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The weekend before Thanksgiving was a packed time at theaters and on streaming. Below is my take on the new movies I saw this week. As always, you can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Blitz (Apple TV+)
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Harris Dickinson, and Elliott Heffernan
Synopsis: The latest from writer/director Steve McQueen takes place in London in 1940 as the residents of the city are enduring the German Blitz during World War II. London is bombed nightly, and the lack of shelters makes things unsafe for the residents, many of whom send their children to the country for safety. Rita (Ronan), a single mother working in the factories, sends her son George (Heffernan) away for his safety. He’s upset by the decision. As the train makes its way to the country, George jumps for it and makes a perilous journey back to his mother. When Rita learns that her son is missing, she begins a frantic search to find him. Meanwhile, the bombs keep falling. This is an interesting historical event to cover, especially for American audiences who don’t know as much about the conditions in London in the early days of the war. But this film meanders a bit more than I’d like. The look is beautiful, and the craft is strong. But at times, George’s journey feels more like Pinocchio than a WWII tale. It takes you out of the narrative at times. That’s also the case with some of the flashbacks meant to show Rita’s life and journey to where we meet her in 1940. There are some great moments, but it doesn’t all come together for me. I like the potential, but it doesn’t all come together as I’d hoped.
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements including some racism, violence, some strong language, brief sexuality and smoking.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Gladiator II (Theaters)
Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielsen
Synopsis: This new film is a follow up to the original, which hit theaters 24 years ago. The film picks up the action 16 years later as Rome remains in the midst of corruption and crisis thanks to co-Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). General Acacius (Pascal) has led another victory, and among the conquered is Hanno (Mescal), who is sold as a slave to Macrinus (Washington). Macrinus plans to use Hanno in the games as a means of gaining favor for a larger plan for power. Hanno, meanwhile, is harboring a secret of his own that could change the future of Rome. I remember seeing the original Gladiator in theaters. It’s a powerful and engaging film. Even 24 years later, Ridley Scott still has a vision for this world. This film’s visuals and craft are strong, even if the meandering story doesn’t match it. This story feels like a re-tread of the original, hitting many of the same story beats without drawing in emotions or creating compelling characters. In many ways it felt like something of a waste of a great cast to me. The action sequences are fine, but the story doesn’t work. I wasn’t drawn into the narrative and wasn’t taken with the production as a whole.
Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence.
Verdict: Two stars out of five

Joy (Netflix)
Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, and Bill Nighy
Synopsis: It takes daring to make leaps forward in science and technology. It takes courage to stand up against institution, friends, and family who shun you because of your belief. But, sometimes, when you persevere you can make miracles happen. This new film is a biopic about three people—a nurse, a scientist, and a surgeon—who came together and fought for more than a decade to craft a breakthrough that changed lives. The film follows Jean Purdy (McKenzie), Bob Edwards (Norton), and Patrick Steptoe (Nighy) as they work to develop the IVF technique. Their research rankles the church, friends, family, and the medical community, but it just might be what is needed to give women with fertility issues hope. This is a well-crafted film that features some beautiful performances, especially from McKenzie, who is the focus of much of the film. The ending dedication gives helps explain the focus and dedication to her efforts as part of this team. The success of this group, who worked from the end of the 1960s through the 1970s to achieve their first success. It’s provided a path forward for millions in the decades since and this story is a beautiful tribute to those efforts and the first brave women who stepped up to be part of this experimental procedure. This is a streaming film worth checking out.
Rating: PG-13 for thematic material, brief strong language, some sexual references and surgery images.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Out of My Mind (Disney+)
Starring: Phoebe-Rae Taylor, Luke Kirby, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Judith Light
Synopsis: We all deserve to have our voice heard. It just takes some people more time and effort than others. Melody Brooks (Taylor) is a sixth grader who just wants to go to school and fit in with friends. But suffering with cerebral palsy, she has to overcome physical challenges and the skepticism of teachers and classmates. With the help of a new computer that provides her a way to express her voice, she begins to take control of her own narrative. This is a beautiful and inspirational story. Taylor does a nice job in the lead role, while Kirby, DeWitt, and Light are great as her parents and grandmother. There is a great blend of humor and drama in this film. It will be inspiring to younger viewers, but it is great for the whole family. It’s an important story and one that engage audiences of all ages as well.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

The Piano Lesson (Netflix)
Starring: John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, and Stephan James
Synopsis: August Wilson was a tremendous playwright whose work has touched generations, both on stage and on screen. We’ve seen two of his works previously adapted and now we get a third in The Piano Lesson, which comes from producer Denzel Washington. But Denzel is hardly the only Washington attached to this project. It’s something of a family affair, with son Malcolm serving as director and his other son, John David, in one of the starring roles. It brings a complex and sometimes difficult play to life in a new film now streaming on Netflix. The film is set in 1936, in the aftermath of the Great Depression in Pittsburgh. At the heart are a pair of siblings—Boy Willie (John David Washington) and Berenice (Deadwyler)—who are at odds over what to do with a piano. It’s more than just an instrument, it’s a part of their family history. And the piano, as we learn, has a long history of its own. One generation of their family carved the family history into the piano. It is covered with images of their ancestors. But getting it back in their possession came at a cost as their father, Boy Charles (James), lost his life in the process. Now, Berenice is committed to keeping it as a part of their family. She sees it as a part of their history and legacy. Boy Willie, meanwhile, sees what it could provide. He wants to sell the piano and use the proceeds to acquire the land their family used to work, this time as owners. The argument brings up the past, painful memories, and even ghosts as they decide a path forward. It can be tricky to adapt a stage play to the screen because of the difference in medium. Often, to retain the heart you need long sequences of characters in rooms having discussions. We get that here. But Malcolm Washington also does a nice job of making it feel more cinematic than a straight up adaptation. The use of flashbacks to bring the past to life, and some of the flourishes used during the emotional sequences of the film, particularly in the third act, give it some visual intrigue. It’s also blessed with a solid cast and a solid overall look that recreates the time period. The supporting cast, which includes Jackson, Fisher, and Corey Hawkins, among others, does a nice job. But it’s the leads, John David Washington and particularly Deadwyler, who crackle here. Their larger-than-life characters capture your attention and help dominate the screen. I’ve enjoyed past Wilson adaptations, especially the fierce characters and performances in Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. While I like the performances here, the story doesn’t always work in the same way. This is darker than those stories in some ways, but also harder to follow at times. It’s a solid adaptation but it doesn’t reach the heights of some other films based on Wilson’s work.
Rating: PG-13 for strong language, violent content, some suggestive references and smoking.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Wicked, Part One (Theaters)
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey
Synopsis: One of the biggest releases of this Thanksgiving season is the big screen adaptation of the musical Wicked, which is a prequel of sorts for The Wizard of Oz. Not all those who are portrayed as villains are evil. History is written by the winners, and there is often more to the story. We know the fate of the Wicked Witch of the West in Wizard of Oz but is it the whole story. Wicked suggests it’s not. This film travels back to when the Witch, Elphaba (Erivo) and Galinda (Grande) were just students at Shiz University. Elphaba has been an outcast all her life, but her special power draws the attention of Madame Morrible (Yeoh) who thinks she could be an asset for The Wizard (Goldblum). Galinda is used to being the most popular girl everywhere she goes. At first, she and Elphaba butt heads. But soon, they find a friendship that brings them closer than sisters. When Elphaba discovers the truth about Oz and the Wizard, it threatens to tear them apart and turn their story on its heads. This is a beautifully crafted film. Jon Chu does a great job of bringing the adaptation to the screen. I loved the look of the sets, production, and costumes here. The music is incredible, and it really adds beautifully to the story. The performances here are beautiful as well. I loved Erivo and Grande in this film. The final number and sequence soars to incredible heights, creating an incredible cinematic experience. This film demands to be seen in theaters.
Rating: PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.
Verdict: Four stars out of five