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It was an interesting week for new films, with a couple wide releases in theaters and a couple anticipated streaming options. I have my thoughts on all four below. You can always find more of what I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Cassandro (Prime Video)
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Raul Castillo, and Roberta Colindrez
Synopsis: This biopic is set in the early 1980s and follows Saul (Bernal), a gay wrestler living in El Paso, Texas, who travels south of the border to compete in lucha libre matches. The film premiered at Sundance in January and had a limited theatrical release before dropping Friday on Prime Video. The film focuses on Saul’s career transformation, as he connects with a new trainer (Colindrez) who helps him change his approach, his style and his persona in the ring. He finds fame as he transforms into Cassandro, bringing a sense of flair and style to the sport. It’s as much about Saul and his relationships as his performance in the ring. Bernal carries the film, sitting in nearly every frame. He gives a wonderful performance that elevates what otherwise feels like just an OK story. Director Roger Ross Williams cares about the subject—having previously done a documentary on the subject—but that passion doesn’t always translate here. The film has some fun visual flair, particularly in the way it brings wrestling matches to life, but it’s mostly just OK.
Rating: Rated R for language, drug use and sexual content.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Dumb Money (Theaters)
Starring: Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, Pete Davidson, Seth Rogen, Sebastian Stan, and Nick Offerman
Synopsis: This is another film based on true events, following the rise of the Game Stop stock in 2020 and 2021, and the impact it had on the market. It was a surge and an event that even led to a Congressional hearing, but it might be a story you hadn’t heard much about. The focus is on Keith Gill (Dano), who also posted under the screen name Roaring Kitty. He was an amateur trader who made videos sharing his interest in the Game Stop stock. That just so happened to be a stock that hedge fund guys, namely Gabe Plotkin (Rogen), had bet against with a large short position. As the stock rose, and more of the common investors got involved, it became a battle between Wall Street guys and the people, leading to something of a financial revolution. The film, from director Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya), approaches the story in a unique way. He follows a number of the smaller investors, telling their stories, while looking at the saga’s impact on Plotkin and Robinhood founder Vlad Tenev (Stan). I liked the pacing and the way the story unfolds. There are also some great performances. I loved Dano in the lead role and I really appreciated his back-and-forth with Davidson, who plays his brother, and Woodley, who plays his wife. This was an engaging and interesting subject that makes for a fun watch. I loved it.
Rating: Rated R for pervasive language, sexual material, and drug use.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

Expend4bles (Theaters)
Starring: Jason Statham, Megan Fox, Sylvester Stallone, and Andy Garcia
Synopsis: The other big theatrical release is the fourth installment of this action franchise. There are some famous action stars here, but it’s mostly about Statham and Stallone, and this film rightly sets the focus there—at least initially. The Expendables are given an assignment by a CIA Agent (Garcia) and things don’t go as planned. Now, Christmas (Statham) is on his own to make things right, bugging his girlfriend (Fox), who is now the leader of his former team. It’s a bold strategy to give Stallone’s screen time to Fox, but at times it works. Mostly, we know what these films are—expect plenty of carnage, plenty of action, and a few quips. That’s what we get here. The focus is primarily on Statham, and he does a nice job taking the lead. If you’re a fan of these kind of movies, you’ll know the plot and the twists—which you can see coming from a mile away—don’t matter that much. For what it is, this film is fine.
Rating: Rated R for strong/bloody violence throughout, language and sexual material.
Verdict: Two stars out of five

No One Will Save You (Hulu)
Starring: Kaitlyn Dever
Synopsis: This new thriller from writer/director Bryan Duffield is perfectly timed for the season. It focuses on a young woman (Dever) who lives alone as something of an outcast in her town. When aliens arrive, she’s on her own but is uniquely suited to repel their attack on her home, which gives her an advantage in the new world order. This film is a crisp 93 minutes with limited dialogue. It also isn’t really interested in building other characters in the world. Dever carries the narrative and does it largely alone. This film is built on suspense and concept, and it does a nice job with both. I appreciated the look and feel here, and I liked Dever in the lead role. Duffield provides some nice visuals at times, but I wanted a little more context for Dever’s character and the world. Still, it’s an interesting idea and a breezy seasonal watch.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for violent content and terror.
Verdict: Three stars out of five