The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Movie Minis
NEW THIS WEEK “Becoming Cousteau”
C+This documentary looks at the man behind the roles of sailor, undersea explorer, scientist and researcher. It’s not a tell-all, but it is a thorough if somewhat by-thebook profile of a pioneer in the field of ecology and an activist for better environmental stewardship. Starring Vincent Cassel and Jacques Yves-cousteau. Directed by Liz Garbus. (Michael O’sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some disturbing images and smoking. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 33 minutes.
“Dune” B+
A young man, training in mind control, travels to a dangerous planet to help take over spice-mining operations, and his psychic connections to the people there indicate he may be their messiah. This is not an adventure romp laced with humor, but it is approached with almost religious reverence, creating an intoxicatingly mysterious and immersive world. Starring Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for some disturbing images, sequences of strong violence and suggestive material. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 35 minutes.
“The Electrical Life of Louis Wain”
D+An artist marries, and when his mental health begins to decline, his humanlike cat drawings prove to be hits with the wider public. The film about the titular artist tells its story with sympathy but too many quirks and try-hard flourishes. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy and Andrea Riseborough. Directed by Will Sharpe. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and strong language. At the Springs Cinema & Taphouse, Landmark’s Midtown Art and GTC Merchants Walk. 1 hour, 51 minutes.
“The Harder They Fall” Review not available in time for publication.
An outlaw finds out his enemy is being released from prison, and he rounds up his gang to seek revenge in this new-school Western. Starring Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz and Delroy Lindo. Directed by Jeymes Samuel. Rated R for strong violence and language. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 17 minutes.
“Mass” B+
Two couples sit down in a room to discuss a school shooting — one set the parents of the victim, one set the parents of the shooter. The film is not overtly political and doesn’t impost any meaning; it simply observes the searching for it and the small salvations we hope to find in the process. Starring Reed Birney, Ann Dowd and Jason Isaacs. Directed by Fran Kranz. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and thematic content. At Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 50 minutes.
“Monster Family 2: Nobody’s Perfect”
Review not available in time for publication. A monster hunter is on the prowl again, and the Wishbone family must transform into monsters to save its friends. Starring the voices of Emily Watson, Jason Isaacs and Nick Frost. Directed by Holger Tappe. Unrated. At Regal Hollywood Stadium and Regal Mall of Georgia. 1 hour, 43 minutes.
“Ron’s Gone Wrong” B
A middle schooler receives an outdated robot for his birthday, and it is what he has always wanted, but it isn’t fully programmed, so it has some quirks. The film loses some steam in the final act, and the cautionary message is lost somewhat. Starring the voices of Zach Galifianakis, Jack Dylan Grazer and Olivia Colman. Directed by Sarah Smith and Jean-philippe Vine. (Pat Padua, Washington Post) Rated PG for some rude material, language and thematic elements. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 47 minutes.
STILL SHOWING “The Addams Family 2” D+
Morticia and Gomez are distraught that their children are growing up and skipping family dinners, so they decide to hit the road for one last miserable family vacation. The jokes that felt fresh in the first film are stale here, and the story’s twists are glaringly predictable. Starring the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron and Chloe Grace Moretz. Directed by Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for violence, macabre and rude humor and language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 32 minutes.
“Candyman” B+
A painter struggling to find new inspiration creates a mirrored piece inspired by the scary tale of the Candyman at Cabrini-green, and the art world soon is rocked by a series of grisly murders. This film builds on the horrors imagined by the original and is a genuinely terrifying and artful film that
speaks to the current moment. Starring Yahya Abdul-mateen II, Teyonah Parris and Nathan Stewart-jarrett. Directed by Nia Dacosta. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language, bloody horror violence and some sexual references. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 31 minutes.
“Dear Evan Hansen” D+
An isolated kid is seen as the friend of a boy who commits suicide, and when assumptions and lies tumble out of control, it’s likely to blow up in everyone’s faces. There’s much wrong with this film; to start with, the star is too old to play a teenager. Starring Ben Platt, Amy Adams and Julianne Moore. Directed by Stephen Chbosky. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for some suggestive references, brief strong language, suicide and thematic material. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 17 minutes.
“Doctor” Review not available in time for publication.
A military doctor visiting Chennai gets caught up in the search for a missing girl, and the remainder of the story focuses on human/organ trafficking. Starring Sivakarthikeyan, Milind Soman and Yogi Baby. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. Unrated. At AMC Dine-in Buckhead. 2 hours, 28 minutes.
“Don’t Breathe 2”
Review unavailable in time for publication. Set years in the future, Norman has lived in solace until his past sins catch up to him. Starring Stephen Lang, Brendan Sexton III and Madelyn Grace. Directed by Rodo Sayagues Mendez. Rated R for strong bloody violence, language and gruesome images. At AMC Southlake. 1 hour, 38 minutes.
“Free Guy”
C
A background character in a video game steps outside of his code when he spots a comely player walking past his place of employment. It’s an easy, breezy riff on video game culture that’s sure to delight avid gamers, but it’s a bit too smug and glib. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer and Joe Keery. Directed by Shawn Levy. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for language, crude/suggestive references, strong fantasy violence. At AMC Colonial and AMC Sugarloaf Mills. 1 hour, 55 minutes.
“Halloween Kills”
D+
The sequel picks up right where the last one left off with Laurie and family racing to the hospital after the latest victims are found. There is a lack of focus, and in trying to do too much, the film ends up doing nothing at all, other than tarnishing the franchise’s good name. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer and Anthony Michael Hall. Directed by David Gordon Green. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language, grisly images, some drug use and strong bloody violence. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 45 minutes.
“Hard Luck Love Song”
C
A talented musician makes his living hustling pool and is entering a tournament with a big cash prize when he reunites with his ex who lives in the same town. This film is a late, weak entry in an already strong and overcrowded field. Starring Michael Dorman, Sophia Bush and Dermot Mulroney. Directed by Justin Corsbie. (Kristen Page-kirby, Special to The Washington Post) Rated R for strong language throughout, drug use, some violence and sexual reference. At Regal Hollywood Stadium, AMC Barrett Commons and Regal Mall of Georgia. 1 hour, 44 minutes.
“Jungle Cruise”
C
A British plant scientist searching the Brazilian jungle for a legendary tree that possesses healing powers hires an Amazon riverboat skipper to guide her, and some curses may show up. This is an untaxing, big-budget summer popcorn movie for the whole family. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt and Edgar Ramirez. Directed by Jaume Collet-serra. (Michael O’sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for adventure violence. At AMC Southlake. 2 hours, 7 minutes.
“Lamb” B+
Married sheep farmers move the newborn of a sheep into their home after the ewe lamb is born. There’s nothing predictable or formulaic about this masterly exercise in incremental, calmly framed tension and uneasy human/animal coexistence. Starring Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snaer Guonason and Bjorn Hlynur Haraldsson. Directed by Valdimar Johannsson. (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) Rated R for some bloody violent images and sexuality/nudity. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 46 minutes.
“The Last Duel”
B+
This film chronicles the actual events of the last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges and Jacque Le Gris in the midst of the Hundred Years War. The cinematic craft is predictably impeccable, with sumptuous costumes and fantastic storytelling and performances. Starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Jodie Comer. Directed by Ridley Scott. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for sexual assault, language, sexual content, some graphic nudity and strong violence. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 33 minutes.
“Malignant” B
A woman is having shocking visions that turn into terrifying realities. Just as the script becomes tedious, everything comes together and goes gleefully over the top. Starring Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson and George Young. Directed by James Wan. (Adam Graham, Detroit News) Rated R for strong horror violence, language and gruesome images. At AMC Southlake. 1 hour, 51 minutes.
“Most Eligible Bachelor” Review not available in time for publication.
A couple are in love when they confront the ideas of married life. Starring Akhil Akkineni, Pooja Hegde and Aamani. Directed by Bommarillu Baskar. Unrated. At Regal Medlock Crossing and AMC Camp Creek. 2 hours, 50 minutes.
“No Time To Die”
B
James Bond is trying to retire in Jamaica, but the gig finds him, and he is back into a world he thought he left behind. The script is often delightfully light and saucy, and the film is a beautifully shot and epic adventure. Starring Daniel Craig, Rami Malek and Lea Seydoux. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, some disturbing images and some suggestive material. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 43 minutes.
“Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
B
A young Asian American man has ties to a shadowy crime organization and has to come to terms with his past while embracing his destiny as a superhero. Starring Simu Lu, Awkwafina and Fala Chen. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and language. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 12 minutes.
“Titane” D+
A girl receives a titanium plate in her head after a car crash, and in the aftermath of the accident, she goes on a weird journey involving unsolved murders. As the main character suffers gross physical changes, the film becomes less an engrossing allegory or even arresting spectacle than an exercise in sheer endurance. Starring Agathe Rousselle, Vincent Lindon and Garance Marillier. Directed by Julia Ducournau. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) Rated R for language, graphic nudity, disturbing material, sexual content and strong violence. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 48 minutes.
“The Velvet Underground”
B-
The film explores how the group became a cultural touchstone with in-depth interviews and never-before-seen performances. It is mostly concerned with the formation of the group and its place within Andy Warhol’s world, and the director assumes viewers already a fair bit about the band, which is fine, but it shuts out those on the ground floor looking for a way in. Starring Mary Woronov, Jonathan Richman and John Cale. Directed by Todd Haynes. (Adam Graham, Detroit News) Rated R for some drug material, language, sexual content and nudity. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 50 minutes.
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage”
C+
The character springs into action when notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady transforms into the evil Carnage. The sequel doesn’t have that sense of joyful discovery and gleeful mischief that the first film did, because it’s obviously now a comedy on purpose. Starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams and Naomie Harris. Directed by Andy Serkis. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for disturbing material, action, intense sequences of violence, some strong language and suggestive references. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 37 minutes.