Director Danny A. Abeckaser and screenwriter Kosta Kondilopoulos have made a spellbinding, gripping and unflinching thriller about the first twelve hours of the October 7th massacre in Israel from the perspectives of multiple characters whose lives intersect by that tragic day. There are some expositional scenes as the screenplay introduces the characters and their relationships before the terrorists arrive, but, for the most part, the plot remains suspenseful and doesn't get bogged down by its overlapping subplots. That's also a testament to the film's solid editing that builds the monumentum and interweaves the subplots without overwhelming or confusing the audience. More insights into the characters lives before the massacre begins would've added some depth; instead, the film opts for a more procedural approach and includes a lot of gritty action scenes. There many difficult scenes to watch, especially the depiction of a rape that doesn't show everything and leaves more to the imagination. Be prepared for an immersive experience that's heartbreaking, horrifying and essential. Until now, there have been many documentaries about October 7th, so bravo to the brave filmmakers for being the first ones to release a narrative about it in theaters. At a running time of 1 hour and 25 minutes, 12 Hours in October opens at Cinema Village.

 

      Jake (Sam Worthington) and his wife, Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and their adopted daughter, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), face a new enemy, the Mangkwan clan, led ny Varang (Oona Chaplin) who teams up with Colonel Miles  Quaritch (Stephen Lang) in  Avatar: Fire and Ash. Writer/director James Cameron and his co-writers, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, have made an overlong, exhausting and tedious sci-fi action adventure that lacks the heart and soul of the original. It's beautifully shot and animated with stunning use of CGI and motion capture, but beyond the eye candy, there's not much of a compelling story. The dialogue often sounds dull, stilted and on-the-nose which is forgivable because no one goes to an Avatar expecting well-written dialogue or even wit. However, that doesn't mean that there shouldn't be comic relief, though, which feels sorely missing here. Predator: Badlands is a far better sci-adventure that manages to entertain and surprise within a much shorter amount of time. Does James Cameron not grasp the concept that less is more? Too much Spectacle and not enough substance leads to a mind-numbing experience that gets tiresome after a while. Perhaps it would work better as a video game. At a running time of 3 hours and 17 minutes, Avatar: Fire and Ash opens nationwide via 20th Century Studios.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 5




 

      Alex (Will Arnett) and his wife, Tess (Laura Dern), have been unhappy with their marriage and fallen out of love, so they agree to separate in Is This Thing On?. He finds a new passion and hobby as a stand-up comedian. Writer/director Bradley Cooper and his co-writers, Will Arnett and Mark Chappell, have made a sweet, harmless and mildly engaging marital dramedy that's sugar-coated and ultimately less than the sum of its parts. It has a few funny and touching scenes, but they're far and few between. The screenplay doesn't have anything profound to say about love, marriage, happiness or second chances. It's not quite clear how Alex truly grows and changes throughout the film, and the same can be said for Tess, so as a character study Is This Thing On doesn't really succeed. The performances are decent, but nothing exceptional. You can probably watch this on streaming and it wouldn't make that much of a difference. If you're looking for a better dramedy about a stand-up comedian, watch The Baltimorons. If you want a better marital dramedy starring Laura Dern, watch Marriage Story. At a running time of 2 hours and 1 minute, Is This Thing On? opens in select theaters nationwide via Searchlight Pictures.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 3




 

      Marty (Timothée Chalamet), a shoe salesman from NYC, aspires to become a great ping pong player and struggles to find sponsorship in Marty Supreme. He has romances with an older woman, Kay (Gwyneth Paltrow), the wife of one of his potential sponsors, and Rachel (Odessa A'zion), the wife of Ira (Emory Cohen). Writer/director Josh Safdie and co-writer Ronald Bronstein have made a visually stylish and invigorating, but vapid and tonally uneven sports dramedy about an arrogant, narcissistic and emotionally immature young man. He's determined and persistent, but far from a great role model or inspiration because of how many boundaries he crosses to try to achieve his dream, i.e. by stealing Kay's necklace which turns out to be a prop. He returns it to her and acknowledges his action, but doesn't seem sincerely remorseful. The plot, set during the 1950s, juggles too many genres and tones with not nearly enough finesse, so expect some tonal whiplash. Is it a satire? A character study? A romance? A thriller? In a way, it's all the above albeit the less developed element is the one that should've been focused on more: a character study. Unfortunately, the screenplay fails to provide enough of a window into Marty's heart, mind and soul. There's clearly a lot going on inside of him, but it's not quite clear how introspective he is or at least he doesn't show any signs of it. That makes it a squandered opportunity to add emotional depth and insight into a character who remains somewhat of an enigma from start to finish.

      Does the film justify its lengthy running time? Not really because the second act meanders for too long. It also doesn't give Fran Drescher, who plays Marty's mother, Rebecca, enough to do or to say, especially during a hospital scene where he just passes by her without her saying anything. Oh and there's a random scene where Marty suddenly gets spanked with a paddle that feels awkward and out of place. The film's systemic issue, though, is that it doesn't give Marty a convincing character arc, so the last scenes that try to be poignant and show Marty's vulnerable side don't quite land because it's hard to believe that he has truly changed on the inside. That said, Timothée Chalamet, Odessa A'zion, Gwyneth Paltrow and Emory Cohen all give solid performances, and the lively soundtrack provides both style and substance, especially the song "Forever Young" by Alphaville. At a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, Marty Supreme opens in select theaters nationwide via A24 before expanding nationwide on December 25th, 2025.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 3




 

      SpongeBob (voice of Tom Kenny) travels to the depths of the ocean to search for the Flying Dutchman's ghost in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. Director Derek Drymonand his co-writers, Pam Brady and Matt Lieberman, have made a mildly engaging and harmless animated adventure that's more silly than funny while opting for lowbrow humor that's aimed more at kids than at adults. It gets a bit zany toward the end which feels invigorating and even offers a few genuinely funny sight gags, but those moments are far and few between. The plot itself is not very exciting and the blend of animation and live-action feels awkward. However, the short brief running time, which includes an animated short, makes it easier to sit through without overstaying its welcome. At 1 hour and 36 minutes, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants opens nationwide via Paramount Pictures.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 3




 

       Rana  (Saja Kilani), Mahdi (Amer Hlehel), and Omar (Motaz Malhees), volunteer members of Palestine's Red Crescent, deal with a call from Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl from Gaza who's trapped in a car with her family who were killed by IDF soldiers in  The Voice of Hind Rajab Writer/director Kaouther Ben Hania has made a powerful, intense and heartbreaking reenactment of a true story using the actual recordings of Hind Rajab's call to the Red Crescent. That might sound like a gimmick, but it's not. It would in a way that makes it feel all the more real and horrifying. The film doesn't shy away from showing the gruesome aftermath of the violence during the last 10 minutes. Until then, it leaves it up to the audience's imagination with only the voice of Hind Rajab and some photos of her that the Red Crescent volunteers find in their research. Even if you know the tragic ending by following the news during the past few years, it's still a very very tough ending that will leave you emotionally devastated. Fortunately, Ben Hania keeps the film lean and focused with tight editing that feels cinematic and efficient without uneven pacing or making the audience feel exhausted. At an ideal running time of 1 hour and 29 minutes, The Voice of Hind Rajab opens at Film Forum via WILLA.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 1