By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
In theaters this week: A hotly anticipated new take on a sci-fi classic, man vs. woman on the tennis court, and ponies.
New in theaters
Battle of the Sexes
The sexual revolution finds a new battleground — the tennis court — in this true story of the match of the ages against Billie Jean King (Emma Stone), the No. 1 women's player, and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carrell), an abrasive, hustling former men's champ. Directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine) find echoes of today all throughout this story set in 1973, when King fought for parity for women in the tennis world and Riggs found a way to get back into the spotlight (and make some dough) by asserting that men couldn't be beaten by a woman on the court. "Battle of the Sexes looks beneath the ballyhoo and horsing around to provide context on the heightened stakes that informed Riggs and King’s confrontation," writes The Washington Post's Ann Hornaday. "(The movie) is a pleasure to watch, both as a nostalgia trip and collection of pop artifacts." (PG-13 for some sexual content and partial nudity; click here for showtimes at United Artists Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd., and Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive)
Blade Runner 2049
The original Blade Runner (which you can see at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Amarillo Star 14) was a major game-changer for sci-fi movies; its dystopian production design and seriousness of purpose has influenced countless films since. Now, director Denis Villenueve (Arrival) takes us back to the future in a sequel set 30 years after the original. Ryan Gosling stars as K, a more organic replicant cop tracking down and "retiring" remaining first-generation replicants. But when K learns that all is not what it appears, either in the world or in his mind, he tracks down Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford, reprising his role), to get some answers. Reviews are quite strong: "Even when its emotions risk running as cool as its palette, 2049 reaches for, and finds, something remarkable: the elevation of mainstream moviemaking to high art," writes Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt. (R for violence, some sexuality, nudity and language; click here for showtimes at Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16)
The Mountain Between Us
A neurosurgeon (Idris Elba) and a photojournalist (Kate Winslet), both desperate to get out of a storm-bedeviled Idaho airpot, charter a private plane together — which then crashes on a mountainside, stranding them and the pilot's dog. "In the hands of lesser actors I shudder to think of what a slog The Mountain Between Us might be, with its endless catastrophes and near-deaths and melodramatic declarations. But Winslet ... and Elba are so likable and charismatic together, they just about sell it," writes The Seattle Times' Moira Macdonald. (PG-13 for a scene of sexuality, peril, injury images, and brief strong language; click here for showtimes at Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16)
My Little Pony: The Movie
When darkness threatens Ponyville, the Mane 6 — Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity — journey beyond Equestria in this new feature film adaptation of the popular franchise. Voices include Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber and others. (PG for mild action; click here for showtimes at Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16)
The Stray
A stray dog winds up changing the lives of a family — including the requisite workaholic dad (Michael Cassidy, People of Earth) — in this family-friendly drama. (PG for thematic elements including a perilous situation; click here for showtimes at Amarillo Star 14)
Special engagements
Mully
This faith-based documentary tells the story of Charles Mully, who rose from being abandoned on the streets to becoming a wealthy, powerful man in Kenya. He used his fortune to start a children's rescue organization. It'll screen at 7 p.m. Thursday at both the Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16. (NR)
No Game No Life: Zero
The popular anime series expands to film, with Riku attempting to lead humanity to a new level. It'll screen (with subtitles) at 7 p.m. Thursday, then in an English-dubbed form at 12:55 p.m. Sunday, at the Amarillo Star 14. (NR)
Norma
Sondra Radvanovsky and Joyce DiDonato star as rival Druid priestesses in Vincenzo Bellini's bel canto opera for The Met: Live in HD. It'll screen at 12:55 p.m. Saturday at the Hollywood 16. (NR)
Monty Python's Life of Brian
The Python troupe's gleefully sacrilegious masterpiece returns to theaters as part of Cinemark's Classics Series. It'll screen at 2 p.m. Sunday and 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hollywood 16. (R)
Steve McQueen: American Idol
The late actor — known for Bullitt and The Great Escape, among other films — is profiled in a documentary hosted by Pastor Greg Laurie. It'll get an encore screening at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Amarillo Star 14. (NR)
6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain
Josh Hartnett and Mira Sorvino star in this faith-based story about former professional hockey player Eric LeMarque, who survived a cataclysmic winter storm in the High Sierras. It'll screen at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Amarillo Star 14. (PG-13 for thematic elements including drug addiction, some disturbing images and brief partial nudity)
Wild Texas Film Tour
Amarillo native Ben Masters got the movie bug when filming nature documentary Unbranded. Now, he's bringing seven new short wildlife films (including four he directed) to venues around the state, including Amarillo. (Here's my preview.) The event begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St. Tickets are $20, plus fees. Call 806-378-3096.
RWBY: Vol. 5
The anime series about four girls who become the protectors of their world hits theaters for one night only at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Amarillo Star 14.
Still in theaters
American Assassin (AS-14, H-16 and Tascosa Drive-In, 1999 Dumas Drive); American Made (AS-14, H-16); Cars (Premiere Cinemas Westgate Mall 6, 7701 W. Interstate 40); The Dark Tower (WM-6); Despicable Me 3 (H-16); Dunkirk (WM-6); Flatliners (AS-14, H-16); The Glass Castle (WM-6); Home Again (H-16); It (AS-14, H-16); Kidnap (WM-6); Kingsman: The Golden Circle (AS-14, H-16); Leap! (H-16); The Lego Ninjago Movie (AS-14, H-16); mother! (TDI); The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (WM-6); and A Question of Faith (AS-14). (Click on titles for my reviews and on theaters for showtimes.)
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
