Saturday Night Movie Recommendations with Abe

Welcome back 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

At Any Price (anti-recommended): This excessively familiar and trite story of a father and son with different interests is far from exciting, and an over-the-top performance from Dennis Quaid in the lead role doesn’t help matters much. This could have been an affecting film, but it doesn’t even come close to providing viewers with a lasting emotional connection. Now playing at the Angelika and Lincoln Plaza. Read my review from Wednesday.

Mud (highly recommended): This popular Sundance film, from “Take Shelter” director Jeff Nichols, is a superb and completely engaging movie that features a strong performance from Matthew McConaughey in the lead role as well as great turns from Reese Witherspoon and child actors Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland. This intriguing, gripping film is not to be missed. Now playing at several AMC theatres and Clearview at 1st and 62nd. Read my review from Sundance.


New to DVD

The Impossible (recommended): This picture of devastation follows one family’s mostly true story of survival during the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia in 2004. It’s difficult to escape its power, and easy to be drawn in to the emotional rollercoaster on which its characters travel. Naomi Watts’ performance was Oscar-nominated, but it’s a film dominated by its visual competence and stern, respectful portrayal of a natural disaster at its most destructive.


New on Netflix Instant Streaming

The Island President (recommended): This documentary spotlights Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives, as he fights to bring democracy back to his country and to convince the world that something needs to be done about climate change. He’s a strong subject for an equally compelling and educational film.