Arts & Entertainment
Weekend Movie Review: 'The Rhythm Section' And 'The Assistant'
Blake Lively and Jude Law star in "The Rhythm Section," while Julia Garner and Matthew Macfadyen star in drama thriller "The Assistant."
This weekend, the thriller genre dominates new releases coming to theaters near you.
In "The Rhythm Section," Blake Lively stars as a young woman in search of the killers responsible for the death of her loved ones.
Meanwhile, drama thriller "The Assistant" stars Julia Garner as the titular character who works for an abusive high-profile film executive.
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Those in the mood for a horror thriller can check out "Gretel & Hansel," a reimagining of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, in which Sophia Lillis and Sammy Leakey portray the respective title roles of the two siblings who unexpectedly encounter a menacing evil in the forbidden woods.
Here's what to see and what to skip this weekend:
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Movies Out This Weekend
“The Rhythm Section” — Blake Lively, Jude Law; directed by Reed Morano
Based on Mark Burnell’s “Stephanie Patrick” series of novels, Reed Morano’s mystery thriller is about a woman burning with fury and revenge.
In the film, Blake Lively plays our heroine, Stephanie Patrick who was once a happy and cheerful woman living with her close-knit loving family in England. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and her parents and her siblings were killed in a plane crash. Over time, distraught and lost, Stephanie has turned into a heroin addict and prostitute.
But she’ll soon recover out of despair, burning with fury to avenge the death of her family after she learns that the unfortunate incident was caused by a terrorist attack, and the terrorists have remained at large. She soon encounters a former MI-6 agent (Jude Law) who trains her on how to unleash her killer instinct. Along the way, she will learn how to think of her "heart as drums" and her "breathing as a base" — a rhythm that is a tie-in to the movie's title.
Will she find those responsible for the death of her loved ones? Will she prevail against all odds?
Skip it. The screenplay totally squanders the talent of Lively and Law. It’s a road taken too many times before, languishing with predictable car chases and increasing death toll.
“The Assistant” — Julia Garner, Matthew Macfadyen; directed by Kitty Green
Australian writer-director Kitty Green’s latest film is drama thriller about a young woman who works for an abominable Manhattan film executive. And, yes, it will remind you of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. However, the disgraced film mogul is never seen or mentioned in this #Metoo film.
Julia Garner plays Jane, the titular character who just graduated with honors from Northwestern University and whose dream is to become a film producer one day. As a steppingstone to ignite her young career, she signs on to become an assistant to the head of a high-profile film production in Tribeca.
It’s supposed to be a glamorous job, but she’ll soon find out that it entails long, punishing hours of demeaning tasks and emotional abuse, including washing dishes, making hotel reservations and lying to the executive’s enraged wife.
Meanwhile, scene after scene, her boss remains unseen and unnamed in the film, even after Jane pays the HR rep Wilcock (Matthew Macfadyen) a visit to voice out her concerns and grievances, which include the head honcho’s sexual misconduct and predation. Her effort leads to no avail as he practically tells her to ignore them all. After all, she is not his type, according to Wilcock. Will she remain silent about the disdainful office's conspiratorial practices?
See it. Garner’s powerful gravitas shines as she embodies a deafening portrait of a silent emotional abuse. However, be forewarned that Green’s artful, searing and slow-burn film will require your patience.
“Gretel & Hansel” — Sophia Lillis, Sammy Leakey; directed by Oz Perkins
Oz Perkins’ latest outing takes audiences on a feminist spin of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale about a young girl, alongside her brother, who unexpectedly encounters a menacing evil in the countryside.
In this reimagining of the folklore, Sophia Lillis plays a 16-year-old girl who takes care of her 8-year-old brother Hansel (Sammy Leakey). The siblings live in a place and time submerged in poverty and plague. One day, when Gretel and Hansel set out to find food in a mysterious and forbidden place, they cross paths with a diabolical figure. In turn, they survive the attack and soon encounter Holda ( Alice Krige), a witch who invites the two children into her home.
Fans of the Brothers Grimm know all too well what ensues. Still, surprises abound in this film adaptation, including Gretel’s hidden powers.
Skip it. While “Gretel & Hansel” is visually engaging, it lacks the visceral shocks akin to the fairy tale. Moreover, the ending feels rushed.
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