Film Focus for the week of Nov. 8-14
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Film Focus for the week of Nov. 8-14

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By M. Faust

OPENING THIS WEEK:

ANORA (R) Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, a boisterous comedy about a Brooklyn sex worker whose fairytale romance with a rich young Russian runs afoul of his family. Starring Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, and Karren Karagulian. Directed by Sean Baker (Tangerine). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, North Park, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker

APPUDO IPPUDO EPPUDO (NR) Telugu romantic comedy. Starring Nikhil Siddharth, Divyansha Kaushik, and Satya. Directed by Sudheer Varma. Regal Elmwood, Regal Transit

BLITZ (PG-13) During the World War II bombing of London, a boy tries to make his way back to London after learning that children of color are not welcomes in the Midlands. Starring Elliott Heffernan, Saoirse Ronan, Paul Weller, and Stephen Graham. Directed by Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave). Regal Quaker

CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER’S POINT (PG-13) An extended family gathers on Long Island for the holiday. Dramatic and comedic tension will presumably ensue. Starring Ben Shenkman, Lev Cameron, Elsie Fisher, Gregg Turkington, and Michael Cera. Directed by Tyler Taormina (Happer’s Comet). AMC Market Arcade, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ELEVATION (R) Post-apocalyptic horror set in the Rocky Mountains. Starring Morena Baccarin, Anthony Mackie, and Maddie Hasson Directed by George Nolfi (The Banker). AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

HERETIC (R) Hugh Grant as a seemingly nice fellow who does not react well to the efforts of a pair of young Mormons (Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East) to convert him. Written and directed by the writers of A Quiet Place, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

I AM KATHALAN (NR) A techno crime thriller from India in the Malayalam-language. That’s all I got. Starring Naslen K. Gafoor, Anishma Anilkumar, and Lijomol Jose. Directed by Girish A. D. Regal Elmwood

MEMOIR OF A SNAIL (R) From Australia, a puppet animation film about an isolated woman who finds companionship with snails. With the voices of Sarah Snook. Eric Bana, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jacki Weaver and Nick Cave. Directed by Adam Elliot (Mary and Max). AMC Market Arcade, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE (PG-13) Adaptation of the Claire Keegan novel about an Irish coal merchant who stumbles upon a dark secret at a local convent. Starring Cillian Murphy, Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, and Emily Watson. Directed by Tim Mielants (Wil). Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE TROPHY BRIDE (NR) Vietnamese comedy-drama about an impoverished family trying to pass their daughter off as a “trophy bride” to an upperclass family. Starring Kieu Minh Tuan, Hong Van, Le Giang See. Directed by Ngoc Dang Vu Regal Walden Galleria

VEER-ZAARA (NR) 20th anniversary re-release of a popular Bollywood film that blends a love story with a plea for better relations between India and Pakistan. Starrnig Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji. Directed by Yash Chopra. Regal Elmwood

WEEKEND IN TAIPEI (R) From the Luc Besson assembly line, a DEA agent and a former undercover operative rekindle an old romance under dire circumstances. Starring Luke Evans, Sung Kang, Lun-Mei Gwei. Directed by George Huang (Swimming with Sharks). Dipson Capitol, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

NOW PLAYING:

ABSOLUTION (R) Liam Neeson as an aging gangster whose mob associates won’t let him retire in peace. With Ron Perlman and Frankie Shaw. Directed by Hans Petter Moland (Cold Pursuit). Regal Transit

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (PG-13) Sequel. Starring Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Danny DeVito and Burn Gorman. Directed by Tim Burton. AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Transit, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only) Read M. Faust’s review here.

BHOOL BHULAIYAA 3 (NR) Hindi-language comedy horror sequel starring Kartik Aaryan as a con artist posing as an exorcist. Directed by Anees Bazmee. Regal Elmwood, Regal Walden Galleria

CONCLAVE (PG) Adaptation of the best-selling novel set during the Catholic Church’s secretive process to elect a new Pope. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Jacek Koman, Lucian Msamati, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini. Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria Read M. Faust’s review here.

HERE (PG-13) Adaptation of a graphic novel about the residents of a New Jersey house over 125 years. Starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Paul Bettany, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Dockery and Ophelia Lovibond. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Who Framed Roger Rabbit). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria Read M. Faust’s review here. 

HITPIG (PG) Animated adventures of a bounty hunting pig. Hopeful sign: it was written by “Bloom County” cartoonist Berkeley Breathed. With the voices of Jason Sudekis, Lilly Singh, Rainn Wilson and RuPaul. Directed by Cinzia Angelini and David Feiss. Joylan

LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE (PG) Sylvester Stallone produced this adventure about a twelve year old boy (Ethan Slater) who becomes—well, read the title. With Caitlin FitzGerald and Paul Sparks. Directed by Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger (Tater Tot & Patton). Regal Quaker

LUCKY BASKHAR (NR) Indian crime drama starring Dulquer Salmaan as a bank cashier in 1980s Mumbai whose drive to become rich leads him into some shady ventures. Screened in Telugu and Malayalam versions—check theater for details. Directed by Venky Atluri. Regal Elmwood

SINGHAM AGAIN (NR) Hindi-language action sequel. Starring Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. Directed by Rohit Shetty. Regal Walden Galleria

SMILE 2 (R) Horror sequel. Starring Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, and Miles Gutierrez-Riley. Directed by Parker Finn (Smile). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

TERRIFIER 3 (NR) Horror sequel. Caveat emptor: It’s two hours and five minutes long. Starring Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton, Jason Patric, Daniel Roebuck, and Samantha Scaffidi. Directed by Damien Leone. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE (PG-13) MCU stuff. Starring Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Alanna Ubach, Stephen Graham, Rhys Ifans and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Directed by Kelly Marcel. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Aurora, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

WE LIVE IN TIME (R) Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star in this time shifting romance following a couple from their first meeting through one’s battles with cancer. Directed by John Crowley (Brooklyn). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria Read M. Faust’s review here. 

WHITE BIRD (PG-13) In France during World War II, a Jewish girl is sheltered by the family of a polio-stricken boy who had been derided by her classmates. Starring Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson, and Bryce Gheisar. Directed by Marc Foster (Monsters Ball). Hamburg Palace, Regal Quaker Read M. Faust’s review here

THE WILD ROBOT (PG) Pixar animation adapted from the popular children’s books about a robot stranded on an island and the animals it befriends. Of course they are talking animals, providing voice work for Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy and Stephanie Hsu. Directed by Chris Sanders (The Croods). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC.

THE BURMESE HARP (Japan, 1956)—New 4K restoration of the classic film about a soldier who finds salvation from the horrors of war in the teachings of Buddha. Directed by Kon Ichikawa (Tokyo Olympiad). Sat 1 pm. North Park

DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954)—From Alfred Hitchcock’s era of experimental theater adaptations. Ray Milland stars as a husband who concocts an elaborate plan to kill his cheating wife (Grace Kelly), only to have to improvise at the last minute. With Robert Cummings and John Williams. Fri, Tues 7:30 pm. Screening Room

KILLER RACK (NR)—Local movie maven Gregory Lamberson’s horror comedy, about a woman who gets breast implants to help her career but makes the mistake of getting them from a mad doctor (Debbie Rochon) with an H. P. Lovecraft fixation. Did I mention that it’s a musical, with songs by Armand John Petrie and Joe Rozler? Fri Nov. 15 7:30 pm Screening Room

ZOMBIELAND (R) and WORLD WAR Z (PG-13)—A double feature for those looking to escape to fictional apocalypses. Transit Drive-in (Fri-Sat only)

THEATER LOCATIONS AND WEBSITES

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