Movie with Abe: Stillwater

Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin star in “Stillwater,” which is loosely based on the Amanda Knox story and is now playing in theaters. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!


New to Theaters: Nine Days, The Evening Hour, Stillwater, The Green Knight
New to Theaters and VOD: Sabaya, Lorelei
New to VOD: Fully Realized Humans
New to DVD: The Birthday Cake, The God Committee
New to Netflix: The Last Mercenary

Interview with Abe: Benedict Wong

It was a true pleasure speaking to actor Benedict Wong for Cinema Daily US about his role in the film Nine Days, which I saw at Sundance in 2020 and am so thrilled is finally being released this Friday. Watch our conversation in full below, and check out my review and video review from Sundance too!

Movie with Abe: The Birthday Cake

“The Birthday Cake,” which arrives today on DVD, is a familiar and relatively standard mob movie. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Settlers

Brooklynn Prince is the best reason to see the standard sci-fi drama “Settlers,” now out in theaters and on demand. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Broken Diamonds

Lola Kirke and Ben Platt star in “Broken Diamonds,” a sibling drama that's now out in theaters and on demand. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Joe Bell

Mark Wahlberg stars in “Joe Bell,” which is out in theaters now and doesn't do a great job bringing its true story to the screen.. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!


New to Theaters: Old, Joe Bell
New to Theaters and VOD: Here After, Settlers, Broken Diamonds
New to VOD: Film Fest
New to DVD: Die in a Gunfight, Gully, Dream Horse
New to Amazon Prime Video: Jolt

Movie with Abe: Old

Old
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Released July 23, 2021

Few filmmakers have established such a distinct – and temperamental – reputation for building up audience expectations as M. Night Shyamalan. His breakthrough feature, “The Sixth Sense,” was released when he was only twenty-nine years old and earned multiple Oscar nominations and a high bar for twist endings. This horror-averse reviewer hasn’t screened any of this filmmaker’s work from the past decade, especially following the miserable “The Last Airbender,” but a return trip to a screening room was in store for his latest high-concept piece that delivers more in terms of its ideas than its execution.

Several families on a tropical vacation are given a recommendation for a hidden, private beach that will make their stay infinitely more relaxing. When they arrive, they are horrified to find a dead body in the water. Two parents (Vicky Krieps and Gael Garcia Bernal) are startled to realize that their children Maddox and Trent, formerly eleven and six, have now aged several years (Thomasin McKenzie and Alex Wolff). Other guests on the beach include a cocky doctor (Rufus Sewell), his wife (Abbey Lee), elderly mother (Kathleen Chalfant), and the couple’s young but aging daughter (Eliza Scanlen), a nurse (Ken Leung) and his epileptic wife (Nikki Amuka-Bird), and a lonely rapper (Aaron Pierre). As the hours drag on and the impossibility of their situation becomes clear, they wonder if they can do anything to stop time from passing far too quickly.

This film’s poster reveals its general premise by showing a woman’s legs on the beach, one normal and youthful and the other with a skeletal foot. How this can be a possible isn’t important, but what these characters do want to figure out is exactly what’s going on and what the “rules” are that might enable them to escape a fate that will certainly kill them all. That process is cumbersome and messy, and the dialogue involved is far from convincing. Characters walk up and down the beach without urgency and seem to get too easily distracted from the very urgent task at hand. Additionally, there’s no real consistency to how the aging process works, and there’s an overindulgence in gruesomeness that doesn’t feel at all necessary since the true horror of this scenario is that time is passing too quickly for any of them to be able to stop to figure out how to combat it.

Like Shyamalan’s previous films, this one relies on a major twist. Fortunately, when that moment inevitably arrives, the film becomes infinitely more compelling, but that doesn’t justify the time spent to get there. This is an intriguing concept but one that gets stuck too much on the shock of its reveal and the tediousness of the conversation that seeks for far too long to deny its truthfulness. This is a strong cast with plenty of impressive credits, yet they’re not given a fantastic platform here, relegated to arcs that don’t feel terribly emphatic and then recast with other actors if they survive long enough to make it to the film’s end. It does present tremendous food for thought, but burrowing out of the uninviting and unremarkable middle for a worthwhile end isn’t entirely satisfying.

C+

Movie with Abe: Jolt

Kate Beckinsale stars as someone with a deadly anger management problem in the generally enertaining action movie “Jolt,” which comes to Amazon Prime Video this Friday. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Interview with Abe: Christina Ricci

I got to speak with actress Christina Ricci about her new film “Here After,” which opens in NY and on demand this Friday, for Cinema Daily US. Watch our conversation in full below:

Interview with Abe: Film Fest

I got to speak with director Marshall Cook and star Matt Cook about their new movie “Film Fest,” which expands wide to major VOD platforms this Friday. Here's our conversation about their send-up of the film festival experience:

Movie with Abe: Pig

Pig
Directed by Michael Sarnoski
Released July 16, 2021

There are people who prefer to live away from society, and because much of civilization stays within such close proximity to others, that manner of existence can be seen as unusual, and to some, objectionable. Anyone accustomed to being around others at all times may find it difficult if not impossible to understand how someone who hasn’t had that experience might not want or be prepared for it, even if circumstances force it to be the case. Any immersion back into a life long left behind can be trying and full of conflict.

Rob (Nicolas Cage) spends his time hunting for truffles with his loyal pig by his side, content to interact only with those he absolutely must, which is mainly Amir (Alex Wolff), the man who purchases what he’s selling. Rob’s peaceful routine is brutally disrupted when his pig is stolen, prompting him to pursue every possible avenue to find it. His search brings him back into the culinary world, a more polished and urban environment that he’s used to given his wilderness lifestyle. Rob has no desire to reacquaint himself with his past but wants nothing more than to find his beloved pig.

Cage is an actor known for over-the-top performances in action and genre movies, but he has a history of truly quality roles scattered in between the showier paycheck roles. The Oscar winner for “Leaving Las Vegas” and nominee for “Adaptation” delivers a grounded turn as Rob, a man whose patience for other people is minimal and who has deliberately chosen the way he wants to live, only to be drawn back in because he wasn’t left alone. It’s most reminiscent of his focused portrayal of anger in the extremely underrated “Joe,” absent of much happiness and probing the motivations and emotions of a man living on the fringes of society.

Cage is the only actor with a good deal of screen time, though Wolff and Adam Arkin do turn in fine work as his most frequent associates. This film’s title is indicative of what Rob cares about, and as a result there’s not too much else which is featured over the course of the film’s ninety-minute runtime. Like an acclaimed film from last year, “First Cow,” this film explores the bond between men and animals in a way that’s far more intellectually expressive than actually full of watchable or invigorating content.

B-

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!


New to Theaters: Mama Weed, Roadrunner: A Film about Anthony Bourdain, Pig
New to Theaters and VOD: Die in a Gunfight

New to DVD: Mortal Kombat, Wrath of Man, Sublet
New to Netflix: Gunpowder Milkshake, American Woman, The Beguiled
New to Hulu: The Congress, Men and Chicken

Movie with Abe: Gunpowder Milkshake

I really enjoyed the action movie “Gunpowder Milkshake,” which is now playing in theaters and streaming on Netflix. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Die in a Gunfight

Die in a Gunfight
Directed by Collin Schiffli
Released July 16, 2021 (Theaters and VOD)

Many people spend a great deal of time thinking about how they will be remembered when they are gone. For some, their legacy is intricately connected to how it is that they die, because the manner in which their life ends says something about how they lived. That may be more due to unrealistic expectations and ideas created by popular culture, but a confident sense of mortality can inform an attitude of invincibility. Those who walk around as if they are untouchable and wouldn’t be bothered by death usually don’t live long, but their time is most certainly memorable.

Ben Gibbon (Diego Boneta) has never had a good relationship with his wealthy family. The discord is rooted in his eagerness to provoke, and the return of the woman he never stopped loving, Mary Ratchart (Alexandra Daddario), who happens to be the daughter of his parents’ generations-long rivals, only further ignites his passion for civil disobedience. Ben’s determination to be reunited with Mary puts him on a collision course with an obsessive security guard (Justin Chatwin), a hippie hitman (Travis Fimmel) and his girlfriend (Emmanuelle Chriqui), and his loyal best friend Mukul (Wade Allain-Marcus) that seems destined to end in bloodshed.

This film is heavily stylized, introducing its story first with animation and voiceover narration. While there isn’t anything particularly unique about either Ben or Mary, the framing of this story absolutely presents it as such, utilizing colorful graphics to explain who characters are and jumping in to the most interesting moments of their lives to show who they truly are. That cinematic quality enhances a plot that isn’t all that creative, infusing energy and a wondrous moodiness into the misadventures that befall its ensemble. It isn’t afraid to follow its narrative wherever events might take it, subverting expectations while at the same time fulfilling them.

The entire cast in this film is well-utilized, starting with the charismatic Boneta and the reliable Daddario. From their first scenes, it’s clear that they shared a passion, and whatever happened in between their previous time of closeness and the current moment may as well be irrelevant since those feelings have returned again and are strong as ever. Fimmel and Chriqui are having a lot of fun, and Chatwin shows true commitment to his role. This film is full of violent and blunt encounters, but the way in which it is constructed make it well worth watching and, like its protagonist always hopes, not easy to forget.

B+

Movie with Abe: Mama Weed

Mama Weed
Directed by Jean-Paul Salomé
Released July 16, 2021 (Theaters)

There are reasons that stereotypes exist, and they usually stem from what someone has experienced or what someone believes they have experienced. Those two may not be one and the same, but the idea of having had a negative interaction with an individual of a particular class or ethnicity may prejudice someone against working with other people they think share the same heritage or values even if that irresponsible and closeminded perspective couldn’t be further from the case. General expectations can often be used to one’s advantage since, in all likelihood, not conforming to what others are looking for can allow someone else to operate completely under the radar and unnoticed.

Patience Portefeux (Isabelle Huppert) works an interpreter for the Paris police, translating between the French authorities and the Arab population that often finds itself in their crosshairs. She also devotes a considerable amount of time to caring for her elderly mother (Liliane Rovère) and engaging in a romance with her captain (Hippolyte Girardot). When her worlds collide and she ends up with a large supply of drugs no one knows she has, she finds herself in a unique position to set up a side business that she can ensure no one else is able to monitor since she is the one doing the translating for the very people looking for her.

This film is based on the novel “The Godmother” by Hannelore Cayre. It’s a story that, similar to Clark Kent’s classic Superman costume, relies heavily on the idiocy of Patience’s police peers who hear her own voice on a recording and have no idea that it’s her, and who don’t realize that she’s purely making things up when she translates her own words and those of the people she’s working with from wiretaps. There’s a tremendous suspension of disbelief necessary to take this narrative seriously, but fortunately it’s full of comic touches that make it light and entertaining, making its legitimacy not of paramount concern.

One of the best reasons to see this and most films is Huppert, who continues to deliver marvelous performances that show what she’s capable of doing. It’s particularly fun to see her become this allegedly Moroccan drug kingpin and infuse humor into the moments in which she’s dodging security cameras and trying to work with less-than-subtle partners who don’t closely follow her instructions. This film boasts a few surprises along the way, leading to an enjoyable conclusion that leaves enough open-ended to make its contents memorable and enthralling.

B+

Movie with Abe: In the Heights

In the Heights
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Released June 11, 2021 (Theaters and HBO Max)

Bringing a beloved musical to the big screen isn’t an easy task, and merely trying to do so is bound to create a horde of unhappy customers. There is an understandable tendency to amplify the songs and scenery to create an immersive experience that is quite different due to the natures and environment of cinema and theater. But film as a medium also has a tremendous amount to offer, and when used well, it can bring about a fully involving and celebratory experience, one that’s a marvel to enjoy both in theatres and at home.

Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) lives in Washington Heights, where he owns a bodega and saves every cent he makes to fulfill his dream of returning to his birthplace of the Dominican Republic. As his plans begin to solidify, a potential romance with ambitious hairdresser Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) appears on the horizon. Nina (Leslie Grace) comes back home from Stanford University, prompting clashes with her businessman father (Jimmy Smits), who reminds her of everything he’s done for her, and a reignited connection with his top employee, Benny (Corey Hawkins). The neighborhood’s resident Abuela (Olga Merediz) advises all the young people she has seen grow up, while another staple, salon owner Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega), prepares to move to a new location as the summer heat begins to become unbearable.

onvey This musical is best described as epic, full of a fabulous cast of characters, all of whom contribute to the story and many of whom get their own songs to really shine. While Usnavi is the protagonist, there are so many other stories at play and so many rich, entertaining personalities who get ample screen time. One ability that film has which theater does not is the opportunity for close-ups and a true focus on each character that invites even more than a solo musical number can convey. The scope of the large dance scenes with many participants are equally compelling and fantastic.

While the show he wrote after this one, “Hamilton,” ended up being released on television as a filmed version of the play, this adaptation of the first Lin-Manuel Miranda production, which debuted more than fifteen years ago, invites an almost entirely new cast for this effort, with the notable exception of the endearing Merediz. The result is truly successful, bringing many incredible talents to center stage. The use of onscreen effects in certain scenes should serve as a reminder to audiences that they’re watching a movie, but one that brings a winning and wondrous story to life in a fantastic and memorable way. All elements combine here to deliver a much more than satisfactory experience.

B+

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!


New to Theaters: Summertime
New to DVD: Since I Been Down
New to Amazon Prime Video: Our Friend
New to Hulu: Leave No Trace, In a World, Moffie
Emmy Awards: Coverage, Pre-Emmy Panel

Movie with Abe: No Sudden Move

The period crime film “No Sudden Move” is now streaming on HBO Max. It didn't impress me all that much. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!


New to Theaters: Zola
New to Theaters and VOD: First Date, The God Committee
New to DVD: The Perfect Candidate
New to Amazon Prime Video: The Tomorrow War, The Last King of Scotland
New to Hulu: Band Aid, Donnybrook, Grandma, I, Daniel Blake, Sweet Virginia, Take Shelter, Wolves
New to HBO Max: No Sudden Move

Movie with Abe: The Tomorrow War

The future-facing sci-fi film “The Tomorrow War” premieres tomorrow on Amazon Prime Video. I didn't love it, but some things appealed to me. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.