The Film Fix: Reviews, Previews of October’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
Transformers One (now playing) – Fix Rating 7/10 – By returning the transforming robots to their animated roots, fans get a family-friendly and emotionally gratifying outing in “Transformers One.” While just cutesy enough for the little ones and smart enough to pull in parents, this installment is more than meets the eye.
In “Transformers One,” we meet two miner bots, Orion Pax (voice of Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry), who live deep within the troubled planet known as Cybertron. These two pals spend their days dangerously mining for the super fuel Energon.
They long to be something more than just miners, but we learn that, unlike the leaders of their planet, Orion and D-16 were born without the ability to transform. When Orion signs them up for a race against more robust robots who can transform, they go on a journey of discovery that might change the face of their planet.
This pleasant film builds a credible origin story for Optimist Prime, Megatron, and others. And while it starts with juvenile jokiness, the narrative tightens emotionally with an impressive conclusion that might leave fans with a sizable lump in their collective throats.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (now playing) – Fix Rating 7/10 – Director Tim Burton returns to the weird and wacky world of the freelance bio exorcist known as Betelgeuse. And Burton brings back Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara. Fans flocked to this sequel to the 1988 hit film, as the movie has amassed sizable box office returns.
But while most will find it amusing, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is about as clever as its squared title, with a story that picks up some 35 years after the original. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) now hosts a ghost-hunting television series. And as she introduces the latest episode, Lydia notices glimpses of Betelgeuse, aka Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), lurking within the live studio audience. Shaken, she abruptly ends the taping, much to the dismay of her smarmy producer and love interest, Rory (Justin Theroux).
When her mother, Delia (O’Hara), informs Lydia that a shark has eaten her father, she must return to the town of Winter River, Connecticut, to put his body to rest. Of course, ghosts follow Lydia wherever she goes, which irks her jaded daughter Astrid (“Wednesday” star Jenna Ortega). Could their family healing require a visit from that Beetle guy?
Ultimately, Burton and his team of writers aren’t confident that a reunion of the Deetz women with the Juice is enough, and they lard up their film with unpleasant and unnecessary subplots. Unlike the somewhat family-friendly original, we get a gruesome sequence involving a baby that may prove to be too much for younger viewers. But in that sequence, there was promise of a much darker and more engaging narrative than the one we’re given in this nostalgic bit of slapdashery.
Streaming Selects
NETFLIX
Woman of the Hour (October 18) – Actress Anna Kendrick (Oscar-nominated for “Up in the Air”) makes her directing debut with this story of a woman (played by Kendrick) who just happens to be matched with a serial killer on a TV dating show. The film is based on the true story of “The Dating Game” contestant Cheryl Bradshaw, who almost went on a date with Rodney Alcala. In the late 1970s, Alcala, a serial killer, was convicted of murdering five women; he was suspected in many other killings, as well. This movie was well-reviewed on the festival circuit.
APPLE TV+
Wolfs (now playing) Fix Rating 7/10 – The irresistible teaming of Brad Pitt and George Clooney makes this a must-see. And the fun concept should make it a franchise. In “Wolfs,” Pitt and Clooney play two lone wolves who take care of the aftermath of gruesome crimes and make all traces disappear. But in a humorous coincidence, the two cleaners who only work alone must find a way to collaborate.
“Wolfs” isn’t a classic, and I hope the next outing that’s already been greenlit by Apple goes deeper into their budding bromance. Just watching Pitt and Clooney have fun will only take viewers so far; round two will have to make us feel something more about this magical movie-star combination.
MAX
Salem’s Lot (now playing) — “Salem’s Lot” is one of my favorite Stephen King novels, but it’s struggled to get a great movie or series adaptation in the past. However, as King’s work gathers momentum on the big and small screen, fans can take heart that the translation might capture the emotional depth of the source material.
“Salem’s Lot” is about a writer named Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) who returns to the town of Jerusalem’s Lot to discover that it is in the clutches of an ancient vampire. The cast is deep with “Game of Thrones” star Pilou Asbæk, Bill Camp, Alfre Woodard, and others. This “Lot” is written and directed by Gary Dauberman, who wrote the terrific “It” film and directed 2019’s “Annabelle Comes Home.”
DISNEY+
Agatha All Along (new episodes every Wednesday) Fix Rating 7/10 – Kathryn Hahn plays the title witch in this spooky, maybe not scary, MCU adventure. “Agatha” is a spinoff of the Disney series “WandaVision” that premiered way back in 2021.
As the title spellcaster, Hahn is terrific, and the surrounding cast is equally entertaining and infectious. Agatha’s familiar is a teen played by fresh-faced newcomer Joe Locke, and the two have a wholesome mother/son thing going while also hinting at the dark aspects of the witch’s personality.
Aubrey Plaza makes an excellent foil to Agatha, as the two sarcastic actresses complement one another while leaving room for contrast. Patti LuPone plays one of the makeshift coven members, rounded out by Sasheer Zamata, Debra Jo Rupp, and Ali Ahn. This all-women team is formidable, and the first two entries provide enough foundation to keep me coming back.
Theatrical Teasers
Joker: Folie á Deux (October 4) — Director Todd Phillips (see “Old School”) struck box office gold in 2019 with his unique and dour origin story of one of DC’s most memorable villains. The magic of that film was Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning turn as the hapless Arthur Fleck, who becomes the Joker. This time around, Phillips ups the stakes and the budget as the Joker goes on trial for his crimes committed in the first movie. And the Clown Prince of Crime might find true love as Lady Gaga plays the Joker’s devoted partner, Lee Quinzel. Word is that this dark, comedic comic book adaptation is also a musical.
The Apprentice (October 11) — This 1970s and 1980s set movie about a young Donald Trump and his relationship with lawyer Roy Cohn almost wasn’t released. But the film is finally finding its way into theaters despite efforts to keep it hidden away. Sebastian Stan (MCU’s Winter Soldier) plays Trump, and Jeremy Strong (see “Succession”) is Cohn in this based on a true story drama from director Ali Abbasi (see “Border” and “The Last of Us” series).
Saturday Night (October 11) — Buzz is strong for this one. “Saturday Night” tells the story of the first episode of Saturday Night Live that aired on October 11, 1975. All the SNL legends are portrayed with Dylan O’Brien looking uncannily like Dan Aykroyd and Cory Michael Smith making a good Chevy Chase in the trailers. The film is directed by Jason Reitman (see “Juno”), who should have a good feel for the uproarious material that depicts the chaos leading up to the premiere.
Terrifier 3 (October 11) — Writer/director Damien Leone made quite a splash with the first two “Terrifier” films that were made on a meager budget but became massive hits. Part of his success was creating Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton), this generation’s Freddy Krueger. And with this third installment, Art plies his bloody killing craft on Christmas Eve.
Venom: The Last Dance (October 25) — In this third and likely final “Venom” film, Tom Hardy winds down his stint as journalist Eddie Brock, inhabited by the alien Venom. The 2018 film didn’t impress me, but audiences embraced it, leading to the 2021 sequel that was much improved. Building on the second movie’s success, the trailers tease a bigger narrative, with Eddie and Venom on the run in different time periods. Expect Venom to bite off the heads of the bad guys and Eddie to be none too happy about it.
Jonathan W. Hickman is an entertainment attorney, filmmaker, college professor, and novelist. More about Jonathan can be found by visiting: filmproductionlaw.com.
