Alien at the Movies

Promising Young Woman

When a tragic event befalls Nina, a childhood friend & fellow med student, Cassie (Carey Mulligan) becomes a single-minded sociopath on a mission of revenge. By day, she is a coffee shop worker/med school dropout living at home with her parents. At night, she trolls the bars looking for “nice” guys who are hoping to take advantage of drunk girls. She is one smart cookie who will dispense those hard lessons no one wants to learn so don’t get on her bad side. Mulligan is amazing as a one-woman vigilante squad in this deliciously dark & wicked black comedy/quasi-thriller. This one may not be suitable for everyone’s tastes, but it is intriguing & may take some twists that you may not see coming.

Alien gives it 3½ “Love, Nina & Cassie ; )” stars out of 4.

The Prom

I️t’s “High School Musical” meets “Love, Simon” meets “Footloose” when some self-absorbed has-been Broadway actors & wanna-be-famous unknowns take up the cause for an Indiana high school girl being discriminated against because she want to take her girlfriend to prom. Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, & Kerry Washington head this fabulous musical comedy cast. If you love musicals, you’ll probably have a good time with the light-hearted humor, dazzling & colorful set designs, lyrical song compositions, well choreographed dance numbers, & a message against discrimination. It’s predictable but still lots of fun to watch as this film is able to poke fun of its own genre.

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

 The Wake of Light

A young woman, Mary (Rome Brooks), feels obligated to care for her aging father. When she was just 6 years old, her widowed dad suffered a debilitating stroke. Her humdrum schedule is set by the hands of the kitchen clock until a young talkative man, Cole (Matt Bush), on a road trip wanders into town. They develop an attraction for each other. When he asks her to join him, she is torn between the comforts of home & the search for love. Brooks & Bush give moving performances as they force each other to face their fears & realize their avoidances.

Alien gives it 3 “selling bottles of water” stars out of 4.

One Night In Miami

Based on a stage play, this is a fictional account of 4 legendary black celebrities on February 25, 1964. Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) joins Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr), & Malcom X (Kingsley Ben-Adir) on a special night & they have some fascinating discussions about their roles as influential black men from sports, music, & activism on the civil rights movement. These four actors give terrific performances as these famous icons. 

Alien gives it 3 “Hampton Hotel” stars out of 4.

Herself 

Clare Dunne co-wrote & stars as single mom, Sandra, who is struggling to get by with her two young daughters after escaping an abusive relationship. Difficulties with the housing system forces Sandra to consider building her own small home with some new friends. During this process, Sandra rediscovers herself. It’s a heartwarming & heartbreaking story of a mom finding her inner strength to protect & provide for her children.

Alien gives it 3½ “DIY home” stars out of 4.

Stars Fell On Alabama

A successful Hollywood talent agent, Bryce Dixon (James Maslow), returns for the first time to his hometown of Willow Valley, Alabama, for his 15-year high school reunion. Pressured by his married friends, he fibs about his love life & says he is dating a starlet, Madison Belle (Ciara Hanna), who is also his client. If you are a sucker for rom/coms, you’ll enjoy this funny & romantic love story revolving around old friends, exes, jealousy, reliving your past, & owning up to your mistakes. It’s good old Southern comfort, charm, & hospitality for a great date night experience. Stay for one mid-credits reveal & an end-of-credits clip.

Alien gives it 3½ “gotta bend some rules” stars out of 4.