New Release: A Fun Franchise Reboot
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’
When a single mother named Callie (Carrie Coon) and her two children, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), are evicted from their home, they move into a creepy old farmhouse in Oklahoma. The house was left to them by Callie’s late father and as they explore the place’s spooky environs, they learn about the man’s eldritch predictions. The kids are helped by brilliant seismologist Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd).This is a pretty solid and fun reboot with some good laughs balanced by just the right amount of nostalgia.
Indie Pick
‘Adopt a Highway’
Russell Millings (Ethan Hawke) is released from a 20-year lockup for a marijuana crime—as a result of the controversial three-strikes law. Since technology has passed him by, he struggles to learn about everything new.Things are further complicated when he discovers an infant in a dumpster with a note that says “Ella.” He knows a mysterious baby in his care won’t look good, but sees a correlation between the discarded baby and his own life—thrown away by the legal system. Although society views ex-cons as disposable, he makes it his mission to care for Ella, in this touching film about second chances.
One of the Most Thought-Provoking Docudramas of 2021
‘Luzzu’
Jesmark Scicluna stars as Jesmark, a Maltese fisherman whose livelihood is thrown into peril when the small fishing vessel he owns, Luzzu, becomes compromised. He soon becomes tempted to become involved in black market activities in order to take care of his wife and newborn child.
This is a fascinating docudrama that details how both modernization and corruption destroy many cultures’ economies, traditions, and livelihoods. It’s also a multi-layered tale of one man’s struggle to eke out an honest living in a corrupt world.
A Riveting World War I Character Study
‘Paths of Glory’
It’s World War I, and the Germans have invaded Paris. Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) must find a way to rally the demoralized men of the unit he commands down in the trenches, and also a conniving general officer who is plotting his demise.This film is a fascinating character study of a man who stands up for justice to defend the lives of his men against the forces arrayed against them.
