Critic’s Pick
Calculating the costs of romance.
‘Materialists’
Dakota Johnson stars as Lucy, a matchmaker caught between two very different suitors (Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans) in this rom-com directed by Celine Song.
From our review:
Part of what’s appealing about “Materialists” is how Song navigates the genre’s and Lucy’s contradictions. Like her heroine, Song is caught between two forces, namely her obvious affection for old-school romantic comedy and her desire to speak honestly about what it means to be a real, thinking, desiring woman — a person! — in a world that undermines and undervalues women.
In theaters. Read the full review.
A carbon copy with cosmetic improvements.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’
In this live-action remake from Dean DeBlois, one of the directors of the original, a young boy befriends a fearsome dragon and tries to end the war between the species.
From our review:
To be sure, this new iteration is entertaining, bears a sense of heart and brings a tight script of fantasy and friendship to life. It is, in short, all of the original, only too much so: Most of the good of this “Dragon” come directly from its source material, as DeBlois has almost religiously mimed his original creation without much daring or new dimension beyond mechanically translating it to an IMAX screen.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Chimney sweeps clear out the cobwebs.
‘Sex’
Two chimney sweeps discuss romance and relationships in this installation of Dag Johan Haugerud’s thematically linked trilogy.
From our review:
The two men who circle each other in the serious, deliberate Norwegian talkathon “Sex” chat about different things, including life, love, desire, freedom and fidelity. Their discussions are searching, at times surprisingly intimate — especially for male characters — sometimes naturalistic and often sufficiently self-consciously mannered to make you aware of just how written the material is.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Undercover comedians.
‘Deep Cover’
An improv comedy teacher (Bryce Dallas Howard) and her students (Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed) infiltrate a drug ring in this action-comedy directed by Tom Kingsley.
From our review:
The ensemble is packed with seasoned acting professionals across the board, who more than sell their drunk scenes and deliver more than a few laughs on their way to redemption.
Watch on Prime Video. Read the full review.
A mother’s love can’t save her daughter (or the film).
‘Echo Valley’
An enabling mother (Julianne Moore) and chaotic daughter (Sydney Sweeney) navigate an increasingly grim series of events involving drugs, money and a dead body.
From our review:
Battling downpours and an abundance of nighttime shadows, the cinematographer Benjamin Kracun adds a classy, coppery richness where he can. But “Echo Valley,” directed by Michael Pearce (whose 2018 feature debut, “Beast,” mingled equally dissonant themes with far greater dexterity), is ultimately undone by Brad Ingelsby’s distracted script. The most relatable being onscreen is the family dog, whose baffled expression at one point I am certain mirrored my own.
Watch on Apple TV+. Read the full review.
A disciplined depiction of a dictator.
‘Meeting With Pol Pot’
This historical drama follows Alain, Paul and Lise, journalists who receive a rare invitation to meet with Pol Pot in Cambodia. The film was directed by Rithy Panh, who made the documentary “The Missing Picture,” about that country’s Khmer Rouge regime.
From our review:
Panh powerfully interweaves real footage of starvation and mass death — sometimes projecting it behind the characters or matching it to Paul’s eyeline. He also brings back the main conceit of “The Missing Picture,” which used clay figurines to depict certain events. What remains hidden is crucial in Panh’s movies. When Alain and Pol Pot have their long-deferred reunion, the dictator’s face is kept in shadow.
In theaters. Read the full review.
In a weight class of its own.
‘Tatami’
Directed by Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir, this sports drama takes place at the World Judo Championships, where Leila (Arienne Mandi), an Iranian athlete, faces scrutiny from her government and her coach, Maryam (Amir), when she gears up to fight an opponent from Israel.
From our review:
The meat of the conflict happens on the sidelines and in the corridors of the stadium. That is where Leila (who refuses to to stop competing) and Maryam lock horns; the Iranian government’s cronies appear dressed as plain-clothed spectators; and the tournament’s organizers struggle to decide how best to protect Leila. The mounting tensions of these moving parts — and steely performances by Mandi and Amir — make for an engrossing thriller fueled by female rage.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Restored cinematic history.
‘Will’
In this newly restored drama from 1981 directed by Jessie Maple, the title character tries to get clean while coaching a girls basketball team.
From our review:
With its rough-hewed realism, “Will” is remarkable not so much for its craft as for its philosophical depth in portraying the tensions between a struggling individual and his community, which can be both supportive and enabling. Where there’s a Will, there’s a way? With its balance of heartache and hope, the film suggests there could be.
In theaters. Read the full review.
Compiled by Kellina Moore.
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