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This week featured a packed selection in theaters. Below is all the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me @knighthawk7734 on Letterboxd.

The Amateur (Theaters)
Starring: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, and Laurence Fishburne
Synopsis: Sometimes ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they get the right push. That’s the premise of The Amateur, a new film starring Rami Malek based on the novel from Robert Littell. This isn’t the first time the story has been adapted, but it is a fascinating update on the story that makes its way to theater this weekend. We’re introduced to Charlie Heller (Malek) and his wife, Sarah (Brosnahan). They are very much in love, but very different. Charlie is addicted to his puzzles, working as a top analyst for the CIA. Sarah is more grounded to the real world, heading off to London for a conference. Charlie reports to work where a secret contact shares a file. When he opens it, finally, Charlie discovers that the file shows some dirty deeds by the agency, and the lengths gone to cover it up by Director Moore (Holt McCallany). Charlie is so locked into his puzzles; he doesn’t get to connect with his wife. Turns out he never will. The next day, Charlie learns Sarah has been killed by terrorists when their meeting when wrong. He’s devastated but uses his skills to find the killers. When he shares his findings with Moore, he doesn’t get much of a response. So, Charlie uses what he’s found to blackmail Moore into giving him the training needed to exact his own revenge. Charlie is paired with Col. Henderson (Fishburne). Even after a few weeks of training, Charlie doesn’t exhibit the traits of being much of an agent. With Moore’s patience ended, Charlie strikes off on his own to do what needs to be done. This film is based on the novel but is also another adaptation after Littell worked to adapt his own book into a film of the same name in 1981. That one has more of a focus on Cold War connections to East Germany and Russia, but the basic idea is the same. However, the execution here is a lot more engaging. This version takes time to focus on the relationship between Charlie and Sarah, something that was missing in 1981. That’s a credit to writers Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli. I also enjoyed the way we follow Charlie and his progress through this mission, ending with a Third Act that offers a surprising and satisfying twist. There are some good performances, too. Fishburne, Brosnahan, Caitriona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jon Bernthal do a nice job in supporting roles. But this is really about Malek, who carries the bulk of the narrative in nearly every scene. He does a nice job as the lead, creating a character you want to root for with this film. Not all the storylines worked, but the main story is put together well enough. These kind of films just need a solid lead and enough entertainment in the main plot to be an entertaining and satisfying ride.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some strong violence, and language.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Drop (Theaters)
Starring: Brandon Sklenar and Meghann Fahy
Synopsis: Christopher Landon knows his way around a horror movie. He started as a writer, creating the Paranormal Activity franchise. But as a writer/director, he’s given us some fun titles. Among them are Happy Death Day and Freaky, which find ways to blend humor with the action on screen. His latest film is Drop, which opens Friday. It isn’t as funny as some of his previous work, but it picks its moments. What it is more than anything is a thrill ride from beginning to end that will have you engaged and entertained. We pick up by meeting Violet (Fahy), a single mother who hasn’t dated in a while. She survived a toxic relationship—which we get a glimpse of to start the film—and she’s spent time putting herself back together. But she started chatting with Henry (Sklenar) and a slow-building spark is there. She’s reached the point where she feels ready to go out. But as the night of their date arrives, Violet is beyond nervous. Her sister, Jen (Violett Beane) arrives to watch her son. Jen also tries to provide some moral support as Violet gets ready for a night out. Finally, she heads to meet Henry. Violet arrives at the restaurant early, pulling up at the bar to wait. She meets a few interesting people then starts getting random drops on her phone. She ignores them, but they become progressively more aggressive. Finally, they issue a warning—play the game or her son dies. That leaves a scared and nervous Violet reeling as she tries to balance an outward calm with some internal strife. Can she solve the puzzle before it’s too late? This is a great kind of set up for a film. Much of it takes place in a crowded, but intimate restaurant seated high above Chicago. We spend a lot of our time focused on Violet and Henry, trying to process the events of the day around them. There are mixes of humor and fun, but mostly this keeps on task. The film runs a tight 95-minutes, keeping up the intensity in the Second and Third Act after a charming introduction to the people and the world. By the time we get to the confrontation, you’re hooked on these characters and what’s about to happen. I’ve enjoyed many of Landon’s recent films, and this keeps up his strong track record. While I really appreciated the tension and the drama here, I got a kick out of the use of humor. Whether it’s the obnoxiously trying too hard waiter (Jeffrey Self) or the beginning and ending with Jen—the film’s comedy MVP—I had a good time. The final sequence was a kick that stuck with me after the screening. But this works thanks to Fahy and Sklenar. They have a nice chemistry that holds up through a tough and unique evening. You’re rooting for them, which is a credit to their character work. And even if you can see some of the twists coming—like who might be sending those drops—it’s well worth the investment of time to check out. This was a slick thriller that had a blend of humor, action, and good characters. I enjoyed the ride and I think others will, too.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

G20 (Prime Video)
Starring: Viola Davis and Ramon Rodriguez
Synopsis: Sometimes you just want to kick back and watch the action unfold on screen. These kind of movies often aren’t complex, but they are a bit of an escape from reality. And when you’re looking for entertainment that doesn’t require a lot of effort, it can hit the spot. That’s probably the best-case scenario for G20, a new film streaming on Prime Video. The film focuses on the G20 Summit, which brings together the leaders of the 20 wealthiest nations to discuss the global economy. Except, this year the summit is under attack from terrorists. That puts a crimp in the plans of President Sutton (Davis), who is pitching an important proposal. She’s also brought her family along, including husband Derek (Anthony Anderson), which leaves her vulnerable. When the terrorists attack, Sutton and her chief security agent Manny (Rodriguez) make it out of the room with a small group of survivors. But it’s no easy task. Meanwhile Derek moves to get their children but finds himself taken captive along the way. Refusing to cower and hide, the President and Manny fight their way through the terrorists and hatch a plan to regain control and save the other world leaders. That rankles the leader of the terrorists, Rutledge (Anthony Starr), who has big plans. He’s using this strike to weaken and collapse the global economy, making himself rich off the wreckage of the world economy. He also has a past connected to President Sutton that is fueling his rage. This isn’t a complex story, but it’s an interesting kind of film for those that like a good action feature. It joins a proud tradition of the “President is in trouble” genre of action films that have long captivated audiences. As someone who loves the Has Fallen series and owns a copy of White House Down and Air Force One, I’m probably the target audience here. And if that’s all you’re looking for, this will hit the spot. Davis makes for a compelling lead as both the President and an action star. I liked her being paired with Rodriguez, who I have enjoyed as Will Trent on the small screen. He’s strong in the role here and does a nice job as an action star. The film has a solid supporting cast. The weakness is in the villains. Starr’s leader is a little too one note all the way through to the end of the film, and the twist involving the “inside man” was a little predictable and a little flat. We come to these films hoping for an escape and some good action sequences. In that sense, G20 delivered. It’s not exceptional but it was a fun ride, especially for action movie fans.
Rating: Rated R for violence throughout
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Sacramento (Theaters)
Starring: Michael Angarano and Michael Cera
Synopsis: We all have worries that occupy on our minds. Sometimes these worries are too much for us to bare. It’s during those times it can be helpful to have someone to lean on, even if it’s someone you don’t expect. In Sacramento, we’re introduced to Rickey (Angarano), who is sitting naked by a lake. He stumbles on a woman, Tallie (Maya Erskine), and they meet cute. They talk about a potential future by the lake where Tallie worries Rickey is the kind who’d run away. Flash-forward a year, and we meet Glenn (Cera). He’s wound tightly looking at the crib for his soon-to-be-born child. The crib has a squeak. He puts it through its paces to the point that when his wife Rosie (Kristen Stewart) arrives, he’s snapped off the gate entirely. Rosie understands that it isn’t about the crib. Glenn is wound tightly a lot, and with layoffs looming at his work, he’s wound even tighter. When Rickey shows up, it doesn’t put Glenn at ease. But Rickey says his father has died and he wants Glenn to go on a road trip with him to Sacramento to spread the ashes. Glenn is apprehensive, but Rosie suggests it might be exactly what her husband needs. So, Rickey and Glenn set off. It’s an adventure that doesn’t go as expected and isn’t really about its stated purpose. But could it be what both friends need to get their issues in check and move on to the next phase of life? These kind of road movies are often a bit of fun. You have adventures, pathos, and usually some kind of rich, emotional conclusion. We get bits of that here. Angarano wrote and directed the film and clearly has an affinity for the material. That helps him get in tight with the story and the material. The film is at its best when we have Glenn and Rickey going back-and-forth. Their uneasy friendship and their shared issues lead to some amusing and cathartic moments. The film also makes decent use of Erskine, who has an interesting return in the third act. The same can’t be said of Stewart, who isn’t given enough to do. In fact, I often found myself wondering why Rosie would put up with Glenn’s schtick. There is also a plot choice near the end of the film that will really govern how you feel. It’s a wild swing that, for me, never quite landed. If it works better for you, then you might feel more drawn to the film. Overall, I enjoyed bits and pieces of the film. It is a fun enough ride that makes for a pleasant watch but fails to live up to its full potential.
Rating: Rated R for language.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Warfare (Theaters)
Starring: Will Poulter, Charles Melton, and Joseph Quinn
Synopsis: Last year Director Alex Garland gave us an emotional and intense film that dropped us in the middle of conflict. Civil War, which dropped in April 2024, was a heck of a ride. It hard a lot of big ideas, but it was the realistic combat situations that left some of the biggest impressions. That ended up being one of my favorite films of the year. A year later, he’s back with another intense drama, this one grounded by real events and a real-time feel. Warfare, which opened Friday, takes the action back to Iraq in 2006, the midst of war. We follow a platoon of Navy Seals who are occupying a house in the middle of a crowded city. Over the course of 90 minutes, we watch as things go wrong and they have to fight their way out of the city, caring for their wounded along the way. This film comes from Garland, who co-wrote and co-directed it with Ray Mendoza. Mendoza was a Navy Seal, and this film is based on his real experiences. That gives it a level of authenticity that you feel throughout the production. That includes some of the most intense gun fight sequences I’ve seen. The film features a strong cast. Poulter, Melton, Cosmo Jarvis, Quinn, and Michael Gandolfini are among the actors in the film. All do a nice job in their roles. The closing sequence shows that many of those who were part of the real events participated in helping train the actors and adding authenticity to the sequences. That works well to help it feel ground and to feel like these actors are disappearing in the roles. The film is incredible and incredibly tense. Everything feels realistic and, at times, chaotic. It’s a visceral experience that will rock you to your core in the most satisfying way. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen and it’s one of the best movies of the year so far. It’s also a deeply emotional ride that plays out incredibly on the big screen.
Rating: Rated R for intense war violence and bloody/grisly images, and language throughout.
Verdict: Four stars out of five