I’m still catching up on some of the outliers from 2022, but time waits for no one. Plus, I’m noticing that my resource for new releases isn’t as comprehensive as I would like. I count 13 other movies that seem to have slipped through the cracks and then looking at the listings at my local theaters, I see another one that’s not on either list. What is happening?!? That means a lot more work for me and I don’t know exactly how I would want to organize this, so I’m not sure how I want to proceed.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance (Theaters)
Director: Steven Soderbergh | Writer: Reid Carolin
Stars: Channing Tatum, Salma Hayek, Caitlin Gerard
I haven’t seen the first two so I have no frame of reference, but Steven Soderbergh is returning after dipping out XXL so that should give the fans some confidence. I like seeing Salma Hayek get more work again because she’s great and it still looks like there will be plenty of dancing and stripping.
Baby Ruby (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Bess Wohl
Stars: Noémie Merlant, Kit Harington, Meredith Hagner
A psychological horror film about being a new mother? I’m listening! I am always interested in directorial debuts and Bess Wohl is swinging big with this one. If it falls into cliche then it might be a problem, but the cast for this one is awesome so I don’t think it’ll be an issue. Too bad it’s not playing anywhere close to me.
The Blue Caftan (Theaters)
Director: Maryam Touzani | Writers: Maryam Touzani, Nabil Ayouch
Stars: Lubna Azabal, Saleh Bakri, Ayoub Missioui
This was Morocco’s official submission for Best International Feature at the Oscars and even though it didn’t make the final cut for the Academy, it did take home a respectable amount of hardware during the festival circuit in 2022, including the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes. I can imagine this one being a more sensitive subject considering its origin.
What Else Is New…
Disquiet (VOD)
Written & Directed by: Michael Winnick
Stars: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Rachelle Goulding, Elyse Levesque
Sorry, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, your new movie gets buried because re-releases need the floor. Horror films in creepy hospital settings are not always good, but I will give them a chance most of the time. This could be an allegorical horror film about head trauma, or it could be straightforward. At least I can find out from my couch.
Titanic (Remastered Re-Release)
Written & Directed by: James Cameron
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winsley, Billy Zane
I guess Big Jim didn’t make enough money off of the Avatar re-release & The Way of Water combined, because here we are with the ever-so-rare 26th Anniversary re-release and remastered Titanic. It has been a while since I last watched it, but I was very fond of this film much more so than the other ones I mentioned. That’s why my lady and I are going to see this one on Valentine’s Day evening.
Irreversible (Straight Cut Re-release)
Written & Directed by: Gaspar Noé
Stars: Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassell, Albert Pupontel
I can’t be the only one who finds it incredibly ironic that this re-release of a movie titled Irreversible is re-edited so that the film unfolds in chronological order. Sounds like it is very much reversible. This seems like a very gimmicky reason to bring this back, but whatever.
Limited Release
Sharper (Limited & Apple TV+ Feb. 17th)
Director: Benjamin Caron | Writers: Brian Gatewood, Alessandro Tanaka
Stars: John Lithgow, Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, Justice Smith, Briana Middleton
Apple has some good stuff and I really like the cast here. Benjamin Caron has done a ton of TV over the years but this looks like his feature film debut and I am curious because of the extensive resume. I won’t rush to theaters this weekend for it, but I’ll gladly check it out when it drops on streaming next weekend.
*Daughter (Theaters + VOD) – Editor’s Pick*
Written & Directed by: Corey Deshon
Stars: Casper Van Dien, Elyse Dinh, Vivien Ngô
I saw the filmmakers something on Twitter about a set of limited screenings and the one with the Q&A was actually in my neighborhood but it was Sold Out when I went to look. On the one hand, I’m sad I missed it, but on the other hand, I’m happy for Corey Deshon that it was sold out. It definitely looks creepy and seems to skew more toward the kind of psychological horror that I prefer.
Limited Release
Consecration (Limited)
Director: Christopher Smith | Writers: Christopher Smith, Laurie Cook
Stars: Jena Malone, Danny Huston, Ian Pirie
Of all the limited releases, this is the only one that’s readily available so I am tempted. Jena Malone takes interesting roles and Danny Huston plays a great villain/prick so I could see this investigation of a corrupt and potentially murderous convent in Scottland being solid.
The Outwaters (Limited – Feb. 9th)
Written & Directed by: Robbie Banfitch
Stars: Robbie Banfitch, Angela Basolis, Scott Schamell
This one started popping up on my social media feeds and now I am seeing that it’s heading into limited release today. I’m really disappointed that this one wasn’t on the release calendar I usually look at because it’s the kind of stuff I’m looking for. I love indie films in general and I am always looking for new ways to push any particular genre. I was going to try and rush to see it tonight while it’s nearby at a not-so-convenient theater. However, I saw that the same venue is having a Q&A the week after, so I bought tickets for that instead!
Mother With Us (Limited)
Director: Andrés Garrigo
Writers: Josepmaria Anglès, Pablo Moreno, Josemaria Muñoz
Stars: Juan Lomnardero, javier Lorenzo, Cristina Mediero
This isn’t really my kind of thing, but I do not begrudge people their faith. It’s interesting to see the power of it and this documentary wants to highlight that particular thing.
Among the Beasts (Limited)
Written & Directed by: Matthew Newton
Stars: Tory Kittles, Libe Barer, Sarunas J. Jackson
This is definitely up my alley and another one that didn’t make it to the release calendar that I normally use, so I may have to leave that one in the past. Matthew Newton is not a super well-known filmmaker so maybe that is why, but this isn’t his first rodeo.
Seriously Red (Limited)
Director: Gracie Otto | Writer: Krew Boylan
Stars: Krew Boylan, Daniel Webster, Rose Byrne
“A realtor pursues a new career as a Dolly Parton impersonator.” – IMDB. Honestly, this sounds like a great idea for a story that is not going to get nearly enough attention. The cast is pretty good too with Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne in supporting roles, but it’s cool to see Krew Boylan starring in a film she wrote.
Cinema Sabaya (Limited)
Written & Directed by: Orit Fouks Rotem
Stars: Liora Levi, Aseel Farhat, Orit Samuel
This seems like a documentary on the surface but I think it’s a much more interesting concept. A group of Arab and Jewish women is taking part in a video workshop at the behest of a young filmmaker but things become more fluid and complex with each take.
Living the Stream
Somebody I Used To Know (Prime Video)
Director: Dave Franco | Writers: Dave Franco, Alison Brie
Stars: Alison Brie, Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons
“On a trip to her hometown, workaholic Ally reminisces with her ex Sean and starts to question everything about the person she’s become. Things only get more confusing when she meets Cassidy, who reminds her of the person she used to be.”
This sounds like a made-for-Valentine’s Day kind of movie
Your Place or Mine (Netflix)
Written & Directed: Aline Brosh McKenna
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Wesley Kimmel
“Two long-distance best friends change each other’s lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son.” – IMDB
I love Reese but this isn’t the kind of stuff that interests me at this point in her career.
At Midnight (Paramount+)
Director: Jonah Feingold
Writers: Jonah Feingold, Maria Hinojos, Giovannie M. Porta
Stars: Monica Barbaro, Whitney Cummings, Anders Holm
“At Midnight is a romantic comedy about two people who have made the “safe” choice not to fall in love.” – IMDB
Even the tagline to promote this is boring. I hope it’s better than that, but I will not be the one to find out.
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