Saturday Night 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 and Netflix. I invite you to add in your thoughts on any films I haven’t seen in the comments below.

Due to a busy summer where TV with Abe has gotten far more of my attention, I’ll be taking the next three weeks to look individually at movies in theatres over the past six weeks, then those on DVD, then those on Netflix, as the best way to catch up and savor summer!

Now Playing in Theatres

Best of Enemies (highly recommended): This extremely engaging documentary chronicles the rivalry between Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, Jr., intellectual pundits from complete opposite ends of the spectrum, who, after both have died, have their relationship analyzed for all to see, an effective and informative look at what happened when opposing opinions were presented in the same space rather than on different networks. Now playing at IFC Center and Lincoln Plaza. Read my review from Sundance.

The End of the Tour (recommended): This recreation of the time shared by an eager journalist and one of the most prolific authors in recent history who died far too soon is an interesting and immensely watchable portrait of two people with sharp, memorable dialogue. Jason Segel does a great take on David Foster Wallace in this appealing if unresounding film. Now playing at AMC Lincoln Square and Angelika. Read my review from yesterday.

Infinitely Polar Bear (recommended): I’ve never liked Mark Ruffalo more than in this endearing comedic drama, which I saw at Sundance 2014, of a bipolar father struggling to get a handle on raising his two young daughters alone while his wife attends school in another state. It’s a sweet, likeable story with just enough magic and some great performances. Now playing at Lincoln Plaza and Cinema Village. Read my review from Sundance.

Inside Out (highly recommended): I finally saw this animated comedy and I’m pleased to say that I very much enjoyed it. Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith are just two of the many great voice actors to help animate this lovely story about the emotions at work within the brain of a young girl struggling to adapt to a difficult move. It’s charming and immensely likeable, and gets bonus points for being preceded by a terrific short, “Lava.” Now playing in wide release. My review will be up shortly.

The Overnight (highly recommended): This irreverent comedy was one of the funniest films I saw at Sundance this past year, thanks in large part to superb performances all around from Taylor Schilling, Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman, and French actress Judith Godrèche as two couples brought together by their young children for an unforgettable wild night. Now playing at Village East Cinema. Read my review from Sundance.

Two Step (anti-recommended): This dark thriller brings together a young man who recently came into a large sum of money and a criminal more than ready to kill to get his hands on it. The premise might be interesting, but the film opts for a grim, unengaging style which might be presented as slow burn suspense but hardly comes off as positive or productive. Now playing at Village East Cinema. Read my review from Thursday.