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 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 Theatres

The 100-Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (recommended): This film has a lengthy title and quite the story packed inside of it, an energizing and odd fantastic tale of a long life lived with much excitement and many experiences. Overall, it’s odd, but still worth a watch. Now playing at Landmark Sunshine. Read my review from Thursday.

Maggie (mixed bag): Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a devoted father intent on saving his daughter from certain transformation into a zombie in this independent drama. It’s a decent attempt at trying to turn this subject matter into strong storytelling, but ultimately it doesn’t manage to succeed in that regard. Now playing at AMC Empire and Village East Cinemas. Read my review from yesterday.

New to DVD

Appropriate Behavior (recommended): The great Desiree Akhavan, who guest-starred on “Girls” this season, makes her feature film debut as director, writer, and star of this entertaining first film about a Persian bisexual trying to navigate life.

Inherent Vice (mixed bag): Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest feature is a wild, wacky trip back to the 1970s ruled by ridiculousness and drugs, an occasionally satisfying but overall uneven story featuring fun performances from Joaquin Phoenix and a host of others.

Miss Julie (mixed bag): Jessica Chastain and Colin Farell star in this realization of the famed 1888 play that probably is better suited for the stage. Chastain is always good but this is hardly the film to see her in this year.

Mr. Turner (recommended): Mike Leigh’s latest film doesn’t much feel like one of his movies, but it’s still a relatively engaging if slow-moving story featuring a strong central performance from an actor not accustomed to lead roles, Timothy Spall.

Selma (recommended): This stirring civil rights film about one very important part of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s fight for equality in the South in the 1960s comes at a very crucial time in American society. The film is good, to be sure, though it’s likely to be inflated by its current relevance.

Now on Netflix Instant Streaming

The Homesman (anti-recommended): Tommy Lee Jones’ second time behind the camera is about as bleak and uninviting as his first, “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.” If watching his disgruntled drifter and Hilary Swank’s buttoned-up Midwesterner transport three crazy women across territorial lines sounds appealing, go ahead and check this one out.

Legally Blonde (recommended): This 2001 comedy was an early part of Reese Witherspoon’s career, but it’s also one of the defining roles that shows that she’s capable of great comedy and charisma. This winning comedy, like its main character Elle Woods, is much smarter than it initially seems.