The lowdown on ‘Long Shot,’ ‘El Chicano,’ ‘UglyDolls’
Will the unlikely romantic partner pairing of Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen intrigue moviegoers enough to see “Long Shot”? The good advance reviews might help clinch the deal. Theron plays an aspiring presidential candidate who hires a shabby journalist (Rogen) she once babysat for as her new speechwriter.
Unimpressed? Here are other releases hitting Bay Area screens.
For something that’s the polar opposite of “Long Shot,” try “El Chicano,” a superhero/revenge thriller that sends an L.A. police detective (Raul Castillo) to uncover the truth behind his twin brother’s suicide, and then vows to clean up the streets of gang trouble. That desire fuels the emergence of a masked Latino mythological figure.
Neither of the above really sound like appropriate kiddie fare. But “UglyDolls,” an animated adventure, might serve the tykes well. It’s anchored around two quirky, young Uglyville residents who step out of their comfort zone to become better acquainted with a more unforgiving environment.
If the out-of-control Bay Area real estate scene scares the escrow out of you, expect to get even more creeped out while watching “The Intruder.” An attractive couple (Michael Ealy and Meagan Good) purchase a gorgeous Napa Valley home, but it comes with a whole lot of historical baggage, along with an obsessed, cuckoo seller (Dennis Quaid). He simply won’t leave the place.
On the indie front, there are two dramas and two documentaries worth considering.
In the frank, moving and explicit “Sauvage/Wild,” a French sex worker (Felix Maritaud) navigates his way through various clients while struggling to find his own soul connection. It’s well-made and uncompromising.
A father’s funeral brings a son back to his Japanese hometown — and soon after, on a path to find an enigmatic woman from his past — in director-writer Bi Gan’s adventurous “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.”
Few could talk about sex with the same gusto and honesty than sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer. In Ryan White’s “Ask Dr. Ruth,” the iconic doctor and Holocaust survivor reflects on her past, as well as her unexpected and brilliant career.
Seeking more nonfiction films? You’re in luck. “Hesburgh” peers into the influential life of University of Notre Dame president Theodore Hesburgh. Patrick Creadon’s documentary covers the priest’s roots, his calling and the issues he championed.
Over on Netflix, there’s the galvanizing documentary “Knock Down the
House,” capturing what drove a group of determined, smart women — including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — to enter the 2018 midterm elections and take on male-dominated House seats. It was released Wednesday.
This week’s release with the most compelling — or perhaps sensational — title is “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” Director Joe Berlinger offers his take on serial killer Ted Bundy. Zac Efron earned raves from the Sundance crowd for his nuanced performance as the charismatic murderer. It comes out Friday.
If you’re a K.J. Apa fan, you’ll want to catch the “Riverdale” star in “The Last Summer.” The Netflix original focuses on the lives of high school graduates as they prepare to go off to college. Maia Mitchell, Jacob Latimore and Tyler Posey co-star. It comes out Friday.
Over on Amazon Prime, Luca Guadagnino’s ambitious redo of the Dario Argento cult classic “Suspiria” becomes available Friday. Some loved it. Some hated it. Now it’s time for you to cast your vote.