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It was a busy week for new releases, and I have my thoughts on the big theatrical release and streaming options below. As always, you can follow my thoughts on everything I’m seeing by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

El Conde (Netflix)
Starring: Jamie Vadell, Gloria Munchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger, and Stella Gonet
Synopsis: The latest from director Pablo Larrain is about a Central American dictator who is harboring a big secret. Turns out he’s a vampire. He fakes his own death to escape the day-to-day grind and now he’s pondering whether he wants to die for real. It’s something of an existential crisis. We get his history, including his coming into his power and role during the French Revolution. Through flashbacks we learn more of his story, while also seeing his family come together to squabble over who gets his hidden fortune. From a style standpoint the film, which is in Spanish and French, is shot in black-and-white. It gives a unique visual style to the story. The storytelling also has a unique style and tone, meant to be something of a black comedy. I appreciated the craft and the care that went into constructing the narrative, but the story itself didn’t resonate strongly. It’s a clever and creative production but it wasn’t totally for me.
Rating: Rated R for strong violence and gore, some graphic nudity, rape, language and sexual content.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Equalizer 3 (Theaters)
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, and David Denman
Synopsis: This film released on Labor Day weekend and has been one of the bigger Box Office hits of September. It’s the third film in the franchise, all featuring Washington as Robert McCall with Antoine Fuqua behind the camera. It’s been five years since we’ve seen McCall on the big screen. The film franchise was an adaptation of the TV series and in the time since the second film we’ve seen the premise turned into a CBS series again, this one featuring Queen Latifah in the titular role. But the films have been different. There are quietly beautiful moments but the violence, when it comes, is intense and brutal. This film opens with a brutal sequence and closes with a brutal sequence. In between, we get a chance for Washington to shine as this character. This feels like something of a closing sequence, with Fanning’s character playing a connection to McCall’s past. Their interactions work well and are some of the best parts of the film. By now, we know what this franchise is. This film doesn’t pull any punches and might be one of the better installments of the franchise. Washington is great in this role and the style here works.
Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence and some language.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

A Haunting in Venice (Theaters)
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, and Jamie Dornan
Synopsis: The big new release this week is the third film directed by Branagh featuring him as Hercule Poirot, the famed detective from Agatha Christie’s novels. This film is set in 1947 in Venice, taking place just in the wake of World War II. The horrors of that war play a part in the struggles of Poirot and other characters. It’s also set on Halloween, when Poirot’s friend and novelist, Ariadne Oliver (Fey) convinces him to come to check out a medium. Poirot is semi-retired but agrees. The party is hosted by Rowena Drake (Reilly), a star of the stage whose daughter died tragically a year prior. When the medium (Yeoh) arrives, Poirot springs to action to uncover the tricks. When she is tragically killed, the party becomes a murder mystery and the detective is plucked from retirement to solve the case, if he can. The set up here works and it draws on the tropes that work from Christie’s work. Now in his third film, Branagh feels at home in the role. I liked the shots and the way the film was set up. There is a unique quality to the action here. I enjoyed the back-and-forth with Fey, as well. We know what these kind of films are and it depends on your fondness for the genre to some extent. I’ve enjoyed all his adaptations, but this might be my favorite. It’s also a tight 104 minutes, so it doesn’t overstay its welcome. I enjoyed this installment, and I wouldn’t mind seeing them continue.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some strong violence, disturbing images and thematic elements.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Love at First Site (Netflix)
Starring: Haley Lu Richardson, Ben Hardy, and Jameela Jamil
Synopsis: Romantic comedies have a certain structure and outcome. When this film starts, we know where it’s going. It isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey. And in this journey, I enjoyed the ride. This latest romantic comedy comes from Netflix. It’s set on December 21 and follows Hadley (Richardson) and Oliver (Hardy) who meet cute at the airport then share a flight to London. Both are heading to family gatherings. Along the way, they spark a connection, but can it turn into something lasting once they’re on the ground. Along the way, the story is provided context by a narrator (Jamil) who takes on various roles throughout the journey. As I mentioned, it’s not hard to see where this is going. There are a few twists in the story, based on the novel from Jennifer E. Smith. I liked the direction from Vanessa Caswill, too. But this soars based on the chemistry of the leads. Richardson and Hardy are totally charming, while Jamil is a bit of fun in the narrator role. I liked this one a lot and it makes for a nice date night option, too.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some suggestive references.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

A Million Miles Away (Prime Video)
Starring: Michael Pena, Rosa Salazar and Bobby Soto
Synopsis: We all have dreams. Sometimes they can seem wildly unattainable. But they give us focus and purpose, and sometimes we can achieve those dreams. This latest film from Prime Video is about a man with a dream, a seemingly wild and unattainable dream. And yet, he works to make it a reality. The film is based on the life of Jose Hernandez (Pena), who became the first Mexican American to make it to space. But it wasn’t easy. It took hard work and perseverance. It took 12 applications to NASA to even get in and more than 30 years to achieve his dream. He went from working in the fields with his family to an engineer on a manned shuttle flight. His story is an inspiration, and I’m happy to report that the film made of his story is also inspiring. It is a deeply rewarding and emotional journey, particularly in the final hour as he works to achieve his dream. Pena is great in the lead role and Salazar is great as his wife and partner who is by his side the whole way. For Jose, it wasn’t just a trip to space. He carried the hopes and dreams of his family and many others like it. This film beautifully captures that journey in a richly emotional way. I loved it.
Rating: Rated PG for thematic elements and language.
Verdict: Four stars out of five