The Assessment

 

Welcome to the future, where the planet has gone to hell. Protective domes, greenhouse food, banned household pets, and population control are part of this dystopian world, a world where we find Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) who would like to have a child but are required to have an assessment by the state to see if they are suitable parents. The assessment is done by an assessor over a week-long period. Enter, Virginia (Alicia Vikander) as the government parent appraiser. She is there to observe, test, play act, and finally render a verdict. Her decision is final. Virginia, for a good chunk of the time, pretends to be their child and goes full method acting. It is darkly funny at times. If you are a parent or even an observer of parents, you will know certain scenarios improvised here - food tantrums, bad dreams, etc. Virginia also tasks Mia and Aaryan to build a from-IKEA-hell child playhouse - a test of patience and sanity; welcome to the Amazing Race. This sci-fi world feels as fresh as when "Gattaca" was released, or more recently the impressive, "Vesper." This is director Fleur Fortune first feature length film and if they don't hit it quite out of the park, they definitely made it to third. Catch this baby now streaming on Prime. 

Dangerous Animals

"The Silence of the Lambs" meets "Jaws." Considering Jaws turns 50 this year, what a wonderful way to celebrate Bruce (that's the shark). Dead Calm came out 36 years ago and Lambchops 34. "Dangerous Animals" isn't as good as any of these, but it's darn close. I haven't had as much fun with this type of thriller in a while. You might argue that "Dangerous Animals" is just a rip off of better films. You could. I think it's fresh and original and pays homage to these other wonderful films. So, what's it all about?  Jai Courtney plays Bruce Tucker (notice that first name), tour boat captain, lover of rock 'n roll, and a videographer. Oh, and also a serial killer. Along comes, Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), free spirit, surfer, and general badass who can quote "Point Break." She's also Bruce's next targeted victim. I will tell you nothing more. All aboard for this summer's most fun water park ride. In theatres now. 

Secret Mall Apartment

This is a documentary about the Providence Place Mall, its construction, its impacts on the community, and the gentrification of artists' spaces. It's also about artist Michael Townsend, the leader of an eight- person artist collective as they squatted inside the mall, turning a 750-square-foot hidden dead-space into a livable apartment. Michael Townsend is a different kind of artist. The separation between art and life is blurry, if there is one at all for Michael. A performance artist, an art teacher, someone who has donated years of his time at a children's hospital doing tape art on the walls, a man with his art team doing a five- year post-9/11 tape art project honoring everyone who lost their lives. Michael makes art where you would least expect it. "Secret Mall Apartment" asks questions - was this four-year apartment experiment a prank? An art installation? A secret clubhouse for a group of weirdo artists? An act of defiance against gentrification? Maybe a mix of all these. I tell you what is is for sure, it's fascinating. As an artist, I found Michael Townsend to be both inspirational and refreshing. "Secret Mall Apartment" is a hidden gem that you should try to find in theatres now. 

Final Destination: Bloodlines

Agoraphobics rejoice! The outside world is a dangerous place - Rube Goldberg death traps are everywhere. If you throw a penny off the CN Tower, well you could kill someone! If you are unfamiliar with the Final Destination franchise, the formula goes like this: Certain individuals escape Death by way of a premonition (don't get on that plane, you're going to die!) and then Death hunts down all those who were supposed to die in that plane crash. It's a formula to print money. "Bloodlines" represents the sixth entry in the franchise. I think I only watched the first one. It's a clever enough premise but I wasn't expecting much from this latest film. It's fantastic. The deaths are spectacular and fun, the action sequences are something Dwayne Johnson would be proud to be in, and the story - Aaron Sorkin would have been proud to have written it. (Just kidding about the Sorkin bit.) That said, the team of writers who worked on this did an excellent job. To my own surprise (nobody warned me it was coming!), "Final Destination: Bloodlines" has arrived here on the Marquee. Make this your next horror destination. In theatres now. 

Friendship

"Dumb and Dumber" meets "Swimfan." Tim Robinson plays Craig, a kind of socially unaware man-child whose wife has recently gone through cancer and survived. They have a teenage son and have put their house up for sale. A package arrives on their doorstep. Wrong address. Craig walks it over to his new neighbor, Austin (Paul Rudd). Austin is a weatherman on the local news. He is also in a band. Craig is smitten with Austin's effortless coolness. When Austin invites Craig to hang with him and his bro friends one night, well it goes all awkward. There is a lot of funny stuff here and sometimes the jokes take the whole length of the movie to hit the punchline. Craig getting stronger-stuff from the teenager at the cellphone store was a highlight. I don't want to tell you too much because I want you to discover everything yourself - like the entrance to a secret cave that leads to a land of magical comedy. Catch it in theatres now or go rent it from Movies 'N Stuff when it becomes available. 

Bring Her Back

"Frankenstein," "The Monkey's Paw," and "Pet Sematary" - we have been dealing with death and grief, fictionally since we have been writing stories as people. We will continue to do so because it is what binds us together - the loss of friends and family and our own existential crises - we must all face our own deaths. Add "Bring Her Back" to the list. What's this one all about? Legally blind, Piper (Sora Wong) and her older half-brother Andy (Billy Barratt) tragically lose their father and are put into the foster care of a woman named Laura (Sally Hawkins). Turns out that Laura also had a blind daughter, who, you guessed it, died. You can SEE where this is going - see what I did there? Piper and Andy have a complex relationship but they are now very tight and they have a secret code word - grapefruit. An ironclad, never lie word for telling the truth. "Talk To Me" is a very tough act to follow. The Australian brothers, Danny and Michael Philippou are back, and they are bringing it again. It, being their brand of horror. Is "Bring Her Back" as good? Grapefruit. No, but it's good enough to land an entry here on the Marquee. There are some fresh and arresting visuals for you cinema nerds, and I think you will love them. Grapefruit. Catch it now in theatres.