The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Movie Minis
NEW THIS WEEK “Our Friend”
Review not available in time for publication. A woman gets a terminal cancer diagnosis and as her family is overwhelmed, a friend comes to help out. The impact of this decision is great. Starring Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Rated R for language. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 4 minutes.
STILL SHOWING “American Skin”
Review not available in time for publication. A Marine veteran takes matters into his own hands when his son is killed by a police office found innocent without standing trial. Starring Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi and Beau Knapp. Directed by Nate Parker. Rated R for language throughout and some violence. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 29 minutes.
“Come Play”
C+A child with nonverbal autism who uses a communication app on his phone to speak finds a mysterious app that invites a skeletonoid creature into real life. It has a childlike perspective and in a normal year, it might be forgettable, but its message of finding human connection rings true right now. Starring Azhy Robertson, Gillian Jacobs and John Gallagher Jr. Directed by Jacob Chase. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for terror, frightening images and some language. At AMC Sugarloaf Mills and AMC Southlake. 1 hour, 36 minutes.
“The Croods: A New Age” The caveman nomads are back, this time discovering a pair of evolved bohemian homo sapiens who have the creature comforts of “privacy,” hygiene and simple machines. The film is a blend of smart, irreverent humor coupled with eye-popping, animation that moves fast and furious. Starring the voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds. Directed by Joel Crawford. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for peril, action and rude humor. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 35 minutes.
C+“The Dig”
B+A widow curious about what is beneath her property gets the help of a local “excavator” and word gets out her land is a burial ground of sorts. It’s a poetic little film about the yearning, so human, so elusive and so futile to fix the past so it can be preserved. Starring Lily James, Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Simon Stone. (Michael O’sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for brief sensuality and partial nudity. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 52 minutes.
“Fatale”
C+A married man’s life turns into a nightmare when his one-night stand turns out to be a manipulative detective. It has some clunky writing and it borrows from another movie of
the same type, but it manages to pack some surprises. Starring Hilary Swank, Michael Ealy and Mike Colter. Directed by Deon Taylor. (Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times) Rated R for language, violence and sexual content. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 42 minutes.
“Honest Thief ”
C+A career bank robber attempts to come clean, but it goes awry, and he’s framed for murder so he must go on the lam to prove his innocence. It’s formulaic and the story doesn’t make much sense, but it’s somewhat comforting during this time. Starring Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh and Robert Patrick. Directed by Mark Williams. (Michael O’sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for strong violence, crude references and brief strong language. At AMC Parkway Pointe. 1 hour 39 minutes.
“The Marksman”
CA widowed rancher tries to protect a Hispanic woman and her son from a Mexican drug cartel when they cross the border in front of his truck. The film lacks the lean, zippy action and twisty plots of other thrillers and its politics are muddied at best. Starring Liam Neeson, Katheryn Winnick and Juan Pablo Raba. Directed by Robert Lorenz. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, violence, some bloody images. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 47 minutes.
“MLK/FBI”
AThis film examines the ways in which the FBI, under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover, surveilled Martin Luther King
Jr. in the hopes of discrediting him. There is history, but what astonishes about the film is just how current it feels, a reminder the propaganda playbook stays the same. Starring David Garrow, Donna Murch and Beverly Gage. Directed by Sam Pollard. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Unrated. At Landmark’s Midtown Art and Movie Tavern Horizon Village. 1 hour, 44 minutes.
“Monster Hunter”
Review not available in time for publication. Soldiers are transported to another world where powerful monsters rule and a lieutenant teams up with a mysterious hunter to fight back and survive. Starring Milla Jovovich, Ron Perlman and Tony Jaa. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. Rated PG-13 for violence throughout and sequences of creature action. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 43 minutes.
“News of the World”
B+A captain from the Civil War is forced to return a child to her aunt and uncle across the harsh land of Texas, but they encounter danger at every turn. There is a rewarding subtext that recognizes that, in telling stories, there are truths that can restore our humanity. Starring Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel and Elizabeth Marvel. Directed by Paul Greengrass. (Michael O’sullivan,
Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some language, disturbing image and violence. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 58 minutes.
“One Night in Miami”
B+This is an adaptation of a play which brings together four Black titans — Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown — after Clay’s triumphant World Heavyweight Championship. The film is carried by a stream of small, acutely observed moments and the way the actors move, converse, relate and enliven the best dialogue. Starring Kingsley Ben-adir, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr. and Eli Goree. Directed by Regina King. (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) Rated R for language throughout. At Landmark’s Midtown Art and NCG Peachtree Corners. 1 hour, 50 minutes.
“Pinocchio”
Review not available in time for publication. Geppetto’s puppet creation comes to life with dreams of becoming a real boy, but he is kidnapped and chased by bandits through a world of imaginative creatures. Starring Robert Benigni, Federico Ielapi and Marine Vacth. Directed by Matteo Garrone. Rated PG-13 for some disturbing images. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 5 minutes.
“Promising Young Woman”
AA 30-year-old woman is bored by her day job, but lives a double life by night. The film is an unapologetic stiletto straight to the teeth of insidious rape culture, one that will have you cackling, cringing and cackling once again. Starring Carey Mulligan, Laverne Cox and Bo Burnham. Directed by Emerald Fennell. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for sexual assault, language throughout, drug use, some sexual material and strong violence. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 53 minutes.
“The War With Grandpa”
Review not available in time for publication. Grandpa moves in with the family and takes over Peter’s room, and Peter will stop at nothing to get his room back. But Grandpa won’t be ousted easily, and it turns into war. Starring Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman and Oakes Fegley. Directed by Tim Hill. Rated PG for some thematic elements, rude humor and language. At Movie Tavern at Sandy Plains Village. 1 hour, 34 minutes.
“The White Tiger”
BAn Indian man recounts his rise from poverty to become the No. 2 chauffeur for a rich, corrupt landlord, but they will turn on him as soon as it no longer serves them. The story feels at times more schematic and archetypal than wholly lived by real people. Starring Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Directed by Ramin Bahrani. (Michael O’sullivan, Washington Post) Rated R for language, violence and sexual material. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 2 hours, 6 minutes.