#Middlebury #DVDs
“Above the Shadows” (NR) – Holly (Olivia Thirlby) was once a real person, but she faded into oblivion, becoming invisible for all practical purposes. No one can see her, but she exists. Shayne Blackwell (Alan Ritchson), an MMA fighter who fell from grace, is the only person who can see Holly. In order to become visible again, she uses her shadowy talents to lift Shayne back to the lofty heights from which he fell, complete with career and the girl (Megan Fox). But as the pair help each other gain what they had lost, victory and visibility begin to take on new meanings. The movie itself is not so incredible as the concept: It’s a supernatural, sport-specific romance. That alone rates a spot in the Friday-night rotation.
Jessie Buckley in “Wild Rose” (NEON photo)
“Wild Rose” (R) – It’s not hard to like Rose-Lynn (Jessie Buckley), a working-class girl in Glasgow, Scotland, with big dreams of being a country music singer in Nashville. Boy, does she have the pipes for it, too, but the path to stardom requires more than just “three chords and the truth.” For one, she’s just been released from jail and must take a job cleaning houses to satisfy her work requirement. She’s also a single mom whose own disapproving mother (Julie Walters) has been raising her two kids. Buckley plays Rose-Lynn perfectly, as cheerful and magnetic, both captivating onstage and an explosive firecracker with a microfuse. Either way, her enthusiasm is infectious. Plus, the movie takes some refreshing turns – just when you think you know where the story is going, you don’t.
“Dark Phoenix” (PG-13) – The last in the X-Men series, “Dark Phoenix” is the saga of one Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), telekinetic and psychic known as Phoenix, whose powers intensify exponentially after she’s exposed to a celestial flare. As Phoenix tries to control the malevolent force inside her, a shapeshifting alien named Vuk (Jessica Chastain) shows up in an attempt to subvert her newfound powers. Phoenix turns on her fellow X-Men as she wrestles against Vuk’s influence and the truth of what she is becoming, or perhaps has been all along: The Dark Phoenix. The general consensus in my row of the theater is that it was a disappointing waste of what could have been a killer story. I agree, and with lackluster performances and nothing particularly compelling onscreen, I can safely advise you to pass.
“Bodied” (R) – Part of the new YouTube Premium content, “Bodied” stars Calum Worthy as Adam, a graduate student at a very progressive college who, in the course of researching his thesis, becomes embroiled in a battle rap – and impresses. His success leads to greater opportunities, but at the cost of his mainstream identity. The rap battles are impressive – the right mix of vulgar and trashy meets clever wit.
New TV Releases
“Elementary” The Final Season
“Modern Family” Season 10
“Supergirl” Season 4
“The Good Fight” Season 3
© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
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