What to watch in theaters and at home this weekend Nov. 3-5, 2023
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — It’s a ridiculously good weekend to head out to your favorite theater or stay at home with your streamer of choice. The live-action films are mostly art house in nature, but if you are looking for action there are numerous animated titles (“Invincible,” “Onimusha,” “Blue Eye Samurai”) that will scratch that particular itch.
New in theaters are Oscar hopefuls “Priscilla,” “The Holdovers,” and “Rustin,” and dramedy “The Persian Version,” and the thriller “The Marsh King’s Daughter.”
“Rustin,” a biopic that highlights gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin’s involvement in 1963’s momentous March on Washington, is the most important of the three. ”Priscilla,” a historical drama about the relationship between Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu from Priscilla’s point of view. Cailee Spaeny is fantastic as Priscilla. It’s not a fairytale. It’s something of a nightmare. It’s really good. As is “The Holdovers,” a drama sprinkled with some comedy that sees boarding schoolteacher Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) stuck over winter break with a student he never liked. It’s certainly the most accessible of the three.
But not as accessible as “The Persian Version,” a story that explores Iranian and American culture through a mother-daughter relationship as the comedic tone fades into drama. “The Marsh King’s Daughter” is a thriller with solid performances. The film itself could have been better.
Of the streaming films, I’ve only seen “NYAD,” a solid biopic of Diana Nyad, a long-distance swimmer. Jodie Foster is great. Annette Bening is as well, but Nyad wasn’t exactly the sort of person you’d want to spend a lot of time with.
As a side note, Paramount+'s "Milli Vanilli"documentary was an interesting watch.
Priscilla (Theaters)
Studio Synopsis:When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a gentle best friend. Through Priscilla’s eyes, Sofia Coppola tells the unseen side of a great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla's long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in this deeply felt and ravishingly detailed portrait of love, fantasy, and fame.
The Holdovers (Theaters)
Studio Synopsis:From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, THE HOLDOVERS follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them -- a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) -- and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).
The Persian Version (Theaters)
Studio Synopsis:Coming from two countries at odds with each other, Iranian-American Leila (Layla Mohammadi) strives to find balance and embrace her opposing cultures, while boldly challenging the labels society is so quick to project upon her. When her family reunites in New York City for her father’s heart transplant, Leila navigates her relationships at arm’s length in an effort to keep her “real” life separate from her family life. However, when her secret is unceremoniously revealed, so are the distinct parallels between her life and that of her mother Shireen (Niousha Noor). Punctuated by a bright color palette, snappy comedic relief, and vibrant dance numbers, “The Persian Version” delivers an honest portrayal of a woman who remains unapologetically herself, blended seamlessly into a heartfelt story about family, belonging, and the undeniable influence of pop music.
Rustin (Theaters)
Studio Synopsis:The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten. Directed by DGA Award and five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe and starring Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo, Rustin shines a long overdue spotlight on the extraordinary man who, alongside giants like the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Ella Baker, dared to imagine a different world, and inspired a movement in a march toward freedom. Comes to Netflix on November 17, 2023.
The Marsh King's Daughters (Theaters)
Studio Synopsis: In the tense thriller The Marsh King’s Daughter, a woman with a secret past will venture into the wilderness she left behind to confront the most dangerous man she’s ever met: her father. In the film, Helena’s (Daisy Ridley) seemingly ordinary life hides a dark and dangerous truth: her estranged father is the infamous Marsh King (Ben Mendelsohn), the man who kept her and her mother captive in the wilderness for years. When her father escapes from prison, Helena will need to confront her past. Knowing that he will hunt for her and her family, Helena must find the strength to face her demons and outmaneuver the man who taught her everything she knows about surviving in the wild.
All the Light We Cannot See (Netflix)
Studio Synopsis: Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "All The Light We Cannot See" is a groundbreaking limited series that follows the story of Marie-Laure, a blind French girl and her father, Daniel LeBlanc, who flee German-occupied Paris with a legendary diamond to keep it from falling into the hands of the Nazis. Relentlessly pursued by a cruel Gestapo officer who seeks to possess the stone for his own selfish means, Marie-Laure and Daniel soon find refuge in St. Malo, where they take up residence with a reclusive uncle who transmits clandestine radio broadcasts as part of the resistance. Yet here in this once-idyllic seaside city, Marie-Laure’s path also collides inexorably with the unlikeliest of kindred spirits: Werner, a brilliant teenager enlisted by Hitler’s regime to track down illegal broadcasts, who instead shares a secret connection to Marie-Laure as well as her faith in humanity and the possibility of hope.
Black Cake (Hulu)
Studio Synopsis: Based on The New York Times-bestselling book by Charmaine Wilkerson, “Black Cake” is a family drama wrapped in a murder mystery with a diverse cast of characters and a global setting, from Marissa Jo Cerar, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films, and Aaron Kaplans’ Kapital Entertainment. The story takes place in Jamaica, Rome, Scotland, England and Southern California. Cerar wrote the adaptation and serves as showrunner on the series, which spans decades. In the late 1960s, a runaway bride named Covey disappears into the surf off the coast of Jamaica and is feared drowned or a fugitive on the run for her husband’s murder. Fifty years later in California, a widow named Eleanor Bennett, loses her battle with cancer, leaving her two estranged children, Byron and Benny, a flash drive that holds previously untold stories of her journey from the Caribbean to America. These stories, narrated by Eleanor, shock her children and challenge everything they thought they knew about their family’s origin.
Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix)
Studio Synopsis: This provocative and visually stunning cinematic series immerses the viewer in a world of vivid adult animation with a live-action edge. Set in Edo-period Japan, BLUE EYE SAMURAI follows Mizu (voiced by Maya Erskine), a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise seeking the deliverance of revenge.
Fingernails (Apple TV+)
Studio Synopsis: Anna and Ryan have found true love. It’s been proven by a controversial new technology. There’s just one problem: Anna still isn’t sure. Then she takes a position at a love testing institute, and meets Amir.
Invincible: Season 2 - Part 1 (Prime Video)
Studio Synopsis: After an earth-shattering betrayal, Mark fights to rebuild his life. In the face of apocalyptic threats, he discovers new allies and wrestles with his greatest fear – that he might become his father.
Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+)
Studio Synopsis: Follows the journey of Reeves (David Oyelowo) and his rise from enslavement to law enforcement as the first Black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. Despite arresting over 3,000 outlaws during the course of his career, the weight of the badge was heavy, and he wrestled with its moral and spiritual cost to his beloved family. "Lawman: Bass Reeves: is an all-new, standalone anthology series and future iterations will follow other iconic lawmen and outlaws who have impacted history.
Lynch/Oz (Criterion Channel)
Studio Synopsis: "Lynch/Oz" explores one of the most fascinating puzzles in the history of motion pictures: the enduring symbiosis between America’s primordial fairytale, "The Wizard of Oz," and David Lynch’s singular brand of popular surrealism. Through six distinct perspectives, and narrated by some of contemporary cinema’s most exciting voices, "Lynch/Oz" will take us down the proverbial rabbit hole, help us re-experience and re-interpret "The Wizard of Oz" by way of David Lynch, to deliver a whole new appreciation for Lynch’s symbolism through the lens of his greatest influence.
NYAD (Netflix)
Studio Synopsis: A remarkable true story of tenacity, friendship and the triumph of the human spirit, "NYAD" recounts a riveting chapter in the life of world-class athlete Diana Nyad. Three decades after giving up marathon swimming in exchange for a prominent career as a sports journalist, at the age of 60, Diana (four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening) becomes obsessed with completing an epic swim that always eluded her: the 110 mile trek from Cuba to Florida, often referred to as the “Mount Everest” of swims. Determined to become the first person to finish the swim without a shark cage, Diana goes on a thrilling, four-year journey with her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll (two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster) and a dedicated sailing team.
Onimusha (Netflix)
Studio Synopsis: The classic game is a landmark in the gaming world, known for its gripping survival action and stunning historical backdrop of Japan's tumultuous Warring States period. This is its first anime adaptation since debuting 22 years ago.
The focus of this adaptation is on Miyamoto Musashi, modeled after the late Japanese screen icon Toshiro Mifune. Set in the early Edo Period, a time when Japan was transitioning towards peace, and warfare was fading into history, an aging Musashi embarks on a covert mission. Armed with the mythical "Oni Gauntlet," Musashi embarks on an epic journey to vanquish the lurking demons. The main theme song, “The Loneliest,” by Måneskin adds depth and emotion to the spellbinding saga.
Quiz Lady (Hulu)
Studio Synopsis:A brilliant but tightly wound, gameshow-obsessed young woman, Anne (Awkwafina), and her estranged, train-wreck of a sister Jenny (Oh), must work together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts. When Anne’s beloved dog is kidnapped, they set out on a wild, cross-country trek to get the cash the only way they know how: by turning Anne into a bona-fide gameshow champion.
The Three Detectives (Disney+)
Studio Synopsis: Kim, Marie, and Franzi are BFFs and have what other girls can only dream of: their very own detective club! Be it criminals, beaus, issues with their parents, a case of blackmail, theft, or cyber mobbing, there isn’t a mystery the clever but often stubborn Kim, the sporty and confident Franzi, and the stylish, versatile Marie cannot solve. Their differences sometimes put their friendship to the test, but in the end, they crack every case and always have each other’s backs.