New Releases for the week of May 15 - 22
Licorice Pizza
When awkward high school student and budding film star Gary Valentine (Hoffman) falls head over heels in love with a young photographer's assistant named Alana (Haim), the pair embarks on an adventure filled with embarrassment, friendship, opportunities and heartbreak while navigating the perilous nature of growing into adulthood. Set in California during the summer of 1973, Gary and Alana encounter many milestones together before deciding their futures.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson. Stars: Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, Benny Safdie, Maya Rudolph. 2021. 133 mins. Drama/Comedy.
Belle
Suzu (Nakamura) is a shy student living in rural Japan. After witnessing the death of her mother, she begins to seclude herself from everyone except for a few of her mother's friends and her best friend, Shinobu (Narita). Her only escape is to the virtual world of "U," where, with the help of computer wiz Hiroka (Ikuta), she becomes a world-famous singer. After one of her concerts is violently interrupted by a dragon, Suzu must go on an epic adventure to reveal the identity of the mysterious beast in order to save the person behind the avatar and quite possibly herself, not just in the virtual world but in their real lives as well.
Director: Mamoru Hosoda. Stars: Kaho Nakamura, Ryô Narita, Shôta Sometani, Tina Tamashiro, Lilas Ikuta, Kôji Yakusho, Takeru Satoh. 2021. 121 mins. Animation/Adventure.
Infinite
Evan McCauley (Wahlberg) is plagued with memories of places he's never been and skills he's never learned, which causes him to self-medicate and forces him into a mental breakdown. When he is contacted by a secret group, the Infinites, who tell him that his memories may, in fact, be real, they bring him to an extraordinary world where gifted people are given the ability to be reborn with their memories intact and accumulated over centuries. Evan must now work with the Infinites to take down one of their own (Ejiofor), who sees the endless cycle of reincarnation a curse and wants to bring it to an end.
Director: Antoine Fuqua. Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Cookson, Jason Mantzoukas, Rupert Friend, Toby Jones, Dylan O'Brien. 2021. 106 mins. Action/Sci-fi.
Welcome to Flatch, on Fox
A film crew explores the lives of the eccentric residents of small-town Flatch in back-to-back new episodes of this mockumentary. Cousins and friends Kelly (Holmes) and Shrub (Sam Straley) lead the cast that includes Seann William Scott as Father Joe.
Potent parley: Rehashing 'Conversations with Friends'
Jemima Kirke, Sasha Lane, Alison Oliver and Joe Alwyn in "Conversations With Friends"
In 2017, Irish author Sally Rooney launched her debut novel, a novel whose title transcends boundaries and instantly reminds us of something we've all experienced at some point in our lives, no matter our age or background: "Conversations with Friends."
Potent parley: Rehashing 'Conversations with Friends'
Jemima Kirke, Sasha Lane, Alison Oliver and Joe Alwyn in "Conversations With Friends"
In 2017, Irish author Sally Rooney launched her debut novel, a novel whose title transcends boundaries and instantly reminds us of something we've all experienced at some point in our lives, no matter our age or background: "Conversations with Friends."
Q: Are Ron Perlman and Rhea Perlman related?
Despite startlingly similar backgrounds, no. Ron and Rhea Perlman aren't related.
They're about the right age for it, though: Rhea (best known, probably forever, as Carla from "Cheers") is almost exactly two years older than "Sons of Anarchy" and "Hellboy" (2004) star Ron.
Beyond the Edge, on CBS
Celebrities compete week after week for the chance to win more money for the charity of their choice in this new series. WWE's Mauro Ranallo hosts as Jodie Sweetin, Colton Underwood and Metta World Peace battle the wilderness in another new episode.
The Resident, on Fox
Both the good and the bad of behind-the-scenes hospital work are shown in a new episode of this medical drama. Matt Czuchry, Manish Dayal and Jane Leeves star as doctors and nurses fighting against the corrupting influence of big money in healthcare.
Q: Where is Lucas Black and what projects is he currently involved with?
He's chosen to focus on a project with a longer term than even the most massive film or TV franchises (and he has experience with both). Former "NCIS: New Orleans" and Fast and the Furious series star Lucas Black has stepped back from acting to focus on his family.
Breeders, on FX
The Season 3 premiere of this comedy series finds the family reeling from Luke (Alex Eastwood) punching his dad, Paul (Martin Freeman). While Luke is refusing to live with his dad, Paul is staying at honeymooning Leah's (Stella Gonet) house.
New Releases for the week of May 8 - 14
Uncharted
Nate (Holland), a bartender, pickpocket and aspiring Indiana Jones, is enlisted by treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan (Wahlberg) to help him steal the fabled treasure of explorer Ferdinand Magellan. In possession of the stolen diary of the explorer Juan Sebastián Elcano to help guide them, Nate and Sully connect with Sully's contact, Chloe Frazer (Ali), in Barcelona. The globetrotting trio are soon intercepted by Santiago Moncada (Banderas) and his mercenary, Jo Braddock (Gabrielle), and must decipher clues and solve puzzles before the $5-billion fortune falls into the wrong hands.
Director: Ruben Fleischer. Stars: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle, Steven Waddington, Pingi Moli, Tiernan Jones. 2022. 116 mins. Action.
Dog
Deemed unfit for service, former U.S. Army Ranger Jackson Briggs (Tatum) is willing to do anything to get back into active rotation. An opportunity finally presents itself when Briggs is instructed to escort former squadmate Riley Rodriguez's Belgian Malinois military working dog, Lulu, to Rodriguez's funeral in Arizona before taking her to a base where she will be euthanized due to her aggressive behavior. Despite several dangerous instances on the journey from Oregon to Arizona, Briggs learns that he and Lulu might have more in common than the soldier originally believed.
Directors: Reid Carolin, Channing Tatum. Stars: Channing Tatum, Jane Adams, Kevin Nash, Q'orianka Kilcher, Ethan Suplee, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Nicole LaLiberté. 2021. 101 mins. Comedy.
Clean
Following the loss of his young daughter, New York waste collector Clean (Brody) tries to repent for his past by using his talents to fix salvaged trash items and sell them to local pawn shop owner Kurtis (RZA). After heroically saving a local teenager named Dianda (DuPont) from a harrowing situation by confronting her attackers, Clean incurs the wrath of the city's crime boss (Fleshler). As Clean finds himself in the boss's vengeful crosshairs, he must do everything he can to defend himself and those he cares about.
