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Get to know: Chris Cruse

FOR FANS OF: Mike Servito, Horse Meat Disco, Eli Escobar 

“I can't speak for everyone, but here I see our queer community becoming stronger and more radical in the face of this harrowing moment in our history,” says Chris Cruse, DJ and promoter behind Spotlight, the L.A. party that has been running since 2012, the year he turned 30. Pushing a sound that’s “tough, sleazy, soulful and fun,” past guests include Honey Dijon, Prosumer, Tama Sumo, Lakuti, Daniel Wang and Mike Servito, illustrating an ethos that encompasses everything from ecstatic disco to corrosive acid bubblers.

In the face of America’s darkening political climate, the party is a refuge of love and light, attracting up to 1,500 people. But Spotlight’s history illustrates the problems inherent with throwing events in L.A. “You’d think California was a cool, progressive place to be,” says Chris, “but many of the rules governing nightlife have been on the books since the time when schools were racially segregated, women couldn’t vote and being gay was definitely illegal.”

With many LGBT clubs forced to close, including iconic venue The Spotlight Club, from which the party takes its name, Spotlight has made its name as a roving, rootless illegal warehouse party. “One of the coolest spots we did it in had a wholesale market out front,” recalls Chris. “You had to walk through the store, down an aisle past the soup cans and the piñatas, to the back where our door girl Queen Michael would take your cover and let you into the warehouse.” At points, however, their popularity has caused problems, with word reaching the police and parties getting closed down, leading to Spotlight now running a tighter friends-and- family policy.

A need for community runs through Chris’ story. Growing up in remote Richmond VA, the first electronic music he heard was the likes of Orbital, Photek and Josh Wink on MTV. Moving to L.A. aged 18 introduced him to DJ Harvey’s Sarcastic Disco, Lovefingers and Nitedog’s Blackdisco parties, and Sublevel with Doc Martin. “I’d go out to these warehouses and have an amazing time dancing, but I wouldn’t meet other queer people,” he says, “Or at least, I’d never go home with any of them.”

Realizing much of the music was the soundtrack to foundational gay clubs, from Paradise Garage to The Saint, and inspired by a 2008 art project trip to Berlin, where Daniel Wang introduced him to a host of queer DJs who are still friends, Spotlight was born. Learning to mix while spending a summer in Montreal with a guy who had decks and a pile of disco records, his own DJ career has seen him grace Beats In Space, while this summer he played a host of parties including Panorama Bar, Horse Meat Disco, Honcho Summer Camp Out and The Black Madonna’s final date of her We Still Believe tour.

One of the brains behind Movement’s queer after- hours Club Toilet, Chris has also started a new Sunday day-into-night rave called The Closer. “We have gorgeous weather here in L.A., but shockingly few day parties.” 

The election of Trump underlined how important Spotlight has become. Throwing a party on a defaced model of the White House, reclaimed with queer flags, “It was one of the most moving parties for me,” he says. “It felt like we all understood what kind of fight we’d have ahead for ourselves.”

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DJ Chris Cruse heads to Connections Nightclub

This Friday, NEST FM x The Monarchy are bringing you Berlin-based deejay, producer, queer historian and total dreamboat Chris Cruse.

Friday night at Connections will see Chris Cruse appearing at regular night Club 81 alongside a roster of top DJ talent including Yikes, Cooper Cooper and Jamal, Henry and Spi-C, Rex Monsoon, Jamilla, Alana Joy and Miss Estonia.

There will also be performances from Ash Baroque, Serenity, Toots and Sydney-based performer Craig Slist.

Founder of LA-based warehouse party Spotlight, Chris Cruse has been a prominent figure at queer raves, festivals and toilet cubicles across America and Europe for many years.

His sound channels decades of queer history, from steamy bathhouses to the Berghain Garten, and he’s partial to a peak-time sax solo!

Chris Cruse has recently turned Spotlight into a record label, uncovering long lost gems and discovering new talent.

Now living in Berlin, Chris plays regularly at the city’s major clubbing institution Berghain / Panorama Bar as well as notorious underground parties and festivals around the world including Adonis, NYC Downlow, Honcho Campout and Club Toilet.

Catch Chris Cruse at an impressive lineup of local legends at Connections Nightclub on Friday 26th April. Tickets on sale now .

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With a natural talent for grasping and manifesting a client's creative vision into musical reality, Chris ensures that every project is a unique and transformative experience. Taking an innovative approach keeps him setting trends rather than chasing them. For artists seeking to elevate their sound and make a lasting impact, booking studi

With a natural talent for grasping and manifesting a client's creative vision into musical reality, Chris ensures that every project is a unique and transformative experience. Taking an innovative approach keeps him setting trends rather than chasing them. For artists seeking to elevate their sound and make a lasting impact, booking studio time with Chris Cruise is the right step for your music journey. Contact him today to discuss your project and create something special.

Hailing from the streets of Chicago, is a trendsetting music producer and DJ at the forefront of the house music scene. In 2023, his tracks garnered over 300k streams, a testament to his dedication to all things sound. 

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As the owner of Creatives Anonymous Records, Cruise cultivates innovation and pushes boundaries in the electronic music realm. With an ear for talent, Chris Cruise is a driving force in shaping the future of the genre.

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• Tesla Powershare

Tesla Cybertruck owner gets quoted over $30,000 for Powershare installation

A Tesla Cybertruck owner has been quoted over $30,000 for a Powershare installation to enable his electric pickup truck to power his house.

When Tesla unveiled the production version of the Cybertruck late in the year, the automaker finally confirmed it was its first bi-directional charging-capable vehicle.

The feature allows Cybertruck owners to use the battery pack in trucks for more than just driving the vehicle. They can power virtually anything from the outlets in the bed of the vehicle, even another electric vehicle.

But through Tesla’s new Powershare product, Tesla Cybertruck owners can also power their homes in case of an outage.

The company previously said that Powerwall owners already have the required hardware to use the feature, and if not, you can use Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector ($595) and a Gateway ($1,800). Thought the automaker also unveiled a new ‘ Powershare Mobile Connector ’.

For Cybertruck Foundation series buyers, Tesla offers this hardware for free and for Cyberbeast Foundation series buyers, the automaker offers $4,000 toward installation , but we warned it could be much more expensive.

However, we didn’t expect it to be about 10 times more expensive, but that’s exactly what a Cybertruck owner was quoted.

Joe Tegtmeyer, a Cybertruck owner better known for his drone flyovers of Gigafactory Texas, shared his quote to install Tesla Powershare at his house:

I wanted to provide an honest follow-up on the costs that may be incurred to install Powershare equipment that comes with the Cybertruck Foundation Series purchase. Included in the original purchase are a $595.00 Powershare home charger, $230.00 Powershare mobile connector & a… pic.twitter.com/amBN6zfR0n — Joe Tegtmeyer 🚀 🤠🛸😎 (@JoeTegtmeyer) April 25, 2024

He is being quoted $64,275, but that’s with 2 Powerwalls to be fair. For the cost of enabling Powershare alone without Powerwalls, Tegtmeyer is being quoted $33,837.50 by installer Treehouse.

The insane pricing is due to suspicious $24,000 upgrade to increase the power input into the house:

It’s unclear why you would need to increase the power input into your house to get backup power? Couldn’t you just backup what you already have?

Tegtmeyer was surprised by the quote as he recently had electrical upgrades for his home solar panel installation:

I had thought Powershare might be a viable option for me, especially since I already had a huge solar panel system & all related electrical upgrades including a completely new main circuit-breaker panel & new heavy-duty wiring included as part of my solar system installation. I had thought this would make the Powershare installation easier, but apparently, that is not the case.

A quote like that will certainly change your plans.

Top comment by Chris Arnold

Seems overly complex for the rare times you may need additional backup power. I'm happy just running an extension cord from my CT to the fridge and whatever else requires 120v to start like a gas hot water heater. Now if you could sell power to the grid during an outage for a profit, folks may be tempted to light candles on purpose.

The easy solution is to get another quote, but that can be difficult as you have to go through a Tesla-approved installer and not many have been approved for Powershare yet.

Electrek’s Take

Now, this could be an isolated case, but I feel like it won’t be. It reminds me of the early days of Powerwall when buyers were being given crazy installation quotes when Tesla started working with third parties.

The whole idea of Powershare and bidirectional charging is that it is a cheaper way to get backup power because you already have the battery in your vehicle. The electrical hardware and installation cost are the difference makers.

It looks like Tesla has the hardware under control, but it might need to control the installation cost by working with installers.

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Tom Cruise produced a movie in Eugene during the summer of 1996 about Steve Prefontaine

In 1996 a film crew descended on Eugene to make a movie about Steve Prefontaine.

The film followed the relationship between record-breaking distance runner Steve Prefontaine and his coach Bill Bowerman.

Prefontaine was a star athlete from Coos Bay who ran for the University of Oregon and later competed in the Olympics in the 1970s.

He died in an automobile accident in Eugene on May 30, 1975, at the age of 24.

The film was written and directed by Robert Towne and produced by Tom Cruise.

Hundreds of locals appear as extras in the film at locations around Oregon, Lane Community College and Hayward Field.

The $25 million movie was released and distributed by Warner Bros. in 1998.

Cruise himself visited Eugene in 1998 for a screening of the film at the McDonald Theater.

The movie was well-received by critics but ended up grossing only $777,000 at the box office.

Contact photographer Chris Pietsch at [email protected] , or follow him on Twitter @ChrisPietsch and Instagram @chrispietsch

Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix 2024: Here's how much tickets cost

Despite being significantly lower than their debut in 2022, prices for a good view of the track are still high., by gerardo pons and janete weinstein • published 35 mins ago • updated 31 mins ago.

After its debut in 2022, the Miami Grand Prix has been one of the most coveted F1 racing events in the world due to the celebrity-filled buzz paddock.

Miami is where F1 kicks off its American circuit followed by Dallas and Las Vegas.

The Miami Grand Prix is expected to take place on Sunday, May 5, at the Miami International Autodrome, a course built around the  Hard Rock Stadium in Miami  Gardens.

But despite the hype surrounding the event, and the fact that Miami's now one of the most visited and expensive cities in the U.S., ticket prices for this year's race have decreased compared to 2023.

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So ahead of the May 5th race, Here's what you need to know about this year's ticket prices.

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How much are tickets for the f1 miami gp 2024.

Despite the fact that prices have dropped significantly since the GP's debut in 2022, you may still need to spend a significant amount of money to get a good view of the track.

Which seats to get for F1 Miami GP 2024?

For starters, The Campus Pass grants you a three-day general admission ticket with access to Hard Rock Stadium, the fountains, the Marina, and the trackside lane between Turn 8-11. This year's Campus Pass starts at $150 per day or $450 less than the $590 asked last year. This option does not include an assigned seat.

However, if you'd like to have a seat, tickets skyrocket in price for the Grandstand tickets , which start at $600 and go up as high as $1,225. 

But if you'd like to get a top-of-the-line experience at the Miami GP, the most expensive tickets sold are those included in the Paddock Club package , The 72 Club and the Casa Tua Trackside Club.

The Miami GP currently does not publicly list prices for tickets for either of those clubs, but according to F1 Destinations, the Paddock Club tickets could cost over $10,000.

Where to buy tickets for the Miami F1?

For complete ticket prices, visit F1 Miami Grand Prix official site here.

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The best movies on Amazon Prime Video (April 2024)

T hings are admittedly slow on Amazon Prime Video during the final weekend of April. Fortunately, the martial arts action comedy Polite Society  should be able to bring you some excitement this weekend. Romantic comedy fans can also check out How to Date Billy Walsh , a film that has entered the list of the top 10 most popular movies on Prime Video.

If neither of these films are for you, don’t worry. This roundup of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video has something for just about everyone. And on May 1, a whole new batch of movies will arrive, with even more to come as we inch closer to summer.

We’ve also put together guides to the best shows on Prime Video , the best movies on Hulu , the best movies on Netflix , the best new movies to stream , and the best movies on Disney+ .

Editor’s Pick

Polite society (2023).

• Metacritic: 75%
• IMDb: 6.6/10
• Rated: PG-13
• Duration: 103m
• Genre: Comedy, Action, Drama
• Stars: Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya, Shobu Kapoor
• Directed by: Nida Manzoor

Polite Society had a very under-the-radar release in 2023, but it has a chance to break out on Prime Video in 2024. The film stars Priya Kansara as Ria Khan, a British-Pakistani teenager who has grand dreams of becoming a martial artist and a stunt woman. No one is a bigger supporter of Ria’s dreams than her older sister, Lena Khan (Ritu Arya), at least until Lena falls for Salim Shah (Akshay Khanna) and agrees to move away to Singapore and marry him.

Salim instantly rubs Ria the wrong way, and so does Salim’s mother, Raheela Shah (Nimra Bucha). Against all evidence, Ria is convinced that the Shah family has sinister intentions toward her sister. Is Ria delusional? Or will she really have to go full action heroine and save her sister from the evil in-laws?

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How to Date Billy Walsh (2024) [New]

• IMDb: 5.5/10
• Duration: 98m
• Genre: Romance, Comedy
• Stars: Sebastian Croft, Charithra Chandran, Tanner Buchanan
• Directed by: Alex Pillai

You’re going to recognize a lot of familiar elements in How To Date Billy Walsh . That’s especially true when it comes to the two best friends, Archie ( Heartstopper ‘s Sebastian Croft) and Amelia (Charithra Chandran), who never became a couple growing up because the former is too timid to tell the latter that he loves her. Enter Billy Walsh (Tanner Buchanan), the cool new American transfer student whom all of the girls pine for, including Amelia.

To keep Amelia from dating Billy, Archie uses a fake dating app to give her intentionally bad advice. Unfortunately for Archie, his attempts to sabotage the relationship only bring Billy and Amelia together. And if Archie can’t be honest with his crush, then he’s going to lose her forever.

The Notebook (2004) [New]

• Metacritic: 53%
• IMDb: 7.8/10
• Duration: 123m
• Genre: Romance, Drama
• Stars: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Gena Rowlands
• Directed by: Nick Cassavetes

The adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, and it remains a popular choice among romance lovers. It’s not as if we haven’t seen star-crossed lover stories before, but the tale of Noah Calhoun ( The Fall Guy ‘s Ryan Gosling) and Allison Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) resonates in part because the movie shows how their love began and how it endured before ending decades later.

In the early 1940s, Noah and Allison’s bond is challenged by both her family and the onset of World War II. Regardless, Noah and Allison choose love above everything else, even if it means Allison has to go against the wishes of her family. Screen legends James Garner and Gena Rowlands also have supporting roles in the film that may draw a few tears from your eyes before the credits roll.

Wrath of Man (2021) [New]

• Metacritic: 57%
• IMDb: 7.1/10
• Duration: 119m
• Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
• Stars: Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Josh Hartnett
• Directed by: Guy Ritchie

Be honest: If you were a bad guy in an action movie and you saw Jason Statham ( The Beekeeper ) walking in your direction, wouldn’t you run the other way? Something like this actually happens in Wrath of Man , which reunites Statham with director Guy Ritchie. Statham plays Patrick Hill, a new hire for Fortico, an armored car security company.

Patrick’s new co-workers initially think that he’s a joke until he ruthlessly dispatches a gang of armored robbers. During another attempted robbery, the crooks literally run away when they see Patrick. While this draws suspicion about Patrick’s identity, his co-workers should be less concerned about who he is and more worried about what his real agenda is. Especially if Patrick finds what he’s looking for …

The Exorcist: Believer (2023) [New]

• Metacritic: 39%
• IMDb: 4.6/10
• Duration: 111m
• Genre: Horror
• Stars: Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill
• Directed by: David Gordon Green

Fifty years after the events of the original Exorcist , demons strike again in The Exorcist: Believer . Two young girls, Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine West (Olivia O’Neill), have fallen prey to evil, and their parents are at a loss as how to handle their possession.

Angela’s father, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), eventually finds help in the form of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), a woman who has made herself an expert in the field of demonic possession since her daughter, Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), suffered the same ordeal decades earlier. But no amount of preparation is sufficient in the face of the unrelenting evil that has the two children in its grasp.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) [New]

• Metacritic: 56%
• Duration: 87m
• Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
• Stars: Pierre Coffin, Steve Carell, Russell Brand
• Directed by: Kyle Balda

Minions: The Rise of Gru is the origin story of Despicable Me ’s main character, Gru (Steve Carell), but probably not in the way that you expect. In the 1970s, Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and the rest of the Minions (Pierre Coffin) have all latched on to Gru as their new master. Gru himself has ambitions of being the biggest supervillain in the world so he can join the Vicious 6.

Unfortunately for Gru, his attempts to join the most notorious gang of bad guys spectacularly backfires, which turns his idols in the Vicious 6 into his deadliest enemies. To defeat them, Gru and the Minions will have to turn to the Vicious 6’s former leader, Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin).

Música (2024)

• Metacritic: 76%
• IMDb: 6.5/10
• Duration: 91m
• Genre: Romance, Comedy, Music
• Stars: Camila Mendes, Rudy Mancuso, J.B. Smoove
• Directed by: Rudy Mancuso

Almost everyone can hear a song in their head, but the lead character of Música , Rudy (Rudy Mancuso), can’t stop hearing it. Rudy suffers from synesthesia, which means music is an ever-present part of his life, even when he would probably prefer silence.

Mancuso is a YouTube star who co-wrote and directed this coming-of-age romance, which finds Rudy torn between two women: Isabella (Camila Mendes) and Haley (Francesca Reale). Luckily — or perhaps unluckily — Rudy has a friend, Anwar (J.B. Smoove), who can give him some advice and guidance. But ultimately, Rudy has to make his own choices in life, including whom he really wants to be with.

Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain (2023)

• Metacritic: 49%
• IMDb: 6.1/10
• Duration: 92m
• Genre: Comedy, Adventure
• Stars: Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, Ben Marshall
• Directed by: Paul Briganti

If you thought that Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain was a Peacock original movie, then you’re not wrong. But everything on Peacock tends to end up on Prime Video. The comedy group Please Don’t Destroy — Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy — stars in The Treasure of Foggy Mountain as fictionalized versions of themselves.

After the trio discovers they may have the lead on a priceless treasure hidden away in Foggy Mountain, they inadvertently create rivals for their quest when they tell Lisa (Megan Stalter) and Taylor (X Mayo) what they’re looking for. Additionally, other treasure seekers have already descended upon the mountain. Even if the trio can find the treasure, bringing it home will be a lot harder.

Witness (1985)

• IMDb: 7.4/10
• Duration: 112m
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
• Stars: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Josef Sommer
• Directed by: Peter Weir

At the peak of his stardom, Harrison Ford was more than just Indiana Jones or Han Solo . Witness is a thriller that cast Ford as John Book, a detective in the Philadelphia police department who is given an unusual case to investigate. A young Amish boy, Samuel Lapp (Lukas Haas), has accidentally witnessed the murder of an undercover cop.

Much to his alarm, Book realizes that the killer was another cop, and that the corruption in his department may threaten both Samuel and his widowed mother, Rachel Lapp (Kelly McGillis). Book’s suspicions are confirmed when he’s nearly taken out by one of his fellow officers, which forces him to hide with Rachel and Samuel among the Amish. And even though Book and Rachel are from very different worlds, they can’t hide their obvious attraction to each other.

Rob Roy (1995)

• Metacritic: 55%
• Duration: 139m
• Genre: Adventure, History, Drama, Action, War
• Stars: Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt
• Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones

Long before every Liam Neeson movie was some variation of Taken , he took on the role of a legendary Scottish outlaw in Rob Roy . In the 18th century, Rob Roy MacGregor (Neeson) is the chief of Clan MacGregor and deeply devoted to his people. Rob Roy won’t even bear false witness against someone he doesn’t know when the Marquess of Montrose, James Graham (John Hurt), attempts to blackmail MacGregor over an unpaid debt.

The Marquess’ friend, Archibald Cunningham (Tim Roth), is responsible for the theft of the money that Rob Roy needed to pay his debt, and for terrorizing his family at Graham’s request. In response, Rob Roy and his followers wage a systematic campaign against the Marquess that turns MacGregor into a folk hero to his people.

Road House (2024)

• Metacritic: 59%
• IMDb: 6.3/10
• Duration: 121m
• Genre: Action, Thriller
• Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Conor McGregor
• Directed by: Doug Liman

In this remake of the popular 1989 movie starring Patrick Swayze, Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Elwood Dalton as a former UFC fighter who has fallen on some hard times. Road House  gives Elwood a chance for redemption when Frankie (Jessica Williams) recruits him to be the bouncer at her bar, which shares its name with the title of the film.

Elwood’s fighting skills go a long way towards keeping order at The Road House, much to the anger of a local mobster, Ben Brandt (Billy Magnussen). Elwood took care of Brandt’s regular goons with ease, but he’ll have a much harder time handling Knox, an enforcer for Brandt who is played by an actual UFC fighter, Conor McGregor.

Safe House (2012)

• Metacritic: 52%
• IMDb: 6.8/10
• Duration: 115m
• Stars: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga
• Directed by: Daniel Espinosa

Denzel Washington has a compelling antihero turn as Tobin Frost in Safe House , a thriller directed by Daniel Espinosa. Frost is an ex-CIA operative who is wanted for going rogue years earlier. While attempting to escape with a data drive that implicates several American intelligence officers, Frost is wounded and forced to surrender to the American consulate in South Africa.

That’s where Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) comes in. As the CIA’s officer in charge of the local safe house, Weston is supposed to keep Frost in his custody until he can be taken back to America. However, when a team of mercs descends upon the safe house, Weston is forced to flee with Frost as an unfolding conspiracy threatens both of their lives.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023)

• Metacritic: 35%
• IMDb: 5.2/10
• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Stars: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Elena Kampouris
• Directed by: Nia Vardalos

It shouldn’t surprise you to hear that there is another wedding in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3  — it’s just not between the main characters, Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) and Ian Miller ( Sex and the City ‘ s John Corbett). Through two sequels and one non-canon sitcom spinoff, Toula and Ian are still together. But they don’t know that their daughter, Paris Miller (Elena Kampouris), is struggling with both her love life and her academic pursuits in college.

Michael Constantine, who played Toula’s father, Gus Portokalos, in the previous films, passed away in 2021. That’s why a lot of this film deals with the family struggling with their grief over the loss of Gus as the extended clan travels to Greece to fulfill his last wishes. This turns out to be more difficult than they imagined, as his childhood friends have scattered, and some unrelated relationship dramas are coming to the surface.

Frida (2024)

• Metacritic: 74%
• IMDb: 7.5/10
• Genre: Documentary
• Stars: Frida Kahlo
• Directed by: Carla Gutierrez

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the death of Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter who didn’t find fame or accolades until two decades after she died. The new documentary Frida  takes an extensive look back at Kahlo’s well-documented life and adds some modern flourishes, including animation on a few of the artist’s self-portraits.

More importantly, the film shares the words of Kahlo herself to shape the narrative and give her a voice in her own story. Frida Kahlo was one of the most distinctive voices in art in the 20th century, and the life she lived was just as important and interesting as her creations. Through this film, a new generation may come to appreciate that.

Ricky Stanicky (2024)

• Metacritic: 44%
• IMDb: 6.2/10
• Duration: 113m
• Genre: Comedy
• Stars: Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino
• Directed by: Peter Farrelly

The first thing that you need to know about the movie called Ricky Stanicky is that there is no Ricky. He’s just someone who was made up by three friends — Dean ( The Iron Claw ‘s Zac Efron), Wes (Jermaine Fowler), and JT (Andrew Santino) — as a convenient scapegoat for the last two decades. But when “Ricky” causes Dean to miss the birth of his child, the trio’s significant others demand to finally meet him.

That’s why Dean hires a washed-up actor, Rod (John Cena), to pretend to be Ricky just long enough to fool their friends and family. The problem is that Rod not only loves playing Ricky, but he does it too well and he even lands a job that may keep him permanently in their lives. If the truth about Ricky gets out, then Dean, Wes, and JT are going to pay the price for everything they’ve done.

Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)

• Metacritic: 33%
• Duration: 110m
• Genre: Horror, Mystery
• Stars: Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail
• Directed by: Emma Tammi

The hit video game series Five Nights At Freddy’s was also a big success with moviegoers last fall. For this adaptation, Josh Hutcherson steps into the role of Mike Schmidt, a man who can barely hold down a job or provide a home for his younger sister, Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail). Out of desperation, Mike takes a job as the night shift guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a restaurant that’s been abandoned for decades.

With no one else that he can trust to watch over Vanessa, Josh brings her to work with him. That turns out to be a terrible mistake, because at night, the animatronics come to life. And while Freddy and his mechanical friends like Vanessa, they’re somewhat murderous toward Mike and anyone else who stumbles upon their secret.

Road to Perdition (2002)

• Metacritic: 72%
• IMDb: 7.7/10
• Duration: 117m
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
• Stars: Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Paul Newman
• Directed by: Sam Mendes

About two decades before he starred in The CW’s Superman & Lois series, Tyler Hoechlin appeared in a much darker comic book adaptation, Road To Perdition . Tom Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a mob hitman during the Great Depression who is forced to go on the run shortly after his son, Michael Sullivan Jr. (Hoechlin), witnesses his father and Connor Rooney (future James Bond Daniel Craig) murder another local crime figure.

Connor is also the son of a mob boss, John Rooney (Paul Newman), who favors Michael Sr. over his own flesh and blood. That’s why Connor had Michael’s wife and other son murdered, before ordering an assassin, Harlen Maguire (Jude Law), to track down Michael and Michael Jr. before they can make new lives for themselves.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

• IMDb: 7.2/10
• Duration: 100m
• Genre: Animation, Comedy, Action, Science Fiction
• Stars: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu
• Directed by: Jeff Rowe

The TMNT have been reinvented numerous times over the last four decades. But the unique thing about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem  is that it focuses on them as believable teenagers. Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), and Raphael (Brady Noon) may be ninja turtles, but what they really want are some human friends who are their own age.

Despite the disapproval of their adoptive father, Splinter (Jackie Chan), the turtles meet and befriend a human girl, April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri). The turtles also believe that they can win over humanity if they become heroes. However, their first real test is Superfly (Ice Cube) and his army of mutants. And even the TMNT are outnumbered and outmatched against them.

Giannis: The Marvelous Journey (2024)

• IMDb: 8.5/10
• Duration: 109m
• Stars: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Veronica Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
• Directed by: Kristen Lappas

In 2022, the Disney+ original movie Rise was a dramatized version of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s journey to the NBA from his humble beginnings. However, it’s one thing to see that version and another to hear Antetokounmpo share his story in his own words in the sports documentary Giannis: The Marvelous Journey .

Long before Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA championship and became one of the best players in the game, he and his family were illegal Nigerian immigrants in Greece who faced vicious discrimination that Antetokounmpo clearly still feels wounded by. But despite the adversity, Antetokounmpo achieved his dreams. It’s hard not to be inspired by that story.

Upgraded (2024)

• Duration: 105m
• Stars: Camila Mendes, Archie Renaux, Marisa Tomei
• Directed by: Carlson Young

Former Riverdale  star Camila Mendes is going full rom-com in Prime Video’s original film Upgraded . Mendes plays Ana, an intern who works for an absolute tyrant of a boss named Claire Dupont (Marisa Tomei). But Ana is willing to take Claire’s abuse because she knows that working for her is an opportunity to get a career in the art world.

When Ana is forced to accompany Claire on a business trip to London, she winds up in first class on a later flight. That’s where Ana meets and flirts with Will (Archie Renaux), who believes that she’s Claire. Ana keeps the deception going because she’s really attracted to Will and the feeling is mutual. Can their burgeoning romance survive if and when the truth is inevitably exposed?

Surrounded (2023)

• IMDb: 6.0/10
• Genre: Western, Action, Drama
• Stars: Letitia Wright, Jamie Bell, Michael Kenneth Williams
• Directed by: Anthony Mandler

In Surrounded , Mo Washington (Letitia Wright) has a secret that only the audience is in on: She’s a woman pretending to be a man following a stint as a Buffalo Soldier during the Civil War. Five years after the conflict, Mo just wants to go west and stake her claim to a gold mine. Mo’s plans are upended when the stagecoach she is traveling with comes under attack by Tommy Walsh (Jamie Bell) and his gang.

The survivors of the attack manage to capture Tommy and drive off his men. In order to salvage their trek west, most of the survivors head out to bring someone back so they can claim the bounty on Tommy’s head. That leaves Mo with the unenviable task of standing guard over Tommy and preventing his gang from rescuing him. When a stranger named Will Clay (Michael K. Williams) comes along, he presents himself as an ally to Mo. But can anyone really be trusted, especially when blood and money are on the line?

The Other Zoey (2023)

• IMDb: 5.9/10
• Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
• Stars: Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux
• Directed by: Sara Zandieh

The Other Zoey is not a remake of the Sandra Bullock rom-com While You Were Sleeping . But romantic comedy fans may notice some similarities between the two. Josephine Langford stars as Zoey Miller, a high school student who is definitely not the girlfriend of soccer star Zach MacLaren (Drew Starkey), whose girlfriend is also named Zoey (Maggie Thurmon).

When Zach suffers a head injury that gives him partial amnesia, he mistakes Zoey for his girlfriend, and his doctors warn her not to upset him with the truth. So Zoey carries on the deception and gets closer to Zach on a lavish vacation. At the same time, Zoey also feels attracted to Zach’s cousin, Miles Maclaren (Archie Renaux), who shares many of her views about love and life. So, which guy does Zoey really want? You’ll have to watch the film to find out.

Fast X (2023)

• IMDb: 5.8/10
• Duration: 142m
• Stars: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson
• Directed by: Louis Leterrier

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) couldn’t be happier when Fast X begins, since he’s got his family together and his life in order. What Dom doesn’t have is a clue that Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa) — the son of one of Dom’s dead enemies — is out for revenge. When Dante strikes, no one is safe. Dom’s wife, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), their son, Brian Marcos (Leo Abelo Perry), their team, and even their old adversary, Cipher (Charlize Theron), are all open targets.

In short order, Dante destroys the team’s reputation and hurts the people Dom cares about most. And Dante is only getting started, as the real suffering hasn’t begun yet.

The Passenger (2023)

• Metacritic: 62%
• IMDb: 6.4/10
• Genre: Crime, Thriller, Horror
• Stars: Kyle Gallner, Johnny Berchtold, Liza Weil
• Directed by: Carter Smith

It’s been said that “a good friend will help you move, but a true friend will help you hide a body.” Benson (Kyle Gallner) may have taken that expression a little bit too literally in The Passenger . After witnessing his work buddy, Randolph “Randy” Bradley (Johnny Berchtold), get bullied by their co-workers, Benson snaps and murders everyone but Randy.

Suddenly Randy finds himself riding shotgun with an absolute lunatic, and he truly doesn’t know what Benson will do next. If Randy can’t find a way out, then it might be his body that gets ditched by Benson.

Role Play (2023)

• Duration: 101m
• Genre: Crime, Romance, Action
• Stars: David Oyelowo, Kaley Cuoco, Bill Nighy
• Directed by: Thomas Vincent

Emma ( The Flight Attendant ‘s Kaley Cuoco) and Dave Brackett (David Oyelowo) are just about as happy as a couple could be in Prime Video’s Role Play . The Bracketts have two children and a beautiful home in a New Jersey suburb. What they’re lacking is the passion in the bedroom that they used to have before starting a family.

For their anniversary, Dave and Emma take a trip to New York and indulge in some role play. That turns out to be a mistake when Bob Kellerman (Bill Nighy) blows Emma’s cover and exposes her as an international assassin. Now, Emma has to use her skills to protect her family and keep her marriage to Dave intact.

• IMDb: 5.3/10
• Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Drama
• Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, Aaron Pierre
• Directed by: Garth Davis

Humanity’s future looks bleak in Prime Video’s Foe , but at least Hen (Saoirse Ronan) and Junior (Paul Mescal) have each other. Or do they? Their bonds of marriage are tested when Junior is selected to be among the lucky few to live and work on OuterMore, the orbiting habitat that may be humanity’s best hope of survival.

However, Hen is not selected for the program, even though a stranger named Terrance (Aaron Pierre) promises Junior that Hen will be well cared for in his absence by a special companion. Yet, as the vetting process drags on, Junior becomes convinced that Terrance will be the one living with his wife while he’s stuck in space.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

• Metacritic: 42%
• Duration: 127m
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
• Stars: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Peter Cullen
• Directed by: Steven Caple Jr.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts rolls back the clock to 1994 and follows a young man, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), who is so desperate to provide for his family that he agrees to steal a car. Unfortunately for Noah, the car turns out to be Mirage (Pete Davidson), one of the Autobots hiding on Earth. And while Mirage is eager to make friends with Noah, Autobot leader Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) is not as trusting.

Thanks to a discovery made by museum research intern Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback), she and Noah are drawn into the Autobots’ war with the Terrorcons, who want to bring the planet-killing Transformer Unicron (Colman Domingo) to Earth. In order to save the world, Noah and Elena will have to help the Autobots find the Maximals and their leader, Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman).

About Fate (2022)

• Stars: Emma Roberts, Thomas Mann, Lewis Tan
• Directed by: Marius Weisberg

Parallel lives intersect in director Maryus Vaysberg’s romantic comedy About Fate , which was inspired by Emil Braginsky and Eldar Ryazanov’s The Irony of Fate . Margot Hayes (Emma Roberts) and Griffin Reed (Thomas Mann) both want to marry their respective partners, Clementine Pratt (Madelaine Petsch) and Kip (Lewis Tan). But when those plans fall apart, Griffin drunkenly comes home to Margot’s place because it was so easy to mistake for his own.

Instead of being angry at a stranger sleeping in her bed, Margot uses their meeting as an opportunity to ask Griffin to pretend to be Kip when she attends the wedding of her sister, Carrie Hayes (Britt Robertson). However, neither Kip nor Clementine are completely out of the picture, and it may take an act of fate to bring Griffin and Margot together as a real couple.

Saltburn (2023)

• Metacritic: 61%
• IMDb: 7.3/10
• Duration: 131m
• Genre: Drama, Comedy, Thriller
• Stars: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike
• Directed by: Emerald Fennell

Saltburn  is a movie that’s designed to catch you off guard, even if you’re paying attention. So keep your eyes on Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), the Oxford University college student who befriends his wealthy classmate, Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi). When Oliver receives word about his father’s death, Felix invites him to stay at his family’s estate at Saltburn for the summer.

Felix’s immediate family, including his parents, Lady Elspeth Catton (Rosamund Pike) and Sir James Catton (Richard E. Grant), as well as Felix’s sister, Venetia Catton (Alison Oliver), are very welcoming towards Oliver. However, Felix’s cousin, Farleigh Start ( Gran Turismo ‘s Archie Madekwe), is immediately suspicious about Oliver’s motives. It will be a long summer at Saltburn, and Oliver will have to go out of his way to earn his place there.

Stardust (2007)

• Metacritic: 66%
• IMDb: 7.6/10
• Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Family
• Stars: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Michelle Pfeiffer
• Directed by: Matthew Vaughn

Stardust is a charming fable from The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman and director Matthew Vaughn that features Claire Danes as a fallen star named Yvaine. After Yvaine is accidentally knocked from the heavens, she assumes human form before being captured by Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox), a young man desperate to impress his would-be lover, Victoria Forester (Sienna Miller).

Instead of bringing Yvaine home, Tristan falls in love with her, and they both come under the protection of the flamboyant sky pirate, Captain Shakespeare (Robert De Niro). Tristan and Yvaine will need all the help they can get as a coven of witches led by Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer) plan to kill Yvaine and feast on her heart in the name of eternal youth.

Asteroid City (2023)

• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Stars: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks
• Directed by: Wes Anderson

When it comes to Wes Anderson movies, you can always bet that they will be emotionally moving and deeply weird. Asteroid City  is no exception, and it seems to take place in a world all of its own. Jason Schwartzman stars as a newly widowed father, Augie Steenbeck, who has brought his children to the annual Junior Stargazer convention. Despite the fact that Augie is still mourning his late wife, he is immediately drawn to Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson), an actress who brought her daughter, Dinah (Grace Edwards) to the event.

Dinah also strikes up a relationship with Augie’s son, Woodrow (Jake Ryan), and it’s not the only romance brewing in town. But there’s something incredible happening at this year’s Junior Stargazer event, and it may change the world forever.

A Good Person (2023)

• Metacritic: 50%
• Duration: 128m
• Genre: Drama
• Stars: Florence Pugh, Morgan Freeman, Molly Shannon
• Directed by: Zach Braff

Dune: Part Two star Florence Pugh sheds all aspects of her MCU Black Widow role as a broken young woman in A Good Person . Zach Braff wrote and directed the film, which casts Pugh as Allison, a woman who was once engaged to her high school boyfriend, Nathan (Chinaza Uche). But shortly after her engagement, Allison causes a car accident that claims the lives of Nathan’s sister, Molly (Nichelle Hines), and her husband, Jesse (Toby Onwumere).

One year later, Allison is attempting to kick her addiction to painkillers when she reunites with Nathan and Molly’s father, Daniel (Morgan Freeman). As Daniel attempts to forgive Allison, they reenter each other’s lives and she tries to make amends with Ryan (Celeste O’Connor), the daughter that Molly and Jesse left behind.

Bye Bye Barry (2023)

• IMDb: 8.2/10
• Duration: 93m
• Stars: Barry Sanders, Eminem, Jeff Daniels
• Directed by: Micaela Powers, Paul Monusky, Angela Torma

In the late 1990s, few NFL players were more exciting to watch than Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders. On the field, Sanders moved with uncommon speed and agility, and he was well on his way toward the all-time NFL rushing record when he abruptly retired from the game and never played another down.

Bye Bye Barry is based on Sanders’ book of the same name, and it offers his account of why he left behind an incredibly lucrative career. Several other NFL luminaries also weigh in on Sanders’ legacy, but the film is at its most enticing when Sanders himself speaks about what he was going through at that key moment in his life.

Memento (2000)

• Metacritic: 83%
• IMDb: 8.4/10
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller
• Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano
• Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan made his name in Hollywood with Memento , a brilliantly twisted story that is told out of order. L.A. Confidential ’s Guy Pearce stars as Leonard Shelby, a man who is out to avenge the murder of his wife. The problem is that Leonard can’t make any new long-term memories, which is why his body is covered with tattoos designed to lead him to his wife’s killer.

Every face Leonard sees is the face of a stranger, so each time he meets Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Teddy (Joe Pantoliano), he’s unsure of who he can trust. And everyone who knows about Leonard’s condition takes advantage of it, including Leonard himself.

Licorice Pizza (2021)

• Metacritic: 90%
• Duration: 133m
• Genre: Drama, Comedy
• Stars: Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn
• Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the rare directors in Hollywood whose films have become events unto himself. Anderson’s latest movie, Licorice Pizza , was also the big-screen debut of its two stars, musician Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman. Hoffman plays Gary Valentine, a 15-year-old actor who is hopelessly infatuated with Alana Kane (Haim), a woman who is at least 10 years older than he is.

Gary’s feelings for Alana are not entirely one-sided, but the age difference between them is one of the factors that keeps them apart romantically, even when they find new reasons to stay in each others’ lives.

Silver Dollar Road (2023)

• Metacritic: 77%
• Stars: Mamie Reels Ellison, Kim Renee Duhon
• Directed by: Raoul Peck

I Am Not Your Negro director Raoul Peck helms a new documentary, Silver Dollar Road , that may leave a sick feeling in your stomach. The name of the film comes from a stretch of waterfront property in North Carolina that has been owned by a Black family, the Reels, for over a century.

Mitchell Reels purchased the land decades ago, but the ownership was divided among his many heirs. This leads to a rude awakening for the family members still living on the land when one of the relatives sells their share out from under them. Melvin and Licurtis Reels refused to leave their homes on the land and they spent eight years in jail for that. Meanwhile, Mamie Reels Ellison and her niece Kim Renee Duhon fight to hold on to Silver Dollar Road. There may not be a happy ending to this story, but it has to be told.

The Burial (2023)

• IMDb: 6.9/10
• Duration: 126m
• Stars: Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Alan Ruck
• Directed by: Margaret Betts

Amazon Studios’ The Burial is based on a real story that happened in 1995. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), the owner of his family’s funeral home business, made a handshake deal with Raymond Loewen (Bill Camp), the head of the Loewen Group. However, Loewen failed to hold up his end of the deal, which left O’Keefe no other choice but to take him to court.

O’Keefe turns to a successful lawyer, Willie E. Gary ( The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ‘s Jamie Foxx), to represent him in the case. And despite their numerous differences, O’Keefe and Gary form a bond and an unusual friendship as they battle Loewen in court.

Renfield (2023)

• Genre: Comedy, Horror, Fantasy
• Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina
• Directed by: Chris McKay

Everyone has stories about working for bad bosses, but Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) has a terrible boss story that can top all of them. In the horror comedy Renfield , the title character has been the manservant for Dracula (Nicolas Cage) for over a century, and he’s sick of it. When his master is injured by vampire hunters and in need of rest, Renfield takes the initiative to find ways to break his codependent link to Dracula.

Along the way, Renfield attends a self-help group and he even seems to be enamored with a traffic cop named Rebecca (Awkwafina). But when Dracula recovers, he’s less than pleased to learn what Renfield has been up to…and there’s going to be hell to pay.

Totally Killer (2023)

• Metacritic: 60%
• Duration: 106m
• Genre: Horror, Comedy
• Stars: Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen
• Directed by: Nahnatchka Khan

Amazon Studios’ Totally Killer seems to welcome comparisons to Back to the Future , and it’s one of the more unique blends of sci-fi, comedy, and horror. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina ’s Kiernan Shipka stars as Jamie, a teenager who is very familiar with the story about how her mom, Pam (Julie Bowen), survived the Sweet Sixteen Killer 35 years ago. It’s something that Jamie has heard about many times in her life.

When the Sweet Sixteen Killer returns in the present, Jamie finds herself transported back in time to 1987, when her much younger mother (Olivia Holt) was apparently one of the mean girls in school. Yet if Jamie can’t protect Pam in the past then she may not have a future to go home to.

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant (2023)

• Metacritic: 63%
• Genre: War, Action, Thriller
• Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dar Salim, Sean Sagar

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant takes place in the not-too-distant past of 2018, during the War in Afghanistan. Despite initially distrusting his new interpreter, Ahmed (Dar Salim), Master Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) comes to respect him because of the way that Ahmed looks out for his troops. And when Kinley is incapacitated and his fellow soldiers are killed, Ahmed rises to the occasion and personally fights the Taliban to get Kinley to safety.

Ahmed’s act of heroism doesn’t win him favor with the U.S. government, which fails to take Ahmed and his family to safety even as the Taliban hunt them down for revenge. Kinley is so outraged by the injustice that he returns to Afghanistan to personally save Ahmed… if he can.

A Million Miles Away (2023)

• Genre: Drama, History
• Stars: Michael Peña, Rosa Salazar, Julio Cedillo
• Directed by: Alejandra Márquez Abella

Prime Video’s new movie, A Million Miles Away , was originally a Netflix film before landing at Amazon. And it reached No. 1 on Prime Video’s movie chart in the U.S. in its debut week. The film is based on the autobiography of José M. Hernández, who became the first-ever Mexican-American astronaut at NASA.

Michael Peña plays Hernández, while Rosa Salazar plays his wife, Adela Hernández. The biopic chronicles Hernández’s journey from being child in a struggling migrant family to his education, training, and family life on his way to achieving a dream that few have ever attained. This is an inspirational tale, and it really is emotionally moving at times.

A Thousand and One (2023)

• Metacritic: 81%
• IMDb: 7.0/10
• Duration: 116m
• Stars: Teyana Taylor, William Catlett, Josiah Cross
• Directed by: A.V. Rockwell

Very few people saw A Thousand and One when it was in theaters in early 2023, but you might be hearing a lot more about it during Oscar season. Teyana Taylor headlines this drama as Inez de la Paz, a woman who is determined to provide for her 6-year-old son, Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola), despite abandoning him years earlier.

With Terry’s consent, Inez kidnaps him from foster custody and does her best to raise him alongside her husband, Lucky (Will Catlett). As Terry grows into a teen (Aven Courtney) and a young man (Josiah Cross), he discovers that he may truly have a future. But a secret from Inez’s past may destroy their family.

Inside (2023)

• Genre: Drama, Thriller
• Stars: Willem Dafoe, Gene Bervoets, Josia Krug
• Directed by: Vasilis Katsoupis

Willem Dafoe is such a natural movie villain that it’s rare to see him hold down a film as the protagonist. Inside  casts Dafoe as an elite art thief named Nemo, and he is truly passionate about his work. But during a heist to rob a very wealthy art collector, Nemo finds himself trapped by the high-tech security system of a Manhattan high-rise penthouse.

The most alarming thing about this is that no one comes inside the penthouse after the lockdown. That’s why Nemo spends weeks without food, and only some access to water. This luxury apartment has become his prison, and now Nemo has to find a way out in order to simply survive.

Sitting in Bars with Cake (2023)

• Metacritic: 65%
• Duration: 120m
• Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
• Stars: Yara Shahidi, Odessa A'zion, Bette Midler
• Directed by: Trish Sie

How’s this for a fun way to meet people? Jane (Yara Shahidi) bakes cakes and her best friend, Corinne (Odessa A’zion), convinces her to bring them to bars to attract single guys and increase Jane’s social skills and confidence. And it works so well that Jane and Corinne do it again and again.

Sitting in Bars With Cake is loosely based on a true story, and it takes a darker turn when Corinne is stricken with a life-threatening sickness. Although Jane attempts to stand by her friend, the burden of Corinne’s diagnosis may compromise their bond.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

• Duration: 134m
• Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
• Stars: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith
• Directed by: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein

The D&D franchise got a fresh start on the big screen with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves , which casts Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez as a pair of close friends, Edgin Darvis and Holga Kilgore, respectively. After being betrayed by their former friend, Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), Edgin and Holga escape prison and plot to reunite with Edgin’s daughter, Kira (Chloe Coleman).

After reconnecting with a sorcerer of dubious talent, Simon Aumar (Justice Smith), Holga and Edgin recruit Doric (Sophia Lillis) to help them rob Fitzwilliam in the heist of a lifetime to force him from power. However, they soon find that Forge is involved with a plan that threatens everyone in Neverwinter, and only Edgin’s group can stop it from happening.

Bones and All (2022)

• Genre: Drama, Horror, Romance
• Stars: Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Mark Rylance
• Directed by: Luca Guadagnino

Believe it or not, Bones and All  is not an elaborate plot to lure a disgraced actor back from the Cayman Islands. It really is a cannibal romance story starring Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell as young lovers, Lee and Maren, who share certain urges to eat human flesh. The film treats cannibals as if they were vampires, and they know each other by scent.

If it wasn’t for the great chemistry between Chalamet and Russell, this wouldn’t work at all. But sometimes chemistry is all it takes to make a romance movie click, even if the cannibal angle is really reaching at times.

Knock at the Cabin (2023)

• Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery
• Stars: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge
• Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan

Perhaps there’s a knock, knock joke somewhere in the premise for Knock at the Cabin , but M. Night Shyamalan’s movies aren’t really built for humor. This story is about a young girl named Wen (Kristen Cui), and her two dads, Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge). Their idyllic vacation is cut short when four intruders hold them captive and make an incredible claim.

Leonard Brocht ( Guardians of the Galaxy ‘s Dave Bautista ), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Redmond (Rupert Grint), and Adriane (Abby Quinn) really believe that the world will end if someone in Wen’s family isn’t sacrificed. And they’re willing to give their lives to prove it.

Babylon (2022)

• Duration: 189m
• Stars: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva
• Directed by: Damien Chazelle

Director Damien Chazelle (La La Land ) took a big swing with Babylon , a high-budget period film set during Hollywood’s transition away from silent movies in the 1920s. Brad Pitt headlines the movie as Jack Conrad, an actor whose star power is on the wane as actress Nellie LaRoy ( Barbie ‘s Margot Robbie ) lands her big break.

Manuel “Manny” Torres (Diego Calva) has Hollywood ambitions of his own, and he forges a connection with Nellie while riding his own wave of success in the studio system. But the path to fame is rocky, and Nellie may suffer a serious fall before ever fully achieving her dreams.

Till (2022)

• Metacritic: 79%
• Stars: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison
• Directed by: Chinonye Chukwu

Till was largely overlooked by moviegoers in 2022 despite being a powerful look back at a very ugly period in our nation’s history. In 1955, a Black boy named Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall) allegedly whistles at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant (Haley Bennett). This quickly escalates out of control as Till was kidnapped, beaten, and lynched over the perceived offense.

Mamie Till (Danielle Deadwyler) is devastated at the loss of her son. Devastated and angry. Rather than letting Emmett’s death be buried, Mamie pushes to get justice for her murdered son, even when the law seemingly can’t hold his murderers accountable.

Interstellar (2014)

• IMDb: 8.7/10
• Duration: 169m
• Genre: Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction
• Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain

Director Christopher Nolan delivers again in Interstellar , one of the best sci-fi movies of the last decade . In the near future, Earth is dying and humanity desperately needs a new home. Former NASA pilot Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) reluctantly leaves his children, Murphy “Murph” Cooper (Mackenzie Foy) and Tom Cooper ( Dune: Part Two ‘ s Timothée Chalamet), behind to join Dr. Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway) on a search for an inhabitable world.

Unfortunately for Cooper, time passes differently for him in space as his children grow older on Earth. And if Cooper ever wants to make it back home, he needs to solve a scientific mystery that has haunted Murph (Jessica Chastain) for years.

Creed III (2023)

• Metacritic: 73%
• Genre: Drama, Action
• Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors
• Directed by: Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut with Creed III , which theoretically could work as the end of the Rocky movies. At this point in his life, Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Jordan) has pretty much done everything he wanted in boxing, so he retires to spend more time with his wife, Bianca Taylor-Creed (Tessa Thompson), and their daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent).

Unfortunately for Donnie, the good times end when his former friend, Damian “Diamond Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), renters his life. Years ago, Dame was sent to prison, and it was largely Donnie’s fault. Now that Dame is back, he’s going to push Donnie until he gets the chance for payback in the ring. And this may not be a fight that Donnie can win.

Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)

• IMDb: 6.7/10
• Duration: 108m
• Genre: Drama, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
• Stars: Tilda Swinton, Idris Elba, Erdil Yaşaroğlu
• Directed by: George Miller

Literature is filled with stories about genies tricking mortals into making wishes that ultimately harm them. This is something that Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) is keenly aware of in Three Thousand Years of Longing . Alithea is an aging British scholar who hasn’t quite worked out what she wants from life. But Alithea isn’t sure she can believe what she sees and hears when she suddenly finds herself face-to-face with a real Djinn (Idris Elba) who wishes to be free from his enslavement.

To win Alithea’s trust and to entice her to make three wishes, the Djinn shares his centuries-long tale of heartbreak and desire. And much to Alithea’s surprise, this inspires her to make a major change in her life.

• Stars: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman
• Directed by: Ben Affleck

Prepare for the origin story of Michael Jordan’s shoes. Don’t worry, Air is more compelling than it sounds . And while it is the story of how the Air Jordan sneakers came into being, it’s also the story of how executives at Nike realized that teaming up with Jordan was a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But first, they have to convince Jordan’s mother, Deloris Jordan (Viola Davis).

Ben Affleck directed the film and stars as Phil Knight, one of the co-founders of Nike. At Phil’s behest, talent scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) is tasked with turning around the company’s basketball operation. And as soon as Nike gets behind the Jordan pitch, the future of the company is on the line.

Judy Blume Forever (2023)

• Duration: 97m
• Stars: Judy Blume, Molly Ringwald, Lena Dunham
• Directed by: Davina Pardo, Leah Wolchok

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Amazon Studios’ new documentary Judy Blume Forever is that the author herself, Judy Blume, is not only still alive, but she was able to be an active participant in the movie. The film essentially tells her life story, often in her own words, as it chronicles her journey from a housewife to a beloved children’s author whose books are still widely read.

Several famous commentators also share their thoughts about Blume, including Molly Ringwald, Lena Dunham, Anna Konki, Samantha Bee, Mary H.K. Choi, and Jacqueline Woodson. But the ones who really stand out are the ordinary women whose lives were deeply touched by Blume and her stories.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

• Metacritic: 51%
• Duration: 136m
• Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction, Action
• Stars: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen
• Directed by: Luc Besson

Did you know that Star Wars and dozens of other films were greatly influenced by the French sci-fi comic Valérian and Laureline by Pierre Christin? However, the comic didn’t make it to the big screen until director Luc Besson adapted it into Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets . True to its title, the space station Alpha is indeed the product of aliens from thousands of worlds, and it is kept under the watchful eye of the United Human Federation.

Two of the station’s primary operatives, Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Laureline (Cara Delevingne), try to keep the peace before they unknowingly stumble upon a conspiracy that could bring down Alpha itself. Laureline also has her hands full keeping Valerian’s amorous intentions toward her in check, even though his attraction to her isn’t one-sided.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

• Metacritic: 78%
• IMDb: 8.3/10
• Genre: Action, Drama

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Top Gun: Maverick is the most popular movie of 2022 and one of biggest blockbusters in years. And after cleaning up at the box office, the Top Gun sequel is coming in for a landing on Prime Video. Tom Cruise reprises his role as Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a test pilot-turned-instructor who doesn’t quite have the same fire that he had in the ’80s.

While teaching the next generation of Top Gun pilots, Maverick also finds himself in conflict with one of his students, Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his late friend, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw. However, Maverick and his pilots will need to find common ground as they are drawn into a new mission with high stakes and breathtaking flying sequences.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)

• Genre: Drama, History, Comedy
• Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough
• Directed by: Will Sharpe

Benedict Cumberbatch portrays turn-of-the-century English artist Louis Wain in this colorful biopic about the eccentric artist who famously made a name for himself with depictions of cats using bright, psychedelic colors and imagery. Cumberbatch is joined in the cast by Claire Foy ( The Crown ), who plays Wain’s wife, Emily.

I Want You Back (2022)

• Stars: Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Scott Eastwood
• Directed by: Jason Orley

This lighthearted romantic comedy casts Charlie Day and Jenny Slate as heartbroken strangers whose chance encounter after being dumped leads them to formulate a crazy plan: They’ll each attempt to infiltrate the life of the other’s ex-partner and break up their new relationship. Silly, edgy, and fueled by the stars’ wonderfully funny chemistry, the film also features some great supporting roles for Gina Rodriguez, Scott Eastwood, and Pete Davidson.

Somebody I Used to Know (2023)

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• Stars: Alison Brie, Jay Ellis, Kiersey Clemons
• Directed by: Dave Franco

Dave Franco and Alison Brie team up for this romantic comedy that casts Brie as a workaholic television producer who decides to return to her hometown after suffering a professional setback. The film is directed by Franco and co-written by him and Brie, and has her character reconnecting with her currently engaged first love (Jay Ellis). Their reunion sets off a series of events that has everyone getting in touch with who they are and who they really want to be in life and love.

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

• Duration: 138m
• Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan

Casey Affleck won an Academy Award for his performance in this powerful drama about a man forced to confront the sins — and tragedies — of his past when his older brother dies, leaving his teenage son orphaned. Praised for its thoughtful, emotional script and the performances of Affleck and supporting actress Michelle Williams, the film also earned director Kenneth Lonergan an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Good Night Oppy (2022)

• Stars: Angela Bassett, Steve Squyres, Jennifer Trosper
• Directed by: Ryan White

In the same way that audiences fell in love with Pixar’s cute Wall•E , watching  Good Night Oppy elicits a similar response, drawing you into the gushy human emotion surrounding a robot roaming Mars 50 million miles away. But that’s because this documentary is as much about the people at NASA that made the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover mission possible as it is about the rover itself. Narrated by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ‘ s Angela Basset, Good Night Oppy  tells the inspiring story of Opportunity, a six-wheeled, solar-powered vehicle that touched down on the Red Planet in January of 2004 and was supposed to roam and explore the landscape for a pre-determined 90 days. But beyond anyone’s expectations, Oppy’s mission endured for nearly 15 years before going dark. Told through interviews with many of the scientists and engineers on the project, as well as archival footage, this is a feel-good doc not to be missed.

American Animals (2018)

• Metacritic: 68%
• Genre: Drama, Crime, Documentary
• Stars: Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner
• Directed by: Bart Layton

You know a movie’s gonna be good when it’s based on a true story and it’s as crazy as this. Barry Keoghan ( Dunkirk ,  The Killing of a Sacred Deer ) and Evan Peters ( American Horror Story , WandaVision ) star as Spencer Reinhard and Warren Lipka, two students in Kentucky who get the idea of stealing a handful of rare, valuable books from the Transylvania University library, including a first edition of James Audubon’s Birds of America , which would sell for millions if they were to snag it. Together with their friends Eric Borsuk (Jared Abrahamson) and Chas Allen (Blake Jenner), they hatch an insane plan involving dressing up like elderly businessmen and restraining the librarian to make off with the books. The fact that a movie was made about it perhaps gives some insight into whether they were successful or not, but it happened, it’s bananas, and we’re all delightfully entertained by it.

Catherine Called Birdy (2022)

• Metacritic: 71%
• Genre: Adventure, Comedy
• Stars: Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper, Andrew Scott
• Directed by: Lena Dunham

If you like sassy, era-crossing period content such as Netflix’s Enola Holmes and Apple TV Plus’  Dickinson, then this adventure comedy from  Girls ‘ Lena Dunham might be perfect for you. Based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Karen Cushman, this passion project for Dunham stars  Game of Thrones ‘ Bella Ramsay (who’s also starring as Ellie in the upcoming The Last of Us series), who became a fan favorite for her depiction of feisty Lyanna Mormont, as the titular Lady Catherine, aka “Birdy,” a teenager in Medieval England. When her father, Lord Rollo (Andrew Scott), tries to marry her off to a long list of suitors to prevent the family’s financial ruin, Birdy uses her wit and cunning to stave them off in a battle for her independence.

Thirteen Lives (2022)

• Duration: 147m
• Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton
• Directed by: Ron Howard

After practice on June 23, 2018, 12 boys aged 11 to 16, teammates of the Thai junior football team Wild Boars, and their assistant coach, went in to the scenic Tham Luang Nang Non cave in northern Thailand and were trapped after heavy rain flooded the caves. The massive rescue effort drew worldwide attention, as a team of international divers traversed several kilometers to bring the boys out. Thirteen Lives tells this intense, nail-biting story, with Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton playing three of the heroic divers who risked their lives to bring the team and their coach to safety.

The Vast of Night (2019)

• Metacritic: 84%
• Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
• Stars: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz, Bruce Davis
• Directed by: Andrew Patterson

This nostalgic throwback to classic sci-fi thrillers follows a young switchboard operator and a radio DJ whose discovery of a mysterious audio frequency sets off a series of discoveries that lead them deep into the unknown. The Amazon Studios film is the directorial debut of Andrew Patterson and has earned high praise from critics and streaming audiences alike for its suspenseful, low-budget spin on the genre.

Sound of Metal (2020)

• Metacritic: 82%
• Genre: Drama, Music
• Stars: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci
• Directed by: Darius Marder

Sound of Metal doesn’t mess around, getting straight to the intense and terrifying moments that Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a drummer in a heavy metal duo with his girlfriend (the wonderful Olivia Cooke), starts to lose his hearing. It’s the little things we take for granted that director/screenwriter Darius Marder zeroes in on in the film’s opening minutes — the excruciating silence of a blender, the subtle drip of percolating coffee, or the shushing spray of a showerhead — all gone. But Sound of Metal isn’t about deafness, it’s a story about change and the journey we must take to embrace it, as Ruben enters a facility to help him learn to live with his deafness while also avoiding a relapse into his old life of drug abuse. It’s a beautiful film about life-changing loss and redemption and shouldn’t be missed.