Need to get out? We normally focus on streaming fare, but this weekend, the drive-in theater abides. On Sept. 25 in Concord and San Jose, amid all the second-run releases and classic movies, an actual first-run feature makes a splash. The Italian-made monster movie “Shortcut” tops our list of what to see this weekend, along with couch-ready fare such as the Netflix family find “Enola Holmes” and a black-and-white indie gem “Wheels.”
And if you want to get your political dander up, there’s more that enough to go around, from “All In” and Patagonia’s “Public Trust.”
Here’s our weekly rundown.
“Shortcut”: Italian director Alessio Liguori’s affection for modest, mid-’80s creature features is evident from this film’s ominous start and that’s OK since it only enhances this well-written goose-pimpler, an eerie, not overly bloody creeper shot in the Italian woods.
While it could have used more frights and a creepier monster, the chintzy budget works in its favor — making us feel like a kid who’s freaking out from watching a more “adult” thriller.
The setup will be familiar to “Jeepers Creepers 2” fans: A school bus carrying teens gets stranded and a monster comes calling to pig out on the unsuspecting. But “Shortcut” is sharper, and more fun, than the Martinez-born Victor Salva’s 2003 sequel.
That’s due to the “Stranger Things” vibe of Luguori’s film, mirroring that Netflix series’s strength by making his young characters authentic and likeable. It helps that the young cast is good. While “Shortcut” won’t win awards, it does take us on a joyride back to the old-school horror style, in which the scares are teased rather than trumpeted. It is ideal drive-in fare.
Details: 3 stars; opens Sept. 25 at Concord’s West Wind Solano Drive-In and at San Jose’s West Wind Capitol Drive-In; www.westwinddi.com
“Enola Holmes”: Determined and resourceful, the 16-year-old sister of super sleuth Sherlock enters the family biz once her feminist and unconventional mother (Helena Bonham Carter in fine form) vanishes. As played by Millie Bobby Brown (the “Stranger Things” star and “Enola” producer) Enola refuses to be confined by Old English 19th-century sex roles, exhibiting a modern sense and sensibility as she assists a dashing marquis (Louis Partridge) and copes with two feuding brothers, Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin). Based on Nancy Springer’s series of novels, director Harry Bradbeer’s action-packed family film is a pip from beginning to end, and features one of the strongest young female heroines since Katniss Everdeen hit the bullseye. “Enola Holmes” is an energetic launching point for a promising new franchise. Details: 3 stars; available Sept. 23; Netflix.
“Wheels”: Paul Starkman’s award winner dishes out a convincing slice-of-life portrait of a young Black DJ/grocery clerk (Arnstar) from Brooklyn and his complicated relationships with his grandmother, who is in the early stage of Alzheimer’s, and his brother (Joshua Boone), who has recently been released from prison. “Wheels” tackles tough realities about pursuing dreams while juggling difficult choices. It’s a gem packed with new talent and has an affirming yet realistic message. Details: 3 stars; available to stream or purchase on various platforms.
“The Artist’s Wife”: San Francisco filmmaker Tom Dolby’s unpredictable character drama follows a well-heeled couple (Lena Olin and Bruce Dern) as they re-calibrate their lives when the husband begins suffering from escalating dementia-related outbursts. Henry puts Claire through the emotional wringer, triggering an existential crisis as she falls for a musician/caregiver (Avan Jogia) and revisits her career as a painter. Dolby’s feature is polished yet personal and doesn’t follow the trajectory one expects from this kind of film. Details: 3 stars; available Sept. 25 on various platforms.
“LX 2048”: Oakland’s Delroy Lindo has been having one of his best ever acting year. And while this dystopian drama shot on a tiny budget isn’t one of his standouts, it is nonetheless intriguing. He’s cast in a secondary but pivotal role in writer/director Guy Moshe’s metaphysical clone thriller about a world in which people retreat indoors due to solar intensity. The claustrophobic environment finds a successful entrepreneur (James D’Arcy) experiencing marital dissatisfaction when his wife (Anna Brewster) catches him in a sexual relationship with an AI. Moshe detours from the obvious storyline while focusing on the theme of freedom. It’s stilted at times, but comes to life whenever Lindo comes on screen as a character with more intel than others. Details: 2½ stars; available Sept. 25 on various platforms.
“The Social Dilemma”: Jeff Orlowski’s damning documentary might prompt you to say adios to Mark Zuckerberg and social media sites. More successful when it’s relying on talking heads rather than dramatizations, “Dilemma” finds former tech innovators — most in Silicon Valley — revealing the ways social media companies use and abuse your data and contribute to misinforming the public. It’s one of the most horrifying films of the year. Details: 3½ stars; available now on Netflix.
“All In: The Fight for Democracy”: Political documentaries are popping up like campaign signs. Some are good — such as “#Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump” — and others are great — check out “Healing From Hate,” about reformed white supremacists helping others change. A clear standout is this well-produced Amazon Prime advocacy feature. Springboarding primarily off two events — the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act, Stacey Abrams’ unsuccessful and controversial 2018 run for Georgia governorship. Filmmakers Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés provide context and perspective on how voting rights are continually being eroded. It’s smartly done, and alarming as heck. Details: 3 stars, available now on Amazon Prime.
“Public Trust”: Another right that’s getting stripped away in favor of fat-cat politicians and big business interests is our right to access and enjoy public lands. That’s the focus of this mad-as-hell documentary from Patagonia Films, executive produced by Robert Redford. Director David Garrett Byars lets angry citizens tell the story as the fight to preserve unspoiled and sacred lands clashes with the desires of the current administration. “Trust” too is a political film, but it’s a shocker, particularly in seeing who is coming to the front lines of this battle. Don’t miss it. Details: 3½ stars; available Sept. 25 on YouTube.
“Kajillionaire”: Writer/director Miranda July is definitely an acquired taste. I happen to love her quirky, unique dramedies. Evan Rachel Wood earns awards consideration for her performance as the daughter of L.A. swindlers (Richard Jenkins and Debra Winger) who team up with a vivacious stranger (Gina Rodriguez) who joins their con jobs. Woods never hits a false step as a sheltered woman-child. Details: 3 stars; playing at Fairfax Theatre beginning Sept. 24; available to stream or purchase Oct. 16.
“Rialto”: Frameline, San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ film festival, wraps up this weekend, and one of the finds is this Irish drama set in working-class Dublin. Peter Mackie Burns’ uncompromising drama takes us through the painful coming-out journey of Colm (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) whose company is going through a merger just as the husband and father develops an obsessive relationship with a hardened young prostitute (Tom Glynn-Carney). Both leads give this exploration of macho stifling a documentary-like realness, as does Burns. It’s powerful indeed. Details: Available through Sept. 26 at www.frameline.org.
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September 24, 2020 at 06:03AM
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New movies: ‘Shortcut,’ ‘Enola Holmes,’ are your best bets - The Mercury News
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