Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
Director: Wes Ball
Writer: Josh Friedman
Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, William H. Macy
rated pg-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence / action.
“…I can’t think of another modern blockbuster franchise as consistently intelligent and entertaining as this one…” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“This ripping action-adventure features stellar effects and a superb lead performance from Owen Teague as a timid simian who must rescue his clan from the clutches of a warlike tribe.” – Tim Grierson, Screen Daily
“It probes how the act of co-opting idealisms and converting them to dogmas has occurred many times over. What’s more, it points directly at the immense danger of romanticizing the past, imagining that if we could only reclaim and reframe and resurrect history, our present problems would be solved.” – Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times
IF
IF is about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends — and what she does with that superpower — as she embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.
Director & Writer: John Krasinski
Starring: Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Steve Carell, Fiona Shaw, Louis Gossett Jr.
rated pg for thematic elements and mild language.
“IF is a delightful escapist fantasy that reaches deep into the hearts of the audience by invoking childhood memories.” – John Kirk, Original Cin
“…there are truly magical moments throughout leading to an emotional payoff that should moisten the eyes of even the most hardened among us. One scene in particular of a woman recalling her dreams of being a dancer set to Khachaturian’s Spartacus is one of the most memorably moving I’ve seen this year.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“IF integrates stunning animation, comedy and emotion for a beautiful result, a perfect choice for your next family movie night — or if you just want to relive what being a kid was like.” – Dina Kaur, Arizona Republic
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
As the world falls, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by the Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.
Director: George Miller
Writers: George Miller & Nick Lathouris
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne
rated r for sequences of strong violence and grisly images.
“The chassis may look familiar but there is a very different engine driving Furiosa from that of Fury Road: it’s a rich, sprawling epic that only strengthens and deepens the Max-mythology. It shall ride eternal!” – John Nugent, Empire
“The attention to detail Miller and company put into their world is astounding, with so many memorable (if impractical) vehicles, costumes, and sets that it is nigh impossible to take stock of it all. Likewise, with cinematographer Simon Duggan, Miller stages several scenes that look like classical paintings, elevating nearly every moment towards high art.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“Not only does it stand on its own as a masterful action-adventure blockbuster, but it also exemplifies Miller’s thesis as a whole: that survival ‘in extremis’ reveals the true essence of a person. Fury Road is an even better movie because of Furiosa, and George Miller has gifted the world with his magnum opus. Witness him.” – BJ Colangelo, /Film
The Garfield Movie
Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt), the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving indoor cat, is about to have a wild outdoor adventure! After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – scruffy street cat Vic (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) – Garfield and his canine friend Odie are forced from their perfectly pampered life into joining Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.
Director: Mark Dindal
Writers: Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgrove, & David Reynolds with Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky
Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Harvey Guillén, Ving Rhames, Hannah Waddingham, Cecily Strong, Brett Goldstein, Bowen Yang, Snoop Dogg
rated pg for action / peril and mild thematic elements.
“All told, it’s a surprisingly good time. The Garfield Movie may be as disposable as one of those numbered paperbacks that ex-kids of a certain age may fondly recall from their Scholastic book orders, but it approximates their sense of fun, too.” – Jesse Hassenger, Paste
“While simple and predictable, the film offers excellent voice performances by Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, and others, tying all the humor together for a fun time.” – Nelson Acosta, Koimoi
“This animated take on the adventures of the plus-sized ginger sourpuss is a refreshing step up from the lazy, lasagne-based humour of the live(ish) action versions.” – Wendy Ide, Observer
The Watchers
Mina (Dakota Fanning), a 28-year-old artist, gets stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland. When Mina finds shelter, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers who are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures each night. Based on the novel by A.M. Shine.
Director & Writer: Ishana Night Shyamalan
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Olwen Fouéré, Georgina Campbell, Oliver Finnegan
rated pg-13 for violence, terror, and some thematic elements.
“Shyamalan knows how to elicit fear from her audience, and stages a few very tense moments while smartly keeping the beings in the woods off camera as much as possible, only slowly rolling out glimpses as the story moves along.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“The Watchers is not a perfect movie, but it is an excellent start, heralding the arrival of a bold new talent.” – Chris Knight, Original Cin
“The Watchers is carefully paced, character-focused, and quite sincerely emotional, interested less in the manner of the scares and more in how they’re affecting the ensemble gathered in the woods.” – David Sims, The Atlantic
Babes
After becoming pregnant from a one-night stand, Eden (Ilana Glazer) leans on her married best friend and mother of two, Dawn (Michelle Buteau), to guide her through gestation and beyond.
Director: Pamela Adlon
Writers: Ilana Glazer & Josh Rabinowitz
Starring: Ilana Glazer, Michele Buteau, Hasan Minhaj, Oliver Platt
rated r for sexual material, language throughout, and some drug use.
“This is a smart and loving movie about female friendship.” – Nell Minow, RogerEbert.com
“[Adlon] has crafted a film that is at once sophisticated and aggressively sophomoric, profoundly romantic and deeply cynical, and as feminist as a barbecue at Gloria Steinem’s house and yet seemingly apolitical enough to appeal to your average Entourage fan.” – Oliver Jones, Observer
“With Pamela Adlon directing in a style reminiscent of the best Woody Allen and Nora Ephron movies of the 1970s and 1980s, a sharp and hilarious and poignant screenplay by Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz, and winning performances from the co-leads, Babes is one terrific friend-com, or should we say a mom-com, and I can already picture Eden and Dawn making fun of that latter term.” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
Force of Nature: The Dry 2
Five women head out on a remote hiking retreat but only four return, each telling a different story. Detectives Aaron Falk (Eric Bana) and Carmen Cooper (Jacqueline McKenzie) must find out what really happened before time runs out.
Director & Writer: Robert Connolly
Starring: Eric Bana, Jacqueline McKenzie, Anna Torv, Deborra-Lee Furness
rated r for language.
“Once again brings some intelligently thrilling goods from down under.” – Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects
“Connolly continues to grow as a filmmaker, as evidenced in his last three pictures, all starring Bana. While The Dry may hold greater dramatic weight, Force of Nature is a more complicated affair. More red herrings, more technical proficiency.” – Dan Mecca, The Film Stage
“Yes, an Aaron Falk franchise has been born… Force of Nature: The Dry 2 is a spinetingling, thoughtful, and atmospheric mystery thriller that leaves you on the edge of your seat.” – M.N. Miller, Geek Vibes Nation
You’ll Never Find Me
An isolated man living at the back of a desolate caravan park is visited by a desperate young woman seeking shelter from a violent storm. As the savage storm worsens, these solitary souls begin to feel threatened – but who should really be afraid?
Directors: Josiah Allen & Indianna Bell
Writer: Indianna Bell
Starring: Brendan Rock, Jordan Cowan
not rated. contains violence, bloody images, thematic material, strong language, and smoking.
“The debut film by Australian filmmakers Indianna Bell and Josiah Allen, You’ll Never Find Me marks them out as a duo to watch. They prove to be masters of pacing, dropping breadcrumbs for viewers to follow as they lead us towards the answers we crave.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“You’ll Never Find Me is an excellent, audacious entry to the horror genre. It’s disconcerting and thrilling, with an emotional center and something to say. Allen and Bell confidently craft an effective story that will stay with you long after it’s over.” – Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant
“You’ll Never Find Me builds a profoundly creepy and spiralling momentum before everything comes together in a shockingly brilliant final act with twists that nobody will see coming – or be able to forget.” – Luke Buckmaster, The Guardian
Jeanne du Barry
Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn) is a working-class woman determined to climb the social ladder, using her charms to escape her impoverished life. Her lover, the Comte du Barry (Melvil Poupaud), wishes to present her to King Louis XV (Johnny Depp) and orchestrates a meeting through the influential Duke of Richelieu (Pierre Richard). The encounter goes far beyond his expectations for it was love at first sight for the King and Jeanne. Through this ravishing courtesan, the king rediscovers his appetite for life and feels he can no longer live without her. Making Jeanne his last official mistress, scandal erupts as no one at Court will accept a girl from the streets into their rarified world.
Director: Maïwenn
Writers: Maïwenn, Teddy Lussi-Modeste, Nicolas Livecchi, & Marion Pin
Starring: Maïwenn, Johnny Depp
not rated. contains strong language, violence, and sexual material.
“It’s a finely wrought story of palace intrigue enriched by lush sets and decors, having been shot at Versailles.” – Kyle Smith, Wall Street Journal
“There’s so much to look at and think about that it is sometimes difficult to concentrate on the story, but a plot does emerge in the capable hands of Maïwenn, who keeps the facts straight while keeping one of the most shocking chapters in French history alive and kicking.” – Rex Reed, Observer
“The tableaux are stunning, the costumes surreal and truffle-rich, but the film doesn’t let period details obscure the scandalous love story at its royal center. A warm, scented bath of a movie.” – Thelma Adams, AARP
Mammals
The six-part nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough focuses on how mammals have adapted to how humans have changed their environments.
NOT RATED.
“This was breathtaking TV, crafted by the best mammals in the business: us humans, led by a certain tireless nonagenarian.” – Michael Hogan, The Telegraph
“The relish with which Attenborough described his subjects was palpable, from his delighted emphasis on the ‘hairy’ armadillo to the exotic lilt he afforded the word ‘gerbil’. The stories may have been epic, but the success of their telling was all in the details.” – Marianne Levy, i
“With Mammals, [Attenborough] adds another triumph to his peerless legacy, investigating the myriad ways in which mammals strive to survive and thrive on this ever-changing planet.” – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
Dragonkeeper
As ancient China falls under the rule of an evil Emperor, a fiery young girl rebels. Alongside a powerful dragon, she embarks on a journey to recover the last remaining dragon egg and save the world.
Directors: Jianping Li & Salvador Simó
Writers: Carole Wilkinson, Pablo I. Castrillo, Ignacio Ferreras, Rosanna Cecchini, & Xianping Wang
Starring: Bill Nighy, Mayalinee Griffith, Bill Bailey, Anthony Howell
rated pg for violence, thematic elements, and scary images.
“An exciting, inspirational and thrilling adventure for the whole family.” – Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
“It is through the girl’s eyes, gestures, and intimate relationship with dragons, spells, curses, threats, and humans that the great adventure of the film truly unfolds.” – Fausto Fernandez, Fotogramas
“Sure, it’s a little strange hearing Asian characters speaking with British accents, but once you get used to that, the movie’s adventure delivers a good time.” – Mike McGranaghan, The Aisle Seat
Hard Miles
A social worker (Matthew Modine) at a youth facility assembles an unlikely cycling team of juvenile convicts and takes them on a transformative 1000-mile bike ride from Denver to the Grand Canyon.
Director: R.J. Daniel Hanna
Writers: R.J. Daniel Hanna & Christian Sander
Starring: Matthew Modine, Cynthia Kate McWilliams, Jahking Guillory, Sean Astin
rated pg-13 for strong language, thematic content, suggestive references, and some teen drinking.
“It is a compelling story, and the film is a combination of spectacular scenery, arduous exertion, inspiring pep talks, adolescent rebellion, emotional confrontations, and lessons learned by both the teenagers and their leader.” – Nell Minow, RogerEbert.com
“Though you know exactly what you’re going to get from co-writer/director RJ Daniel Hanna’s film… it’s made with care, there are some nice performances from the supporting cast, and the Colorado vistas are suitably epic.” – Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman
“An inspiring movie that pushes away the soot and trauma of our overtaxed corrections system to find the inherent good in its young denizens, one pedal, one hard mile, at a time.” – Thelma Adams, AARP
The Hyperborean
A whiskey magnate summons his contentious family to sample his legacy product: casks of Scotch aged 170 years, recovered from a ghost ship in the Canadian Arctic.
Director: Jesse Thomas Cook
Writer: Tony Burgess
Starring: Liv Collins, Tony Burgess
not rated. contains strong language, strong violence, sexual references, and thematic content.
“There’s an endearing, homestyle warmth to the kooky sci-fi dramedy. Think Joe Swanberg’s ‘Mumblecore’ roots by way of Charles Band’s late-night horror schlockiness – and I mean that with love.” – Matt Donato, IGN
“The cast and screenplay are much more successful at delivering humorous action than at finding the real personalities beneath these characters’ posturing, but for viewers primarily looking for the former, there is plenty to enjoy in The Hyperborean.” – Alex Fields, In Review Online
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