New Release
‘Happyend’
As seismic warnings spark national fear, the government locks down on near-future Tokyo. A group of students tests the limits with a stunt on their principal, only to find themselves marked in a city turning colder by the hour.The film’s a stab at centralized control and shows how fast “safety laws” can turn into shackles. Between the bootlicker principal and sinister spy tech, it’s a funny but gritty reminder that loyalty and rebellion are often all that keep one out of the “gulag.” Could use sharper teeth, but it stands its ground.
Family Pick
‘Matilda’
Matilda (Mara Wilson) is a sharp girl stuck with an oddball family, who soon discovers school isn’t much better—until she meets a kind teacher, a few decent kids, and one towering lunatic in charge. Turns out, she’s got telekinesis and zero patience for bullies.I probably shouldn’t admit how much I enjoyed this one, but this spastic comedy has this wild, goofy energy that reeled me in. It’s basically a kids’ movie on turbo mode, packed with over-the-top characters who never get old—even when you’re definitely not a kid anymore.
Charming and Cheesy
‘Roxanne’
Fire chief, C.D. Bales (Steve Martin) helps a tongue-tied recruit, Chris McConnell (Rick Rossovich), woo the woman they both admire—Roxanne Kowalski (Daryl Hannah)—only to find that the words spoken from the heart can’t stay hidden forever.Steve Martin brings his unique brand of humor in this offbeat mid-'80s romcom that actually earns its charm. It’s clever without trying too hard, romantic without feeling like homework, and, surprisingly, not about two flawless mannequins falling for each other.
Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Pressure
‘The Way Ahead’
A ragtag bunch of British draftees stumble through tough training. Thrown into the desert heat of North Africa, they quickly learn war isn’t about glory, but grit and teamwork.Tough training scenes cut through the nostalgia, showing war’s brutal grind. It’s a solid tribute to everyday men thrown into hell, learning fast that survival trumps glory. Gritty and worth the watch.
