2023 Week 17: Week ending April 29

Introduction 

Hello film world! This is Film Cell Weekly, and I’m your host, Cell, back for another week of movie releases. We’ll review the weekend box office of the newest releases from last week, then get into previews for those upcoming films. Letterboxd is my platform of choice, so you’ll find links to all the movies discussed here in the show notes. Also, be sure to check out my web page over on https://filmcellweekly@blogspot.com, where you can read transcripts and leave comments. Constructive criticism is always welcome! 

Box Office 

Let’s delve into this past weekend’s domestic box office for the wide releases we mentioned last week. First out of the gates is “Evil Dead Rise” which took in a healthy 24 million dollars. That brings it pretty close to the 2013 remake. “The Covenant” followed behind with 6.2 million dollars. “Chevalier” was the third wide release we mentioned and it came in 1.5 million dollars. Its per screen average was quite a bit lower than the others. The box office continues to be dominated by the “Super Mario Brothers” movie, with “The Pope’s Exorcist”, “Renfield” and “Suzume” seeing second week drops in the sixty percent range. None dropped harder than “Mafia Mamma” though, with a 77% drop in box office in its second week of release. 

Streaming

It’s time to head into new releases on streaming!  

First up is the movie “Peter Pan and Wendy” on Disney Plus. Return to Neverland, with all the beloved characters including Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell and the villainous Captain Hook in this live action adaptation of the cherished children’s novel by J.M. Barrie. This adventure is directed by David Lowery, known recently for “The Green Knight” and previously with an adaptation of “Pete’s Dragon” and stars Alexander Molony as Peter, Ever Anderson as Wendy and Jude Law as Captain Hook.  

On Hulu (and possibly Disney Plus in some markets) is “Clock” a thriller directed by Alexis Jacknow. “On the eve of her 39th birthday, a woman desperately attempts to fix her broken biological clock.”  

Finally, we have A K A hitting Netflix. “A steely special ops agent finds his morality put to the test when he infiltrates a crime syndicate and unexpectedly bonds with the boss’ young son.” Directed by Morgan S. Dalibert and starring Alban Lenoir, this French film promises to fulfill your action thriller needs. 

Theatrical 

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Based on the beloved coming-of-age novel by Judy Blume, "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" tells the story of an 11-year-old girl named Margaret who navigates the ups and downs of adolescence while searching for a deeper connection with a higher power. 

The movie is directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, known for her work on "The Edge of Seventeen," and stars Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, with Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates also in the cast. 

The film promises to be a heartfelt and relatable coming-of-age story that captures the confusion and excitement of growing up. It explores themes of friendship, family, and faith in a way that will resonate with audiences of all ages.

 

Big George Foreman

“Fueled by an impoverished childhood, George Foreman channeled his anger into becoming an Olympic Gold medalist and World Heavyweight Champion, followed by a near-death experience that took him from the boxing ring to the pulpit. But when he sees his community struggling spiritually and financially, Foreman returns to the ring and makes history by reclaiming his title, becoming the oldest and most improbable World Heavyweight Boxing Champion ever.” “Big George Foreman” is directed by George Tillman Junior and stars Khris Davis as the once and future heavyweight champion of the world.  

This film goes wide in approximately 3,000 screens on April 28th and promises to keep this streak of true-life sports stories alive, as it follows the previous “Air” and “Sweetwater” - be sure to check this one out! 

Return of the Jedi

You heard that right: it’s “Star Wars Episode Six: Return of the Jedi” seeing a limited theatrical re-release for its 40th anniversary! You know the characters, you know the story, this is Star Wars, so if you haven’t had an opportunity to watch this classic on the big screen, now may be the time to do so. From what I hear, this is the version with all the latest updates, so don’t hold your breath that this is the original theatrical version from 1983. 

Sisu

Another “limited but not as-limited” release is “Sisu”, a Finnish war action film. “Deep in the wilderness of Lapland, Aatami Korpi is searching for gold but after he stumbles upon Nazi patrol, a breathtaking and gold-hungry chase through the destroyed and mined Lapland wilderness begins.” Sisu is tracking well, with a 3.4 average rating on Letterboxed. This is in 900 theatres, so keep an eye on your local market.  

Closing 

And that's a wrap for now! Thank you for listening, I really appreciate you being here for this adventure.  … Be sure to support your local theatres and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone when deciding which movie to watch next. Enjoy your film journey!