snowman. We’re hoping this one is significantly better, or as entertainingly bad.

What we don’t like:

• The stupid hat Gorden-Levitt is wearing on the poster.

• The title, which gives us Red Shoe Diaries vibes.

Friday, September 27th, 2024

APARTMENT 7A - Paramount+, TBD Sale Only

Synopsis: When a struggling, young dancer suffers a devastating injury, she finds herself drawn in by dark forces when a peculiar, well-connected, older couple promises her a shot at fame.

What we like:

• This prequel to 1968’s classic Rosemary’s Baby finds Julia Garner in the role of Terry Gionoffrio, who makes a brief appearance in the original Polanski film.

• Double Oscar-winner Dianne Wiest takes on the role of Minnie Castevet, which won Ruth Gordon the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

• We’re big fans of director Natalie Erika James’ previous film, the 2020 psychological horror drama Relic.

What we don’t like:

• These prequels that examine minor characters from beloved films never really get us excited. We know their fate, where’s the tension?

• Reviews out of Fantastic Fest have been mixed. We’ll still check it out.

ODDITY - Shudder, AMC+

Synopsis: After the brutal murder of her twin sister, Darcy goes after those responsible by using haunted items as her tools for revenge.

What we like:

• Directed by Damian McCarthy, Oddity is a supernatural horror film from Ireland that centers on Darcy, a blind medium and curio shopkeeper, who is grieving the brutal murder of her twin sister, Dani. A year after Dani's death, Darcy uses a collection of haunted artifacts to seek vengeance on those responsible for her sister's murder​.

• Carolyn Bracken, who was featured in the Oscar-nominated Irish film The Quiet Girl, stars in a dual role as both Dani and Darcy.

• The film premiered at this year’s SXSW Festival and won the Audience Award in the Midnighter section. It also won the Audience Award at this year’s Overlook Film Festival.

What we don’t like:

• The film got a nice wide release in theaters, but failed to become a Late Night with the Devil or In a Violent Nature-sized hit, earning only $1.1M at the box-office. Still we love that IFC Films is giving these titles proper theatrical releases!

REZ BALL - Netflix

Synopsis: After losing their star player, a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage must bounce back to keep their championship dreams alive.

What we like:

• From Native American (Navajo) filmmaker Sydney Freeland, this basketball drama is based on the nonfiction novel Canyon Dreams by New York Times journalist Michael Powell.

• LeBron James is a producer on the film, which premiered at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and got very positive reviews.

What we don’t like:

• The film was co-written (with Freeland) by Sterlin Harjo, who co-created the fantastic FX series Reservation Dogs. Harjo got his one-and-only Emmy nomination for the show this year when it was nominated for Best Comedy Series. Sadly, he (and the show) lost.

SLEEP - $16.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Synopsis: Hyun-su and Soo-jin are newlyweds. Seemingly out of nowhere, he starts talking in his sleep. “Someone’s inside.” From that night on, whenever he falls asleep, he transforms into someone else with no recollection of what happened the night before. Soo-jin is overwhelmed with anxiety that he’d hurt her family while she sleeps and can barely sleep a wink because of this irrational fear. Despite sleep treatment, Hyun-su’s sleepwalking only intensifies, and she begins to feel that her unborn child may be in danger…

What we like:

• This South Korean black comedy/horror mystery world premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival in the Critics’ Week section. And the critics sure did like it!

• Director Jason Yu was Bong Joon-ho’s assistant director on 2017’s Okja, and director Bong was mighty impressed with his protege’s work, calling it: "the most unique horror film and the smartest debut film I've seen in 10 years". High praise!

What we don’t like:

• This is the final film role of Lee Sun-kyun before his passing in December 2023. The actor shot to fame in Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite, and was investigated for possible use of recreational drugs in late 2023. The onslaught of media attention and social media commentary are said to have driven the actor to commit suicide. It’s a terribly sad and frustrating story, and director Bong himself lead protests in light of the incident.

UNSUNG HERO - Starz

Synopsis: When David Smallbone's successful music company collapses, he moves his family from Australia to the United States in search of a brighter future. With nothing more than their six children, their suitcases, and their love of music, David and his pregnant wife Helen set out to rebuild their lives from the ground up. Based on a remarkable true story, a mum's faith stands against all odds; and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs.

What we like:

• We love a rags to riches story! This one follows follows Rebecca, Joel, and Luke Smallbone of the group For King & Country, and their life journey to become Christian recording artists.

• Donny Most, better known to us as Ralph Malph from the television series Happy Days, has a small role in the film. He’s billed as Don Most, which is understandable. Much like Debbie Gibson transitioned to Deborah Gibson, artists must sometimes shed their adolescent nicknames to be taken seriously.

What we don’t like:

• We’re not huge fans of Candace Cameron-Bure, who has a supporting role in the film. Her brand of soft bigotry cloaked in Christian morality sucks.

WILL & HARPER - Netflix

Synopsis: When Will Ferrell's good friend Harper comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip to bond and reintroduce Harper to the country as her true self.

What we like:

• Josh Greenbaum, director of the comedy classic (we said it!) Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, directs this road-trip documentary, which follows Will Ferrell and Harper Steele on a 17-day journey across the US.

• Steele was a writer at SNL while Ferrell was cast member, and the two co-wrote the comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Steele reached out to Ferrell among other friends during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 to inform them of her intention to go through gender transition.

• The film was extremely well-received when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year, and is considered a strong contender in the Best Documentary Feature Oscar race.

What we don’t like:

• A trip to an Amarillo, Texas steakhouse is featured in the film, and the social media response to the appearance featured the usual swell of tired transphobia.

WOLFS - Apple TV+

Synopsis: Two rival fixers cross paths when they're both called in to help cover up a prominent New York official's misstep. Over one explosive night, they'll have to set aside their petty grievances–and their egos–to finish the job.

What we like:

• Two Michael Claytons for the price of one? That’s the pitch in this George Clooney/Brad Pitt action comedy. Inspired by real life Hollywood fixer Paul Barresi, the actors play fixers who prefer to work alone, but find themselves forced to work together after being hired for the same job.

• Yes, yes…Pitt and Clooney were fantastic together in the Ocean’s trilogy. But can anything in Wolfs top the last time the two actors shared the screen:

What we don’t like:

• In August 2024, six weeks before its release, Apple announced its decision to pivot from a wide release to a limited release on the same date. The New York Times noted that Sony, who had agreed to distribute the film and split the marketing costs with Apple, was set to begin a national marketing campaign during the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, Zack Van Amburg, who oversees Apple's entertainment programming, canceled those plans, as Apple executives hoped "to not risk a public disappointment should the movie not succeed at the box office".

• The ‘Really it’s so good, we’ve got a sequel in the works’ announcement was not very convincing. And yet! Reviews out of the Venice Film Festival were decent.

Saturday, September 28th, 2024

ASPHALT CITY - Hulu

Synopsis: A young paramedic is paired with a seasoned partner on the night shift in New York revealing a city in crisis. Discovering the chaos firsthand, he is tested with the ethical ambiguity that can be the difference between life and death.

What we like:

• Sean Penn (who replaced original star Mel Gibson) and Tye Sheridan star in this ‘Training Day for Paramedics’ story, with a cast that includes Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston, and Mike Tyson (!).

• Kali Reis, who was just Emmy-nominated for her breakout performance in True Detective: Night Country, has a supporting role in the film.

What we don’t like:

• Premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival under the title Black Flies, this New York City-set EMT thriller received mixed reviews, with many critics citing its unrelentingly grim tone.

Happy Streaming Everyone!

*We are an Amazon affiliate, and do receive a very small commission for any purchases made from this website. If you’d like to support our work, and you’re looking to buy through Amazon, we’d appreciate it if you’d click through.