Screens

From a much-anticipated science fi ction sequel to a puzzling whodunit, which new holiday fi lm releases make the grade?

BY KIKO MARTINEZ

With countless ways to watch movies these days, Christmas 2022 is going prove interesting if you have a lot of family under one roof. Not everyone’s likely to agree on what to watch.

Of course, you can always try the classics. Or you can stream the handful of new fi lms on platforms such as Prime and Netfl ix. You can also pile everyone into the car and get the full theatrical experience, which will probably be important to most moviegoers for one highly awaited sequel this holiday season.

To help you make those important choices, check out these seven blurb reviews of new movies debuting at San Antonio theaters or on streaming services from December 16-30.

If you’re wondering about movies such as Women Talking or A Man Called O o, those titles have limited theatrical releases, so you’re in luck if you’re in Los Angeles or New York, but as of press time, they won’t be screening locally until early 2023.

Avatar: The Way of Water

Thirteen years in the making, the sequel to the original record-breaking 2009 science fi ction epic takes viewers back to Pandora where Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is now a permanent member of the Na’vi clan and has an entire family. However, with a new danger lurking, they must escape and fi nd a new way of life in the ocean. Clocked at more than three hours, it takes some time for the story to fi nd its footing, but Oscar-winning director James Cameron delivers another visual spectacle and adds emotional weight that creates higher stakes for everyone. Opens at theaters December 16.

Nanny

Winner of the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, this psychological art-house horror fi lm uses its metaphors eff ectively to tell the story of an undocumented Senegalese immigrant (Anna Diop) caring for the child of an affl uent family in New York City. First-time feature fi lmmaker Nikyatu Jusu sets an unse ling tone, while Diop faces her own haunted visions about the son she left behind in West Africa. Premieres on Prime December 16.

20th Century Studios

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

An animated sequel to the 2009 Shrek spinoff , Antonio Banderas reprises his role as the title ki y and does it with fl air. This time, Puss goes on a quest to fi nd a magical wishing star that can restore his feline immortality. What makes this sequel excel are its unique interpretations of classic fairytale characters, including an ass-kicking Goldilocks and easily the most terrifying take ever on the Big Bad Wolf. Opens at theaters December 21.

The Whale

Actor Brendan Fraser is likely on his way to the fi rst Oscar nomination of his career for his portrayal of a morbidly obese and reclusive English teacher named Charlie, who’s looking to reunite with his estranged teenage daughter (Sadie Sink). First, Fraser is devastatingly good and carries the drama masterfully with an occasional assist from co-star Hong Chau. But fi lmmaker Darren Aronofsky has done the broken father-daughter relationship be er (The Wrestler). Sink brings no nuance to her role and a secondary storyline about a Mormon kid who visits Charlie feels aimless at best. Opens at theaters December 21.

Babylon

Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle (La La Land) strikes out in extravagant fashion for the fi rst time in his young career with a fi lm set in 1920s Hollywood. At more than three hours, the narrative splits its time between a trio of characters (played by Brad Pi , Margot Robbie and Diego Calva) who are trying to maneuver their way through the burgeoning fi lm industry. Much like the debauched parties in the fi lm, Chazelle’s script is u erly chaotic and comes across like a tired imitation of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 masterpiece Boogie Nights. Opens at theaters December 23.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

While it’s not nearly as fun as 2019 predecessor Knives Out, the return of Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc is enough reason to pop in for another puzzling whodunit. This time, Blanc is invited to a murder mystery soiree on a private island in Greece. Naturally, a new collection of characters become suspects when someone croaks. The meta storyline isn’t as clever as fi lmmaker Rian Johnson thinks it is, but the eccentric cast is entertaining. Premieres on Netfl ix December 23.

White Noise

Considered unadaptable in many circles, Don DeLillo’s 1985 novel of the same name can’t fi nd a sense of tone in the hands of fi lmmaker Noah Baumbach, who dives into the deep end of the original text — and drowns. Heavy on satire, the narrative is far too convoluted to explain in a few words, but thematically, it covers anything from mortality to consumerism. Usually, Baumbach is impressive when handling dark comedy, but in cinematic form, DeLillo’s concepts become a gawky mess. Premieres on Netfl ix December 30.