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“Gemini” (R) – A lush and moody neo-noir crime thriller, “Gemini” stars Lola Kirke as Jill, the personal assistant to impetuous Hollywood starlet Heather (Zoe Kravitz). Troubled relationships and poor decision-making put Heather in the crosshairs of lovers, business partners and admirers alike – and it’s Jill’s job to sort it all out. But then Heather is found dead by Jill’s borrowed gun, and a detective in charge of the case (John Cho) is following as she crisscrosses Los Angeles to solve the mystery and save her own neck, along the way exploring the blurred lines of employment and friendship, and the nature of masked ambitions.
Taraji P. Henson in “Acrimony” (Lionsgate photo)
“Tyler Perry’s Acrimony” (R) – Can a woman who is misused at every turn find solace in a bitter and venomous revenge? Taraji P. Henson plays Melinda, one such woman. We watch as she details to a court-mandated therapist her relationship, then marriage and ultimately divorce from former husband Robert (Lyriq Bent), a gold-digging, two-timing inventor. After Robert is done spending Melinda’s inheritance, the relationship falls apart, and she is left in the dust for the other woman (Crystle Stewart). Adding insult to injury, he suddenly becomes successful, and flush with cash and condescension. It’s enough to drive a woman crazy. Henson is brilliantly sympathetic as a raving lunatic. She manages to keep the film above water for the most part, despite the overly moralistic tones and too-clever “chapter” plot devices.
“The Endless” (NR) – Two brothers who escaped the clutches of a cult wilderness society end up back at the compound 10 years later after receiving a cryptic video message from one of its members. Their investigation, driven by a need for closure and some account of the supernatural events surrounding the group’s mission, uncovers strange and unexplainable phenomenon: middle-aged residents with no evidence of aging, multiple visible celestial bodies and an apparent portal in the sky, for starters. It’s written, directed, styled and starring cult filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead of the socio-sci-horror “Spring,” and the hype is absolutely warranted, with stirring visuals and impeccable pacing.
“In Darkness” (NR) – Natalie Dormer plays blind pianist Sofia, resident of an apartment building with beautiful and mysterious upstairs neighbor Veronique (Emily Ratajkowski). Veronique takes a tumble off her balcony, and a tight-lipped Sofia is questioned: Does the lack of sight heighten her other senses, and could she have been an aural witness to murder? Jan Bijvoet supports as Veronique’s father, Milos Radic, a Serbian businessman and war criminal whose fate is entwined with Sofia’s. Does the “darkness” of the title refer to Sofia’s lack of sight, or the murkiness of her situation?
New TV Releases
“Black Lightning” Season 1
“The Mick” Complete Second Season
“Last Man Standing” Seasons 5 and 6
“Christmas in Evergreen”
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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