✹ WEEKLY FILM RUNDOWN: February 14-22
The latest releases and special screenings hitting Music City this week.
The Sweet East Renowned indie cinematographer Sean Price Williams makes his directorial debut with this American picaresque about a precocious teenage girl (Talia Ryder) who goes it alone when separated from her classmates on a school trip to D.C. As its heroine traverses the country’s fundamentalist fringes, Williams mourns our loss of national unity with a generosity of spirit indie film seemingly abandoned long ago. An early contender for 2024’s best film. Now playing at the Belcourt.
The Taste of Things Over the last twenty years world-renowned Chef Dodin (Benoît Magimel) and his cook, Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) have shaped the culinary world amid their hot-and-cold love affair. But when Eugénie decides to make a clean break, Dodin pushes himself to the limits of his talents to reignite her passions. Now playing at AMC Murfreesboro 16, AMC Thoroughbred 20, and The Belcourt.
Oscar Animated and Live-Action Shorts Showcase See this year’s Academy Award nominees for the short-form categories on the bigscreen. Now playing at AMC Thoroughbred 20, The Belcourt, and Regal Streets of Indian Lake (Hendersonville).
Madame Web I don’t care if it has a 17% rotten rating, there’s no way a Spider-Man spinoff with Dakota Johnson as a clairvoyant paramedic and Sydney Sweeney as Spider-Woman is a waste of time. Now playing in theaters.
Bob Marley: One Love Those who wonder what AI-generated movies look like can stop the speculation and just take a deep dive into the filmography of Reinaldo Marcus Green. Cue his latest cookie-cutter social issues bioipic here. Now playing in theaters.
Land of Bad When a special forces team led by Luke and Liam Hemsworth gets ambushed on a mission in the Philippines, it’s up to an ace drone pilot (Russell Crowe) to leave no man behind. In a just world, this would be playing on more screens than the made-by-committee Bob Marley movie. Now playing in theaters.
God & Country Of course, the only people excited about a documentary that takes on the threat of Christian nationalism via hard-hitting interviews with Russell Moore and David French and the producing cred of Rob Reiner are second stringers at The Tennessean who’ve spent the last month hyping it like Avengers: Endgame. Now playing at Regal Hollywood 27.
Altered Reality When a wealthy playboy finds a miracle drug, he must race against time to save his daughter from those who want it for themselves. Featuring Ed Asner, Lance Henriksen, and Tobin Bell from Saw. Now playing at AMC Thoroughbred 20 and Regal Hollywood 27.
Swoon: A Love Series The Belcourt is the ultimate Valentine’s Day destination with a host of classic romances like Casablanca (all weekend) and City Lights as well as beloved contemporary entries, including weepfest The Notebook (this weekend) and Richard Linklater’s restored Before Trilogy. Those sick of love even have a chance to ruin the vibe with the slasher classic My Bloody Valentine this Friday.
The Latest in Bolly/Tolly/Kolly/Lollywood and Other Special Presentations of Asian and Middle Eastern Imports.
Siren (Tamil) A former ambulance driver completes his 14-year prison stint in this maximalist action drama. Now playing at Regal Hollywood 27.
Ooru Peru Bhairavakona (Telugu) A man visits a mythical holy land in search of answers to life’s big questions, but finds that getting out may be harder than he thought. Now playing at Regal Hollywood 27.