I Am Heath Ledger,
directed by Adrian Buitenhuis and Derik Murray
(not rated, 1 hour, 30 minutes)
This documentary, which impressed audiences at the recent Tribeca Film Festival, employs interviews with family, friends, and co-workers to intimately examine the remarkable life of Heath Ledger up to his death in January 2008 at the age of 28.
The most poignant and revealing moments are provided by the filmmakers' use of Ledgers' personal videos, photographs, interviews and performances. Tantalizing yet limited content -- not a negative word is spoken -- leaves viewers wanting to know more about this revered actor who was obsessed with his work. With Ben Mendelsohn, Emile Hirsch, Ang Lee, Naomi Watts, Djimon Hounsou, Catherine Hardwick, and Kate, Kim and Olivia Ledger, with music by Bon Iver.
Before I Fall (PG-13, 1 hour, 39 minutes) This is an entertaining drama that lacks depth but almost makes up for it with nuanced performances. Before I Fall concerns a young woman named Samantha with a seemingly perfect life that's pleasantly going nowhere but up, who suddenly becomes trapped in reliving the same day over and over. With Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, Elena Kampouris, Cynthy Wu; directed by Ry Russo-Young.
The Blackcoat's Daughter (R, 1 hour 35 minutes) A moody, sad, often nonsensical horror thriller (don't expect any logic to show up in the story) in which Kat (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton), left alone at their isolated prep school over winter break when their parents fail to fetch them, begin to experience very strange occurrences at the same time that obviously troubled Joan (Emma Roberts) is doing her best to get to the school as fast as she can. Things get weird, and then weirder, for all three of them. With Lauren Holly, James Remar; directed by Osgood Perkins. The Blu-ray release includes audio commentary with the writer/director and a making-of featurette.
Fist Fight (R, 1 hour, 33 minutes) Fans of Ice Cube are always pleased to see him on the big screen, even in lame and absurd movies like this ineffective comedy in which a wussy high school teacher (Charlie Day) is accused of getting a fellow teacher (played by Cube) fired. An after-school fight is planned to settle the score. With Jillian Bell, Dean Norris; directed by Richie Keen.
Close Range (not rated, 1 hour, 20 minutes) After rescuing his kidnapped niece from a powerful drug cartel, Colton MacReady (Scott Adkins) begins a determined fight to save his family when the cartel descends upon his secluded ranch with a taut focus on revenge. It's short, violent, intense and dedicated to projecting scenes of full-bore combat. With Tony Perez, Jake La Botz, Caitlin Keats; directed by Isaac Florentine.
The Shack (PG-13, 2 hours, 12 minutes) An uninspired, overly preachy spiritual journey concerning a bereaved father struggling with the kidnapping and murder of his young daughter four years earlier, who gets a mysterious note from someone unknown, asking him to meet at an abandoned shack. Will this chance encounter help him overcome his grief? Nice cast, though: Sam Worthington, Radha Mitchell, Octavia Spencer, Tim McGraw, Alice Braga, Graham Greene; directed by Stuart Hazeldine.
MovieStyle on 06/02/2017