Weekly Film Rundown

Some suggestions if you want to get out and see a movie this weekend.

MUST SEE

Fire of Love (rerelease) Though this documentary about volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft opened earlier this summer, word of mouth has been strong enough to merit an encore presentation. A story of obsession with the natural world that leads to a loving couple’s demise, the film consists largely of found footage shot entirely too close to boiling magma and glued together by the probing narration of indie filmmaker Miranda July. A crowd pleaser for National Geographic devotees as compelling as it is artful.

Now playing at AMC Thoroughbred 20 and the Belcourt.

DOG DAYS DIVERSION

Beast Idris Elba just wants to take his daughters back to his recently deceased wife’s hometown in South Africa, but a suped-up lion eating the villagers becomes a much more immediate concern than mourning. Man vs. Wild action has long been Hollywood’s farewell to the summer movie season. Plus there’s not been a great lion movie since 1996’s The Ghost and the Darkness. Either the movie ends up a profound meditation on grief packaged as a genre flick or we get to watch Elba punch a lion in the face like Jason Statham did to the prehistoric shark in 2018’s The Meg. Either is worth the price of admission.

Now playing in theatres.

SUNDANCE SENSATION

A Love Song Knoxvillian Dale Dickey (Winter’s Bone; My Name is Earl) and go-to Native American celeb Wes Studi (Dances with Wolves; Avatar) have carved out careers as ubiquitous character actors, but never had a chance to take center stage until this deliberately paced contemporary western hit Sundance earlier this year. A tale of unrequited longing and old friends reunited amid a gorgeous rural Colorado backdrop, the film is a character study made for the big screen offering a depth usually reserved for Oscar season.

Now playing at AMC Thoroughbred.

UNDER-THE-RADAR DOC

My Old School Jono McLeod returns to his school in Scotland to investigate a mysterious former classmate with a dark secret that rocked his hometown. A documentary and animation hybrid with reenactments by seasoned actor Alan Cumming, the film offers a much-needed respite from shallow political documentaries and deserves audience attention.

Now playing at the Belcourt.

BLINK-AND-MISS INDIES

Delia’s Gone A dearth of reviews and festival fanfare don’t bode well for this Marisa Tomei mystery set in MAGA country. There’s addiction, a central character with a disability, dark secrets, and the titular disappearing sister. Could make for a solid second half of a double feature or an elevated night of home viewing in a month or two.

Now playing at AMC Thoroughbred 20.

Love in Kilnerry Elderly citizens of an idyllic town work themselves into a frenzy when the EPA tells them a mandated chemical enhancement to their water may superpower their libidos. Reviews are sparse, but whether it's a sly jab at Big Government oversight or another cutesy indie with a ribald side, it’s enough of a gamble to avoid paying full ticket prices for those who don’t subscribe to Regal Unlimited. Should be streaming in a matter of weeks.

Now playing at Regal Green Hills 16 and Regal Hollywood 27.

IN MEMORIAM

Grease Honor Olivia Newton-John at her career best by seeing this pop-culture staple on the big screen.

Now playing at AMC Thoroughbred 20.