Every Night at 3:30 (2023)

J Brooke, Incluvie Guest Columnist on 'Life and Beth' and 'Sort of': while living one’s truth is freedom, speaking it as a mandatory assignment can become captivity.

A high-octane spy thriller where Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR’s clash brings explosive action, stylish direction, and emotional depth. Here’s my take on what makes it a must-watch in the YRF Spy Universe.

I like discovering something new among the old and Tubi has an assortment of horror films from cinema's past for just such an occasion.

The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.

At Coopers Chase, murder isn’t just tragedy—it’s Thursday’s entertainment. Chris Columbus’ The Thursday Murder Club transforms Richard Osman’s bestselling series into a cozy, clever whodunit where Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie prove that life’s sharpest twists don’t stop with age. With llamas on the lawn, cakes at the ready, and secrets around every corner, this star-powered mystery balances charm, humor, and heartache, reminding us that friendship, resilience, and reinvention might just be the ultimate clues.

As this critic continues to look back at some of this Summer's films I have taken in, I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of the most overall unsettling trends in Hollywood over the last several years.....sequels, reboots, and remakes. Look, I am all for seeing more than one film for certain originals that made a splash, ie: "Jurassic Park", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Transformers", etc.