New in Theaters: Greta, Transit, Climax, and Woman at War

by Nathaniel R

Woman at War -- see it before the American remake dumbs it down!

Consider this weekend a warm-up to the 2019 Film Year! Yes, yes, we've technically had 2 full months of releases but for us each new year begins once we've recuperatd from the Oscars. So our personal rebirth begins next weekend with a double dose of Best Actresses Brie Larson and Julianne Moore (in Captain Marvel and Gloria Bell, respectively) -- Actressexuality forevah!

But if you're ready to dive into 2019 already, there are a lot of films opening this weekend and we happen to have covered three of them already so check it out. ★ = highly recommended...

WIDE RELEASE

• Greta - Chris reviewed this intergenerational stalker thriller starring the one and only Isabelle Huppert and Chloe Moretz 
• ★ A Star is Born (EXTENDED) - Yes, it's gone wide yet again to celebrate "Shallow's" Oscar win. This time with 12 extra minutes added to its already bulky running time including a new song and a lengthier version of the parking lot scene where Gaga first tries out "Shallow" on Jackson Maine. Should we see it a fifth time?
• Tyler Perry's A Madea Family Funeral - This is Madea's 11th film appearance (!!!) That's quite a profitable franchise.

LIMITED RELEASE

• Apollo 11 - Hot on the heels of First Man comes a doc on the same subject so see how closely Ryan Gosling and Corey Stoll captured the psyches of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
• ★ Climax - Chris reviewed the latest provocation from Gaspar Noé at TIFF. Sofia Boutella leads the cast as a choreographer partying with her dance crew, the night devolving into hallucinogenic carnage.
• Furie - A Vietnamese action film starring Veronica Ngo (Bright, The Last Jedi) who also co-starred in last year's Vietnamese Oscar submission (The Tailor)
• He Matado a mi Marido! - Maria Conchita Alonso stars in this Spanish language romcom
• Saint Judy - Michelle Monaghan headlines this true story about a immigration rights lawyer
• ★ Transit - Nathaniel reviewed this haunting German romantic drama at TIFF and Murtada interviewed the director. Franz Rogowski (Happy End) and Paula Beer (Frantz) star.
• Virginia Minnesota - a indie dramedy about two childhood friends reuniting
• The Wedding Guest - Dev Patel stars in this thriller about a British man travelling from Pakistan to India
• ★ Woman at War - Nathaniel reviewed Iceland's most recent Oscar submission at TIFF. Jodie Foster snapped up the rights for a remake and it might work as a vehicle for her (plus we'd love to see her back onscreen.) That said, it surely won't have this film's auteurist bent or its straight-faced zen whimsy in the face of such depressing subject matter (the relentless attack on our environment by corporations) so see it now while it's still "pure".

Comments

[anonny]

you saw a star is born 4 times in theaters? damn!

[Jaragon]

I liked "A Star is Born" but it like most modern films it should be shorter not longer

[Peggy Sue]

Go see Climax! It's mandatory

[evangelina]

I'm a bit out of the loop 2019 - what good films have come out so far this year?

[Jonathan]

"Woman at War" is great, an improvement on Erlingsson's last film, "Of Horses and Men." And Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir's performance was one of the best leading actress performances of last year!

[Jared]

This is coming from someone who saw I Stand Alone back in 99 in a film festival and was in awe of his inventiveness and technique. Then Irreversible also astounded me and produced all kinds of feelings. I felt Enter the Void was a beautiful mess and a novel concept. Having been to 3 Q&A's with Noe and hearing him talk about his motivations, process and artistry really disappointed me, though and I started seeing his provocations less as an auteur building his oeuvre and more like a child playing with his toys. I started to see some principles behind his stories: the sexism, the graphic violence, the homophobia (the way having anal sex is seen as the worst thing that could happen to a man as discussed at length in Irreversible; the reaction of the character (throwing up) in Love when realizing the prostitute was a trans person; the constant pushing away of the gay character in Climax who wants affection, etc). He's just not a good actor's director and working with non-professionals just gives the license to ask them anything, which irks me too. Love was the most self-indulgent, badly acted movie I've ever seen. Climax uses the same old tropes and this time there is no technical innovation. I went to see it out of curiosity and had low expectations, but was still surprised by how amateurish most of the acting was, the dialogue was just painful to hear and his childishness was just irritating. I have never done a 180 like this as far as a director I once admired.

[SFOTroy]

What a great lineup of films to wash away the Oscars its "BP". I was lucky to see GRETA and CLIMAX back to back last night and had a good time. GRETA was fine if a bit predictable and familiar. i was hoping for something a tad more fucked up from Ms. H. CLIMAX was a very very Noe movie and a fun trip. Definitely have a drink or 2 (or something) before screening. It will be like nothing else you see this year (as always for a Noe film). I like all his movies and found this one refreshing for the amazing dance sequences.. especially the opening number!!! It was kind of PINA meets ENTER THE VOID.

I REALLY can't wait now to see APOLLO 11 and TRANSIT. and maybe WOMAN AT WAR??
And then in a few weeks (in SF at least- these are probably already out in NY... grrrr) comes GLORIA BELL, BIRDS OF PASSAGE and SORRY ANGEL. what riches!! So happy to never have to think about GB or BR every again.

[SFOTroy]

PS to Jared:
I'm still a Noe fan but totally agree with your take on LOVE. I was really disappointed by that film and gave it a bad review.