By John Corrado

New releases for the week of February 17th, 2023.

Theatrical Releases:

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Wide Release): Marvel’s latest arrives in theatres this weekend, and it’s maybe the weakest one yet in the 31 film deep MCU. I saw it earlier this week, and it’s an exposition-heavy film that is so focused on merely setting up what’s to come that it struggles to offer much excitement on its own terms. Yes, the cast is still charming, and Jonathan Majors leaves his mark as new villain Kang, but there’s only so much they can do against those sludgy CG backgrounds of the Quantum Realm. (Full Review)

Of An Age (Limited Release): Writer-director Goran Stolevski’s sophomore feature is an engaging and poignant portrait of two young men, 17-year-old Serbian-born ballroom dancer Kol (Elias Anton) and his best friend’s older brother Adam (Thom Green), who connect over a whirlwind 24 hours in Australia in the last few weeks of 1999. The film succeeds thanks to the strength of Solevski’s writing and the chemistry between the leads, offering a bittersweet look at a brief but impactful relationship that will continue to reverberate through the characters’ lives. (Full Review)

Marlowe (Wide Release): Liam Neeson takes on the role of private detective Philip Marlowe in this film noir throwback from director Neil Jordan, set within the Hollywood studio system of 1939. The idea of casting Neeson as the lead in an old school detective movie is appealing, but this sluggishly paced film is a pretty major disappointment. It’s a tired effort, that unfortunately fails to really reignite much passion within the classic film noir genre. (Full Review)

More Releases: Hidden Blade (Limited), Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (Limited), 2023 Oscar-Nominated Shorts – Animation (TIFF Bell Lightbox), 2023 Oscar-Nominated Shorts – Live Action (TIFF Bell Lightbox), 2023 Oscar-Nominated Shorts – Documentary (TIFF Bell Lightbox)

Streaming Releases:

Sharper (Apple TV+): This slick thriller, set within the “bedrooms, barrooms and boardrooms” of New York City, is best watched knowing as little as possible. Starring Justice Smith, Julianne Moore, John Lithgow, Sebastian Stan, and Briana Middleton, what makes the film so enjoyable to watch is the way that it keeps pulling the rug out from under us, with an episodic structure that allows it to keep reinventing itself. Sure, it might not amount to much more than a well-played con in the end, but it’s a lot of fun to watch as the pieces fall into place. (Full Review)

Cat Daddies (Digital/VOD): This simple but charming documentary focuses on the bonds between a variety of men and their cats, and it’s pretty irresistible to watch if you are in any way a cat person. It’s thoroughly enjoyable and often very appealing, with ample footage of the subjects’ adorable feline companions. (Full Review)

More Releases: Red Rose (Netflix), Run & Gun (Paramount+), Night of the Kings (CBC Gem)