The Film Fix: Previewing January’s Top Films in Theaters, Streaming
By JONATHAN W. HICKMAN, Special to The Paper
Below are reviews and capsules of various films this month in theaters and/or streaming.
Review rating … A “Fix” is recommended with a rating between 6 and 10. A “No Fix” is not recommended with a rating between 1 to 5.
In Theaters
Ferrari (in theaters now) – Fix Rating 6/10 – “Ferrari” is director Michael Mann’s passion project. Unfortunately, this biopic about Enzo Ferrari is a dull telling of events in the summer of 1957 when the Ferrari empire was in jeopardy.
Adam Driver plays the middle-aged Italian automobile entrepreneur in the movie, focusing on Ferrari’s precarious relationship with his wife Laura (Penélope Cruz), his mistress Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley), and his racing and high-end sports car manufacturing business.
Some viewers have complained about the distracting computer-generated effects related to the showy automobile crashes, but I found them shocking and exciting. On the other hand, the drama and industrial intrigue came off as limp and unengaging.
Performances are uneven, as Driver does his level best to look stern and maintain character with a sometimes-shifting Italian accent. Cruz gets the juiciest role and does the finest work in the film, while Woodley is miscast and never finds her character’s center.
This production is solid, but the story fails to resonate.
The Iron Claw (in theaters now) – Fix Rating 5/10 – Some wrestling fans have found “The Iron Claw” emotionally engaging. But this abridged telling of the cursed Von Erich family didn’t work for me.
The story concerns three of the Von Erich brothers who became professional wrestlers in the 1980s. While the outcomes of their matches are all predetermined, the action in the ring is the product of careful training and athletic prowess. The Von Erich patriarch Fritz (a very good Holt McCallany) was once a star in the ring before moving on to wrestling management. He’s devoted to making his beefy boys into stars, regardless of their desire to wrestle.
A more muscled-up than usual Zac Efron plays eldest brother Kevin, who is initially tapped for greatness. But despite having the brawn, Kevin gets tongue-tied when called to the camera. And when younger brother David (Harris Dickinson) demonstrates the necessary television charisma, Dad moves him up in the ranks to be joined by another brother and former Olympic hopeful Kerry (“The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White).
The three men make a fierce and competitive presence, gaining notice from other leagues, who are always clamoring for talent. But the pressures to perform exact a horrible price, and the curse of the Von Erich family is their legacy instead of their achievements on the mat.
Writer/director Sean Durkin’s dour handling of a notable, high-profile American tragedy fails to break through, even though performances (especially from a devoted Efron) are strong and the wrestling is sometimes exciting.
Streaming Selects
PARAMOUNT+
Sexy Beast (season 1, January 25) – Director Jonathan Glazer burst onto the scene in 2000 with his first feature film, “Sexy Beast.” He’s since moved on to more upmarket fare, with his Holocaust film “The Zone of Interest” looking to capture awards notice if not a golden statute this year, “Beast” remains his most entertaining and accessible work.
And part of that had to do with the rich characterizations that made up the gangster tale of Don Logan’s visit to retired safecracker Gal Dove. That film is highlighted by a ferocious performance by Ben Kingsley as the foul-mouthed Don. This prequel series traces the origins of Don and Gal and their disturbing relationship with twisted criminal Teddy Bass.
PEACOCK
Ted (season 1, January 11) – Another popular film gets a prequel series on a streamer as director Seth MacFarlane returns to his hit 2012 furry prankster Ted. Taking place in 1993, teenager John Bennett (Max Burkholder taking over the role originally played by Mark Wahlberg) and his best pal Ted (a living teddy bear voiced by MacFarlane) navigate the perils of high school. With the wisecracking Ted by his side, nothing could go wrong for the hapless John, right?
NETFLIX
Society of the Snow (January 5) – Fix Rating 7/10 – Director J.A. Bayona (see “The Impossible” and “The Orphanage”) explores the story of a rugby team that crashes in the Andes. Based on the actual events that took place in 1972, this tale of survival in a place inhospitable to human life is harrowing. “Society of the Snow” is Spain’s submission for the Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards.
AMAZON PRIME
Expats (season 1, January 26) – Nicole Kidman leads this six-episode series based on the 2016 novel “The Expatriates” by Janice Y. K. Lee. In the show, Kidman plays the affluent Margaret, living with her husband (Brian Tee) and child in Hong Kong. The story involves the intertwining relationship of three women and a tragic event in their lives. The series is directed by Lulu Wang (see 2019’s “The Farewell”).
DISNEY PLUS
Echo (season 1, January 9) – As the waning influence of the Marvel machine was seen on full display in 2023, going smaller and more ground-level with a show like “Echo” might be a good idea. This limited series has Alaqua Cox again playing the title character introduced in “Hawkeye.” Also returning is Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, aka The Kingpin of Crime. Trailers tease a brutal and bloody tale with Fisk flexing his muscle while recruiting Maya Lopez, aka Echo, to be his enforcer. This production occurred in Peachtree City, Grantville, and the metro Atlanta area and is part of the MCU’s “Marvel Spotlight” banner.
APPLE TV+
Masters of the Air (January 26) – Executive producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg continue their vivid exploration of WWII that previously gave us “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific.” This time, we follow the heroic exploits of the 100th Bomb Group. The series stars Austin Butler, who broke out in 2022 as the King of Rock and Roll in “Elvis,” he’s joined by fellow Oscar nominee and “Saltburn” star Barry Keoghan.
Theatrical Teasers
Night Swim (January 5) – The Cinderella origin story for this latest Blumhouse production started with a low-budget short film released on YouTube in 2014. Writer/director Bryce McGuire’s gamble in putting the five-minute movie out there for free paid off handsomely and resulted in James Wan and Judson Scott of Atomic Monster buying the rights. The short was terrific, but it worked mainly due to its brevity.
In the short, a girl plays Marco Polo in a darkened pool only to get much more than she bargained for. The feature version appears to explore our relationship with the pool lifestyle and the cement pond’s real and imagined perils. This creepy-looking horror thriller stars Kurt Russell’s son Wyatt (see “Monarch”) and Oscar nominee Kerry Condon (see “The Banshees of Inisherin”).
Mean Girls (January 12) – This comedy is based on the 2004 film and the Broadway musical. Tina Fey is credited with the screenplay, and Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin lend new versions of the music from the stage production. Fey and Tim Meadows return to their roles from the original film. Angourie Rice (see “The Nice Guys”) steps into the lead of Cady Heron, a role once inhabited by Lindsay Lohan in 2004. The trailers reveal irreverent and potentially over-the-top humor from an attractive and game ensemble cast. Hidden somewhat in the promotions are the song and dance numbers that should help to distinguish this film from remake obscurity.
I.S.S. (January 19) – Oscar winner Ariana DeBose (see “West Side Story”) rests her singing voice to join Chris Messina (see “The Mindy Project”) in this science fiction actioner. The story has a diverse group of astronauts living peacefully on the International Space Station. Harmony is threatened when war breaks out on Earth. With the story last year about lost tomatoes on the Space Station making big news, this thriller set on the I.S.S. might interest more than just sci-fi fans.
Jonathan W. Hickman is an entertainment attorney, filmmaker, college professor, and novelist. More about Jonathan can be found by visiting: filmproductionlaw.com. Folks can also follow him at dailyfilmfix.com.
