Saturday Night Movie Recommendations with Abe

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. I'm going to be providing a handy guide to a few choice movies currently playing in NYC as well as several films newly released on DVD. I’ll also aim to comment on those films I have not yet had the chance to see, and I invite you to add in your thoughts on any films I haven’t seen in the comments below. Understandably, some weeks will have considerably fewer releases to address than others.

Now Playing in NYC

Janie Jones (recommended): This Tribeca entry makes its premiere, and it’s a perfectly acceptable but otherwise unextraordinary story of the unlikely reunion of a father and daughter, featuring strong performances from Abigail Breslin and Alessandro Nivola. Now playing at the Village East Cinema.

I’ve seen so little, and I’d like to have seen so much. In Time didn’t look great but could be cool, Like Crazy might be fun, and The Rum Diary could be enjoyable. I could live without Puss in Boots, Johnny English Reborn, and Anonymous.

New to DVD

Attack the Block (mixed bag): This loud, aggressive action film starts featuring British punks starts out as rather ordinary and unimpressive but picks up enough by its third act that it’s decently watchable.

Captain America: The First Avenger (highly recommended): It seems like there have been so many Marvel movies lately, especially featuring those superheroes that make up the Avengers team. I’m pleased to report that this latest entry is a superb, all-American success, perfectly enthralling and entertaining.

Winnie the Pooh (recommended): It’s always a pleasure to see Christopher Robin and all his imagined friends back for another classic tale. This isn’t a remake or a reboot, just another fun and wonderful story involving the honey-obsessed Pooh for audiences of all ages.

Now on Netflix Instant Streaming

Faces in the Crowd (anti-recommended): This thriller about a woman who gets face blindness just as she is the only one able to identify a serial killer tries but fails miserably to be anything but aggravating and laughable. Milla Jovovich starring doesn’t help matters.

A Little Help (mixed bag): Jenna Fischer of “The Office” takes on her first leading film role in this highly uneven and unsatisfying film. Rob Benedict shines as the lone consistent performer and character, while the rest of the film never quite gets off the ground with an iffy premise.