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The first weekend in April brought plenty of interesting options on both the big and small screen. Below is a look at the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

The First Omen (Theaters)
Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sonia Braga, and Bill Nighy
Synopsis: It’s a big time for unwanted demonic pregnancies on screen. After the Neon film Immaculate last week, we got a prequel to The Omen this week. We pick up the action in 1971, as a young girl, Margaret (Free), arrives in Rome to work at an orphanage and take her vows. She doesn’t speak much Italian, but she’s excited to be in service after being a ward of the church all her life. But she finds things at the orphanage different than she expected, connecting with an outcast ward who reminds her of her own journey. And it doesn’t take long to see how this film connects to the original Omen, released in 1976. This is a slow build. If we hadn’t just seen a very similar story last week, it might feel a bit more original. There are some decent performances, particularly from Free. There are also some unsettling sequences, all building to a reveal—and ending—that feels fairly predictable if you’re familiar with the source material. We didn’t need a prequel to fill in the gaps, but this ends up being a decent horror film.
Rating: Rated R for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Girls State (Apple TV+)
About: Back in 2020, as the world descended into chaos due to a pandemic, we got an interesting documentary, Boys State, that looked at the political process through the eyes of high school boys in Texas. Now, four years later, the filmmakers are back, repeating the process with a twist. This time we’re with a group of girls in Missouri who are figuring out what it would be like to govern—which includes dealing with the disparity of opportunities and resources between them and their male counterparts in their own state. On paper, it seems too easy to go back to the well. But given the unprecedented time for women when it comes to legislation and rulings, this is an ideal time to explore what it all means to the next generation as they, hopefully, prepare to lead. I loved Boys State when it was released in 2020. It ended up among my favorite films of that year. This film is different—and not just because of the subjects. The experience is different, and the issues are different. But it’s equally compelling and beautifully told. It gives you hope that with these kids charging toward adulthood, the upcoming generation might just be all right.
Rating: TV-14
Verdict: Four stars out of five

The Greatest Hits (Theaters/Hulu)
Starring: Lucy Boynton, David Corenswet, and Justin Min
Synopsis: The question has often been posed, is it better to have loved and lost or not to have loved at all? In the new film The Greatest Hits, which has a limited theatrical run April 5 before dropping on Hulu on April 12, our lead character certainly ponders that very question. Her ultimate answer has ramifications for three people in the future and their chance at love Harriet (Boynton) loves music but, for the last two years, it hasn’t always loved her back. That’s because she lost her boyfriend, Max (Corenswet), in a car accident. Since that point in time, whenever she hears a song, she first heard with Max, Harriet is pulled back into that moment. It doesn’t matter where she is. So, as a result, she lives a withdrawn life, wearing headphones whenever she goes out. Her friend, Morris (Austin Crute), tries to encourage her to move on. But Harriet believes these songs are her gateway to the past—a past she can change to save Max if she can only find the right song. In addition to work and limited outings, Harriet attends a grief group. It’s there she makes a connection with a fellow participant (Min). That connection has her questioning if she’s ready to move on and torn between a future of happiness and her mission to find the song that lets her save Max, and herself. It’s a unique concept. For much of the film, you’re pulled into the emotional nature of the grief that holds back Boynton and Min. But you can’t help but wonder if she’s really going to the past. And if she is, can she really change her future by changing the past. The answer to those questions is part of the beautiful journey of this film from writer/director Ned Benson. This film is something of a slow burn. I was captivated by the idea at first but as I went along, I found myself more and more invested in Harriet and her story. I appreciated the trips to the past, and how that fleshed out her relationship with Max, as well as her struggle to move forward, out of grief. Boynton and Min are quite good and have some great chemistry in this film. I also appreciated Corenswet in the flashback sequences. Ultimately, this story will either hit for you or it won’t. I found the emotional hook deeply engaging and satisfying to the point that I was moved by Harriet’s journey and the ultimate answer to the film’s deeper questions about love, loss, and choice. This is a beautifully told story that’s worth seeking out. The Greatest Hits is in limited release in theaters April 5 and on Hulu April 12.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for drug use, strong language and suggestive material.
Verdict: Three and a half out of five stars

Musica (Prime Video)
Starring: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale, and J.B. Smoove
Synopsis: The latest Prime Video original is a romantic comedy and a musical story from Mancuso, who stars in the film, co-wrote the script and directs. It’s about a young man, Rudy (Mancuso), who is trying to find himself and unleash his passion. He’s also torn between his longtime girlfriend (Reale) and a new woman (Mendes) who might know his heart better. It’s a fun and musical ride, full of comedy and showcasing Mancuso’s unique talents and his unique point of view. I enjoyed the ride and the performances. It’s charming and moves at a good pace, while offering a satisfying ending that doesn’t go where you’d expect. This is worth taking time to check out on Prime Video.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some strong language, suggestive references and brief violence.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Monkey Man (Theaters)
Starring: Dev Patel
Synopsis: Often the big moments early in our lives can shape us into adults. Sometimes it’s a good experience, other times it’s something traumatic. That’s certainly the case for the protagonist in the new film Monkey Man. We begin with a young kid (Jatin Malik) and his mother (Adithi Kalkunte) as she tells him the story of a great warrior. You can see their bond and how the lean on each other. And it’s clear that something has happened. Flash-forward years later, and that kid (Patel) is now grown up. He’s adopted the monkey warrior persona in under-ground fights led by a dubious promoter (Sharlto Copley). But it’s a means to an end. He’s really focused on one target in particular—the corrupt police chief (Sikandar Kher) who rules by fear. With a new position at an upscale but shady location that serves the local elite, he might just get his chance. But can he transform into the true monkey warrior, finding the inner strength needed to accomplish his mission and be a light to those who are suffering and oppressed? This is clearly Patel’s passion project. He came up with the story, co-wrote the screenplay, directed the film, and is the primary star. And he gives his all in front of and behind the screen, creating a unique and wild ride. Patel is great as a performer. The way the camera follows him in this film also builds the tension. You can see the boiling rage in him leading to a huge confrontation that changes the arc of the film. The use of hand-held moments and close ups adds to the intense feel of the film. But what really stands out is the action, which is plentiful, severe, and beautifully choreographed. From the sequences in an actual fighting ring to the efforts of the kid to avenge his mother, we see several varied and exciting sequences. All of them are well-shot and intensely done to draw you in and never let you go. I appreciate the story here, though we don’t know much about our central hero beyond his tortured and tragic backstory, which plays out in flashbacks throughout the film. In fact, we don’t know much about any the characters that populate this world aside from their base personality and motivations. That shallow approach to the details and characters is the lone drawback for me, but it doesn’t detract much from the fun ride of this film. I loved the action, and I loved Patel’s work here. This is a wild ride that’s enhanced even more seeing it on the big screen.
Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, language throughout, sexual content/nudity and drug use.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Scoop (Neflix)
Starring: Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Romola Garai, and Billie Piper
Synopsis: By now, most everyone is familiar with Jeffrey Epstein and the heinous crimes he committed. This new Netflix film focuses on his connection to Prince Andrew (Sewell), and the BBC interview he granted that led to him losing face and losing his titles. The focus is on the trio of women at the BBC that worked to land and execute the interview. It starts with Sam McAlister (Piper), the booker who is contacted by a member of Prince Andrew’s staff and works to secure the interview. Also, part of the team is the new producer (Garai) and the star reporter (Anderson) who had a hand in the landmark interview. The film also attempts to get us to understand why he granted the interview in the first place, including a close staff member (Kate Fleetwood) who wanted to believe Andrew could redeem himself if given the right chance to go on the record. That, of course, didn’t happen. I love a good journalism film, and this has some moments. It likely also plays a bit better in England, where this was more of a landmark moment. I enjoyed the film for what it was, but I thought it fell short of being great.
Rating: TV-14
Verdict: Three stars out of five