This week, we feature a captivating classic about fame and deception and a deeply moving drama about the war-scarred recovering together.
New Release
‘Mending the Line’
When U.S. Marine John Colter (Sinqua Walls) returns after being wounded in Afghanistan, a VA facility in Montana pairs him with cantankerous Vietnam War vet Ike Fletcher (Brian Cox). Their mission? To use fly fishing together as a way of healing their unseen wounds. Lucy (Perry Mattfeld), a librarian who volunteers with veterans, also enters the picture.
This outstanding film is an intimate portrait of several people experiencing pain and anguish that gradually builds into an incredible shared odyssey of vulnerability, hope, and redemption.
Drama
Release Date: June 9, 2023
Director: Joshua Caldwell
Starring: Brian Cox, Perry Mattfeld, Sinqua Walls
Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Where to Watch: Theaters
Rated: 4.5 stars out of 5
Indie Pick
‘Reality Bites’
This snapshot of Generation X follows Lelaina Pierce (Winona Ryder), an aspiring filmmaker who’s making a documentary about post-college life and her diverse group of friends. These include her best friend, slacker Troy Dyer (Ethan Hawke) and store manager Vickie Miner (Janeane Garofalo).
This is a fun, insightful romantic dramedy, well-paced and -acted, that marks Ben Stiller’s directorial debut. It also captures the zeitgeist of the grunge-laden 1990s, a difficult time for disenchanted youth to find meaning in life.
Comedy | Drama | Romance
Release Date: Feb. 18, 1994
Director: Ben Stiller
Starring: Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Janeane Garofalo
Running Time: 1 hour, 39 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Starz, Redbox, Amazon
Rated: 3 stars out of 5
A Romantic Comedy With a Silly Story
‘Coming to America’
Eddie Murphy stars as Prince Akeem, a pampered yet unhappy young African man whose royal parents are arranging for him to marry a woman he has never even met. Therefore, Akeem and his assistant Semmi (Arsenio Hall) travel to New York in order for the prince to find someone he can really love.
While perhaps too crude for some, this rom-com has some very funny moments, and its storyline about a man who will sacrifice material wealth and power in his quest for true love is positive and uplifting.
Comedy | Romance
Release Date: June 29, 1988
Director: John Landis
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Garcelle Beauvais
Running Time: 1 hour, 57 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Where to Watch: Redbox, Vudu, Amazon
Rated: 3.5 stars out of 5
A Masterpiece About Deception and Fame
‘All About Eve’
Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) may pretend to be naive, but underneath, she’s a ruthless woman who ingratiates herself into the lives of fading stage legend Margo Channing (Bette Davis) and her circle of friends.
This classic, award-winning drama features sharp dialogue and incredible performances by its outstanding cast. The film proves that unscrupulous ambition doesn’t pay.
Drama
Release Date: Oct. 27, 1950
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders
Running Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: Amazon, Redbox, Vudu
Rated: 4.5 stars out of 5