XD Now Playing
The Conjuring: Last Rites
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Elliot Cowan
Director: Michael Chaves
• 135 min
Hamilton
Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr.
Director: Thomas Kail
• 160 min
Now Playing
Jaws
Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
• 124 min
Caught Stealing
Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz
• 107 min
Weapons
Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich
• 128 min
The Roses
Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg
Splitsville
Adria Arjona, Dakota Johnson, O-T Fagbenle
Nobody 2
Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, Bob Odenkirk
Freakier Friday
Chad Michael Murray, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan
• 100 min
Light of the World
David Kaye, Adam Kozlick
84 min
Honey Don't!
Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans
• 88 min
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn
• 115 min
The Bad Guys 2
Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson
• 104 min
The Naked Gun
Liam Neeson, Paul Walter Hauser, Pamela Anderson
85 min
Coming Soon
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Joely Richardson, Joanne Froggatt, Michelle Dockery
The Long Walk
Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Infinity Castle
Natsuki Hanae, Saori Hayami, Akari Kitô
One Battle After Another
Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro
Anemone
Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Bean, Samantha Morton
After the Hunt
Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri
Movie Guru's Current Movie Briefs
Since I write many of these briefs the day before the movies are released, what we have here are mostly ruminations on movies I have not yet seen. You will have to decide for yourself if these briefs have any value. I believe the less you know about a movie, the better chance you might enjoy it to the upside. Too many reviewers seem to go out of their ways to ruin for you with way too much information your upcoming movie experience. In fact my D graded Master’s Thesis proposed that reviews should be embargoed until after the opening weekends allowing moviegoers to see the movies fresh and without plot summaries taken right out of the press kits.
- The Conjuring: Last Rites
It looks the same as all the others – maybe more serious and less scary. Since it is the finale, expect the producers to come up with prequels and spin-offs.
- Splitsville
I am thinking that this is the movie for me. Another small independent film by and with unknown to me actors, writers and director. But the premise is great. Save your marriage by opening it up so to speak. In other words permanent hall passes. If this isn’t going to make you laugh, nothing will.
- Hamilton
The original Broadway rendition that played on TV about five years ago. If you want to experience an award winning terrific musical, then this is where you want to be. Presented in our XD theater the presentation will be equal to The Smith Center or any performance on Broadway. This experience is for everyone.
- The Roses
This British remake of the Danny DeVito and Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner War of the Roses stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, two excellent actors in movie marital difficulty. I have to recommend the original War of the Roses. Crazy and fun. This also looks crazy and fun but in two different trailers I felt like every possible joke was shown. Of course maybe there is so much more in the actual movie. I hope so.
- Caught Stealing
I am afraid. What will auteur director Darren Aronofsky do with hot young actor Austin Butler? Based on the previews I am worried that this will be an out of control exaggeration of so many off the wall action films that have failed since the early days of the Coen Brothers. I still want to see it and hope for the best.
- Eden and Honey Don’t
Outlook.com ate the two briefs for these two movies. What you missed was my feelings about Ron Howard’s many attempts at filming a movie classic when he has already participated as Opie in a classic that will outlive us all. Meanwhile my Honey Don’t brief compared the split of filmmaker brothers Joel and Ethan Coen creators so many great films among which would be The Big Lebowski, Barton Fink, Fargo, No Country For Old Men, ad infinitum. Then along comes Margaret Qualley aka Yoko Ono and steals Ethan away and Joel and Ethan are now focused on their solo careers. And here Ethan again makes what looks like another Drive Me Dolls failure but without the dildos while Joel is out working on his Shakespeare adaptations. Meanwhile the third new release Relay directed by David Mackenzie who directed Hell and High Water from Taylor Sheridan’s script is likely the movie of the three most worth seeing.
- Relay
If you have never heard of this movie or seen the trailer without searching for it on your computer, join the club. But if you notice that the film is directed by David Mackenzie, he who marvelously directed Taylor Sheridan’s great script for Hell and High Water, then you should watch Hell and High Water on your TV and visit the movies to see what Mackenzie is up to with what looks like more gritty tour de force opportunities for the actors in Relay.
- Nobody 2
Better Call Saul returns as the mild mannered father and husband who we learned in the first Nobody is not who he seems to be. That was the key to the enjoyment. Now we know that he is a bad ass. We return to number two because we want to see him beat bad guys to a pulp, another version of the genre that the John Wick series has made so popular.
- East of Wall
This is a film that grabs me with its horses and modern day ranching. It seems not to be a Western, and I know nothing of it except it was well regarded at the Sundance Film Festival. Probably not a film for those who long for Marvel and DC, but definitely a must for those who have no need for the usual suspects. And don’t be fooled by its smallness that makes you think that you can catch it on TV. The trailer shows a view of the West that deserves the big screen.
- Weapons
I admit to covering my eyes during the most violent scenes, but of course the most chilling moments are the children moving in the same direction. Julie Garner as the female lead is definitely moving up the ladder as a singular actress. I look forward to her moving out of independent films and playing with the big boys. Josh Brolin is just fine as the male lead. He is a professional who fills every role as well as his father ever did. The movie seems to be a critical winner. How everybody jumps on a bandwagon is beyond me. The movie is interesting with both highs and lows. It is worth a visit for moviegoers who aren’t turned off by violence
- Freakier Friday
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back in this sweet and enjoyable follow up to the original. I may have nodded off somewhere in the middle, and I never watched the original until recently. In fact I would recommend watching the first one either before attending this latest. Or if you have already seen the latest, visit the streaming world and watch the first. If you are a fan, that will be a double treat.
- Bad Guys 2
Written by Michael Harris
DreamWorks Animation is responsible for movies that are either critically acclaimed or with high box office sales. Sometimes films, such as Bad Guys 2, have the potential to be both. While this movie is not particularly impactful or philosophical, not all films need to be. It knows that its place is being a silly and entertaining movie that does not feel overly immature. Bad Guys 2 guarantees enjoyment with impressive animations, emotional characters, and professional voice acting. The entire goal of the film is to be amusing, even if this leads to deviations in art style at certain points and an illogical plot. This film does fall short in character development amongst many plot twists, as even though a lot happens throughout the events of the story around the characters, they themselves do not really change. I sincerely believe Bad Guys 2 is the best children’s movie that has been released this summer and is worthwhile for the whole family. - Naked Gun
Reboots are all the rage. Some flop (e.g. Smurfs). Some take off (e.g. Fantastic 4). And this is neither. This is what is referred to as a legacy sequel, Liam Neeson playing the son of the original detective Frank Drebbin in all his doofus glory. Hopefully the funniest parts have not been spoiled as is often the case with comedy trailers. If you are in the mood for slapstick absurdity, this should be just the movie for you.
- Fantastic Four: First Steps
Written By Michael Harris
Fantastic Four: First Steps feels more authentic than most Marvel movies, as it does not expect previous knowledge about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, given that it is a reboot, or force the audience into liking the characters. Instead, it succeeds in telling a compelling, unique story with meaning deeper than expected. However, Marvel’s shift in attention created previously unseen problems for a superhero film: the characters are flat, dialogue is dull, and the story is much slower than it should be with only a few distinguishable events. The graphics, while impressive, are not justified with such a low amount of action. Ultimately, by trying to make a creative reboot, producers have changed the identity of The Fantastic Four to more of a family drama than an action movie. It is your decision whether you want to be a part of this new direction for the franchise. - Superman
Written By Michael Harris
It feels like DC films have constantly been testing the waters lately. Due to the company’s many box office flops in recent years, DC decided that it would be in their best interests to reboot the franchise under James Gunn and Peter Safran. Superman plays it safe and uses what they know will work. With high stakes, honorable characters, and incredible graphics, the viewer is compelled to be invested in the story and its characters. However, the would-be dramatic scenes are undercut by the feeling that they were specifically made for the trailers, the main characters are seemingly one-dimensional even among moral dilemmas, and many subplots feel like they were cut. Still, Superman (2025) has a sort of originality that impresses me, even though its characters have been reused for decades. Overall, Superman is definitely a worthwhile watch for new and old fans alike as DC starts its new chapter. - Jurassic World: Rebirth
Written by Michael Harris
Hollywood is no longer about risks. Its new blueprint for success is to make a sequel, spinoff, or a new film by a popular director. Unique ideas will never make the cut. People enjoy seeing large scale dinosaurs and the Jurassic Park franchise is the only series with a large enough budget to do this. Jurassic World: Rebirth continues the formula with entertaining dinosaur chases and jump scares, without being too gory for the family. However, it tries to make too many characters complex, resulting in none of their subplots feeling very meaningful. The film seems to combine two different plots just to fulfill a long run time, which prevents any creative ending from being made. Everything is predictable in this movie, and logical fallacies are made just to make the story work. However, it is a Jurassic Park movie, and sometimes knowing what you are going into prevents disappointment. - F1
Written by Michael Harris
F1 does not recreate the wheel but refines it. It takes the successful pieces of other franchises and joins them together in order to appeal to a wide audience. The protagonist, Sunny Hayes (Brad Pitt), fills a John Wick archetype, where his growth to become the best at what he does is not shown, but left to imagination in the form of a legacy. Because the film was by the director of Top Gun Maverick, it was given the technical tools to make it appear accurate to real life Formula 1 racing. However, the movie still feels unrealistic due to its downplaying of the dangers of racing and a predictable story. Filled with unnecessary subplots and a long two and a half hour run time, F1 loses most of its emotional impact, but is still an overall good action movie that is worth watching. - Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Tom Cruise is a brute. In his Mission Impossible movies his stunt work really is impossible. The movies themselves have deteriorated over time, but the action is young Jackie Chan but with millions of dollars in preparation and invention backing up every death defying moment. This “final” impossible and the one before ir are more than I can handle though I am sure I will leave the theater in awe of an old man astounding us all.
- The Surfer
Another Nick Cage movie comes out of nowhere. And I am glad. Cage continues to step up to the plate and hit homers in movie after movie surrounded by young filmmakers all putting forth maximum efforts creating low budget genre hybrids. I could tell you a little bit about this movie but, as always, the less you know the better.
- A Complete Unknown
Written by Holiday Season Intern Michael Harris
I am not going to pretend I can give A Complete Unknown due justice. Going into this film, I knew nothing about who Bob Dylan was or the 1960s, specifically the Cold War. However, this movie spoke for itself. With the outer appearance of a well-made romance drama, it is packed with a deeper meaning. A Complete Unknown is the story of people finding something to put their hope in during a time where uncertainty imprisoned the world. They were looking for freedom, and this well-made film questions what this truly means. No matter how much or little you know about this movie, you will be touched.