7 films to see on the week of January 17, 2020 — January 23, 2020
The Grudge
A DETECTIVE investigates the case of a young mother who murders her family in their own home. The detective then discovers that the house is cursed by a vengeful ghost which targets anyone who enters the house. Directed by Nicolas Pesce, the film stars Betty Gilpin, Andrea Riseborough, and William Sadler. Rolling Stone’s David Fear writes, “[T]hings keep devolving into a sort of ‘stock beats’ catalog of J-scares that goes from déjà vu to dullness to deadening as The Grudge’s running time marches on. It’s as if the director has been forced to spin an arrow to choose what comes next.” Rotten Tomatoes gives this remake a 17% rating.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Jojo Rabbit
A SATIRE set in World War II, the story follows a lonely German boy Jojo whose views change when he discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Jojo confronts his blind nationalism with the help of Adolf Hitler, his imaginary friend. Directed by Taika Waititi, the film stars Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Rebel Wilson, Sam Rockwell, and Scarlett Johansson. The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey writes, “Jojo Rabbit plays heavily off of Waititi’s own goofy, freewheeling humor, with generous nods to the Nazi comedies of Charlie Chaplin, Ernst Lubitsch, and Mel Brooks. But it’s deployed here as a form of humanization — not to make the characters more sympathetic to audiences, but to illustrate how easily fascism feeds off banal human flaws. Some are indoctrinated, others merely complacent.”
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Kill Chain
A SHOOTOUT leads to an evening of murder and revenge amongst police, gangsters, and assassins. Directed by Ken Sanzel, the film stars Nicolas Cage, Enrico Colantoni, and Ryan Kwanten. Collider’s Chester C. Jones writes, “It got me wondering whether perhaps the point of Kill Chain is to let your eyes glaze over, half-listen, and make up whatever you want about the plot and characters. And, honestly, you won’t have to try too hard at that even if you’re paying close attention and continually rewinding the scenes to try to figure out what happened like I did.”
MTRCB Rating: R-13
The Last Warrior
A MAN fights to keep his family alive amidst a zombie apocalypse. Directed by Wych Kaosayananda, the film stars Mark Dacascos, Julie Condra, and Noelani Dacascos
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Arctic Justice (Arctic Dogs)
SWIFTY the Arctic Fox works in the mailroom of the Arctic Blast Delivery Service but yearns to become a Top Dog, the Arctic’s star husky couriers. To prove he deserves the position, he delivers a mysterious package to a secret location. Upon arrival there, he stumbles on a hidden fortress and begins an adventure. Directed by Aaron Woodley, this animated film features the voices of Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin, and Heidi Klum.
MTRCB Rating: G
Richard Jewell
AMERICAN security guard Richard Jewell at the 1996 Olympics saved hundreds of people by finding a backpack of pipe bombs, alerting the police, and helping evacuate the area before they exploded. However, false reports made him the FBI’s primary suspect for terrorism. Directed by Clint Eastwood, the film stars Sam Rockwell, Paul Walter Hauser, and Kathy Bates.
MTRCB Rating: PG
Mia
THE alcoholic Mia is struggling after her fiancé’s death when she meets Jay, a geologist who tries to befriend her. Directed by Veronica Velasco, the film stars Colleen Garcia and Edgar Allan Guzman.
MTRCB Rating: PG
