The Film Fix: Reviews, Previews of November’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

Venom: The Last Dance (now playing) – Fix Rating 5/10 – This third and final installment in the franchise picks up with journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) stuck in time limbo with his best pal and symbiote Venom (voiced by Hardy). Brock, accused of killing Detective Mulligan (Stephen Graham), goes on the run after hiding out in Mexico. Of course, they tussle with some criminals, and Venom fuels up on their heads.

After being attacked by creatures from Venom’s past, they discover that a mysterious Thanos-type villain imprisoned by other symbiotes like Venom is trying to escape into their universe.

The campy pre-title sequence might make sense to comic book fans, but it’s a little hokey and distracting because all we really want is Brock and Venom gibing with each other and Venom feasting on the heads of the evil.

“The Last Dance” is a terribly uneven mix of PG-13 comic book violence and cutesy characterizations that often fall utterly flat. Even the Brock/Venom banter gets a little old, especially as they are paired with unengaging characters and a storyline that seems to be racing to its conclusion.

Conclave (now playing) – Fix Rating 9/10 – When a progressive Pope suddenly dies, it falls on Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) to conduct what is known as a conclave to select the next supreme pontiff. This tricky process involves assembling the College of Cardinals from around the globe. Competing ambitions converge as questions swirl concerning the Pope’s surprising passing and who should replace him.

The political intrigue is thick, with the leading candidates secretly scheming as the voting commences. The men vying for the top spot include Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), a Vatican-based cardinal, Cardinal Tremblay of Montreal (John Lithgow), the Italian Cardinal Tedesco of Venice (Sergio Castellitto), and Adeyemi of Nigeria (Lucian Msamati). But a monkey wrench in the proceedings is presented in the form of the secret Cardinal Benitez (Carlos Diehz) from, of all places, Kabul, Afghanistan.

With the groundwork set, “Conclave” takes us inside the election like few films have effectively accomplished. Unraveling and demystifying the inner workings of the Vatican makes for fascinating storytelling. But the mysteries of the Vatican are only part of the magic here. The story swirls like an Agatha Christie novel, with Cardinal Lawrence reluctantly stepping into the detective role. And the lockdown location, the Cardinals are sequestered as they make the decision, adds to the tension.

There are still quite a few films left to see as the awards season gets underway, but “Conclave” is an unabashed crowd-pleaser as it is an achievement in acting, writing, and directing.

Streaming Selects

NETFLIX

Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson (November 7) – The big fight between Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned boxer, and Iron Mike Tyson is scheduled for November 15. “Countdown” covers the events leading up to the big bout, taking viewers behind the scenes. Based on the coverage I’ve seen online, Tyson looks like he’s whipped his 58-year-old frame into fantastic shape, while Paul, at 27, has amassed an impressive 10 and 1 record with 7 KOs.

Emilia Pérez (November 13) – France’s submission for the international feature film Oscar is a high-concept thriller starring Zoe Saldana as a lawyer who assists a drug kingpin’s exit from the elicit business by embracing his decision to transition to a woman. Actress Karla Sofía Gascón stars as the cartel boss who chooses to embrace his true self and escape. The Spanish language film from French auteur Jacques Audiard (see “A Prophet”) burned up the festival circuit and also stars Selena Gomez and Edgar Ramírez.

APPLE TV+

Blitz (November 1) – Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen (see “12 Years a Slave”), a native Londoner, writes and directs this WWII survival story that takes place during the bombing of the British capital. Saoirse Ronan stars as a strong-willed mother searching for her son in the scarred city while it continues to be attacked. McQueen’s movies rarely disappoint.

MAX

Dune: Prophecy (November 14) — After the second part of “Dune” hit theaters earlier this year with much success, Max hopes audiences are still hungry for the Frank Herbert-inspired material. This series is a prequel to the films in that it takes place a record 10 thousand years before Paul Atreides’ story. “Prophecy” focuses on the religious sect known as the Bene Gesserit and the efforts of sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen (played by Emily Watson and Olivia Williams) to steer away dark forces that threaten the future of humanity.

Spoiler: the universe survives based on what we already know. But this well-made series shares the look and high-end production value that yielded such lush results for its theatrical predecessors. Count me in for more and more “Dune.”

DISNEY+

Beatles ‘64 (November 29) – Martin Scorsese produces this documentary about the Beatles explosion onto the scene in 1964 after their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Rare behind- the-scenes footage and revealing interviews are promised. No doubt that this is a must for any Fab Four fan.

Theatrical Teasers

Here (November 1) — Director Robert Zemeckis reteams with “Forrest Gump” stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright to tell the life story of a family using a static camera placed in one living room over a lifetime. This creative gamble may be heralded as revelatory in the hands of Zemeckis, a filmmaker who embraces technology sometimes to his detriment.

Heretic (November 8) — Hugh Grant goes very dark in this horror thriller of two young missionaries trapped in the home of a man (Grant) hellbent on testing their religious faith even if it kills them all. Co-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods last gave us the lackluster “65,” but their writing efforts led to the impressive success of “A Quiet Place.” Trailers for this one look
spooky and thrilling.

Red One (November 15) — Trailers for “Red One” has teased a zany holiday adventure with colorful special effects and family-friendly laughs. The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and J.K. Simmons, who plays old St. Nick. When the jolly Claus (code name: Red One) is kidnapped, his head of security, Callum Drift (Johnson), has to assemble a team to mount a rescue. Evans plays a bounty hunter in this wacky-looking Christmas-themed production.

Wicked (November 22) — The winter movie season heats up with this big-budgeted adaptation of the Broadway sensation. Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba, and Ariana Grande is Glinda, two witches in Oz. The recent abject failure of the surprise musical “Joker: Folie à Deux” shouldn’t impact this film that originated on the stage and features some memorable songs that viewers will likely be humming as the witches square off on the big screen.

Moana 2 (November 27) — As “Wicked” is likely to score at the box office, family audiences will get the long-awaited sequel to Disney’s 2016 Oscar-nominated hit. Dwayne Johnson returns to voice Maui alongside Auli’i Cravalho as the title “princess,” the daughter of a village chief.

Here’s hoping that the music is as strong as the original, as Moana receives a call from her ancestors to venture into faraway waters. Of course, Maui must support her as only a shapeshifting demigod can.

Jonathan W. Hickman is an entertainment attorney, filmmaker, college professor, and novelist. More about Jonathan can be found by visiting: filmproductionlaw.com.