This week, we look at an outstanding adventure undertaken by British officers, and a drama about secrets buried in a small Texas town’s past.
New Release
‘About Fate’
Just when both their hopes for a wedding seem to be souring, a series of fateful events bring Griffin Reed (Thomas Mann) and Margot Hayes (Emma Roberts) together on New Year’s Eve. Soon, romantic stirrings begin to develop between them, but there are those who don’t want to see that happen.
Despite the rapid-fire valley girl dialects (which permeate so many movies these days), this briskly paced rom-com is generally fun and engaging. It has some heartwarming moments and charming scenes that play out among its characters.
Romantic | Comedy
Release Date: Sept. 9, 2022
Director: Marius Vaysberg
Starring: Emma Roberts, Thomas Mann, Madelaine Petsch
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Where to Watch: Theaters
Rated: 3 stars out of 5
Indie Pick
‘Lone Star’
When Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) finds a skull in the desert near a small border town, he starts unraveling the murder of Sheriff Charlie Wade (Kris Kristofferson) four decades earlier. Deeds’s investigations begin to reveal town secrets revolving around his father (Matthew McConaughey) that might be best left buried in the past.
Featuring fantastic performances by its outstanding cast—particularly Cooper—this indie Western is a whodunit with a realistic vibe that will keep you transfixed through to its kicker of an ending.
Drama | Mystery | Western
Release Date: June 21, 1996
Director: John Sayles
Starring: Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Matthew McConaughey
Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Where to Watch: Apple TV, Vudu, DirecTV
Rated: 4 stars out of 5
A Wonderful Adventure With Captivating Locales
‘The Man Who Would Be King’
Based on Rudyard Kipling’s tale, this rousing adventure romp follows friends Peachy Carnehan (Michael Caine) and Danny Dravot (Sean Connery), who are British officers stationed in India. Having boundless ambitions, they head off to the remote land of Kafiristan and plan to live as kings.
With sublime portrayals by its shining stars Caine and Connery (the two have great chemistry), along with its great script and direction by John Huston, it’s one of the most brilliant adventure films of all time.
Adventure | History | War
Release Date: Dec. 17, 1975
Director: John Huston
Starring: Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer
Running Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Redbox, DirecTV, HBO Max
Rated: 5 stars out of 5
An Outstanding Semi-Historical Western
‘Lone Star’
Cattle baron Devereaux Burke (Clark Gable) is hired by President Andrew Jackson (Lionel Barrymore) to convince Sam Houston (Moroni Olsen) to bring Texas into the union. But Burke’s challenges are many.
This outstanding Western carries a good message about being principled. It also features a steamy love story and well-drawn characters brought to life by its brilliant cast.
Western
Release Date: Feb. 8, 1952
Director: Vincent Sherman
Starring: Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Broderick Crawford
Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: Vudu, Amazon, DirecTV
Rated: 4.5 stars out of 5
