Currently in Cinema | Reelviews Movie Reviews

Alien: Romulus

Run Time: 1:59
U.S. Release Date: 2024-08-16
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Gore, Profanity)
Genre: Science Fiction/Horror
Director: Fede Alvarez
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu, Ian Holm

Fede Alvarez, obviously an "Alien" devotee, opts for a “greatest hits” approach replete with Easter Eggs and instances of fan service.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Run Time: 1:44
U.S. Release Date: 2024-09-06
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Violence, Gore, Scary Images, Profanity)
Genre: Comedy/Horror
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, Burn Gorman, Arthur Conti

For this much-delayed sequel, director Tim Burton has hewed close to the strengths of the original, repeating them when appropriate and acknowledging them when not.

Blink Twice

Run Time: 1:42
U.S. Release Date: 2024-08-23
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Sexual Content, Profanity)
Genre: Thriller
Director: Zoe Kravitz
Cast: Naomi Ackie, Geena Davis, Trew Mullen, Levon Hawke, Liz Caribel, Haley Joel Osment, Adria Arjona, Simon Rex, Christian Slater, Alia Shawkat, Channing Tatum, Kyle MacLachlan

A collage of Hitchcockian elements baked into a story with a more graphic approach than anything the Master of Suspense ever achieved.

Conclave

Run Time: 2:00
U.S. Release Date: 2024-10-25
MPAA Rating: "PG"
Genre: Drama
Director: Edward Berger
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, Isabella Rossellini, Lucian Msamati, Carlos Diaz

The acting elevates the material. All the A-list actors bring their A-games.

Critic, The

Run Time: 1:35
U.S. Release Date: 2024-09-13
MPAA Rating: "R" (Sexual Content, Profanity, Implied violence)
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Director: Anand Tucker
Cast: Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, Lesley Manville, Romola Garai, Alfred Enoch

To the extent that "The Critic" provides entertainment, it’s mostly a result of McKellan’s performance and the wonderful set design.

Joker: Folie a Deux

Run Time: 2:12
U.S. Release Date: 2024-10-04
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Profanity, Sexual Content)
Genre: Thriller/Musical
Director: Todd Phillips
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Gill

The experience of watching "Joker: Folie a Deux" argues against its very existence.

Killer's Game, The

Run Time: 1:44
U.S. Release Date: 2024-09-13
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Gore, Profanity, Sexual Content, Brief Nudity)
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: J.J. Perry
Cast: Dave Bautista, Sofia Boutella, Ben Kingsley, Pom Klementieff, Terry Crews

At its best, this can be enjoyable in an undemanding sort of way. At its worst, it is damn near unwatchable.

Lee

Run Time: 1:56
U.S. Release Date: 2024-09-27
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Profanity, Nudity)
Genre: Drama
Director: Ellen Kuras
Cast: Kate Winslet, Alexandre Skarsgard, Andy Samberg, Andrea Riseborough, Josh O’Connor, Marion Cotillard, Noemie Merlant, Vincent Colombe

Despite a terrific performance by Kate Winslet , "Lee" falls into the bio-pic trap of trying to encapsulate too much of a famous life into a two-hour chunk.

Megalopolis

Run Time: 2:12
U.S. Release Date: 2024-09-27
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Profanity, Sexual Content, Nudity)
Genre: Fantasy
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Adam Driver, Jason Schwartzman, Talia Shire, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf, Aubrey Plaza, Nathalie Emmanuel, Giancarlo Esposito, Kathryn Hunter

The term "an interesting failure" was coined for movies like this, an incoherent (but often fascinating) excursion into the mind of writer/director Francis Ford Coppola

My Old Ass

Run Time: 1:30
U.S. Release Date: 2024-09-27
MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity, Sexual Content, Drugs, Brief Nudity)
Genre: Drama/Fantasy
Director: Megan Park
Cast: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, Percy Hynes White, Maria Dizzia

An effective and affecting coming-of-age story with a large dose of magical realism that is a credit not only to the writing and directing but to the performances of the actors.

Outrun, The

Run Time: 1:57
U.S. Release Date: 2024-10-04
MPAA Rating: "R" (Alcoholism, Profanity, Sexual Content, Brief Nudity)
Genre: Drama
Director: Nora Fingscheidt
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Saskia Reeves, Stephen Dillane, Paapa Essiedu

The beauty of the wild setting combined with a stunning performance from Saoirse Ronan make this a not-to-be-missed drama.

Salem's Lot

Run Time: 1:54
U.S. Release Date: 2024-10-04
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Gore, Profanity)
Genre: Horror
Director: Gary Dauberman
Cast: Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Jordan Preston Carter, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, Pilou Asbaek, Alexander Ward

A feature film adaptation of the best novel from horror maestro Stephen King is deserving of something more epic than this throw-away production.

Saturday Night

Run Time: 1:49
U.S. Release Date: 2024-10-11
MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity, Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jason Reitman
Cast: Gabriel LaBelle, Matthew Rhys, Willem Dafoe, Nicholas Braun, Kim Matula, Lamorne Morris, Emily Fairn, Dylan O’Brien, Ella Hunt, Rachel Sennott, Matt Wood, Cory Michael Smith, J.K. Simmons

Will appeal strongly to those with a long and lasting connection to the popular late night show; others may find it too frenzied or lacking in a clear narrative through-line.