What to Watch This Weekend: November 12, 2021: Clifford, Julia, Red Notice, Pete, Shang-Chi, Apex, Stillwater, Japanese Drama

For A Fun, Family Adventure: Clifford The Big Red Dog (Theaters and Paramount+)
Clifford The Big Red Dog brings the classic kids book to the big screen with a cute CG dog, plenty of humor, and a Clifford size dose of big red heart.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Mouth Watering Documentary: Julia (Theaters)
Julia details the life of the iconic food personality and details how revolutionary she was and her effect on American eating!

For A Hilariously Fun Heist Film: Red Notice (Netflix)

Red Notice takes some of my favorite actors and puts them into a hilarious buddy heist comedy with criminally funny moments.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Politics Junkie: Mayor Pete (Amazon Prime)

Mayor Pete gives an unfiltered window into this unconventional person and presidential candidate and the crazy circumstances that had him rising to prominence.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Cinematic Slice of Life Drama: They Say Nothing Stays The Same (Virtual Cinema)

They Say Nothing Stays The Same has an idyllic setting mixed with wonderful music and nature sounds, driving home the central question of whether the cost of progress is truly worth it.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Asian Avenger Adventure: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Theaters)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings kung fu kicks MCU Phase 4 into high gear, with a great Asian cast and focus on Asian culture, high flying action, and plenty of humor.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Gamer: Apex (Theaters and Digital)

Apex has a smart use of technology and a great cast, to create a bizarre, gory, and overall fun battle royale.

For A Masterful and Tragic Drama: Stillwater (Redbox)
Stillwater is a masterclass in storytelling, with stellar performances, a story filled with beauty and tragedy, and an amazingly complex journey that asks the viewer to experience it.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: Stillwater, Ride the Eagle, The Exchange, Jungle Cruise, Boy Behind The Door, Murder Bury Win, Quiet Place, No Sudden Move

For A Masterful and Tragic Drama: Stillwater (Theaters)
Stillwater is a masterclass in storytelling, with stellar performances, a story filled with beauty and tragedy, and an amazingly complex journey that asks the viewer to experience it.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Heartwarming Coming of Age (And Puppy): Ride the Eagle (Theaters and Digital)

Ride the Eagle is a cute, heartfelt indie that takes Jake Johnson's natural charisma, adds a little ridiculousness and a puppy, and leaves you with an entertaining, heartwarming experience.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Biting Comedy About Friendship and Acceptance: The Exchange (Digital)

The Exchange's wonderful setting and cast, ridiculous situations, and biting humor will touch both your funny bone and your heart.  Très magnifique!  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Fun Adventure And Wild Ride: Jungle Cruise (Theaters and Disney+)

Jungle Cruise uses great chemistry between the leads, enjoyable characters, and an action-comedic take on the beloved ride that makes it easy to sit back and enjoy the adventure.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Horror Fans: The Boy Behind The Door (Shudder)

The Boy Behind The Door shows a tension-filled night with great performances by these young stars and a brutal, sinister story that will keep you on edge.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Killer Board Game Night: Murder Bury Win (Amazon)
Roll the dice on Murder Bury Win, a darkly comedic indie film that has the humor and charm to be as entertaining as any board game night.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Tense, Quiet Evening: A Quiet Place Part II (Redbox and Paramount+)

A Quiet Place Part II continues the Abbott's story with the same amazing sound effects and trademark muffled horror that made the first movie such an auditory treat.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Crime Drama: No Sudden Move (HBO Max)

A Soderbergh crime thriller that you can watch at home?  Also one that has Don Cheadle,  Benicio Del Toro, and David Harbour? Sign me up!

Stillwater Movie Review: A Bittersweet Family Drama About Character And Choices

Release date: July 30, 2021
Running time: 140 minutes
Director: Tom McCarthy
Writers: Tom McCarthy, Marcus Hinchey, Thomas Bidegain, Noe Debre
Cast: Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin, Camille Cottin, Lilou Siauvaud

A dramatic thriller directed by Academy Award® winner Tom McCarthy and starring Matt Damon, Stillwater follows an American oil-rig roughneck from Oklahoma who travels to Marseille to visit his estranged daughter, in prison for a murder she claims she did not commit.

Stillwater is a masterclass in storytelling and in leaving things unsaid.  And this is epitomized by Matt Damon's performance as Bill, a no filter, quiet, but set in his ways American who is in Marseille to be near his daughter.  Damon is simply amazing as Bill; he takes on the mannerisms, the demeaner, and the attitude of a rough, Oklahoma oil man.  But what is so great about this film is that it doesn't tell you much about what is happening, letting you (and forcing you) to just experience the story.  It doesn't tell you why Damon is traveling from Oklahoma to France at the start, nor does it explain much about the overall situation after you find out why he is there.  The film prefers to feed little tidbits of information throughout the story and let the viewer slowly gain a clear picture.  

But that is not to say that there are not hints of what is happening or what will occur, and that is thanks to the stellar performances by Damon, Breslin, Cottin, and Siauvaud.  They all bring a different character to the film and they all interact in wonderful and interesting ways.  I especially liked seeing the interactions between Damon and Cottin because of how different they were, and between Damon and Siauvaud because of how sweet that whole experience was.  The film is just a wonderful exercise in character development and noticing subtle shifts in personalities and demeaners.  Plenty is said without needing to be said, and the film has many character changes throughout.

But what makes this movie so special is just how beautiful and tragic it can be.  Allison (Breslin) is in prison for a murder she claims she did not commit, but seeing what she is up against to try and get her conviction overturned is daunting.  And the film has so many moments of beauty and tragedy that you just have to watch to see.  Going into it too much would just spoil these wonderful parts so it will just have to be something you see for yourself, but needless to say, Stillwater shows where cultures can meld and then rip apart.  It shows the beauty of love and the tragedy of what that love can do.  And it is an amazing, complex film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Stillwater is a masterclass in storytelling, with stellar performances, a story filled with beauty and tragedy, and an amazingly complex journey that asks the viewer to experience it.

Watch it.

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Stillwater is in theaters on July 30, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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Screening: See Stillwater Early and Free

We have partnered with Focus Features for an early screening of the phenomenal film, Stillwater.  The film is coming to DC area theaters on Friday, July 30th but you can watch it early and free!  Details and entry form are below.

Stillwater

A dramatic thriller directed by Academy Award® winner Tom McCarthy and starring Matt Damon, STILLWATER follows an American oil-rig roughneck from Oklahoma who travels to Marseille to visit his estranged daughter, in prison for a murder she claims she did not commit.

Director: Tom McCarthy

Writers: Tom McCarthy, Marcus Hinchey, Thomas Bidegain, Noe Debre

Producers: Steve Golin, Tom McCarthy, Jonathan King, Liza Chasin

Cast: Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin, Camille Cottin

Rating: PG-13

Screening Info:

STILLWATER

Wednesday, July 28th

Regal Gallery Place

7:00PM 

Screening Link!