6 films to see on the week of December 13 — December 19, 2019
Playing with Fire
FIREFIGHTERS rescue three siblings from wildfire. But no training could prepare them from the challenging job of babysitting. Directed by Andy Fickman, the film stars John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key,Tyler Mane, and John Leguizamo. Los Angeles Times’ Katie Walsh writes, “Fickman’s directing is uninspired at best, barely competent at worst. The framing and composition is dire; there’s no sense of rhythm or flow, and characters constantly appear and disappear at random.” Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 22% rating.
MTRCB Rating: PG
My Soul to Keep
A LITTLE boy believes that something evil lurks in his basement. When he is left alone by his older sister one evening, he sets out to discover if what he believes is real or just his imagination. Directed by Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad, the film stars Parker Smerek, Remington Gielniak, and Arielle Olkhovsky. Film Threat’s Bobby Lepire writes, “My Soul To Keep is well directed, wonderfully acted, and is a horror movie for children that is scary.”
MTRCB Rating: PG
Motherless Brooklyn
SET IN 1950s New York, the story follows a lonely private detective who has Tourette Syndrome. He works to solve the murder of his lone friend and mentor. Directed by Edward Norton, the film stars Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Alec Baldwin. The Times (UK)’s Kevin Maher writes, “The rest is a sluggish film noir pastiche (the setting of the novel has been inexplicably shifted from the late ’90s to the ’50s) that aims to emulate the jazzy intrigue of Chinatown, but delivers only clichés and screen-chewing vanity.” Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 62% rating.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
My Bakit List
A TV drama writer quits her job and takes a break with her best friend in Ilocos Norte. While there, she unexpectedly comes face to face with her ex-boyfriend. She finds herself torn between opening her heart to him after he previously left with no explanation. Directed by Bona Fajardo, the film stars Louise delos Reyes, Ivan Padilla, and Prince Stefan.
MTRCB Rating: PG
Black Christmas
SORORITY sisters prepare a series of parties while on a break from college. Suddenly, a black-masked stalker begins to kill sorority women. Directed by Sophia Takal, the film stars Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Brittany O’Grady, Lily Donoghue, Simon Mead, Caleb Eberhardt, and Cary Elwes.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Extreme Job
UNDERCOVER narcotics detectives work at a chicken joint to capture a gang of organized criminals. Directed by Lee Byeong-heon, the film stars Ryu Seung-ryong, Jin Seon-kyu, Lee Dong-hwi, Lee Hanee, and Gong Myung.
MTRCB Rating: PG
