The broad and goofy comedy “80 for Brady” is aimed squarely at the underserved older moviegoer demographic. Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Rita Moreno play elderly fans of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. They experience some sitcom hijinks when they travel to Houston to watch their hero play in the Super Bowl. It is ostensibly inspired by a true story, but plenty of Hollywood myth has been added to the implausible narrative. “80 for Brady” deserves a few yellow flags for corniness, but the veteran cast manages to push it over the goal line.
It should be no surprise that filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan’s latest effort “Knock at the Cabin” is a twisty psychological horror entry aimed at creeping you out. On that count at least, it works. Dave Bautista stars in this tale of a family of three held hostage at a remote vacation cabin. Their captors, following the dictates of visions they claim to have experienced, demand that the family sacrifice one of their own in order to prevent the apocalypse. It’s well acted, tense, and suspenseful. But “Knock at the Cabin” is ultimately disappointing because has nothing to say about the intriguing moral conundrum it presents.
In 2009, Australian 16-year-old Jessica Watson attempted to become the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the globe. Teagan Croft plays Watson in the inspirational Netflix drama “True Spirit.” Anna Paquin plays her supportive mom and Cliff Curtis portrays a former sailor and Jessica’s mentor. It’s a well-intentioned depiction of Watson’s gutsy undertaking, but this story might have been better served as a documentary. While it’s conventional to a fault, “True Spirit” is a respectable, family-friendly adventure.