With all the holiday prep last week, I ran out of time to do the Release Radar for last week and there were a number of great releases last weekend too that I still have to catch up on. Before I continue, I want to be transparent.
As 2022 comes to a close, I will be reevaluating whether or not to continue doing the Release Radar. I genuinely enjoy sharing what looks good each week and if you have found something you wanted to see as a result, you are who I have been doing it for. However, looking at the analytics at a glance, there just isn’t enough readership when I take into account the amount of time required to do the list each week. I have to consider whether or not it’s worth the effort when I could be dedicating more time to the reviews that really built the foundation here in the first place. So, if you enjoy the Release Radar please let me know and I will see if there is a way I can refine it to make it a more effective use of my time. Thank you!
December 26 (Monday)
*Broker (Theaters) – Editor’s Pick*
Written & Directed by: Hirokazu Koreeda
Stars: Song Kang-ho, Dong-won Gang, Bae Doona
I have been waiting for quite some time and it’s finally here! A couple of shady individuals abduct unwanted babies that were surrendered and sell them on the black market. On paper that sounds pretty dark, but just watch the trailer and you’ll see that it’s more about the journey of the individuals coming together with a united and ultimately well-intentioned purpose. This is definitely my Editor’s Pick this week.
December 30 (Friday)
Alice, Darling (Theaters)
Director: Mary Nighy | Writers: Alanna Francis, Mark Van de Ven (story editor)
Stars: Anna Kendrick, Kaniehtiio Horn, Charlie Carrick
A weekend getaway with friends takes a dark turn as a young woman is confronted by her two closest friends about her abusive relationship. I’m interested to see Anna Kendrick doing something darker, more serious, and more mature and there’s an ominous tone through the trailer that has captured my curiosity.
A Man Called Otto (Theaters)
Director: Marc Foster
Writers: David Magee, Fredrik Backman (novel), Hannes Holm (original film)
Stars: Tom Hanks, John Higgins, Tony Bingham
This is like Gran Torino for the PG crowd. A grumpy old widower learns a new appreciation for life after begrudgingly helping some new neighbors. Tom Hanks is great and I am sure the movie is probably solid, it just isn’t compelling enough for me to go see it in theaters.
Turn Every Page (Theaters)
Director: Lizzie Gottlieb
Stars: Robert A. Caro, Bill Clinton, Robert Gottlieb
The life, history, and future of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Caro and highly-esteemed editor Robert Gottlieb. This looks very interesting, but probably much more so for those who have read all their work over the course of 50 years.
White Noise (Netflix)
Director: Noah Baumbach | Writers: Noah Baumbach, Don DeLillo (book)
Stars: Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle
Noah Baumbach reunites with Adam Driver in his follow-up to Marriage Story, once again setting his sights on the family. However, this time it’s with more flair as it takes the kind of routine monotony of everyday family life and sharpens its edges to the point of dramatic horror. This one landed on Netflix, so it could be a very intriguing option if I don’t actually go out to see something.
Wildcat (Amazon)
Directors: Trevor Frost, Melissa Lesh
Stars: Dante Cueva Altamirano, Cristian De La Cruz, Erick Scott Vargas Laura
As much as I have my certain kind of bizarre genre preferences, I have a major soft spot for animals and nature documentaries. Just watching the trailer for this one had me emotional and I love the story of the mutual rescue here. This one definitely goes on the watchlist this weekend.
Thanks for reading! I still believe word of mouth is the best way to help, so if you enjoy what I’m doing, please tell somebody. And if you have a comment, I’d love to hear it! Liking, subscribing, and sharing go a long way too. As usual, be well, be safe, and have fun no matter how you get your movies!