Tom Cruise flies high in ‘American Made’
In “American Made,” Tom Cruise is back in the friendly skies for the first time since “Top Gun,” and, once again, he’s flying high.
Cruise aces the role of Barry Seal, a real-life TWA pilot enlisted by the CIA to run one of the biggest covert operations in U.S. history. Along the way, Barry also smuggles drugs for a Colombian cartel looking to expand into the U.S.
It’s a crazy story filled with drug lords, deluded politicians and reluctant revolutionaries. “American Made” doesn’t pause long enough to explore Barry’s psychological state but it sure knows how to pop your eyes and engage your senses. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu
Also New to VOD and Streaming
Lucky: The late, great Harry Dean Stanton could not have asked for a better swan song than this lovely character study about a loner facing up to his own mortality. Nothing much happens as Lucky goes about his daily routine, visiting the local diner, taking a walk, and hanging out at the bar with his pals (David Lynch, Beth Clark, James Darren). Actor-turned-director John Carroll Lynch gives all of the eccentric characters a chance to shine but it is Stanton who, in his idiosyncratic way, makes the biggest impression. Modest yet memorable, “Lucky” is a real treasure. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Stefan Zweig - Farewell To Europe: Forced to flee the Nazis in the mid-1930s, Jewish author Stefan Zweig (Josef Hader) went into exile, bouncing around Brazil, New York City and Argentina looking for a home. Director Maria Schrader captures the writer at various moments during his travels, most memorably during an afternoon spent in the company of his ex-wife (Barbara Sukowa). While it occasionally feels remote, this biopic does a good job of filling in the blanks of a man who remains something of a mystery 75 years after his death. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Mayhem: The latest from B-movie maven Joe Lynch (“Everly”) might boast a one-joke set-up but its still good, gory fun to watch it all unfold. Set almost entirely within the headquarters of a law firm, the action revolves around a handful of lawyers (“Walking Dead’s” Steven Yeun, Kerry Fox) who hate each other’s guts but keep their feelings under wraps, at least until they’re stricken with a virus that unleashes their genuine emotions. The joke is that corporate firms are places of psychological warfare so why not have some physical savagery to go along with all of the emotional backstabbing? On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu L’Argent: The final film of French master Robert Bresson (“Pickpocket”) is a stunning look at the dehumanizing effects of materialism. Based on a Tolstoy novella, the drama begins when a couple of rich kids pass a counterfeit bill to shopkeepers. The tainted money circulates around Paris until it lands in the pocket of a working man named Yvon (Christian Patey ) who is destroyed by it. After life puts the screws to Yvon, he winds up on a country farm with an elderly woman who dares to show him compassion. You could moan about the movie’s emotional iciness but “L’Argent” beguiles with its infinite mysteries. On filmstruck.com Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: Now in its ten season, the Emmynominated series stars Jerry Seinfeld as he drives around in custom cars with comics, holding forth on a variety of timely topics. Among his expected guests: Julia Louie-Dreyfus, Kevin Hart and Judd Apatow. Originally on Crackle, the series moves to Netflix as part of Seinfeld’s massive deal with the Streamer. Expect 24 episodes of chatty goodness. On Netflix.
For The Kids
My Little Pony - The Movie: An all-star cast including Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Pena and Zoe Saldana help bring to life the story of a different breed of hero. Dark forces are threatening Ponyville, forcing the Mane 6 to leave their beloved Equestria behind in hopes of saving their home. As they head out on their adventure, they meet plenty of new friends and exciting challenges along the way. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu
Teen Titles
Love Beats Rhymes: After making his directorial debut with “The Man With the Iron Fists,” rapper RZA changes course with this coming-ofage drama about a struggling hip-hopper (Azealia Banks) challenged to push the limits of her creativity by a pair of poetry professors (Jill Scott, Lucien Laviscount.) The romance that ignites between Banks and Laviscount is far too clichéd but there’s some juicy backand-forth between Banks and Scott over the misogynistic nature of rap music. Great soundtrack too. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Before I Wake: Shot back in 2016, this horror thriller finally gets a release via Netflix. Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane star as parents of a recently-deceased child who decide to bring a foster child named Cody (Jacob Tremblay) into their lives. But, as they soon discover, Cody has the supernatural ability to bring his dreams – and his nightmares – to life. Can they solve the mystery of his special powers before his imagination harms them all? On Netflix.