I watched The Rider at the Circle Cinema in Tulsa. That’s our cool little arthouse theater. They show all kinds of films – new independent films, silent films, classic noirs, and midnight movies. I love the place. I caught The Rider because my family was out of town and I wanted something to do. I don’t think I knew much about it at the time but was knocked out by it.
It was directed by Chloe Zhao, and she immediately became someone to watch. Her next film was Nomadland, and it is really great as well. Then she made The Eternals, a Marvel movie that is hated by just about everyone. One assumes she did it because she got paid well and that money will help finance future films, but who knows? I didn’t see it.
Her latest film is Hamnet, a film about William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, as they deal with the loss of their young son, whose name is the movie’s title. That grief is generally said to have motivated Shakespeare to write Hamlet, perhaps his greatest play.
The reviews for the film have been very good and it is up for an Oscar next week. I missed it in the theater but I’m excited to watch it now and happy to make it my pick.
Also out this week that looks interesting:
Piranha: Joe Dante directed this low budget thriller about some government-modified piranhas that accidentally escape and attack a summer camp. It is a film that used to air on cable TV back in my day, and I’m sure I watched at least parts of it multiple times, though I’d be hard pressed to tell you anything about it. Shout Factory is giving it the Steelbook anniversary treatment.
Cobra Kai: The Complete Series: I’ve not watched any of this series that brings back many of the characters from the Karate Kid films, but I know a lot of folks that love it.
The Swordsman Trilogy: Trio of wuxia films is getting a boxed set from Shout Factory.
Chainsaw Man: My daughter has been getting into manga over the last few years. One day I saw this book in the store and jokingly recommended it to her. Because what could be cooler than a dude with chainsaw hands? She didn’t want the book but has since seen some of the series. Now there is a film. It is about a kid who makes a deal with a demon and gets those crazy hands.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Season 3: My wife and I started season one of this series, but have yet to finish it. I like it, but we got distracted. It follows Captain Pike, who helmed the Enterprise before Kirk took over.
The Running Man: Oh, I wanted this to be really good. Edgar Wright directing a Stephen King book should have been awesome. Instead it was just okay. Glen Powell stars as a man who signs up for a game show in a terrible future where he has to survive for several days without being caught. If he’s caught, he’ll be killed. If he survives, his family will get some much-needed money.
Zootopia 2: The first film was a fun little romp about talking animals trying to solve a crime. This time around more animals will try to solve a different case.
themidnightcafe.org 