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We’ve reached the end of January, and it brought a group of interesting new releases. Below are my thoughts on the movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Arco (Theaters)
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, and America Ferrera
Synopsis: We get plenty of animated films that look at brightly colored worlds and fascinating timelines. In the world of animation, you can go anywhere and do anything. That’s part of the fun of these worlds that are bound only by the lengths of imagination. The film Arco, which gets a wide release this Friday, is a brightly colored glimpse of the future. It got a limited release in 2025, earning an Academy Award nomination as Best Animated Feature. And it’s likely this bright, colorful world will appeal to viewers of all ages. It’s another animated feature told in an anime style. But unlike All You Need is Kill, released earlier this month, this one has a more family-friendly feel. It’s about a boy who goes on an adventure, and the family that never stops looking for him. Arco (Juliano Valdi) lives with his family in the future. There, humanity has mastered the ability to travel through time. But there are age limits that restrict its use. Despite his eagerness to be a part of traveling to different times and worlds, Arco is too young. But one day, he steals a suit and decides to try it. He ends up dumped in 2075, where the world is slowly degrading. He comes across a young girl named Iris (Romy Fay), whom he befriends. But this isn’t his home, and without the training of others in his world, he doesn’t know how to get back home. Iris, with the help of her robot minder Mikki (Ruffalo/Portman), tries to get Arco back home. Meanwhile a group obsessed with people from the future has locked on to Arco and wants to get some answers. Can he get back before it’s too late? Arco is a fascinating film and story. It made its debut in Cannes last summer and got a limited run in the Fall. It has both a French and dubbed version, and you’ll likely have an option of which to view in theaters. It’s a simple enough story, but deeply emotional. I enjoyed Arco when I saw it in the Fall. It made the list of my favorite animated films of 2025, and I’m not surprised it’s on the Academy Award list. It will likely entertain, fascinate, and move audiences. It’s a beautifully told story that has an amazing visual style. The use of color and the world-building is captivating. The story is simple to follow and not all the pieces work. The group of adults seeking Arco—voiced in the dubbed version by Flea, Andy Samberg, and Will Ferrell—felt like a bit of a weird distraction. That part of the story didn’t work for me, and your mileage on it may vary. But I was charmed by the end and the twist of how Arco finds his way home. I think most viewers will be taken with this sweet story, too.
Rating: Rated PG for action/peril, mild thematic elements and a brief injury image.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

The Love That Remains (Theaters)
Starring: Saga Garðarsdóttir and Sverrir Gudnason
Synopsis: Relationships can be tricky. It can be even more difficult if they end, especially if you have children. That’s the focus of the new film The Love That Remains, which opens in limited release on Friday. The film comes from writer/director Hlynur Pálmason. It’s set in Iceland and follows a year in the life of a couple whose relationship is imploding. It looks at the ups and downs, and the impact on their family. Anna (Garðarsdóttir) is an artist. She’s also a mother and wife. But things aren’t going well with her husband, Magnus (Gudnason). They’ve decided to separate. Magnus, a fisherman, doesn’t want the relationship to end. He also still wants to be present for his three children. We follow them through a year in their lives. Magnus and Sara continue to pursue their work while trying to balance the demands of home. Along the way, they try to find a path forward to co-parent and remain a family even as their romantic relationship is dissolving. Pálmason is an interesting visual filmmaker. A few years ago, he delivered Godland, which was nominated for some awards, including the Independent Spirit Award. I thought that movie was incredibly moving when it came to visuals, even if I didn’t always appreciate the tone of the narrative. In that way, The Love That Remains follows a similar pursuit. It’s beautifully shot, including some unique interludes that showcase Pálmason’s talent as a visual filmmaker. In fact, there are times when you can’t take your eyes of the screen. But it’s in service of a story that, for me, was hit-or-miss. It’s a sound idea and there is plenty of potential in the premise. But there is a non-linear aspect to the storytelling, which is more a series of vignettes, that didn’t quite click with me. It’s worth checking out the film for its visuals. But it could well be a bit underwhelming when it comes to putting together the story as a whole.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Pike River (VOD)
Starring: Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm
Synopsis: In a moment, your life can change. But it often takes longer to put the pieces back together. In fact, it can often take years and a lot of effort to make things right. That’s certainly the case for the survivors of Pike River, the largest mining disaster in the history of New Zealand. Back in 2010, the Pike River mine suffered an incident. In the aftermath 29 workers were trapped and killed. It was one of the largest disasters in the country’s history. And while promises were made about making things right for the survivors, it took years of fighting to make it actually come true. The new film Pike River captures that fight. It focuses on a pair of women—Anna Osborne (Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (Malcolm)—who refused to give up. Through years of efforts that continue to this day, they fought to see their loved ones returned, giving their families a chance for closure. The film begins in 2010, as the miners report to work. Anna is a wife and mother going about her day. Sonya is in another town, but her sons work the mines while her ex-husband works as a company administrator. When word of an incident breaks, they’re drawn to the scene. But news is slow to come. At first, it seems there is a chance for rescue. But soon, it becomes clear that everyone trapped in the mine has died. Anna loses her husband. Sonya loses her son. In the aftermath, promises are made that their bodies will be recovered and those who allowed the mine to fail will be held to account. But over weeks, months, and years, that turns out to be harder to achieve.  But the women refuse to give up. They continue to fight to hold people accountable. They continue to fight to give the families closure. That fight ends up taking on the highest reaches of the government as they try to make things right. We’ve seen this kind of story before. Sadly, there have been too many accidents where people have died and the fight for justice and closure is always slow and difficult. Given where this story takes place, the specifics of this story might be new. But the basic idea will feel very familiar. That’s the case in the filmmaking, too. The script from Fiona Samuel chronicles the women’s lives, struggle, and fight over years. It hits all the beats you’d expect in a story like this. The direction from Robert Sarkies feels familiar, too. It hits the moments you’d expect and tries to tug on your emotions. It works, at times, thanks to the performances. Lynskey is a gifted actress who does a nice job in the lead role. She finds a good partner in Malcolm. Together, they fill the screen and keep you interested, even if the story feels a bit too predictable and a bit too long. The closing sequence, which featured images and footage of the real women in this fight, was perhaps a high point. But also, a reminder that this type of story, while important and worth a watch, can be limited as a film experience. For those that like a good drama and want to learn more, Pike River delivers what you’d expect.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five.

Send Help (Theaters)
Starring: Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien
Synopsis: This new film from director Sam Raimi is a horror of a different sort. It starts with the horror of inter-office politics. It ends with the horror of being stranded on a deserted island with a psycho. We meet Linda Liddle (McAdams), a quiet woman who has worked hard, toiling unappreciated behind-the-scenes. But she’s close to a big promotion which was promised by the company’s founder. When he passes, and things go to his son, Bradley (O’Brien), it doesn’t go Linda’s way. She’s passed over for promotion, again, yet asked to do more work. And Bradley and his new executive pals belittle her appearance, diet, and survivalist skills. That is until their private plane crashes in the ocean and Linda and Bradley are the sole survivors. Wounded and trapped on the island, Bradley is forced to rely on Linda, who takes the opportunity to carve out the kind of life she’s always wanted with a captive audience. There are some over-the-top graphic sequences here that pop off the screen. There are also some fascinating character beats and a few fun twists in the story here. The script from Damian Shannon and Mark Swift moves at a good pace and takes things in some unexpected directions. But it’s the performance from McAdams, who dominates the screen, that really makes the whole thing come together. I liked O’Brien, too, and the way he plays off McAdams. There are some fun and some unique sequences here, and the whole thing holds your attention, even if it takes a little too long sometimes to get where it’s going. It’s a fun ride for the most part that will please long-time Raimi fans, or just those who enjoy a good story.
Rating: Rated R for strong/bloody violence and language.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

The Wrecking Crew (Prime Video)
Starring: Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, and Morena Baccarin
Synopsis: This new film from Prime Video is an action/comedy from writer Jonathan Tropper (Banshee) and director Angel Manuel Soto (Blue Beatle). It centers on a pair of estranged half-brothers (Bautista and Momoa) born on Hawaii who come together after their father dies. What at first appeared to be a simple car accident turns out to be much more, pulling the brothers into a conspiracy that hits a little too close to home and puts all their lives in danger. The film has all the elements you’re looking for in a hit of this kind. It has a good cast, an interesting enough story, and a commitment to action sequences in a charming location. The problem is in the construction of the story and the way the elements are put together. The characters are a little too flat. The humor doesn’t always land. The action sequences come off as stiff. And the film goes on far too long, much longer than your interest in finding out where it’s going. This had potential and it has some moments, but overall, it feels like a swing and a miss.
Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence, sexual material, pervasive language and some drug use.
Verdict: Two stars out of five