Film Previews

“THE CREATOR”

PG-13 | 133 minutes
Director: Gareth Edwards
Screenplay: Gareth Edwards, Chris Weitz
Stars: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan

The post-apocalyptic reality in “The Creator” is a result of the brouhaha caused by artificial-intelligence-led detonation of a nuclear warhead in Los Angeles. Joshua (John David Washington), a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife (Gemma Chan), is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war … and mankind itself. Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child (Madeleine Yuna Voyles).

“DUMB MONEY”

R | 105 minutes
Director: Craig Gillespie
Screenplay: Lauren Schuker Blum, Rebecca Angelo, Ben Mezrich
Stars: Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio

Based on the book “The Antisocial Network” by Ben Mezrich, “Dumb Money” is the ultimate David versus Goliath tale, centered around the absurd series of events in January 2021 that saw the sudden rise of price in stocks for the video game retailer GameStop. It’s the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich. In the middle of everything is regular guy Keith Gill (Paul Dano), who starts it all by sinking his life savings into the stock and posting about it. When his social posts start blowing up, so does his life and the lives of everyone following him. 

“THE KILL ROOM”

R | 98 minutes
Director: Nicol Paone
Screenplay: Jonathan Jacobson
Stars: Maya Hawke, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman

“The Kill Room” combines the surprisingly similar realms of art dealing and underworld crime for a deliciously dark comedy. Reggie (Joe Manganiello) is a contract killer under his boss, Gordon (Samuel L. Jackson). The two are sent to Patrice Capullo (Uma Thurman), an art dealer and gallery owner, who agrees to partner up with Gordon and Reggie, who allegedly have art to sell. Reggie begins making art for potential buyers only to become an overnight avant-garde sensation under the pseudonym of “The Bagman,” inspired by his violent method of eliminating targets. However, the trio’s success threatens to blow up what is meant to be a covert money-laundering scheme. ♦