As the summer heat stretches on, fatigue sets in. If you're getting a little exhausted from road trips, swimming pools, or just hiding at home in the air conditioning, why not watch a movie? Up To Date's indie, foreign, and documentary film critics have a few suggestions to keep this weekend from going stale.
Steve Walker
Maudie, PG-13
- This poignant and unconventionally romantic biopic about Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, who suffered from debilitating arthritis, stars Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke, both excellent as the title character and her grumpy, illiterate husband.
The Little Hours, R
- Set in an Italian convent in 1347, Jeff Baena's raunchy send-up of Boccaccio's The Decameron features nuns who drop f-bombs with ease, a recalcitrant donkey, and a hip cast that includes Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, Dave Franco and a dozen more.
Score: A Film Music Documentary, Not rated
- Film composers like Quincy Jones, Trent Reznor and John Williams deconstruct through multiple clips and recording sessions how movie scores can evoke mood, tension and tears.
Cynthia Haines
Maudie, PG-13
- Based on the true story of Canadian painter Maud Lewis, Sally Hawkins deftly portrays the renowned folk artist, who was first hired as housekeeper for the introverted man she eventually falls in love with.
Score: A Film Music Documentary, Not rated
- A journey through the unforgettable soundtracks of cinema with Hollywood's most notable composers. The documentary delves into the science of music and the challenges of creating a score that strikes a chord with the audience.
The Exception, R
- A German soldier played by Jai Courtney falls in love with a Jewish maid while investigating the manse of exiled monarch Kaiser Wilhelm II. The romance confronts him with a choice: follow his country or his heart.
