"That would be...
...just fine. "
PINNED: this newsletter started as a way to highlight movies coming to theaters (see: the name). Then, "the bullshit" happened. And I started featuring movies in theaters, VOD or streaming (see: the +). Point is, if there's a movie worth checking out, you'll probably find it here.
Not sure if you read last week's edition, and if you did, whether you read all of it, but if so, you'll be forgiven for feeling a bit of whiplash once you dive into this week's. We went from three solid to great movies of variable type for your movie viewing pleasure to... yet another Liam Neeson action flick. Look, I don't control the studios' output so please, don't blame me.
Blame Frank.
Always.
And forever.
Blame Frank.
Extra Credit Movies:
The Survivor: a HBO biopic about a boxer who survived The Holocaust by fighting other inmates and after, fights to find a lost love. The reviews are majority positive, but if you actually dig into them, they're actually not that great. Fair amount of critiques about formatting and heavy handedness. Ben Foster's performance as (actual person) Harry Haft seems to be the draw here. Streaming on HBO Max TODAY.
Hatchling: a weird looking, but well liked allegorical Finnish horror movie where a girl takes care and helps hatch a bird egg that becomes, well, just watch the trailer. As noted, solid reviews for a "small" looking chiller. In LIMITED theaters on Friday.
MEMORY
It's almost, I don't want to say trend, but there seems to be an increased frequency in movies that deal with dementia over the last... decade? Some time period. Or maybe it just feels that way because a few actors have won Oscars for their performance as someone afflicted with cognitive decline. Most of these are solemn or serious affairs, dealing with the traumatic effects of a real shit situation.
Memory, as you might've guessed, is not that kind of affair. It is decidedly a Liam Neeson affair. And you know what that means - guns, fists, cell phones and growlingly delivered action movie lines. Memory loss acts essentially as a cheeky script device for the Northern Irishman to kick even more ass than normal. Can't remember who's good? Punch 'em in the face. Can't remember who's bad? Punch 'em in the face. I mean, there's (slightly) more to it, there's a child abduction ring, and some inside Hollywood casting of Guy Pearce as the FBI agent tracking / helping Neeson's assassin character get revenge on the traffickers (Pearce starred in Memento, another movie where the main character writes notes to himself on his body). But on the overall, it's the Neeson fighting stuff.
And if it feels a bit icky to some to use traumatic topics such as mental deterioration and sex trafficking for the purposes of delighting action fans, just consider Neeson here. At this point he is in legitimate danger of running out of motivations to bludgeon people! And if you disagree, I propose you take it up with the man himself.
I dare you.
Vibe: predictably forgettable
Out Friday
Watch Theaters
The Trailer | 1 hr 54 mins | R | 🍅: 27%
(called out from top, left to right)
Lightyear - second trailer for the movie within a movie, um, movie.
Fire Island - SNL's Bowen Yang stars in a lil' romantic comedy that's apparently based on Pride and Prejudice.
The Black Phone - second trailer for the Ethan Hawke horror movie from the director of (the also starring Ethan Hawke) Sinister and the first Doctor Strange. Already reviews out and it's at 100% so far, sooooooo.
Bodies Bodies Bodies - a vibey looking satirical horror movie from A24. Some reviews too and already well liked.
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