Alien at the Movies

 Uncle Frank

In the 1970s, a closet gay literature professor Frank (Paul Bettany) & his 18-year-old niece Beth (Sophia Lillis) must make a road trip back to their South Carolina hometown for a family funeral. Beth & her Uncle Frank both feel like outsiders but have a special bond with each other. Unexpectedly, Frank’s lover, Wally, joins their road trip. This situation rekindles tragic past memories. Emotions of love, hate, fear, guilt, & acceptance are explored. Bettany & Lillis are terrific. This film speaks to the homosexual attitudes of those times & the Southern good old boy way of thinking. The supporting cast of Steve Zahn, Margo Martindale, Judy Geer, & Stephen Root round out Frank’s relatives.

Alien gives it 3 “Creekville” stars out of 4.

Sound of Metal

Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed) is a heavy metal drummer & half of the duo Backgammon with his singer girlfriend/manager Lou (Olivia Cooke). He is a former drug addict, 4 years sober. When he suddenly loses most of his hearing, he struggles to deal with his situation & his sponsor sends him to meet Joe, the head of a deaf community. The film uses Ruben to educate audiences on the plight & frustrations facing hearing loss sufferers. Ruben learns a lot about being a deaf person at this community but he still opts to pursue another avenue. Ahmed & Cooke give convincing performances as people trying to find their way though life given the hand they were dealt. In the end, it’s a matter of finding what makes you happy.

Alien gives it 3 “cochlear implants” stars out of 4.

 The Nest

During the 80’s, an ambitious & charming entrepreneur/commodities broker (Jude Law) seizes a business opportunity to move his wife (Carrie Coon) & 2 kids from New York to a huge country manor in Surrey, England. He has high expectations but soon their idyllic family life begins to unravel. This is a sad drama about greed, status, deceit, & family. The acting is terrific but the characters are not likable.

Alien gives it 2½ “I️ had a million dollars once” stars out of 4. 

 Come Away

Along comes a creative film that boldly asks what if Wonderland met Neverland. What if Alice & Peter Pan were siblings growing up in Charles Dickens’ England & their parents were played by Angelina Jolie & David Oyelowo in this fantasy/drama. Although this PG rated film may seem fit for young kids, it is a very dark tale about grieving, addiction, classism, & escapism. Fans of these childhood classics can enjoy the many Easter eggs loaded throughout this wild imaginary tale. After a tragedy befalls their older brother, Alice & Peter set off to London in an attempt to ease the pain & suffering of their loving parents. The film is wonderfully & creatively shot as well as terrifically acted but may not be the film one may have expected. Michael Caine & Gugu Mbatha-Raw have featured cameos. This is a sorrowful story of a dysfunctional family.

Alien gives it 2½ “tea parties, sword fights, & pirate adventures” stars out of 4.

 Dead Reckoning

On the island of Nantucket, 2 orphans meet for some summer loving. Then, a revenge plot exploded in their faces. She is Tillie (India Eisley), college bound teen/underage drinker/skinny dipper. He is Nikko (KJ Apa) local cab driver/college student/green card holder. This romance story turn thriller is an easy read because many of its moves blatantly telegraphed & has its plot driven by too many coincidences & shortcuts. But if you like your movies uncomplicated & easy to follow, you might like this one with the handsome hunk, bikini beach, & 2 naked butts. It’s lightweight drama featuring the FBI, terrorists, a bomb, & the Fourth of July.

Alien gives it 2½ “relative connections” stars out of 4.

 Let Him Go

It’s a tale of 2 women. Two strong matriarchs. One is the caring & loving mom & the other is the mama from hell. After the loss of their son, George & Margaret Blackledge (Kevin Costner & Diane Lane) leave their Montana home to find their grandson & ex-daughter-in-law who supposedly moved to North Dakota living off the grid with her new husband’s family. The basic plot reads like an old time western where good guys ride into the badlands to rescue someone from the outlaws. This film begs the questions: how far will you go to protect your family & is it justifiable to make bad decisions for good reasons? Costner & Lane always bring their “A” game to their roles. Lesley Manville is scary good as the head of the Weboy clan. The drama gets intense as the situation goes from bad to worse & as one’s anger builds to its boiling point.

Alien gives it 3 “lawlessness in the Wild West” stars out of 4.

 Koko-di Koko-da

Is this a Swedish comedy/horror version of “Groundhog Day” or “Happy Death Day” or “Edge of Tomorrow”? A Swedish couple go on a camping trip trying to salvage their marriage 3 years after the tragic loss of their 8-year-old daughter during a vacation in Denmark. In a time loop of repeat surreal dreams/nightmares, this couple find themselves being tortured & frightened by a trio of odd sideshow characters. This film is in Swedish with English subtitles. I️ get the artistic imagery & possible symbolism, but I️ didn’t find the film that entertaining. Maybe there is something loss in translation or maybe it’s more relatable to Swedes? If it is supposed to be funny, the humor is too dark for my liking. It seems to feel more creepy than horror. I️ found the shadow play imbedded within the plot more entertaining than following this couple’s plight. By the end, I️ was less than satisfied. If you are curious about the title, it’s a reference to a Swedish nursery rhyme/song translating to our rooster is dead.

Alien gives it 1 “white cat, dead pig, & phoenix” star out of 4.