‘Sicario’ returns; indie drama ‘Leave No Trace’ is brilliant Indie offerings
Pattinson, Farmiga, Plummer star in other new films
Few probably imagined 2015’s intense thriller “Sicario” would merit a sequel.
But here we are a week after a “Jurassic” sequel with the unlikely follow-up “Sicario: Day of the Soldado.” Gone is the Oscar-nominated visual master Denis Villeneuve and star Emily Blunt; now sitting in the director’s chair is Stefano Sollima, praised helmer of “Suburra” — the movie, not the killer Netflix series.
What bodes well is that Taylor Sheridan returns as the screenwriter, as do Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin, whose characters move around chess pieces to trigger a drug cartel war.
In other big releases, the comedy “Uncle Drew” reunites a team of former basketball players — including Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson and Lisa Leslie — for a redemptive game that’s spearheaded by a man (Lil Rel Howery) facing tough times.
The indie scene is chockfull of goodies this weekend.
My favorite is “Leave No Trace,” an original and engrossing character-driven drama focused on the relationship between a caring, battle-scarred father (Ben Foster) and his smart daughter (Thomasin McKenzie). Their sheltered existence living on Oregon public park land is shattered when they are discovered by officials and then shuttled off to more
“domesticated” accommodations. Debra Granik — who directed “Winter’s Bone” — makes us feel the intense bond between these two, but also shows the good and the bad of living off the land in the forest as well as existing in a more socialized environment. McKenzie’s performance — as was Jennifer Lawrence’s in “Bone” — is a revelation. One of the best of 2018.
I also loved the quirky, crooked Western “Damsel,” but it’s not for all tastes. Robert Pattinson continues to thumb his nose at all those “Twilight” bashers with another clever performance, this time as a troubled, uptight man on a mission to retrieve his his obsession (Mia Wasikowska) from the clutches of captors. Directed by David Zellner (who co-stars) and written by Nathan Zeller, this is a crafty piece of filmmaking, upending the traditions of the Western and challenging audiences with its unexpected narrative curlicues.
The other narrative indie release is “Boundaries,” a road picture of sorts punctuated by the MVP acting team of Vera Farmiga and Christopher Plummer.
They play daughter and father encountering a few road bumps as they journey to deposit Plummer’s shifty character into the supervision of Farmiga’s sister in Los Angeles.
On the documentary front, “Eating Animals” is a thought-provoking overview of the limitations and problems with large-scale farming operations. It’s based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s bestseller and enlightens us with stories of a small batch of outsiders — including turkey farmer Frank Reese — who stand by their principles and treat what carnivores eat with respect. It’s a winner.
Stream this
On the streaming side of things, Netflix releases the documentary “Recovery Boys” on Friday. Elaine McMillion Sheldon details the timely stories of four men in a rehab center for opioid addiction as they try to move forward with their lives.