OPENING THIS WEEK/
Directed by David Hulbert and Kazuhiko Parungao; stars Mary Joy Apostol, Riva Quenery, Rhian Ramos, Solenn Heussaff
Bubbly lass is gifted but has no drive—content to hang out with pals. But they surprisingly land the chance to compete in their favorite TV show. Apostol, who is known for “Birdshot,” was awed by Heussaff and Ramos’ “beauty.” “I got starstruck!” Flick also shows off her “funny” side. “I had a hard time, at first.”
Directed by John Stevenson; with the voices of James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith, Johnny Depp
Famous detective delves into the puzzling disappearance of garden gnomes in London. Commonsensemedia says: “First movie introduced Shakespearean stories to kids, this one could introduce classic literary characters.” The Collider’s Adam Chitwood notes: “The jokes are incredibly easy; the animation is spotty.”
Directed by Garth Davis; stars Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Tahar Rahim, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Woman follows a charismatic leader from Nazareth. Variety’s Guy Lodge describes it as “hushed, deliberate and realized with considerable care and beauty, [but] its pulse is far harder to locate.” Screen International’s Fionnuala Halligan agrees: “Clearly well-intentioned, attractive, wistful-tothe-point-of-inertia.”
Directed by Anders Walters; stars Madison Wolfe, Imogen Poots, Jennifer Ehle, Zoe Saldana
Eccentric gal’s whimsical fantasy life is an attempt to cope with troubles at home. The Hollywood Reporter’s John DeFore calls it “a sensitive and attractive, if not wholly convincing, pairing of fantasy with reallife turmoil.” The Verge’s Tasha Robinson quips: “As a first-time film statement, [it’s] … assured and remarkable.”
Directed by Steven Soderbergh; stars Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah After being committed to an institution, a woman confronts her worst fears. Sight and Sound’s Nick James hails it as “an adroit, if occasionally glib, study of American paranoia.” Empire’s Dan Jolin sums it up as “a raw, lean and abrasively effective thriller … [featuring] Foy as we’ve never seen her before.”
Directed by Todd Haynes; stars Oakes Fegley, Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore
The lives of two children from different eras mysteriously intersect. Time’s Stephanie Zacharek asserts: “This is an intricate, high-reaching piece of filmmaking … [its] beauty runs so deep.” Film Comment’s Michael Koresky concurs: “Thoroughly self-aware object [that’s] full of unexpected marvels.”
Directed by Jeremie Gillespie, Steven Kostanski; stars Aaron Poole, Kathleen Munroe
A cop leads survivors through a hospital’s basement, where evil awaits. Time Out’s Tom Huddleston raves: “A gloriously unfettered throwback to the wild days of ’ 80s horror.” Bloody Disgusting’s Brad Miska enthuses: “Dark, demented and disgusting … [it’s] going to live among the greatest body horror films of all time.”
Directed by Lennart Ruff; stars Sam Worthington, Nathalie Emmanuel, Noah Jupe
A military family relocates to a distant world, to participate in a groundbreaking experiment. Firstshowing.net’s Alex Billington depicts it as “weird … a peculiar new sci-fi film … from a German director.” Screen Anarchy’s Christopher Webster points out: “Worthington is not quite done with body-morphing sci-fi just yet.”
Directed by Andrew Hyatt; stars Jim Caviezel, James Faulkner, Olivier Martinez
Luke risks his life to visit Paul, a prisoner in Nero’s Rome. Disciples.org’s G. Steve Kinnard remarks: “Perhaps it should be called ‘Luke and Paul’ because (it) equally highlights the story of Luke.” Pastorunlikely.com states: “It was visually appealing, Biblically sound, and told a compelling story … an instant classic.”