New Release
‘The Smashing Machine’
Dwayne Johnson steps into the cage as Mark Kerr, the powerhouse who dominated MMA in the ’90s. The film follows his rise through the early days of UFC glory, then pulls back the curtain on the battles he fought outside the ring with painkillers and fame.As someone who knows about Kerr’s journey, I can attest that this biopic hits some good notes. Director Safdie gives us a no-frills look at the ’90s MMA, and Johnson finally gets to play a guy who isn’t winking at the camera. The story does slip into the usual sports-movie rhythm toward the end, though.
Family Pick
‘Flicka’
Teen Katy McLaughlin (Alison Lohman) returns to her family’s Wyoming ranch, determined to tame a wild mustang named Flicka and prove she can handle life on the range. When her father (Tim McGraw) sells the horse, Katy tracks down Flicka, and both the girl and horse enter a rodeo.Lohman handles both the horse and story with steady charm, while McGraw brings gruff authenticity as the ranch’s head. The rodeo sequences kick up enough dust to keep things lively, though the pacing occasionally wanders, and certain scenes slip toward sappiness.
Chasing Fleeting Moments
‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
Caroline (Julia Ormond) sits with her dying mother Daisy (Cate Blanchett), who has asked her to read aloud from the diary of Benjamin Button, a man who was born old and aged backward. His life crosses paths with Daisy at key moments. As he grows younger and she older, it raises the question of whether they’ll ever be in sync.Pitt does his usual solid work, looking grizzled then baby-faced. Blanchett keeps pace as Daisy, moving through decades like it’s a casual stroll. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, but it’s a compelling watch.
Whispers in the Halls
‘Rebecca’
A young bride (Joan Fontaine) marries widower Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier). But his manipulative housekeeper makes her life difficult when secrets from the past threaten everything.Hitchcock serves up a twisty tale with Fontaine and Olivier delivered outstanding performances. The mansion setting is gorgeous, and the scheming by Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson) keeps the new bride on her toes.
