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: Jan. 10, 2025
Expanding (United States)
Better Man
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
Hard Truths
For member reviews of this film, follow this link
The Last Showgirl
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Limited (United States)
Oceans Are the Real Continents
- Excerpt: The specter of departure haunts every frame of Oceans Are the Real Continents, director Tommaso Santambrogio’s lyrical drama set in the Cuban town of San Antonio De Los Baños. Shot in a velvety black and white so rich that you can almost feel the texture of each shot through the screen, the film follows three sets of characters as they contemplate how the dark shadow of exile colors the past, present, and future of themselves and their country.
Putin
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: The most charitable thing to say about Vega’s movie is that it is an unabashed condemnation of the man who has caused so much human suffering…Vega’s idea of an emotionally gutting climax is to focus on a puppy, cat and hamster before a nuclear explosion
2025 Films In Theaters Now In Select Areas
The Damned
- Excerpt: Director Thordur Palsson – working from a lean yet powerful script by Jamie Hannigan – makes a brilliant entry into this genre with gorgeous visuals and riveting performances that keep us spellbound for its mercilessly short running time.
Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever
- Excerpt: The inevitable question is whether this is a life anyone would want to prolong. Johnson makes no time for what we would consider the most valuable parts of life, family, friends, travel, music, art, pizza, chocolate, for meaning, connection, and pleasure.
From Ground Zero
- Excerpt: The film, which boasts Michael Moore as an executive producer, was spearheaded by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi and consists of 22 short films ranging from 3 to 6 minutes in length, all depicting the current state of life in Gaza.
Jared Mobarak @ Hey, have you seen …?
- Excerpt: No matter your opinion on the success of each, however, the whole is an undeniable document of an unspeakable tragedy. As a puppet declares during “Awakening”: everything is gone and the world just watched.
2024 Films
All We Imagine as Light
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The Brutalist
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Longlegs
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Nickel Boys
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Nosferatu
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Catching Dust
Sebastian Zavala @ Loud and Clear Reviews [Spanish]
- Excerpt: In a general sense, I enjoyed my time with Catching Dust, but at the same time, I wish I could’ve liked it more. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a well-shot and well-acted Western-inspired feature, you should definitely give it a chance.
Crossing
Jared Mobarak @ Hey, have you seen …?
- Excerpt: The resulting moments of implicit acceptance are thus more profound than anything that could be spoken from a soap box because we’re watching simple, authentic interactions.
Espantaho
- Excerpt: As it becomes obvious, “Espantaho” is a mixed bag of a film, but I feel that in the end, and particularly for mainstream audience, the chemistry and charisma of the three leads plus the job done in the visuals allows it to end up on the positive side
Fighter
Kathy Gibson @ Access Bollywood
The Girl with the Needle
Jared Mobarak @ Hey, have you seen …?
- Excerpt: Prepare yourself for a wild, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful final third as von Horn discovers there’s an infinite number of rugs beneath Karoline’s feet that can still be yanked. Both Sonne and Dyrholm excel.
Harbin
I, The Executioner
Kishkindha Kaandam
- Excerpt: Apart from some excessiveness in the story and acting, particularly close to the end, and some plot holes here and there, “Kishkindha Kaandam” is a very competent film that manages to be both entertaining and contextually rich.
Maria
Mark Hobin @ Fast Film Reviews
- Excerpt: A stylish but empty portrait of opera soprano Maria Callas, elevated by Angelina Jolie’s luminous turn as the iconic diva.
Sand Land
- Excerpt: “Sand Land” is a rewarding series, entertaining throughout most of its duration, which would be much better if the second part was handled better.
Santosh
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: an indelible portrait of a woman embracing power for the first time only to face disillusionment of the worst kind, her own involvement in a terrible injustice.
September 5
Laura Clifford @ Reeling Reviews
- Excerpt: reenacts a tragedy through the eyes and emotions of the people who let the world watch it happen.
Step Back, Doors Closing
Dennis Schwartz @ dennisschwartzreviews.com
- Excerpt: Delightful modern-day urban 24-hour romance film.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Allen Almachar @ The MacGuffin
- Excerpt: I’m thankful to be living in a world where Wallace & Gromit exist.
