By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
In Amarillo theaters this week: Tom Cruise as an anti-hero, and a remake of a deadly '90s thriller.
New in theaters
American Made
Tom Cruise stars as real-life pilot Barry Seal, who worked for both the CIA and the Medellin drug cartel, making himself a fortune in the process, in this energetic new film from director Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow). After getting coopted into working for the intelligence agency by a manipulative handler (Domhnall Gleeson), Seal starts getting intelligence reports from Manuel Noriega himself. Then, he's drawn into a side business of sneaking cocaine into the U.S. for Columbian druglords — and then, he starts delivering guns to Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Throughout, Liman and Cruise keep the tone light. "But as much fun as all this laughing at the past is, it all starts to feel a bit superficial and vaguely monotonous as Seal gets into scrape after scrape but always escapes with a quick line of patter and a smile," writes The Hollywood Reporter's Leslie Felperin. "We don’t even get to enjoy his sinking to the bottom of the moral pit given that, despite the fact that he’s smuggling product for the biggest drug cartel in the world, he never does anything naughtier than drink some tequila shots and set off the odd firework. You get the feeling that you’re just supposed to love the guy because he’s played by Tom Cruise." (R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity; click here for showtimes at United Artists Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd., and Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive.)
Flatliners
In this remake of the 1990 sci-fi thriller, five medical students (including Ellen Page and Grantchester's James Norton) kill each other — briefly — so they can explore what happens after death. Naturally, it doesn't go well, and they're all haunted by sins of their pasts. No reviews are yet available. (PG-13 for violence and terror, sexual content, language, thematic material, and some drug references; click here for showtimes at Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16)
A Question of Faith
Tragedy strikes three families (led by Richard T. Jones, C. Thomas Howell and Jaci Velasquez) in this religious drama. Jones is a workaholic preacher, Howell is a struggling business owner and Velasquez is a single mom; all deal with matters of faith centering around their children. Reviews have yet to be released. (PG for thematic elements; click here for showtimes at Amarillo Star 14)
Special engagements
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 screen at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at Amarillo Star 14. (NR)
The Tingler
The 1959 William Castle horror film starring Vincent Price screens as part of Cinemark's Classics Series. No joy buzzers or Percepto, sadly. It'll screen at 2 p.m. Sunday and 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hollywood 16. (NR)
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. Tuesday through Oct. 5 at both the Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16.
Jeepers Creepers 3
The horror franchise returns to theaters for an encore screening with a film set between the first and second movies. Sgt. Tubbs (Brandon Smith) assembles a task force to track down the Creeper (Jonathan Breck) on the last day of his 23-day feeding frenzy. It'll screen at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16. (NR)
Blade Runner double feature
Watch the 1982 original (Ridley Scott's final cut, of course) at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Amarillo Star 14, then catch the highly buzzed-about Blade Runner 2049 for one ticket. (both rated R)
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. Oct. 5 (then in an English-dubbed form Oct. 8) at the Amarillo Star 14.
Still in theaters
All Saints (AS-14); American Assassin (AS-14, H-16); Baby Driver (Premiere Cinemas Westgate Mall 6, 7701 W. Interstate 40); The Dark Tower (WM-6); Despicable Me 3 (H-16); Friend Request (AS-14, H-16); 47 Meters Down (WM-6); Girls Trip (WM-6); The Hitman's Bodyguard (H-16); Home Again (AS-14, H-16); It (AS-14, H-16 and TDI); Kingsman: The Golden Circle (AS-14, H-16); Leap! (H-16); The Lego Ninjago Movie (AS-14, H-16); mother! (H-16); The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (WM-6); and Wonder Woman (WM-6). (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.
