What to Watch This Weekend: May 22, 2020

Redbox: The Way Back

The Way Back tells a story that has you rooting for the man down. With scenes that will make you hold your breath, cry, and cheer, this is a journey that you will be glad you took.  And as with all sports movies, the journey is the most important part of the story.  Be sure to be ready for an emotional roller coaster here. For more information, check out our review!

Redbox: Onward
Pixar's Onward will cast a charm spell on you with it's wonderful cast, beautiful animation, and story that has all of the heart and magic that we have come to expect from this studio.  For more information, check out our review!

Digital: Tokyo Godfathers
Tokyo Godfathers is a beautifully animated classic that has been fully restored for a modern release.  However, it is a testament to this film being ahead of its time that its unconventional main characters, engaging story, and subject matter feel completely at home in modern times.  For more information, check out our review!

Digital: Dalai Lama Scientist
Dalai Lama Scientist is a surprising look into the Tibetan leader's little known interest in science, with wonderful historical footage and insights from top scientists and the Dalai Lama himself.   For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (HBO): Joker

Joker is a dark and disturbing tale about one man's descent into madness and rebirth as an iconic villain.  It is not going to be for everyone, but this brilliant, unpredictable, and uncomfortable film should not be missed.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Showtime): Hustlers

Hustlers provides an unreal story about some slick and resourceful women.  It is a female wolf of wall street, with a decent amount of craziness, high risk scams, and strong personalities.  For more information, check out our review!

What to Watch This Weekend: May 1, 2020

Redbox: Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog is an entertaining re-imagining of the classic video game.  It's wonderful performances, great special effects, and abundance of humor and callbacks to the game will quickly entertain you!  For more information, check out our review!

Redbox: Like a Boss
Like a Boss has charismatic leading ladies, who form a strong foundation for both the funny and dramatic parts of this makeup friendship comedy.  For more information, check out our review!

Digital: The Incoherents
The Incoherents will get you to follow your dreams with its strong cast, fantastic music, and plenty of heart.  For more information, check out our review!

Digital: Dennis and Lois
Dennis and Lois highlights two mainstays of the rock scene doing what they love.  It has fantastic clips from a variety of bands, interesting stories from the legendary pair, and a wonderful soundtrack.  For more information, check out our review!

Digital: James Vs. His Future Self

James Vs. His Future Self has a wonderful conflict between future and present James, with plenty of funny and introspective moments in this timely, time-obsessed comedy.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Netflix): All Day and a Night

All Day and a Night uses its emotional characters, story, and authentic setting to deliver a powerful film with important underlying messages of self discovery and empathy.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Hulu, Amazon): Creed II

The follow-up to the surprisingly good Creed, this movie manages to make the tried-and-true Rocky formula feel fresh thanks to some fantastic performances and the introduction of characters from Rocky's past.

Streaming (Showtime): Hustlers

Hustlers provides an unreal story about some slick leading ladies.  It is a female wolf of wall street, with a decent amount of craziness, high risk scams, and strong personalities.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Netflix): The Foreigner

The Foreigner adheres strictly to the action thriller formula, but benefits from strong performances by veteran stars Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan.  The film has plenty of twists and turns while allowing Chan to showcase his dramatic chops and Brosnan to flex his bad guy persona.

Streaming (Amazon): A Simple Favor

Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick make quite the pair in this mystery thriller with plot layered on plot.  Although there is a weird twist that just doesn't seem to add much to the film, the story will keep you guessing right up until the end.

What to Watch This Weekend: September 13, 2019

In Theaters: Hustlers

Hustlers is definitely the biggest release out this weekend, and it is an entertaining movie from start to finish.  Our review called it "a female wolf of wall street, with a decent amount of craziness, high risk scams, and strong personalities."

At Redbox: Booksmart

One of my favorite movies of the year and a refreshing take on the coming of age drama is finally available for rental.   Our review called Booksmart “a smart, sharp, hilarious comedy and the new valedictorian of the high school coming of age class.”  

Streaming (HBO): Mary Queen of Scots

Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie's historical drama is a slow burn, but what a fantastic journey it provides.  It is filled with interesting characters, political intrigue, and breakout performances by both leading ladies.  

Streaming (Amazon): Late Night

Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling's talk show comedy is one of the year's most overlooked independent films and is now available to stream at home.  If you didn't see it in theaters (and frankly, not many people did), then make sure to check it out from the comfort of your home!

Review: Hustlers

Release date: September 13, 2019
Running time: 109 minutes
Starring:  Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles 

Hustlers tells the true story of a group of strippers turned friends turned grifters who decide to take advantage of wealthy wall street types.  What starts as a harmless embarrassment soon spirals into something much worse.  As the Hustle grows, so do the challenges and consequences these women face.  

This film stars Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu in roles that are very different from what they've done before.  Wu takes a complete 180 from her Crazy Rich Asians character, to play a sweet but capable stripper /grifter.  Lopez plays the alpha of the group; a strong, confident, but brash leader of the pack.  Together they make a good pair although I didn't love Wu's character at the start.  She seemed way too naive and had some awkward dialog or lack there of.  Lopez however is at her finest; when she's on screen, she is the clear focal point!  The rest of the cast does a good job of supporting these leading ladies, with some notable performances by Cardi B and Lili Reinhart.  

The story moves at a decent pace, starting slowly but speeding up as the Hustle grows.  But the slow pace at the start does a good job of introducing you to the characters and humanizing them.  You really get to know the main characters and their motivations.  However, this film does suffer from some less than stellar writing.  Some of the dialogue is corny and a lot of Wu's dialogue at the start feels like it's missing.  There are moments where she has a conversation with Lopez and says absolutely nothing, which was very distracting. And although Lopez is a strong female lead, sometimes her dialog is overdone.  Additionally, the film does glorify some pretty ridiculous crimes with an us or them mentality.  

But if you can get past these issues, Hustlers provides an unreal story about some slick and sexy women.  It is a female wolf of wall street, with a decent amount of craziness, high risk scams, and strong personalities.  

Watch it

Screening: Hustlers

Hustlers

Release Date: September 13, 2019
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_dfc0iqmig

Genre: Drama

Cast: Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, with Mercedes Ruehl, and Cardi B

Director: Lorene Scafaria

Producers: Elaine Goldsmith Thomas, Jessica Elbaum, Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Will Ferrell, Adam McKay

HUSTLERS follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. The film was inspired by the article published by New York Magazine entitled “The Hustlers at Scores” written by Jessica Pressler.

Screening Details:

HUSTLERS

Saturday, September 7th

9:00 pm

AMC Tyson’s Corner

Link to Download Tickets: http://stxtickets.com/OHpAz04059

Be sure to Like and Follow Watch or Pass and share with your friends!

As always, screenings are first-come, first-served so please arrive early to ensure you get a seat.