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All of a Sudden

A story about conversation and connection, and one that — despite being over three hours long — absolutely breezes by, much like a great evening out where you suddenly realize it’s 2AM. Split between France and Japan, and helmed by Drive My Car director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, All of a Sudden comes to life after a chance meeting between Marie-Lou (Virginie Efira), the workaholic director of a nursing home, and Mari (Tao Okamoto), a playwright who is coping with a terminal cancer diagnosis. The two connect instantly and spend an entire night talking about everything from the ruinous impact of capitalism to the practical aspects of caring for elderly patients. It all feels natural and heartfelt, though, and at its core, All of a Sudden is a movie about what it means to be human: how we want to spend our time, and how we treat those around us, particularly those who are different or difficult. It sounds cliché, but it left me feeling both hopeful and terrified for the future. The film is also downright gorgeous, and there’s a good chance you’ll immediately start pricing tickets to Paris or Kyoto after you step out of the theater.

Below is the rare story set in Newfoundland, on the east coast of Canada. It’s a compelling creature feature, a thriller where a mysterious monster is slowly terrorizing a remote fishing village that has been decimated by dwindling fish stocks. Josh Hartnett stars as a father of three who is just trying to survive, when strange chunks of ice start appearing in the harbor, portending something real bad. I watched the first two (of six) episodes, and even though it’s pretty clear what is going on, the show does a remarkable job of building up the mood and suspense, which makes the horrific reveals hit harder. Below is also surprisingly authentic and funny; anyone who has been to the East Coast will feel right at home when they see a bucket of salt beef or the dreaded screech.

Rogue Trooper

An animated satirical sci-fi movie based on the comic of the same name, Duncan Jones’ Rogue Trooper is set on a toxic planet that is home to a never-ending war that is a lucrative venture back on Earth. It follows a squad of genetically engineered supersoldiers who find themselves stranded in enemy territory, and their numbers steadily dwindle over the course of the film. Unfortunately, despite some occasionally beautiful sci-fi imagery that imbues a real sense of scale, Rogue Trooper mostly falls flat, with a drab story, forgettable characters, and action that lacks any real weight. Even worse, despite boasting a cast including Jemaine Clement, Matthew Berry, and Philomena Cunk herself, Diane Morgan, it’s also not funny at all.

How We Stand

After moving to Los Angeles as part of the Indian Relocation Act in the 1950s, three sisters find themselves separated from each other after their mother is killed. The story then jumps forward a few decades, when each sister is living a very different life; one is trying to make it as an actress despite being typecast, one is a doctor after being adopted by a white family, and the youngest is struggling after passing through dozens of foster families. How We Stand explores the real impact of some truly horrific policies and programs, and the trio of actors at its core — Amber Midthunder, Alyssa Wapanatâhk, and Isabel DeRoy-Olson — are all excellent. But the film is saddled with writing that can feel too on the nose, and its magical realism elements feel underutilized until the very end.