Gore with no gristle.
‘Wild Horse Nine’
John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell play C.I.A. agents on the job in Chile in 1973.
From our review:
Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine” is a predictably bloody, spasmodically funny extended riff on a man-walks-into-a-bar joke. … There’s no punchline, per se, but the joke is on any viewer who has hopes that McDonagh, amid his customary chatter and splatter, would add more gristle to the gore.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Critic’s Pick
In the club, we’re all family.
‘Club Kid’
After finding out he has a child, a flailing New York club promoter finally must grow up.
From our review:
Plenty of movies have the same plot as “Club Kid.” … But in telling his version of the tale, the talented actor and comedian Jordan Firstman — who wrote, directed and stars in the film — injects buoyant new life into this familiar story.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Critic’s Pick
It’s a real contender.
‘I Play Rocky’
This biopic directed by Peter Farrelly follows Sylvester Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) through the process of making “Rocky.”
From our review:
Farrelly (“Green Book”) is an efficient if not inspired director, and he seems to have never seen a film cliché that he didn’t want to use. Still, he keeps everything moving right along at a pleasant clip, keeping his focus steadily on the characters.
In theaters. Read the full review.
A monster of metaphors.
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’
The colossal creature returns to cause more chaos and battle a new foe.
From our review:
As with the franchise form itself, regeneration and transformation are the primary concerns of Takashi Yamazaki’s “Godzilla Minus Zero,” a visually mind-boggling, narratively undisciplined follow-up to his “Godzilla Minus One” in 2023.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Grief shared across generations.
‘Mouse’
After the death of her teenage daughter, a grieving mother (Sophie Okonedo) grows close to her child’s best friend.
From our review:
In telling a touching, cleareyed tale of young death, grief and connection, Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s third collaboration, “Mouse,” reminds us how personal — yet shared — loss can feel.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Standard Seuss.
‘The Cat in the Hat’
Bill Hader voices the chaotic cat in the latest adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book.
From our review:
The peppy, diverting animated version that the directors Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni have come up with is filled with bold colors, half-decent jokes and a couple of catchy tunes. It respects its source not by living up to it, but by not turning it into an absolute mess.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Corny but captivating.
‘Jimmy’
This biopic directed by Aaron Burns follows Jimmy Stewart (KJ Apa) through his time in the military and starring in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
From our review:
Justin Strawhand’s script too heavy-handedly ties Stewart’s personal trials to Capra’s cinematic fictions. … Veracity aside, it’s cornball stuff. But “Jimmy” won’t have it any other way. Give in to it or not, but only Scrooges would roll their eyes at a film that wears its big heart on its tear-soaked sleeve.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Critic’s Pick
A beautiful wisp.
‘Zi’
Plagued by a mysterious illness, a woman wanders the streets of Hong Kong in this impressionistic film from Kogonada.
From our review:
The film can feel like a wisp. … But it’s gorgeously photographed and meaningfully felt.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Grim subject, gleeful violence.
‘The Last Temptation of Becky’
Becky (Lulu Wilson) travels to Poland to fight even more neo-Nazis in the third installment in this series.
From our review:
Directed by Jenn Wexler, “The Last Temptation of Becky” never quite reconciles its “Scooby Doo” sensibility with the ugliness of its subject matter, and the kills feel like empty spectacles. There’s more satisfaction from killing Nazis in a video game.
In theaters. Read the full review.
An epic adaptation.
‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’
This film is the first of two adapting the ancient Sanskrit epic.
From our review:
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, this respectable and respectful adaptation rolls out the converging stories of the prince Rama and the demon king Ravana with brawny blockbuster-style action and earnest royal intrigue.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Overstuffed with action.
‘De Gaulle: Résistance’
This historical drama directed by Antonin Baudry follows Charles de Gaulle (Simon Abkarian) as he is exiled from France.
From our review:
Even with its generous running time, the film, which has a sequel coming, is hard-pressed to contain all the action it aspires to convey.
In theaters. Read the full review.
A peculiar poultry parable.
‘Hen’
This oddity directed by Gyorgi Palfi takes the perspective of a chicken, which nests next to a criminal enterprise.
From our review:
As the gulf between the storylines widens, their division often diminishes the emotion of each. “Hen” is still a worthy and even urgent film, and not only for its attention to an overlooked creature.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Compiled by Kellina Moore.
The post 12 New Movies Our Critics Are Talking About This Week appeared first on New York Times.
