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We’re into November and we’re seeing a mixture of blockbusters and award season contenders. Below is my take on the biggest releases of the week. You can follow all my movie watching exploits on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

The Holdovers (Theaters)
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa
Synopsis: I’ve long enjoyed a good Alexander Payne film. It’s been a few years since we’ve seen a feature from him, but now we get The Holdovers, a period piece with humor, heart and plenty of pathos. In short, just what you’d expect from Payne. Here we take the action to 1970 to the Barton boarding school over Christmas break. A curmudgeon of a teacher, Paul Hunham (Giamati) is roped into staying behind with the five students that won’t be with their families. Among them is Angus Tully (Sessa), whose mother and her new husband abandoned him. Tully is bright but struggling, due in part to issues with his father. When the other boys are able to find a way off campus, Tully alone is left behind. Can Mr. Hunham break free from his normal routine to make a connection with a student in need? This film is about the evolution of the relationship between these two. We also have Randolph as the school’s cook who is the only other staff member left behind as she grieves the death of her son in Vietnam. It’s a powerful, emotional experience with these three lonely people who are looking for a way through their grief to connection. There’s some humor here and plenty of pathos. There’s a certain type of Payne film that really connects with me emotionally and appeals to me. This film hits the right combination, and I really appreciated the performances from Giamatti and Sessa. It’s an engaging film that’s worth checking out.
Rating: Rated R for language, some drug use and brief sexual material.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

The Killer (Netflix)
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, and Charles Parnell
Synopsis: David Fincher is a director that crafts a certain look and a certain feel for all his films. His latest, The Killer, is no exception. The mood and the look are set early on. It’s also buoyed by a strong lead performance from Michael Fassbender, who’s perfect in the part. The film centers on a contract killer who is on a job. For much of the early going, we’re in his head. We learn how he does his job, how he lives his life and how he sees the world. By the time we get to the turning point, we’re invested in his journey. The rest of the film is fall out from an inciting incident that takes us through his process and a series of follow up encounters. It’s all crisply shot and directed, creating a gripping and engaging ride. I loved The Killer. It’s a dark story, sure, but the dialogue is engaging and Fassbender creates a truly memorable character. In addition, Fincher delivers an engaging world that pulls you in and takes you on a fun ride. This is one of the better films of the year and the best of the Netflix releases so far in 2023. It’s well worth checking out.
Rating: Rated R for strong violence, language and brief sexuality.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

The Marvels (Theaters)
Starring: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, and Samuel L. Jackson
Synopsis: It’s been an interesting year for Marvel between the high-profile films and TV series. Here we check in on Carol Danvers (Larson), known to most as Captain Marvel. She’s still mostly working alone in space with Goose. But when a new threat (Zawe Ashton) causes her powers to cross with those of Monica Rambeau (Parris) and Kamala Khan (Vellani), things get interesting. The trio has to come together to face the threat and also find some common ground. For Kamala, that means meeting her idol and learning to be a hero. For Carol, that means confronting the past and learning to be a team player. And for Monica, that means confronting her feelings and making peace with her Aunt Carol. Together, they have to fight to save the galaxy and make things right. This film, from Nia DaCosta, has a bit of a different tone and approach. Much has been made of it being the shortest film in the MCU, which was refreshing, but it’s also got plenty of room for levity. There’s some good comedy and camaraderie in this film that makes it hum. I love Vellani in this role. She’s a lot of fun and I hope we see more in the future. The combination of Larson, Vellani and Parris also works well. This is a fun group, and it makes for a fun film. There isn’t much depth to their primary antagonist, which doesn’t allow Ashton to show a lot of range. But this is still a fun outing; one of the better MCU films in recent years and one that I hope sets the stage for more from these three characters.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for action/violence and brief language.
Verdict: Four stars out of five