Here are some reviews of films coming out at the theater this week as well as others that may be in theaters or newly on home video.
Opening: Mar. 28, 2025
Wide (United States)
Death of a Unicorn
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Limited (United States)
The Ballad of Wallis Island
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: Key and Tom Basden adapt their 2007 short…a quirky crowd pleaser, a full-throated adaptation of a clever idea.
- Excerpt: An annoying eccentric haphazardly reunites his favorite folk band to charming, quaint effect.
The Friend
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: a movie that seems to begin with a simple premise, then slowly evolves into some much deeper and richer than the first half suggests…Playing Apollo, Bing seems to actually act…
Julie Keeps Quiet
- Excerpt: Belgium’s submission for Best International Feature Film at this year’s Academy Awards, Julie Keeps Quiet paints an intimate and empathetic portrait of an elite youth tennis player who refuses to speak up after her coach is accused of abuse. Directed by Leonardo Van Dijl from a script he co-wrote with Ruth Becquart (who also plays Julie’s mother), the film—which has the Dardenne brothers, Florian Zeller, and Naomi Osaka listed among its producers—turns a keen eye towards the culture of anxiety, abuse, and silence that continues to pervade women’s sports at all levels of the game post-#MeToo.
The Penguin Lessons
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: Fueled with the misanthropic deadpan mien of Steve Coogan, an adorable Magellan penguin and Jeff Pope’s more politicized adaptation of Tom Michell’s book, director Peter Cattaneo (“The Full Monty”) weaves a tale of middle-aged reawakening…a low key charmer
2025 Films In Theaters Now In Select Areas
Ash
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Novocaine
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Snow White
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Afternoons of Solitude
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: With his first documentary, writer/director Albert Serra (“The Death of Louis XIV,” “Pacifiction”) does the impossible by eliciting a modicum of understanding for a blood sport any animal lover must consider barbaric.
The Assessment
Allen Almachar @ The MacGuffin
- Excerpt: Although the performances are good, the tone, character development, and overall story ends up all over the place.
Be Happy
Kathy Gibson @ Access Bollywood
The Heirloom
Jared Mobarak @ Hey, have you seen …?
- Excerpt: I enjoyed [the duality between reality and fiction] and also invested in the Milly of it all considering her mannerisms are identical to how our Greyhound acted throughout his life, but the big draw is Glowicki’s performance during the second act.
Hoang Thuy Linh: Vietnamese Concert Film
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Granted, the film is promotional to some extent, and an appreciation for this particular musical style is almost essential for viewers. On the other hand, the presentation of the concerts, what goes on behind them and the portrait of Hoang Thuy Linh are enough to deem the movie watchable for any viewer, while fans of both the music and the artist will definitely have a blast here.
I Am Kirishima
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “I Am Kirishima” is not a bad film, on the contrary, it is quite rewarding to watch and definitely entertaining throughout its duration. At the same time, though, considering how intriguing the main subject is, it could have been a much more impactful movie. In that fashion, it would be interesting to see Masao Adachi’s movie on the same subject, which came out just a few days ago.
Langur The Man Monkey
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: “Langur The Man Monkey” is an excellent documentary that thoroughly presents a truly unique man while remaining entertaining from beginning to end.
Locked
Andrea Chase @ KillerMovieReviews.com
- Excerpt: Locked proves that Bill Skarsgård is one of the best actors of his generation, even if the film itself gets a little meander-ish in its second act.
McVeigh
Jared Mobarak @ Hey, have you seen …?
- Excerpt: McVeigh is a well-made piece, but its lack of proving its worth as a version of this story to tell (either as prescient or cautionary) sinks it. We need more than his readily available and presumed process. We watch the news.
Parthenope
Sebastian Zavala @ MeGustaElCine.com [Spanish]
- Excerpt: Being an overly long, tired film with an erratic pace and a dreamlike tone, “Parthenope” becomes a frustrating experience. I didn’t hate watching it, but considering the talent behind and in front of the camera, I expected more.
2024 Films
The Substance
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Ballad of Straw-Hat Sam
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Even though I am sure many will feel offended by the film, particularly in this extremely politically correct era we are living in, “The Ballad of Straw-Hat Sam” is actually a gem. One that breaks the boundaries through humor and intelligence, and a movie that will definitely make people without inhibitions laugh from beginning to end.
Never Let Go
Sebastian Zavala @ MeGustaElCine.com [Spanish]
- Excerpt: It has good ideas and is expertly directed by Aja; if it falters a little, it’s because it ends up being too ambitious for its own good. And I’ll always prefer a film like that to one that simply settles for the bare minimum.
Thrilla
Rick Aragon @ Rick’s Texan Reviews
- Excerpt: Well-told albeit with a few hitches, Thrilla is a rarity in documentary filmmaking: a film that documents something.
Yukiko A.K.A
Panagiotis Kotzathanasis @ Asian Movie Pulse
- Excerpt: Although some knack for hip hop will definitely help its viewing, “Yukiko A.K.A” is definitely a gem of a film, one that manages to be both entertaining, meaningful, and quite different from the norms of Japanese cinema.
