It’s an exciting week at the movies as Jennifer Hudson stars as Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in a new biopic, and Ryan Reynolds plays a man who realizes he’s living inside a videogame. Christopher Lloyd of The Film Yap fills us in on it all. Here’s more from him:
New in Theaters:
Free Guy — Ryan Reynolds plays a background character in a video game who decides he wants to make his own choices in this derivative but entertaining science fiction extravaganza. Read more
Respect — Jennifer Hudson plays music legend Aretha Franklin in this biopic that was not screened for critics.
CODA — Many critics, including Alec Toombs, are calling this the best film of the year about a teen girl (Amelia Jones) who struggles with being the only hearing member of her family. Read more
Don’t Breathe 2 — Stephen Lang returns as the killer blind man in this sequel to the 2016 horror hit — and this time he’s got a daughter to protect!
New On Digital/Demand:
Curiosa — This unabashedly erotic French film looks at the sizzling love affair between two famed writers who pushed the boundaries of expression and sexuality in the 19th century. Read more
You Might Have Missed:
Cul-de-Sac — Roman Polanski’s creepy — did he make any other sort? — romp on a secluded island pits two polar opposite depictions of manhood between a sexually powerful woman. Read more
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In this week’s edition of Yap VS Yap, Christopher Lloyd of the Film Yap is joined by Andy Carr and Logan Sowash to review a few of this weekend’s new theater releases.
New in Theaters:
“Old” — M. Night Shyamalan is back in his creepy comfort zone in this suspense thriller about people trapped on a beach where they’re suddenly aging at an astonishing rate. Read more
“Joe Bell” — Mark Walhberg is solid in this predictable flick about a blue-collar father walking across America to fight the bullying of his gay son, but Reid Miller is a revelation as the kid. Read more
“Val” — A painful but also exhilarating self-portrait of an A-list actor who spent his life pretending to be somebody else, and found his authentic soul after losing his voice. Read more
For more from the Film Yap visit their website, TheFilmYap.com.
Lebron James is coming to the big screen this weekend starring in the much anticipated and highly criticized, Space Jam 2. Christopher Lloyd joined us today with reviews on what you can expect from that and more.
New in Theaters:
Space Jam: A New Legacy — Lebron James follows in Jordan’s footsteps in this reboot of the animated ultimate basketball game where the King has to rescue his son.
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain — This intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the life, joy and pain of the chef-turned-star is a revelation about the devil’s bargain of celebrity. Read more.
Pig — A sad, darkly funny, and downright weird contemplation of what’s important in life, featuring Nic Cage’s most sobering performance in years. Read more.
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions — Despite not especially enjoying escape rooms nor this franchise’s first installment, reviewer Alec Toombs was pleasantly surprised by this silly horror sequel. Read more.
Cool on Streaming:
Gunpowder Milkshake — An impressive mostly female ensemble elevates familiar action movie tropes as an assassin finds herself the one hunted. Now on Netflix. Read more.
You May Have Missed:
Last Train from Gun Hill — This forgotten Western is out in a splendid Blu-ray restoration featuring Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn as aging frontier relics whose hidebound ways lead to their inevitable confrontation. Read more.
Special Event:
Indy International Shorts Festival, July 20-25 — Presented by Heartland, this year’s Oscar-qualifying fest includes indoor, outdoor and virtual screenings. Read more.
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It’s Yap VS Yap as Christopher Lloyd and Adam Aasen, fellow Film Yap contributor, go head to head debating their opinions on the new Marvel movie, “Black Widow.”
OVERVIEW:
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller “Black Widow,” Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
For more from The Film Yap visit, TheFilmYap.com and subscribe to their Substack here.
It’s an exciting week at the movies as “Boss Baby” returns to theaters, a forgotten star-filled concert series sees new life and the Purge horror series refuses to end. Christopher Lloyd of The Film Yap fills us in on it all. Here’s more from him:
New in Theaters:
The Forever Purge — A once-entertaining franchise has become a parody of itself and now deserves to be put out of its misery. Read more
The Boss Baby: Family Business — This fast-paced, colorful sequel knows exactly what its core audience of kiddies wants, and serves it up while treating grownups mostly as an afterthought. Read more
Summer of Soul — Director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson creates a lovely soul tapestry of performances, crowd reactions, attendees and musicians at the greatest concert event you never heard of. Read more
Summer of 85 — Gorgeous to gaze upon but also poignant and touched by tragedy, this French drama is another in a recent spate of terrific queer romance stories. Read more
Cool on Streaming:
The Tomorrow War — Chris Pratt stars in this big-budget sci-fi thriller about a ex-soldier family man sent 30 years into the future to fight against nasty aliens for the fate of mankind. Now on Amazon. Read more
No Sudden Move — Steven Soderbergh is back in the heist game with this 1950s story about a group of criminals set up to steel new car technology. Starring Don Cheadle. Now on HBO Max.
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Film yap Christopher Lloyd gave us the inside scoop for what’s new in theatres in this week, for the the parents and the kids!
New in Theaters:
12 Mighty Orphans — This inspiring, true story of a depression-era football team of orphaned boys plays earnest as all hell, but scores no points of originality. Read more
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard — An action-comedy sequel starring Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek and Samuel L. Jackson where the action isn’t as thrilling and the laughs aren’t as present. Read more
The Sparks Brothers — Edgar Wright does a fantastic job encapsulating the heart, talent, and appeal surrounding a duo that was able to turn five decades into a legacy filled with truly fascinating music. Read more
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It — The life and career of iconic performer Rita Moreno is revealed in this straightforward and frank documentary. Read more
Cool on Streaming:
Luca — Fast-paced and full of color and light, “Luca” takes a more probing look at pubescent friendships than we expect from a piece of animated entertainment. Available on Disney+. Read more
Fatherhood — Funnyman Kevin Hart finds some more serious notes in this dramedy about a man who becomes a father after his wife suddenly dies. Now on Netflix
You Might Have Missed:
White Lightning — Burt Reynolds and the late Ned Beatty became respected actors in “Deliverance,” but this trashy car-chases-and-fast-women flick made them stars. Read more
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There’s a variety of new movies in theaters and for you to stream in the comfort of your own home this weekend! Christopher Lloyd of the Film Yap has the rundown of what’s showing.
New in Theaters:
In the Heights — Any flaws with “In The Heights” are owed to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s source material and not director Jon M. Chu, who has made one of the best movie-musicals ever. It’s the feel-good movie of the summer. Read more.
Queen Bees — Sort of a “Mean Girls” for the retiree set, this warmhearted if not predictable comedy stars Ellen Burstyn as a woman who moves into a retirement home and joins the ruling cadre. Read more.
Censor — A British woman who decides which naughty bits get to stay in movies goes on a quest to find her missing sister in this horror flick.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway — The rapscallion CGI rabbit gets bored with life on the farm, so he goes into the big city, meets some shady characters and gets into some scraps.
Cool on Streaming:
Loki — The new MCU spinoff series on Disney+ is sure to dazzle and amaze Marvel fans, as well as shed light on a new side of this villainous character. Now on Disney+. Read more.
Infinite — Antoine Fuqua’s a consistent filmmaker who’s made an inconsistent movie with the Mark Wahlberg sci-fi/action vehicle “Infinite.” Now on Paramount+. Read more.
Awake — Gina Rodriguez stars in this timely and engrossing Netflix drama about a deadly pandemic that robs people of the ability to sleep, which registers closer to cautionary tale than science fiction. Now on Netflix. Read more.
There’s a variety of new movies in theaters this weekend and for you to stream in the comfort of your own home! Christopher Lloyd of the Film Yap joined us with the rundown.
New in Theaters:
Cruella — Rather than fall back on formula, “Cruella” uses its animated and live action predecessors as a mere launch pad for something different and dazzlingly original. Read more
A Quiet Place II — “A Quiet Place Part II” understands it can’t be as new or inventive as his predecessor, so instead it ends up being a fast-paced, heart-thumping thrill ride that leaves you screaming for a part III. Read more
American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally — This drama about the trial of an infamous woman who fed the Nazi propaganda machine features a meaty part for Al Pacino, and not much else. Read more
Cool on Streaming:
Blue Miracle — The true story of an orphanage in dire financial straits who team up with a crusty old boat captain (Dennis Quaid) to enter a big-money fishing contest. Now on Netflix
You Might Have Missed:
Princess Mononoke — Hayao Miyazaki’s dark world of magic, in which humans and forest gods vie for supremacy, stands alongside the real one, commenting upon its shortcomings. Read more
To subscribe to The Film Yap visit, FilmYap.SubStack.com. For more movie reviews, visit TheFilmYap.com.
New movies are in theaters, available online, and there’s of course one you may have missed. The Film Yap’s Christopher Lloyd fills us in on them all.
New in Theaters:
Judas and the Black Messiah — This powerful drama looks at the Illinois Black Panther Party and how it was torn apart by an FBI informant. Starring LaKeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya. Read more.
The Mauritanian — Jodi Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tahar Rahim star in this sobering look at an African man who was held for 14 years without charges after 9/11. Read more.
Minari — Steven Yeun plays a father who moves his family from Korea to the rugged Ozarks to satisfy his sense of independence, but cultural challenges and circumstance lead to conflict.
The World to Come — In 1856 frontierland, two wives of neighboring farmers form a friendship that becomes an overwhelming romance. Starring Vanessa Kirby and Katherine Waterston.
Land — Robin Wright stars and directed this spare, lovely but sad story about a woman who moves to the remotest mountains out West to find a way to go on. Read more.
Dara from Jasenovac — This Serbian drama looks at a 10-year-old girl who is sent to a Nazi concentration camp and must look after her infant brother.
Cool on Streaming:
To All the Boys: Always and Forever — This romantic comedy is a sequel to the 2018 hit, as a high school senior returns from a trip to Korea to unexpected romantic troubles. Now on Netflix
You Might Have Missed:
Elizabethtown — For Valentine’s Day, take a chance on this career-killing romantic drama that’s more like real life than some faux Hollywood concoction. Now on Blu-ray/4K. Read more.
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What’s new in theaters, new on digital/on-demand and new on disc? The Film Yap’s Christopher Lloyd runs down the list:
New in Theaters:
Our Friend — Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck star in this three-hankie weepie about a man who moves in with a couple when the wife receives a terrible diagnosis.
New On Digital/Demand:
Brothers By Blood — A man who experienced tragedy as a child tries to navigate his way through the family criminal empire as his hard-bitten cousin becomes a rival. With Matthias Schoenaerts and Joel Kinnaman.
Coming Clean — This sobering documentary takes a hard look at the roots of the opioid epidemic as a combination of greed by pharmaceutical companies and indifference by doctors.
No Man’s Land — After a terrible tragedy along the U.S.-Mexico border, a modern cowboy flees south to seek forgiveness and finds himself falling in love with the land he grew up hating.
Ten Minutes to Midnight — A lonely radio DJ gets bitten by an infected bat and slowly turns into a vampire, terrorizing her coworkers
New on Disc:
2012 — This big-budget apocalyptic thriller starring John Cusack is cheesy as heck and fun as all get out. Now on Blu-ray/4K.
For more information, visit thefilmyap.com.