The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Nothing goes as planned in ‘Suburbicon’
From director George Clooney comes “Suburbicon,” a sinister saga that’s so dark — and occasionally so darkly funny — that it’s downright disturbing.
The setting is a seemingly idyllic 1950s-era suburb where an in-debt businessman (Matt Damon) hires two thugs to kill his wife (Julianne Moore) so he can collect on her insurance money and shack up with her sister (Moore again). Of course, nothing goes as planned and all hell breaks loose.
Even though Clooney’s decision to add a subplot about the harassment of a black family is awkward, he aims to remind you that this white bread enclave is rotten to the core. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu
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LBJ: Woody Harrelson seems a strange choice to bring Lyndon B. Johnson to life but credit director Rob Reiner with seeing the connection. Harrelson plays Johnson as the ultimate dealmaker, a man who, in the wake of the assassination of President Kennedy, was able to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act despite the resistance of racist senators, some from his own party. Another plus: the events of Nov. 22, 1963 are portrayed in wrenching detail, with Jennifer Jason Leigh on hand to create a compelling portrait of Lady Bird as an oasis of calm in LBJ’s increasingly chaotic world. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Old Stone: Part character study, part social-realist drama and part tensionspiked thriller, Johnny Ma’s directorial debut is an astonishing indictment of the every-man-for-himself mindset of modern China. Chen Gang stars as a Chinese taxi driver who accidentally hits a motorcyclist. Rather than let the cyclist die in the street, the cabbie takes him to the hospital where he discovers he is liable for the man’s medical bills. Ma builds tension like an old pro while also putting you in Chen’s shoes as his predicament grows darker and more desperate. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu My Art: Artist Laurie Simmons might be best known as the mother of Lena Dunham but, as she proves in her directorial debut, she is a fascinating filmmaker in her own right. Simmons stars as an artist who heads to upstate New York to housesit and winds up picking up a video camera to recreate scenes from famous movies such as “The Misfits” and “Clockwork Orange.” Simmons doesn’t try to make any big statements, which is one of the reasons why this gentle charmer goes down so easily. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Take Every Wave - The Life of Laird Hamilton: Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy follows up “Ethel” and “Last Days In Vietnam” with this doc about the controversial surfer who did much to revolutionize the sport of wave catching. This portrait traces Hamilton’s journey from his rebellious childhood in Hawaii to his desire to conquer “the heaviest wave ever ridden.” On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: In his monthly chat show, TV legend David Letterman sits down with a big celebrity for an extended discussion. This month, George Clooney is in the hotseat. On Netflix. Lost in Austen: Jane Austen mania continues with this present day adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” starring Gemma Arterton, Hugh Bonneville and Alex Kingston. The plot centers on Amanda, a woman from modern London, who enters the plot of the novel through a portal in her bathroom and finds herself joining the Bennet family and disastrously changing the course of events. On Britbox.
For The Kids
Ben 10 Villain Time - Season 1, Volume 1: It’s hero time for 10-year-old Ben Tennyson who discovers a mysterious alien device called the Omnitrix which allows him to transform into any of 10 different alien world-savers. With the Omnitrix strapped to his wrist, Ben can combat all manner of villains, criminals and evil clowns. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Jojo Siwa - My World: If you’re a fan of the social media sensation, you’ll enjoy