NEW THIS WEEK
Opening dates are subject to change.
BLACK ICE This Canadian documentary tells the stories of Black hockey players past and present and examines their experiences of racism in the predominantly white sport. R (for language including racial slurs). 97 mins. In wide release.
THE CHANNEL After their bank heist goes wrong, a desperate criminal, his out-of-control brother and their motley crew of ex-Marines must escape New Orleans and the determined FBI agent who pursues them. Starring Clayne Crawford and Max Martini. Not rated. 95 mins. At the Angelika Plano and Galaxy Grandscape.
(C) THE MIRACLE CLUB In this predictable comedy-drama set in 1967, three generations of close friends from Dublin have a dream: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French city of Lourdes. A sterling cast, including Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith and Agnes O’Casey, is capably guided through the motions by director Thaddeus O’Sullivan in this at times gently amusing and at other times modestly touching film. PG-13 (for thematic elements and some language). 91 mins. In wide release.
(A) MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Tom Cruise is back in the seventh Mission: Impossible adventure, performing a series of death-defying stunts involving trains, motorcycles and more as he battles an all-seeing, all-knowing artificial intelligence villain known as the Entity. Though the stunts are spectacular, Cruise’s incredibly expressive eyes are his greatest tool in performing them, and it’s the humanity that really makes things interesting. Also starring Hayley Atwell, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames. PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and action, some language and suggestive material) 163 mins. In wide release.
PSYCHO-PASS: PROVIDENCE Akane Tsunemori, chief inspector of Japan’s Public Security Bureau, investigates the death of a professor whose research papers could shake the government to the core in this sci-fi anime thriller set in the year 2118. R (for violence). 120 mins. In wide release.
THEY CLONED TYRONE A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (Terrell native Jamie Foxx, John Boyega and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this sci-fi comedy. Also starring Kiefer Sutherland. R (for pervasive language, violence, some sexual material and drug use). 122 mins. At the Landmark Inwood, Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley and iPic Fairview.
TWO TICKETS TO GREECE When childhood friends Magalie (Laure Calamy) and Blandine (Olivia Côte) cross paths after many years, they decide to finally take their dream vacation to Greece. Kristin Scott Thomas also stars in the comedy. In French with subtitles. Not rated. 110 mins. At AMC Mesquite.
COMING NEXT WEEK
BARBIE Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans. Anticipation of the movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, has built to a fever pitch. Read about early screenings, watch parties and other Barbie events here.
COBWEB In this horror thriller, 8-year-old Peter (Woody Norman) is plagued by a mysterious tapping from inside his bedroom wall — a sound that his parents insist is all in his imagination. As Peter’s fear intensifies, he believes that his parents (Lizzy Caplan and Antony Starr) could be hiding a terrible secret.
FEAR THE NIGHT An Iraqi war veteran (Maggie Q) prepares to strike back after armed intruders attack during her sister’s bachelorette party at a remote farmhouse in the California hills.
OPPENHEIMER Cillian Murphy leads a stacked cast — including Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Casey Affleck, Gary Oldman and Kenneth Branagh — in director Christopher Nolan’s study of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who led the Manhattan Project, which created the atomic bomb.
CURRENT RELEASES
(A) ASTEROID CITY The Southwest meets the celestial — and the stage — in Wes Anderson’s latest ditty. The setting is 1955 in a tiny desert town known as Asteroid City. In the main plot, a motley crew arrives for the Asteroid Day and Junior Stargazer celebrations only to become stranded after a shocking alien encounter. But the film is much more than that. Anderson deploys a framing device in which the action that unfolds is actually a play, being featured in a televised staging shot in black and white. As the story switches between the colorful world of Asteroid City and the artsy, bohemian New York City theater world, it feels like the movie of the summer, eerily tapping into the current news about UFOs, while synthesizing the retro pop styling of Barbie with the atomic age anxiety of Oppenheimer. Starring Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Steve Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe and Margot Robbie. PG-13 (for brief graphic nudity, smoking and some suggestive material). 104 mins.
(B-) THE BLACKENING Several Black friends gather for a Juneteenth weekend getaway and find themselves trapped in a remote cabin with a killer in this often hilarious film that uses humor to subvert horror. The Blackening started as a way to skewer a tired trope: the frequency with which Black characters are killed first in horror movies. Consider it not just a sendup, but a send-off to this old cliche. Screenwriter Dewayne Perkins gives a standout performance as one of the friends in the ensemble cast. R (for pervasive language, violence and drug use). 96 mins.
(B-) THE BOOGEYMAN Sophie Thatcher and Vivien Lyra Blair star as sisters traumatized by the recent death of their mother in director Rob Savage’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 1973 short story. Good but not great, the film vividly reminds viewers what it’s like to be afraid of the dark — but for better or worse, the effect doesn’t linger once the lights come back on. PG-13 (for terror, violent content, teen drug use and some strong language). 98 mins.
(A-) ELEMENTAL It’s fairly rare that animation studio Pixar makes a straightforward romantic movie, but that’s what we get in the visually dazzling Elemental, which features the forbidden love between two elements that don’t mix: fire and water. While the film is a truly eye-popping expression of animation technology, it’s the romance between Ember (Leah Lewis) and Wade (Mamoudou Athie) that makes Elemental worth your time, thanks to a romantic male lead who is sweet and adorable, a refreshing update to the proud, barrel-chested Disney princes of yore. PG (for some peril, thematic elements and brief language). 103 mins.
(C+) FAST X In the latest installment in the Fast and Furious action franchise, Dom (Vin Diesel) and his family are targeted by the vengeful son (Jason Momoa) of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes. Despite a change in directors (Louis Leterrier stepped in for Justin Lin), fans can rest assured that the Coronas are cold, booties are shaking and sleeves remain optional. Momoa turns in a wildly flamboyant performance as the new villain, and Leterrier is obviously having fun with the racing scenes as the camera swoops around windshields and wanders into windows to link various close-ups of the drivers. But the freewheeling treatment of the lore and characters may leave fans with more questions than answers. PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some suggestive material). 141 mins.
(B-) THE FLASH The speedster (Ezra Miller) uses his powers to travel to the past in an effort to prevent his mother’s murder, but he inadvertently creates a world where there is no Justice League; General Zod (Michael Shannon) from 2013′s Man of Steel is once again alive and intent on world domination; and in place of Superman, there is Supergirl (Sasha Calle). Adding to the discord is the inclusion of two different versions of Batman/Bruce Wayne: one played by Ben Affleck and the other by Michael Keaton. PG-13 (for sequences of violence and action, some strong language and partial nudity). 144 mins.
(B-) GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) leads his band of space misfits on a high-stakes mission in the latest superhero adventure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In his Marvel swan song, director James Gunn delivers an incredibly weird, gleefully goopy genre picture with a surprisingly emotional core focusing on the origin story of Rocket Raccoon, the CGI rodent voiced by Bradley Cooper. Though it’s bogged down by incomprehensible action and MCU fan service, the final installment in the Guardians trilogy thrives in its wild and wacky moments. Also starring Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff. PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and action, strong language, suggestive/drug references and thematic elements). 150 mins.
(B-) INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY Harrison Ford is back one more time — and one last time, he has said — in the franchise’s fifth installment. To start things off, de-aging technology gives us a 45-year-old Indiana Jones doing some of the wildest stunts we’ve ever seen our beloved archaeology professor attempt, allowing us to go on one last last adventure with the Indy we grew up with. Then we’re thrust back to reality with a nearly 80-year-old Ford playing a 70-something Indy, but he’s soon back up to his adventuresome self and trying to decide whether he can trust co-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character, a brilliant archaeologist who sells stolen antiquities to the world’s wealthiest. Despite a cumbersome plot, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is solid, swashbuckling summer fare and a dignified send-off to one of cinema’s most flawless castings. PG-13 (for sequences of violence and action, language and smoking). 144 mins.
INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR Patrick Wilson makes his directorial debut with this fifth installment of the hugely profitable horror series, last visited in 2018′s Insidious: The Last Key. PG-13 (for violence, terror, frightening images, strong language and suggestive references). 107 mins.
(B) JOY RIDE Adele Lim, screenwriter of Crazy Rich Asians, swings for the fences with her directorial debut. This rowdy, raucous comedy about identity and self-discovery follows four unlikely Asian American friends who bond while traveling through China. Hilariously daring, deeply moving and stereotype-busting in equal measure, Joy Ride is also the raunchiest movie to most likely make you shed a tear. The cast, featuring Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu, seems to be up for anything and everything. It would be a pleasure to watch these four get into another misadventure anytime. R (for strong and crude sexual content, language throughout, drug content and brief graphic nudity). 95 mins.
(B-) THE LESSON Liam (Daryl McCormack), an aspiring and ambitious young writer, eagerly accepts a tutoring position at the family estate of his idol, renowned author J.M. Sinclair (Richard E. Grant). But soon Liam realizes that he is ensnared in a web of family secrets, resentment and retribution. The acting is stellar, but after a strong start the story devolves into melodrama, with a climax and conclusion that are unworthy of what came before. R (for language and some sexual content). 102 mins.
(C) THE LITTLE MERMAID Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in the beloved tale about a mermaid who longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and falls in love with a human prince (Jonah Hauer-King). Although Bailey is a lovely presence and possesses a superb voice, this remake doesn’t really sing. Like several other Disney live-action retreads, it prioritizes nostalgia and familiarity over compelling visual storytelling. Also starring Melissa McCarthy as the evil sea witch Ursula and Javier Bardem as King Triton, with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. PG (for action/peril and some scary images). 135 mins.
(B) NO HARD FEELINGS In this sweet, intoxicating comedy, a woman (Jennifer Lawrence) in financial straits takes on an unusual job, hired by wealthy parents looking for someone to “date” their awkward teen son (Andrew Barth Feldman) before he leaves for college. The two forge a bond after a disastrous date, and something like a friendship blossoms. What they both really need, and what they find, is someone to just listen and to share vulnerability in return. R (for sexual content, language, some graphic nudity and brief drug use). 103 mins.
(A) PAST LIVES Two childhood sweethearts (Greta Lee and Teo Yoo) from South Korea reconnect in New York in this romantic drama centering on a love triangle. The narrative tension pivots on whether Nora (Lee) will stay with Arthur (John Magaro) or return to her roots with somber, socially awkward Hae Sung (Yoo). Celine Song makes a quietly spectacular writing-directing debut, delivering a lyrical slow burn of a film that expertly holds back wellsprings of emotion, until it unleashes a deluge. In English and Korean with subtitles. PG-13 (for some strong language). 106 mins.
(C) RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN In this animated adventure, shy teenager Ruby (voiced by Lana Condor) learns that she comes from a fabled royal family of sea krakens and is destined to inherit the throne from her grandmother, the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas (Jane Fonda). The voice acting is excellent all around, and even the film’s weakest element, the screenplay, isn’t that bad. While it breaks no new ground and doesn’t soar to great heights, Ruby Gillman is here to tell a story, which it does simply and well. PG (for some action, rude humor and thematic elements). 90 mins.
SOUND OF FREEDOM In this drama based on a true story, a former government agent embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue children from sex traffickers. Starring Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino. PG-13 (for thematic content involving sex trafficking, violence, language, sexual references, some drug references and smoking throughout). 135 mins.
(A-) SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Following the continuing multiverse adventures of Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), this sequel to 2018′s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse contains every element that made the first one, which won an Oscar for best animated feature film, so compelling: the characters, the eye-popping production design, the perfectly calibrated music. It goes a step further and evolves the aesthetic and story into a darker, edgier place as the writers hammer home the pertinent themes — growing up and finding yourself is hard, and so is parenting, especially letting go when your kids need to find their own way. PG (for sequences of animated action violence, some language and thematic elements). 140 mins.
(C) THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE With help from Princess Peach (voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy), Mario (Chris Pratt) gets ready to square off against the all-powerful Bowser (Jack Black) to stop his plans for conquering the world in this computer- animated fantasy based on Nintendo’s Mario video game franchise. Written by Matthew Fogel and directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the film is mildly amusing, noisy and relentlessly paced. While the animation is eye-popping, the barely there story makes for a movie that’s not terribly interesting. PG (for action and mild violence). 92 mins.
(D+) TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS The Transformers film franchise, spawned in 2007, was one of the first straight-faced blockbuster franchises based on a toy (and a 1980s cartoon series). It is now, astonishingly, seven films deep with the release of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which is both a prequel to the first Transformers and a sequel to 2018′s Bumblebee. Set in 1994, Rise of the Beasts is based on the Transformers: Beast Wars media franchise of comic books and anime, which introduced the Maximal characters, alien robots that look like giant animals, not shape-shifting cars. Got all that? It’s OK if you don’t, because the screenplay will repeat the pertinent information ad nauseam. This dull and disposable film is a beast that needs to be put down. PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language). 127 mins.
Compiled from staff and wire reports
