Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar
Lifelong friends Barb and Star (Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo) embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time… ever.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar isn’t a movie, it’s a wavelength. You either get on it or you don’t. I’m sure some viewers will complain that Barb and Star are so quirky and chipper that they’re annoying, or that the film’s comedy is too bizarre and random. Take my advice: Cut those people out of your life. You don’t need to associate yourself with anyone who is that wrong about something this important.” – Matt Singer, Screen Crush
“The new comedy Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar cashes in all the mainstream cred accrued by writer-actors Kristin Wiig and Annie Mumolo after the phenomenon of Bridesmaids, then puts it toward the greatest use of all: silly, bizarre, ecstatic jokes.” – Matt Patches, Polygon
“All comedy is subjective, of course, and Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar is aggressive in being true to itself and its own vision. Those not on board will roll their eyes and wonder what the fuss is about, while fans will watch it repeatedly, quote it forever, and dress as the characters for Halloween.” – Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
Available Formats [4/6]:
DVD
Shadow In the Cloud
In the throes of World War II, Captain Maude Garrett (Chloë Grace Moretz) joins the all-male crew of a B-17 bomber with a top-secret package. Caught off guard by the presence of a woman on a military flight, the crew tests Maude’s every move. Just as her quick wit is winning them over, strange happenings and holes in her backstory incite paranoia surrounding her true mission. But this crew has more to fear… lurking in the shadows, something sinister is tearing at the heart of the plane. Trapped between an oncoming air ambush and an evil lurking within, Maude must push beyond her limits to save the hapless crew and protect her mysterious cargo.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Hardly a minute of the movie registers as ‘realistic,’ but that hardly matters, since Liang so fully commits to its over-the-top sensibility that you’ll be clutching the armrest and grinning with glee for most of the ride.” – Peter Debruge, Variety
“The deeper Shadow in the Cloud dives into sci-fi fantasy territory, the more we’re asked to just go with it and enjoy the spectacularly choreographed action sequences — but thanks in large part to Moretz’s ferociously effective work, we’re all too happy to take that zany ride.” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
“Part creature feature, part war-is-hell nightmare, and entirely dedicated to cutting down the misogynist jerks who populate it, there’s enough giddy fun to power Shadow in the Cloud through just about anything.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire
Available Formats [4/6]:
DVD
The Reckoning
After losing her husband during the Great Plague, Grace Haverstock (Charlotte Kirk) is unjustly accused of being a witch and placed in the custody of England’s most ruthless witch-hunter, Judge Moorcroft (Sean Pertwee). Forced to endure physical and emotional torture while steadfastly maintaining her innocence, Grace must face her own inner demons as the Devil himself starts to work his way into her mind.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“For all its familiarity, however, you can’t deny its visual panache via immersive cinematography and production design.” – Jared Mobarak, The Film Stage
“A welcome return to the horror fold, Neil Marshall once more proves himself to be a talented and articulate filmmaker.” – Kat Hughes, THN
“For those willing to take a chance outside their comfort zone, it turns out to be a surprisingly effective story.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
Available Formats [4/6]:
DVD
Earwig and the Witch
Growing up in an orphanage in the British countryside, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life changes dramatically when a strange couple takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch. As the headstrong young girl sets out to uncover the secrets of her new guardians, she discovers a world of spells and potions, and a mysterious song that may be the key to finding the family she has always wanted.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“If pitted against other entertainment aimed at young viewers with much less panache, Earwig and the Witch wins, at least in conceptual adventurousness. Even if far from being top-tier Ghibli, it’s not without its fantastical pleasures.” – Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times
“Fans should give this film a chance, if only to hear Richard E. Grant’s voice work. It is a delightful variation on a theme of Alice in Wonderland/Tabitha the Teenage Witch.” – James Verniere, Boston Herald
“The film marks a new chapter for Studio Ghibli that opens it up to innovation as a new decade begins, and after watching Earwig and the Witch, fans of the studio will be eager for whatever projects come next.” – Megan Peters, ComicBook.com
Available Formats [4/6]:
Blu-ray
Son of the South
Based on Bob Zellner’s autobiography, The Wrong Side of Murder Creek, this true story set in Montgomery, Alabama follows a Klansman’s grandson who must choose which side of history to be on during the Civil Rights Movement. Defying his family and white Southern norms, he fought against social injustice, repression and violence to change the world around him.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“This is an old-fashioned and borderline corny biopic that looks like it could have been made 40 years ago — but it’s also a true-life story about a man who denounced his racist lineage and dedicated himself to the cause, a man who is still with us today, and it’s a story well worth telling.” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
“Brown’s well-crafted and period-persuasive biopic strikes a dramatically sound and emotionally satisfying balance between the moral awakening of its white protagonist and his relationships with sometimes encouraging, sometimes skeptical Black leaders and foot soldiers.” – Joe Leydon, Variety
“Accepted on its terms, the film does a reasonably absorbing job of dramatizing how Zellner’s convictions strengthened, pulling him away from the security of inaction.” – Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times
Available Formats [4/6]:
DVD
Giants Being Lonely
In semi-rural Hillsborough, North Carolina, high school seniors Adam, Bobby, and Caroline navigate their final year through the ups and downs of sex, loneliness, murder, and baseball.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“It’s immediate and specific and painful and impressive.” – William Bibbiani, The Wrap
“Giants Being Lonely may not add much to the landscape of coming-of-age dramas, yet the preciseness of its impressionism results in a striking atmosphere of hormones and vulnerability.” – Tim Grierson, Screen Daily
“Giants introduces a strong new voice in American independent filmmaking.” – Rory O’Connor, The Film Stage
Available Formats [4/6]:
DVD
Willy’s Wonderland
A quiet loner (Nic Cage) finds himself stranded in a remote town when his car breaks down. Unable to pay for the repairs he needs, he agrees to spend the night cleaning Willy’s Wonderland, an abandoned family fun center. But this wonderland has a dark secret that “The Janitor” is about to discover. He soon finds himself trapped inside Willy’s and locked in an epic battle with the possessed animatronic mascots that roam the halls. To survive, he must fight his way through each of them.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“Willy’s Wonderland is a violent, glorious riot of inside-joke horror tropes and Cage’s own best tribute to a genre he helped to create.” – Bradley Gibson, Film Threat
“Willy’s Wonderland has the garish stop-and-go rhythm of an ’80s slasher film, and I mean that as a compliment. It’s a gorefest to relax into with a can of Punch (or something stronger).” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“Come for Nic Cage fighting a robot alligator with a mop. Stay for some inventive licks on the dead-by-dawn horror-movie template…” – Nick de Semlyen, Empire
Available Formats [4/13]:
DVD
Crisis
Three stories about the world of opioids collide: a drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S., an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics, and a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“For the most part, Jarecki keeps all the plates spinning in this multi-story Traffic-like tale of the ravages of opioids.” – James Verniere, Boston Herald
“A dramatic thriller that does a good job at portraying its own version of a real issue we need to approach.” – Federico Furzan, Screentology
“Crisis is a film with a thoughtful message delivered in a hugely engaging way. It’s a well written and very well acted thriller that manages to provoke and engage. Movies like this are a rarity in these times it deserves to be seen by a wide audience.” – Niall Browne, Movies in Focus
Available Formats [4/20]:
DVD
The Violent Heart
Nine-year-old Daniel lives in a town outside of Nashville. Daniel sees his sister sneak out the door and follows to a dark, secluded spot in the woods, where she is killed. Fifteen years later, Daniel lives at home with his mom and teen brother Aaron. The killer has never been caught. Struggling to find his path in life, Daniel works at a local auto shop and dreams of enlisting in the Marines like his father. But he has a criminal record and would need a rarely granted waiver. Cassie is an 18-year-old who has had her fill of high school. An only child, she is particularly close to her father, an English teacher at her school. When Cassie takes her car in for an oil change and meets Daniel there’s instant chemistry. Devastated to discover her father may not be the man she thought he was, Cassie reaches out to Daniel and a tender romance blossoms. But when deeply buried secrets of their small town are revealed, violent events of the past threaten to tear the couple apart.
Description and score provided by Metacritic.
“If this one still bites off more than it can chew, its ambition nevertheless reaffirms Sanga as a skilled and emotionally sensitive filmmaker who’s attuned to the low-frequency wavelengths that tend to get flattened out by stories with this kind of sweep.” – David Ehrlich, IndieWire
“The subtlety of Sanga’s filmmaking allows for big twists to come as a genuine surprise.” – Teo Bugbee, New York Times
“Good acting by newcomers aided by strong supporting cast of movie veterans.” – Jackie K. Cooper, jackiekcooper.com
Available Formats [4/20]:
DVD
Cold Call
June Clarke (Sally Lindsay) becomes a victim of a cold call scam and after the death of her mother, seeks revenge in this four-part British thriller written by Karyn Dougan-Buckland and Mark Buckland.
Description by Metacritic.
“[A] compelling drama on a timely subject delivered with authenticity, humanity and a light touch.” – Carol Midgley, The Times
“I was hooked… because we all know this really happens.” – Sara Wallis, Daily Mirror
“It’s a timely drama, educating viewers on how the thieves operate without labouring the lessons.” – Christopher Steves, Daily Mail
Available Formats [4/27]:
DVD
Vanquish
A mother, Victoria (Ruby Rose), is trying to put her dark past as a Russian drug courier behind her, but retired cop Damon (Morgan Freeman) forces Victoria to do his bidding by holding her daughter hostage. Now, Victoria must use guns, guts, and a motorcycle to take out a series of violent gangsters — or she may never see her child again.
Description by Metacritic.
Thanks for the heads up. A few I think will appeal to the Hordubay household.
Let us know what you think of them when you’re finished!