The Academy Awards are creeping up in a hurry and I have plenty of work to do to catch up on 2022 and get my Sheist Awards finalized, but the new release train waits for no one. So, let’s get to it because there are a few things I want to see this week.
New Releases
Creed III (+ IMAX)
Director: Michael B. Jordan | Writers: Keenan Coogler, Zach Baylin, Ryan Coogler
Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors
No disrespect intended towards anyone else that’s a part of this movie, but the year of Jonathan Majors continues. Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut as he returns to the role of Adonis Creed for the third and maybe the final time. With Ryan Coogler passing the torch behind the camera, I am curious to see how Jordan will handle things. I’m fairly confident that nobody knows the character better so I think this movie is in good hands. I’m going to see it and it should dominate the box office with relative ease.
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
Director: Guy Ritchie | Writers: Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, Marn Davies
Stars: Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Josh Hartnett, Hugh Grant
Guy Ritchie is getting the band back together and adding Aubrey Plaza to the mix. Sign me up! This is maybe her least eclectic film in recent memory but Guy Ritchie going back to something that seems to have good comedy bones is a great fit for her. Plus, he’s bringing back a bunch of folks he’s worked with over his last couple of films and that’s more than enough for me. It should be a good time.
The Forger (Theaters)
Director: Maggie Peren | Writers: Maggie Peren, Ciome Schönhaus
Stars: Louis Hoffman, Jonathan Berlin, Luna Wedler
I only just caught wind of this movie when I went to a small indie theater the other day and it looks pretty interesting, but I don’t know how big of an appetite there is for this at this point in the year. It’ll go on my list but it’ll take me a moment to get to it.
RRR (Re-Release)
Director: S.S. Rajamouli
Writers: Vijayendra Prasad, S.S. Rajamouli, Sai Madhav Burra
Stars: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn
One of everyone’s surprise favorites of the year gets a re-release right before the Oscars! I never got around to seeing this the first time around but I have heard nothing but good things and seen some amazing clips, so I think this is going to be on the docket before the Academy Awards.
Limited Release
Blueback
Director: Robert Connolly | Writers: Robert Connolly Tim Winton
Stars: Mia Wasikowskai, Albert Mwangi, Ariel Donoghue
A child befriends a fish and then tries to defend it from poachers. Wait did I read that right? Yeah…I’ll pass.
Children of the Corn
Written & Directed by: Kurt Wimmer
Stars: Elena Kampouris, Kate Moyer, Callan Mulvey
This movie was finished in 2020 but it is only just coming out and for a remake that has the kind of legacy title that this one does, it’s a pretty big surprise that this one got so buried but if you read between the lines, there’s probably a reason for that. Plus, it’s going to limited release.
*A Little White Lie (+ VOD) – Editor’s Pick*
Written & Directed by: Michael Maren
Stars: Michael Shannon, Kate Hudson, Don Johnson
Michael Shannon plays a famous and reclusive author who is brought out of hiding for a festival. Or is he? Well, the trailer will fill you in on that if you want to know, but I’m a sucker for Michael Shannon and these are the kinds of eccentric characters I want to see him taking on. After watching Kate Hudson’s turn in Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, I want to see more of her although this likely won’t be as wild.
Hunt Her, Kill Her
Directors: Greg Swinson, Ryan Thiessen | Writer: Greg Swinson
Stars: Natalie Terrazzino, JC Oakley III, Larry Bunton
I’m not really into slashers but, as far as the concept goes, this is one that I could get behind. I wouldn’t prioritize it at the top of the list, but there is room for something like this in the repertoire.
Palm Trees and Power Lines
Director: Jamie Dack | Writer: Jamie Dack, Audrey Findlay
Stars: Lily McInerny, Gretchen Mol, Jonathan Tucker
Not sure what to make of this one but it does have good reviews so far and a good audience score to go with that, so I’m hopeful that it’s not exploitative in its portrayal of a very age-inappropriate relationship.
Transfusion
Written & Directed by: Matt Nable
Stars: Sam Worthington, Phoebe Tonkin, Matt Nable
I like seeing more writer/director projects like this and Matt Nable has one of the key roles in this film as well, so it’s clearly important to him. It seems to have some elements of many films about ex-military from issues with home life to being leveraged into a job they shouldn’t be doing. It’s not super compelling for me, but it could be solid.
The Donor Party
Written & Directed by: Thom Harp
Stars: Malin Akerman, Rob Corddry, Jerry O’Connell
An adult comedy about a woman whose ex-husband moved on to start a family, so she tries to start one of her own by having sex with several hopeful donors at a birthday party. This could be hilarious, or it could fall completely flat. Judging by the fact that I didn’t laugh at the trailer, I’d guess it’s the latter.
Streaming & Digital
American Bolshevik (VOD/Digital March 1st)
Written & Directed: Julie Marron
Stars: Camilla Fox, Dan Flores, Roland Bellotti
An unfortunately chilling documentary look at the wild animal population in America and what is happening with the one survivor.
The Headmistress (VOD/Digital)
Director: Christopher A Micklos, Jay Sapiro | Writer: Christopher A Micklos
Stars: Ayden Skye, Katherine Bellantone, Tom Dacey Carr
This looks more like an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? than it does a fully-fledged feature. It may be better than it looks at a glance, but the trailer wasn’t a very good sales pitch.
Finding Michael (Disney+)
Director: Tom Beard
Stars: Bear Grylls, Spencer Matthews, Nirmal Purja
Wow! Mount Everest is already a subject worthy of documentary attention, but imagine trying to find the body of a loved one who lost their life climbing it. This seems so incredibly intense and emotional, I’ll be curious to see how much Disney+ lets it find its footing with some of that heavy lifting. Definitely interested to check this out though.
Love at First Kiss (Netflix)
Director: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa | Writers: Cristóbal Garrido, Adolfo Valor
Stars: Álvaro Cervantes, Silvia Alonson, Gorka Otxoa
A 16-year-old can see the entire future of a relationship with just the first kiss. This sounds like the makings of an interesting drama, but it seems to b positioned for a rom-com approach instead. Oh well. Still glad to see Netflix giving international projects some light
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