The Unforgivable, Dear Evan Hansen, and 10 new movies you can watch now

Today is the debut of West Side Story, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the iconic 1957 musical written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. If you’re feeling up to going out to the theater this weekend to get your musical fix, not to worry — there’s plenty of new and exciting releases to watch from home on VOD and streaming.

Dear Evan HansenThe theatrical divisive adaptation of Broadway’s musical is now available on VOD. The InexplicableFollowing a theatrical premiere, Sandra Bullock’s film is now streaming online on Netflix. Also, MeetingAmazon Prime Now: Introducing, the sci-fi family drama featuring Riz Ahmed!

To help you get a handle on what’s new and available, here are the new movies you can watch with the click of a button this weekend.

Dear Evan Hansen

What to Watch:Available streaming for as low as $5.99 at Amazon, Apple, or Vudu

Photo: Erika Doss/Universal Pictures

Adapted from the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical of the same name, Stephen Chbosky’s coming-of-age musical film Dear Evan HansenBen Platt plays a senior at high school with Social Anxiety Disorder. He embarks upon a self-discovery journey after the loss of a classmate. There’s been a lot of chatter about the film since it first came out, not the least of which directed at Platt’s, uh, questionable portrayal of an adolescent youth. Is this a “so bad it’s good” kind of musical, or just plain bad? Based on our review

Platt’s technically accomplished, otherwise disastrous performance starts to make more sense as an act of compensation. His strangulated, veiny delivery of music is what he uses to express his inner turmoil. Stephen Chbosky, DirectorWallflowers: The PerksSimilar to ), he struggles to make a screen large enough to fit on the silver screen. He illustrates Evan’s virality by throwing a bunch of phone video responses through an empty vacuum, until they combine and create an Instagram picture. As Evan searches for hints of beauty in his school’s everyday drabness — Chbosky’s aesthetic could be fairly described as “the ‘before’ part of a commercial for mood-altering medication” — the film gets stuck in the banality he’s trying to escape.

The unforgiveable

What to Watch:Netflix streaming available

KIMBERLEY FRENCH/NETFLIX © 2021

Based on Sally Wainwright’s 2009 British miniseries Never Forgiven, Sandra Bullock stars in The unforgiveableRuth Slater is a ex-convict trying to rebuild her life after a horrific crime. As she struggles to acclimate back to a life in a place that no longer feels like home, Ruth will have to confront those who aren’t willing to forgive her for what’s she done and will stop at nothing until her sins are repaid in blood. Our review shows that

Even though a transformational Bullock led the ensemble, Unforgiveable It moves in a monotonous pace and does not have the emotional depth or urgency required to tell a story of redemption that will make the audience want its victim. Kidman is a similar actor to Kidman. Destroyer, Bullock’s appearance oscillates from strained and ragged in present-day scenes, to bright, in-full-make-up in sequences set in the past. Bullock presents Slater in a terse manner, with a strain at the jaw and an edge of eruption. Slater keeps a low profile. She’s often guarded — she’s served her time, but her reputation as a cop-killer will always follow her around. It’s why when a coworker at the fish-packing plant, the kind, generous Blake (Jon Bernthal, still sporting his King RichardMustache) fell for her. She initially seemed hesitant about accepting the first small act of kindness that was shown to her. Slater doesn’t believe she deserves redemption.

Meeting

What to Watch:Amazon Prime is available to stream

Image: Amazon Studios

Following his soul-stirring performances in 2019’s Sound of Metal and 2020’s Mogul MowgliRiz Ahmed makes a thrilling return to sci-fi with another riveting performance MeetingMalik is a disgracefully discharge Marine, who believes alien parasites are taking over the world. After a fatal encounter with police, Malik is on the run and attempting to protect his children. But are Malik’s fears real, or a fabrication of a distressed mind? The trailer bears a resemblance to the premise and tone of 2016’s Midnight Special, with Octavia Spencer playing an equivalent role to Adam Driver’s in that film as Malik’s Parole officer.

The Hating Game

What to Watch:Amazon, Apple, Vudu and Vudu are all available for rent at $6.99

Vertical Entertainment

Based on Sally Thorne’s novel of the same name, The Hating Game stars Lucy Hale (The Scream 4Austin Stowell (Bridge of Spies) as Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, two co-workers who hate each other’s guts. The two professionals are fierce rivals when a position becomes available at their company. However, they soon realize there is more to them than workplace animosity.

Agnes

What to Watch:Amazon, Apple, Vudu and Vudu are all available for rent at $6.99

Image by Magnet Releasing

AgnesHayley McFarland starsThe Conjuring() as a young nun, who is seized with disturbing and violent visions which cause her behavior to be unpredictable. Her fellow Sisters are concerned for Agnes’ safety and well-being. Father Donaghue (Ben Hall), an experienced priest, and Benjamin (Jake Horowitz), a young priest, offer their help to exorcise Agnes of any demons hiding in her body. If you’re looking for a psychological horror thriller in the vein of Saint Maud or an alternative to the nunsploitation du jour Benedetta, Agnes The perfect watch.

The Last Son

What to Watch:Amazon, Apple, Vudu and Vudu are all available for rent at $6.99

Redbox Entertainment

Funny FaceAnd Dark Night director Tim Sutton’s Western action-revenge drama The Last Son stars Sam Worthington as Isaac LeMay, a notorious outlaw haunted by the prophecy that he will be killed by one of his own children. Taking a page out of the playbook of the Greek titan Cronus, LeMay sets out to murder his estranged progeny, including his long-lost son Cal (Colson Baker aka “Machine Gun Kelly”). LeMay is hunted down by Sheriff Solomon (Sam Worthington), and his son. He must either break the curse, or give in to his fate.

Copshop

What to Watch:Amazon, Apple, Vudu and Vudu are all available for rent at $5.99

Open Road

CopshopThe latest action thriller by Smokin’ AcesAnd The A-Team (2010) director Joe Carnahan, stars Frank Grillo (Boss LevelAs Teddy Murretto (played by ), Teddy is a con artist who escapes the clutches of Bob VIddick, an assassin ruthless bent on collecting his bounty. Unfortunately for Teddy, Bob finds a way to get locked up in the same police station as him, and on top of that, he’s not the only one gunning for his head. The trailer looks as stylish, explosive, and eccentric as you would expect from Carnahan’s previous work, with Toby Huss (King of the Hill) co-starring as deranged elderly hitman named Tony.

And here’s what dropped last Friday:

Dog Power

What to Watch:Netflix streaming available

TIFF photo

Benedict Cumberbatch stars Dog PowerPhil Burbank is a charismatic, but brutal rancher. His goal is to terrorize Rose Dunst (Kirsten Dust), and Peter McPhee (Kodi Scott-McPhee). When Phil’s brother George marries Rose, his desire and method of intimidating them only intensifies … that is, until he takes the young Peter under his wing. Is Phil just trying to protect Rose from his unrequited and uncommunicated affection? Or are there deeper motives for his bizarre behavior? Our review revealed that

In the United States, there are no seismic events.Dog Power. No cattle stampedes nor gunfights are allowed. The movie’s abrupt end feels even more shocking because of its meditative nature. Campion is one such director who encourages repeated viewings. On a second watch, the connective tissues surrounding the narrative’s tendons don’t just become apparent, they gain a muscular meaning, a robustness that makes the film’s one major reveal even more enlivening. Dog Power doesn’t just mark Campion’s return — it’s the best movie of 2021 so far. This psychological Western’s themes of isolation and toxic masculinity are an ever-tightening lasso of seemingly innocuous events, and they import more horror and meaning on every closer inspection, corralling viewers under an unforgettable spell.

Summit of the Gods

What to Watch:Netflix streaming available

Image: Jullianne Films / Folivari / Mélusine Productions / France 3 Cinéma / AuRA Cinéma

Based on Jiro Taniguchi’s manga series of the same name, Patrick Imbert’s animated drama Summit of the Gods Follow the adventures of a Japanese journalist who, in his quest to discover the truth behind Mount Everest’s first attempt at climbing it, embarks on his own expedition. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival this past summer, Imbert’s film has garnered significant acclaimed for its stunning visuals, deft pacing, and and impressive characters.

Dune

What to Watch:Rentable for as low as $24.99 from Amazon, Apple and Vudu

Warner Bros. Pictures

In the year 10191, Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villenueve’s adaptation of the celebrated Frank Herbert sci-fi epic stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, son and heir to the powerful Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), who is forced to leave the planet of his birth to become the newly appointed stewards of Arrakis, a desert planet home to a coveted resource known as melange. There are sword fights, politics, intrigue, betrayal, drama, and oh — these colossal creatures called sandworms that burst out of the ground before devouring people. Honestly, there’s way too much to explain about DuneIt is impossible to cover everything in one sentence. We have therefore created this helpful-dandy guide that will help you understand the vast, bizarre universe. But enough of all that, let’s hone in on the biggest question: should you set aside time this weekend to watch Villeneuve’s latest, hulking sci-fi extravaganza? This is our review.

If you can get lost in the cocoon of production, costume, and art-design opulence, and sink into the Big Event angle of it all — which is why people go to the movies, isn’t it? — the film, styled as Dune Part 1It can also be very evocative. The problem, though, is the film’s pervasive emotional emptiness. Villeneuve, his co-writers Jon Spaihts and (of PassengersAnd Prometheus) and Eric Roth, rush through character journeys, and shortchange ostensible hero Paul Atreides (wild-hair-haver Timothée Chalamet). The entire dense mythology is not explained, and instead they recast whole communities as thinly drawn versions of popular pop-culture characters. The Fremen are now Tusken Raiders, the Bene Gesserit have become more or less Fremen. Macbeth’s witches.) All that streamlining has resulted in the loss of the connecting thread that links all the disparate parts into one cohesive entity. The film is a splendid, threadbare tapestry that unravels as you’re watching it.

The Diary of a Wimpy Child

What to Watch:Disney Plus streaming available

Image: Disney Plus

Based on Jeff Kinney’s coming-of-age book series, The Diary of a Wimpy ChildGreg Heffley follows a mischievous, young student with an excessive imagination. He worries about how he will navigate his first year at middle school. Greg, his friend Rowley and Rowley struggle to find their way in middle school, making friends as well as fitting in. For a children’s film, the trailer for The Diary of a Wimpy ChildThis animated film has some impressive animation and some really clever humor. If you’ve never read or seen anything of the series, don’t worry — this new movie recounts the events of the first book alone so you won’t miss anything.

Castle Falls

What to Watch:Rentable for as low as $5.99 at Amazon and $6.99 at Apple

Photo: Shout! Studios.

Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IVIndirects, stars and televised performances by? Castle FallsThe action-thriller “The Hunt for Millions” centers on rival gangs searching for the stash of money hidden inside a luxurious condominium that is on the brink of being demolished. Hidden by a now-imprisoned gang leader, three desperate parties now vie for the prize: A prison guard (Lundgren) looking to use the money to pay for his daughter’s cancer treatment; a blue-collar demolition man (Scott Adkins) who accidentally discovers the money; and the gang whose leader stashed the cash away in the first place. The condo will be destroyed in 90 minutes, so the question of who gets the cash quickly is just as important as the question about who actually makes it out alive. Normally we wouldn’t bet against Adkins, but Lundgren did direct the movie…