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 in NYC

Kabbalah Me (recommended): This documentary from directors Steven Bram and Judah Lazarus follows Bram’s own personal journey into the world of Kabbalah as he strives to make a connection with his religion. It’s a fun and enlivening journey from an involved filmmaker. Now playing at Quad Cinema. Read my review from Thursday.

Metro Manila (recommended): This prize-winning film from the Sundance Film Festival comes from the Philippines, and is an enthralling chronicle of a simple farmer’s transformation into big city security guard with an immensely likeable protagonist. Read my review from yesterday.

Winter in the Blood (recommended): This eccentric Native American story straddles the line between reality and imagination as its main character searches for tranquility and satisfaction with the help of scene stealer David Morse’s memorable Airplane Man. Now playing at IFC Center. Read my review from Wednesday.

New to DVD

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (mixed bag): The sequel to the series reboot still features the fantastic Emma Stone, but that’s about the best thing it has going for it as it ventures too much into casual unfocused storytelling and doesn’t stay true enough to its title hero.

Now on Netflix Instant Streaming

The Tortured (anti-recommended): This film’s title doesn’t exactly recommend its quality, and you should definitely steer clear of this miserable experience, which strands Erika Christensen and Jesse Metcalfe in an excessively dark and disturbing universe appealing to no one.

The Way Back (mixed bag): This wannabe epic from usually reliable director Peter Weir casts Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, and Jim Sturgess as prisoners impossibly escaping from a gulag. It’s an impressive journey to be sure but a long and deathly boring one.