ON THE BIG SCREEN

THEY’RE BACK: MARVEL UNIVERSE
SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF TEN RINGS
PG13
Marvel is storming back in theaters again, with this action flick based on the Asian superhero born in the comics in 1973. Shang-Chi stars Simu Lu, a Chinese-Canadian known for his martial arts prowess and stunt work, and Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, and Tony Leung. Expect a strong Asian bent to this MCU flick, with lots of fights. It is MCU, after all.

LOTS OF LAUGHS
THE DUKE
R
This weird and wonderful true story stars Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren as a British couple who, in 1961, steal a Goya portrait of the Duke of Wellington from London’s National Gallery. Put two acting pros together in an utterly charming caper tale, and you’ve got The Duke, a movie you have to see to believe.

QUEENPINS
R
Laughing together in a packed movie theater is a quintessentially fun experience, and this movie has got the acting chops to make that happen. From The Good Place pals Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste to Annie Mumolo, Vince Vaughn, Joel McHale, Stephen Root, and Paul Walter Hauser, the cast is full of funny people. But, of course, the scam at the heart of the story is pretty comical, too–and inspired by a true story.

THRILLS AND CHILLS
THE CARD COLLECTOR
R
Oscar Isaac stars in this dark offering from director Paul Schrader (American Gigolo, Affliction) that follows the exploits of a gambler whose past life refuses to stay buried. Tiffany Haddish takes a serious turn here, too, along with Willem Dafoe and Tye Sheridan, in this twisty revenger thriller that forces our antihero to return to his checkered past.

CRY MACHO
PG-13
Clint Eastwood is the toughest 91-year-old actor-director on the planet. Yet, he keeps working, this time making an adaptation of Cry Macho, the 1975 novel that chronicles an eventful trip from Mexico to Texas. Eastwood is a washed-up rodeo star who takes on the job of transporting a Mexican boy away from his alcoholic mother; the ensuing road trip turns into quite the contretemps before it’s over.

MALIGNANT
R
Director James Wan of Saw fame went on to bigger Hollywood things (Aquaman, Furious 7); now he’s back in the world of thrills and chills with this scary story of a woman who sees visions of real-life murders. Annabelle Wallis stars as the unfortunate woman along with co-stars George Young, Maddie Hasson, and Ingrid Bisu, who is also credited with creating the original story.

EMOTIONAL RIDES
BLUE BAYOU
R
Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander stars opposite Justin Chon in this story of an American family torn apart because of prejudice. A searing look at the United States immigration policies that seem designed to separate families, this film was also directed and written by Chon, who is best known for his award-winning 2017 film Gook.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN
PG-13
This cinematic adaptation of the hit Tony-Award-winning Broadway musical follows the story of Evan, a teenage boy whose letter takes on a life of its own—and sweeps him along with it. Kaitlyn Dever, Danny Pino, Amy Adams, and Julianne Moore costar, along with Ben Platt, who won a Tony for his role as Evan in the show.

THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE
PG-13
Ready to delve into the weird lives of that wigged-out televangelist couple Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker? Surprisingly, this one is a drama, not a comedy, as it chronicles those two scammers as they hoodwink the American public during their long con that happened throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield star as the slimy pair, with Vincent D’Onofrio joining in as Jerry Falwell, another distasteful Christian televangelist of the time.