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Thanksgiving weekend was a bit quieter, but we got a bevy of holiday-themed films. Below is my take on this week’s new releases. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

All We Imagine As Light (Theaters)
Starring: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam
Synopsis: Every year we get a rich tapestry of stories that highlight people and places we don’t know well. These films from around the globe often tell beautifully intimate stories that stick with you after the credits roll. That’s the case with All We Imagine As Light, a film from India that is making a wider release in a number of places, such as Denver, this weekend. The film comes from writer/director Payal Kapadia and it’s the story of two friends and co-workers who are seeking more in life. It beautifully captures the story of these women—and many like them—while showcasing their city. In the film, Prabha (Kusruti) and Anu (Prabha) are nurses in Mumbai. They are also roommates. But they have very different outlooks on life. Prabha was part of an arranged marriage as a younger woman, but her husband left to work in a factory in Germany. She hasn’t heard from him in a long time and she’s lonely, but unable to move forward because of her marriage. Anu is young and in love. Her boyfriend, Shiaz (Hridhu Haroon), is a Muslim. Their relationship causes others to talk and Prabha to caution her young friend. But while Anu’s parents want to arrange a marriage for her, her heart belongs to Shiaz. As Prahba and Anu accompany a former co-worker, Parvaty (Kadam), to her home village, it gives them a chance to take stock of their lives and their future. As events unfold in the village, it has a profound impact on both women. This is a simple story that’s beautifully told. It’s beautifully told not only in the way we walk alongside these characters, but in the way, Kapadia captures their lives, the city, and the small village they visit. There are beautiful shots and it’s engaging the way the film captures life in Mumbai and other places. I enjoyed the opening sequence as well, as we hear more of the story of the women as we’re seeing images of life in the city. It’s a great way to draw you in and get you invested in the story. The performances are also strong. I particularly like Kusruti, whose work helps carry a large portion of the narrative. She’s so expressive in her eyes and facial expressions it helps draw you into her journey. Overall, this is a beautifully crafted story that at times is deeply emotional. It’s a great showcase of this world and these women that’s worth checking out. It’s now in limited release.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Beatles ’64 (Disney+)
Synopsis: This new documentary from David Tedeschi follows the Beatles as they land in America for the first time. It uses a combination of file footage and interviews from throughout history to set the scene and describe the impact of the Beatles’ arrival in the United States, and their long-term impact on music and culture. Even six years later, the impact of the tour and the group reverberates in culture. This is a loving look at their impact on people and a tribute to the band and their music. It’s a fun look back at history and culture that has some emotional moments. For fans of the band, fans of history, or fans of music, this is worth a look.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Moana 2 (Theaters)
Starring: Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson
Synopsis: Back in 2016, Disney animation gave us the tale of Moana (Cravalho), a young explorer, and Maui (Johnson), a demi-god. They came together to form an unlikely partnership in saving the ocean, her island home, and restoring balance. Over the past eight years, Moana and its rich story, characters, and music has remained popular with fans, in Disney theme parks, and one streaming. Now, we’re finally getting a return to those characters and world timed for the Thanksgiving weekend holiday. We pick up a few years later and Moana is a way finder, but she’s struggling to achieve her goal of finding other tribes and people. She knows others are out there, but she can’t make a connection. Still, she is revered by her people and has never lost the wanderlust that makes her the ideal candidate to head to new waters. Maui, meanwhile, is in a jam of his own as he tries to confront a god and restore an island that holds the key to reuniting the people of the ocean. He’s in a jam and in need of his old friend Moana. At the same time, she gets a sign to head back out on the water. She has a new boat, an expanded crew, and a mission that is tied to the future of her people. When Moana and Maui reunite, they have to find a way to overcome their biggest obstacle yet to safeguard the future for all the people of the world. This is a beautifully crafted film. The look is strong, the characters are fun, and the music works well. It transports you back to this world and brings you back into another adventure. It feels familiar and engaging, with lavish musical numbers that capture your heart. Cravalho and Johnson are having fun with these characters. The action sequences work well and there is enough humor to keep you engaged and entertained. This will do well with viewers who’ve missed Moana and want to go on another adventure. It doesn’t have the originality of the first film and doesn’t quite have as much depth of story. In fact, it feels a lot like a repetition of the plot beats, albeit with more characters to share the journey. That’s not a bad thing, but it keeps Moana 2 from reaching new heights. This is a solid and enjoyable film, one that will delight audiences who fell in love with the original eight years ago. It’s a fun time for the family at the theater and should be a delightful holiday diversion.
Rating: Rated PG for action/peril.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Nutcrackers (Hulu)
Starring: Ben Stiller, Linda Cardellini, Arlo Janson, Ulysses Janson, Atlas Janson, and Homer Janson
Synopsis: The latest from director David Gordon Green is a family-friendly tale of four brothers (played by real brothers Arlo, Ulysses, Atlas, and Homer) who are left orphaned when their parents are killed in an accident. They are home schooled, used to living off the grid, and occupy the family farm in a sleepy little town. Their uncle, Mike (Stiller), is used to something different. He comes to town in a yellow Porsche, working on closing a huge deal, and used to a condo in the middle of Chicago. He’s simply there to close out the estate and see the boys get adopted. But along the way, and over the holidays, he’s faced with the question of whether the life he’s living is the life he’s meant to live. This is a family-friendly tale that doesn’t leave a lot of imagination about where it’s going. It’s a simply slice-of-life that is a starring role for Stiller we haven’t seen in a few years as he mostly works behind the camera. But he’s sold here, as is Cardellini as the Social Worker assigned to the boys’ case. This hits you in the feels at times, but it takes a while to get there. The script and story are dry, and the brothers don’t always command the screen as you’d like. This is a fine holiday tale but wasn’t great.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Our Little Secret (Netflix)
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Kristin Chenoweth, Tim Meadows, and Ian Harding
Synopsis: Avery (Lohan) and Logan (Harding) grew up as friends in a small town. They dated and Logan hoped for more. But, after a proposal gone wrong, the two grew apart. Years later, they’re heading toward Christmas and Logan is going to meet his girlfriend’s family and parents for the holidays. Avery, now a powerful business consultant, is heading to meet her boyfriend’s family for Christmas, too. When it turns out Avery and Logan are dating siblings, they try to keep their past under wraps. But is it fate that’s brought them back together? This continues the string of Christmas films on Wednesdays for Netflix in November. This is another one that feels like the streamer’s spin on the classic Hallmark formula, this time with Lohan. She and Harding are fine here, and the story has its moments. It feels a bit cliché and it’s not hard to tell where it’s all going. There’s some fun as it’s a light, holiday watch. It isn’t deep but it will leave you satisfied for a date night viewing.
Rating: TV-14
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Sweethearts (Max)
Starring: Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga
Synopsis: Jamie (Shipka) and Ben (Hiraga) are best friends. They’ve been best friends for a long time, coming from the same small town and now going to college together. But as they approach Thanksgiving break, both are struggling to remain in the same long-distance relationships they’ve been in since high school. So, the friends make a pact—they break up with their significant others at Thanksgiving to leave them free to make the most of the college experience. Things don’t go according to plan. Along the way, with Jamie and Ben learn something new about their own relationship? This is another plot that feels somewhat familiar, throwing in a holiday to give it a seasonal feel for the release. It works, when it does, thanks to Shipka and Hiraga, who are delightful performers. There are some funny lines and sequences in the early going. But the plot devolves when they get home and put their plan in motion. There are also subplots involving friend Palmer (Caleb Hearon) that feels tacked on. Overall, I thought the basic idea worked fine. I was interested in the decision made at the end and the way the film treats the friendship between Jamie and Ben. It’s a fine little holiday watch but doesn’t offer much beyond being a pleasant streaming diversion.
Rating: Rated R for sexual content, language throughout, teen partying and brief graphic nudity
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five