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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

Cry Macho (Theaters/HBO Max)
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eduardo Minett, and Dwight Yoakam
Synopsis: This on is based on the novel from N. Richard Nash and set in 1979. It centers on an aging Rodeo Star (Eastwood) who is tasked by his former employer (Yoakam) to head to Mexico and find his young son (Minett) and bring him home. Eastwood serves as the director and producer here in addition to starring in front of the camera as well. The film opened in theaters and released on HBO Max the same day. Eastwood is 91-years-old and has had a prolific career in front of and behind the camera. I hope when and if I hit 91 I at least have control of my mental faculties, so his work should be impressive from that standpoint. This film isn't great. It is slow and at times awkward. There is probably a depth and intrigue in the source material that isn't quite translating here. Eastwood has made some compelling films but this wouldn't be counted as one of them. It flopped at the Box Office, and for good reason. This is easily skippable.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for language and thematic elements.
Verdict: One star out of four

Everybody's Talking About Jamie (Amazon Prime)
Starring: Max Harwood, Lauren Patel, Sarah Lancashire, Richard E. Grant, and Sharon Horgan
Synopsis: This one is based on a true story about a teen in England, Jamie (Harwood), who dreamed of becoming a drag queen. This story was originally produced as a stage musical and now has been adapted into a musical film, with director Jonathan Butterell carrying over from the stage show. In the film Jamie struggles with a poor relationship to his father (Ralph Ineson) but has great support from his mother (Lancashire) and his best friend (Patel). He connects with a mentor (Grant) who helps him find his voice as a performer and as a man comfortable in his own skin. All the while he deals with prejudice and hate from classmates and even a vindictive teacher (Horgan). This one has lavish song-and-dance numbers and a story that, while it feels familiar, is one that will be meaningful for many. As a film, I didn't enjoy this. I thought the musical numbers and performances were just OK, and for the most part the way the characters were constructed it all felt like no one was likeable. It's an interesting addition to the Amazon Prime library, but it wasn't entirely compelling.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, strong language, and suggestive material.
Verdict: Two stars out of four

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (Limited, VOD)
Starring: Frankie Faison
Synopsis: On the morning of November 19, 2011, Kenneth Chamberlain, a veteran with bi-polar disorder and a heart condition, accidentally hit his medic alert button at 5:25 a.m. By 7 a.m. he had been shot and killed by police. This film, which is emotionally charged and powerful constructed, walks through that morning practically in real time. Faison gives an electric performance as Chamberlain, bearing a great deal of emotional weight through the run of the film. Writer/director David Midell does a good job of bringing this to life and bringing a huge emotional heft through the telling of the story. At the end, we learn no one was ever charged. Then, Midell uses the real audio of Chamberlain's desperate calls to the medic alert company over the end credits. It's a powerful statement and a powerful story that needs to be told, especially in an era where we're taking a hard look at our institutions and asking the hard questions about the nature of policing.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Four stars out of four

My Son (Peacock)
Starring: James McAvoy and Claire Foy
Synopsis: Driving in the heart of the Highlands, Edmond Murray (McAvoy) receives a call from his ex-wife (Foy), in tears. Their 7-year-old son went missing from a campsite. Soon it becomes clear that the child was kidnapped and the parents give way to despair. Christian Carion serves as the writer/director here, adapting his French film of the same name. The twist here is that McAvoy was kept in the dark, with the script and dialogue withheld to force him to give an improvised performance. McAvoy and Foy are quite good here, but the story feels a little thin and takes some odd turns, likely owing to the experimental nature of how the film was put together. It's an interesting idea but it released on Peacock with little fanfare. It was a decent film and an interesting idea.
Rating: Rated R for language throughout and some violence.
Verdict: Two stars out of four