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 theatres 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

Simon and the Oaks (recommended): This story of two boys with intertwined families growing up during the Holocaust in Sweden is a complex character study, featuring children but highlighting the adults. Strong performances and a beautiful score make up for some slow and spotty plotting. Now playing at the Paris Theatre. Read my review from yesterday.

I haven't yet had a chance, but would be very interested in seeing Argo, which doesn't look altogether superb to me but has been receiving great reviews.

New to DVD

Prometheus (highly recommended): Ridley Scott’s “Alien” was a trailblazing sci-fi classic, and his latest film is an excellent update of the same story, featuring amazing visuals, terrific pacing, and one particularly spectacular performance from Michael Fassbender as the fascinating cyborg David.

Rock of Ages (mixed bag): This wild, star-filled musical is rather preposterous, but it’s not supposed to be rocket science. Fans of music from the 1980s will enjoy the tunes, and as long as expectations for dramatic content or acting aren’t high, this film should prove highly enjoyable to most audiences.

30 Beats (mixed bag): This sex-filled drama jumps from character to character in its two-person scenes, following a chain of people through a heat wave in New York City. It’s a cool concept that boasts plenty of intrigue but not nearly as much actual depth.