The German psychological drama Phoenix is taut, intense and has a superb ending – surprising and satisfying. Phoenix may only be in theaters for another week or so.
Going Clear: The Prison of Belief, documentarian Alex Gibney’s devastating expose of Scientology, originally shown on HBO in April, is now in theaters.
Other possibilities:
- The End of the Tour is the smartest road trip movie ever, starring Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg. Be sure to see it. It’s the only movie on my list of Best Movies of 2015 – So Far that’s currently playing in theaters.
- Joel Edgerton’s The Gift is a satisfying thriller – and much more.
- In Mr. Holmes, Ian McKellen is superb as the aged Sherlock Holmes, re-opening his final case.
- Woody Allen’s Irrational Man is not bad, but empty.
My Stream of the Week is I’ll See You In My Dreams, available to stream from Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, Vudu, YouTube and Google Play.
On September 17, don’t miss the Turner Classic Movies cablecast of the classic film noir Nightfall (1956). Aldo Ray plays a hard luck guy who is framed and hunted by both the bad guys and the cops when he meets a beautiful but broke model (Anne Bancroft). It’s a crackerjack plot, and the final confrontation involves death by snow plow. Nightfall is one of my Overlooked Noir.
