Gudo (voice of Suet-Ying Chung), a spirit guide in the afterlife, assists a young girl, Yuri (voice of Hui-Tung Choi), a young man, Keung (voice of Will Orr), and a princess, Garan (Yeung Ngo-man) in Another World. Only those without seeds of evil can reincarnate at a waterfall, so Gudo helps them to get rid of each of their seeds of evil, a.k.a. their rage and hatred, before it's too late. Director Tommy Kai Chung Ng and screenwriter Polly Yeung have made a provocative and emotionally engrossing anime film for adults that's unafraid to explore complex themes of guilt, remorse and grief. Audiences looking for a lighthearted, fun and delightful experience will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're looking for something mature and thought-provoking that's tough to watch at times and takes a while to digest, you'll be rewarded with an enlightening experience. It's not nearly as emotionally devastating as Grave of the Fireflies, though, but it comes close.

       Another World isn't a by-the-numbers or action-packed anime film. It does have some intense and violent action scenes, though, but, for the most part, it focuses on Gudo's quest to help Yuri, Keung and Garan while also going through his own emotional journey with epiphanies concurrently.  The filmmakers should be commended for doing a great job with world-building without bombarding the audience right away with a lot of exposition. So, be patient at first because not everything will make sense about the rules of the afterlife right away. If you could imagine a grittier, less saccharine anime version of What Dreams May Come, it would look like Another World. At a running time of 1 hour and 51 minutes, Another World opens at Angelika Film Center via GKIDS.   

 

      Carolina (Samara Weaving) goes on the run from the law with a con man, Oliver (Kyle Gallner), whom she falls in love with Carolina Caroline. Meanwhile, she hopes to find and to reunite with her estranged mother (Kyra Sedgwick). Director Adam Carter Rehmeier and co-writer William Thomas Dean IV have made a captivating crime thriller elevated by Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner's charismatic performances and their palpable on-screen chemistry. It's no Bonnie and Clyde, but it does get into dark territory particularly during the third act which is refreshingly un-Hollywood.  The film's main flaw, though, is that there aren't any likable characters for the audience to root for, and that romance between Carolina and Oliver is doomed to fail given that they've both chosen a life of crime. There are a few surprises that won't be spoiled here, and also a few heartfelt and heartbreaking scenes, but nothing that's emotionally devastating. The filmmakers should be commended for avoiding clunkiness, tonal unevenness, schmaltz and unnecessary subplots nor does it rely on Tarantino-esque violence to entertain the audience. Samara Weaving has been in a lot of horror films that go bonkers, so it's great to see her in something that's not scary and that doesn't go over-the-top for a change. . Samara Weaving has been in a lot of horror films that go bonkers, so it's great to see her in something that's not scary and that doesn't go over-the-top for a change. Perhaps some day she'll star in a quiet drama with a more likable and relatable role. At a running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes, Carolina Caroline opens at Angelika Film Center via Magnolia Pictures.   

Number of times I checked my watch: 2 




 

      Tina (Alice Eve) has her husband, Tom (Eric Michael Cole), have their destination wedding in Malta and reluctantly go on a yacht trip with their friends in Chum. When their boat capsizes after a shark attacks it, they end up on the boat of Roy (Jim Klock), a fisherman who tries to use them as shark bait. Writer/director Jonathan Zuck and co-writer Joe Leone have made an uninspired, by-the-numbers and forgettable B-movie that fails to deliver papable thrills or scares. It's less dull and clunky than Deep Water, but in terms of quality, it's more or less similar to last year's similar Dangerous Animals with less gore. If it didn't take itself so seriously like Deep Blue Sea, it'd be a lot more fun. Nothing happens that can't be easily predicted including the hidden motive of the fisherman and the reason why he's hunting the shark to begin with, so suspense and surprises are not among Chum's strengths. That said, the sharks look real and the picturesque scenery in Malta provides some eye candy. Beyond that, though, Chum has nothing new, imaginative nor interesting to add to the shark movie genre. At a running time of 1 hour and 27 minutes, Chum opens in select theaters and on VOD via Independent Film Company.   

Number of times I checked my watch: 2 

      EC (Elizabeth Cook), a singer-songwriter from Nashville tries to make sense of her life and career while struggling to make ends meet in The Easy Kind. Instead of telling the story of Elizabeth Cook through a biographical documentary, writer/director Katy Chevigny has made a fictional film that's loosely based on Cook's life. What follows is a mildly engaging and occasionally moving, but sugar-coated and undercooked character study that bites off more than it could chew. A lot goes on inside of EC< but the screenplay doesn't do an adequate job of getting inside her head. Moreover, the supporting characters, played by Karen Allen, Catherine Curtin, Zebedee Row and Melissa Jackson, remain underdeveloped. Chevigny takes a risk by combining fictional elements with non-fiction, but the results are very mixed and leave a lot to be desired, especially with how the film barely tackles its complex issues of grief, self-discovery, love, regret, loneliness, success and friendship. At a running time of 1 hour and 34 minutes, The Easy Kind opens at IFC Center via Big Mouth Productions.

Number of times I checked my watch: 2




 

      Jinsei directed by Ryuya Suzuki and written by Kenji Iwaisawa, is an unconventional, ambitious and experimental, but underwhelming and meandering anime film spanning 100 years in the life of a protagonist (voice of ACE COOL) who goes by many names throughout his life. The by-the-numbers, episodic plot which feels like 10 movies wrapped in one ends up biting off more than it could chew. Why does the protagonist have so many names in each chapter of his life if he's not being reincarnated? Jinsei doesn't make a lot of sense at the beginning and then gets increasingly surreal and bizarre as it progresses. That would've been fine if it were an engrossing character study like Boyhood or the more brilliant The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but it fails to accomplish that feat. . Yes, he goes through struggles during the various parts of his life, but the shallow screenplay neglects to provide enough of a window into his heart, mind and soul. The audience remains at a cold distance from the protagonist whose personality feels bland which makes him a forgettable character and, ultimately, makes the film forgettable as well as a squandered opportunity to be a powerful and insightful coming-of-many-ages movie. That said, the 2D hand-drawn animation looks impressive. Clearly a lot of work went into the animation process, so it's unfortunate that it's undermined by a weak and vapid screenplay. At a running time of 1 hour and 33 minutes, Jinsei opens at IFC Center via Greenwich Entertainment.   

Number of times I checked my watch: 3 




 

      Vincent (voice of Vincent Tong), a teenage humpback whale, embarks on a quest to find his own magical song to save the ocean from a monster, Leviathan, in The Last Whale Singer. Writer/director Reza Memari has made a heartwarming, charming and inspirational animated film that will delight younger audiences.  Vincent's father, Humphrey (voice of Chimwemwe Miller), is the titular last whale singer who had disappeared and presumed to be dead. Will Vincent reunite with his father? Will he find his voice? Will he save the ocean? Fortunately, there's nothing too scary or heavy for little kids here, but that doesn't stop the film from including wise life lessons about finding courage and one's inner voice, a struggle that kids and adults can relate to as well. Nothing happens that's surprising or that elevates the film to the level of Pixar or classic Disney animation---it's no Hoppers, The Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo. However, it's nonetheless a pleasant diversion that's entertaining for both adults and kids simultaneously. Expect to be uplifted by the time the end credits crawl. At a running time of 1 hour and 31 minutes, The Last Whale Singer opens in select theaters including AMC Empire 25 via Viva Kids.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 2 




 

      High school friends Ethan (Misha Osherovich) and Alex (Nico Carney) pretend to be trans to put an end to the rumors that they're gay before Ethan realizes that she's actually trans in She's the He.  Alex hopes that pretending to be trans will allow her to connect with her crush, Sasha (Malia Pyles). Writer/director Siobhan McCarthy has made a intermittently funny, raunchy and timely dramedy that's tonally uneven, heavy-handed and over-the-top. Not all of the humor lands, some of which tries hard to be bold and shocking. Unfortunately, the shallow screenplay squanders its many opportunities to become a poignant come-of-age movie. There are some tender moments in the third act, but that's too little, too late. This is one of those films where  you can feel the wheels of the screenplay turning which isn't the sign of a well-written screenplay. With a few small exceptions, nothing surprising happens plot-wise, and the premise feels like it's stretched too thinly. The performances are decent albeit nothing exceptional, and the editing keeps the film moving at brisk pace, so at least there's not a dull moment to be found. Unfortunately, She's the He is ultimately less than the sum of its parts. At a running time of only 1 hour and 22 minutes, it opens at IFC Center via Obscured Pictures.   

Number of times I checked my watch: 2 

      Underland is a mesmerizing and exhilarating documentary about the wonders and mysteries in caves, storm drains and laboratories located beneath the Earth's surface. Director Robert Petit has made a film that's unlike anything you've seen before. What ensues is an often breathtaking experience that gets trippy at times and will make you feel like you're watching 2001: A Space Odyssey. Petit keeps the film focused on the images beneath the surface which speak louder than words, although the soothing voice of Sandra Hüller's narration does guide the audience a little on their journey. Underland remains focused on the images and sounds underground without any backstories of the scientists. It's best to watch this one-of-a-kind documentary on the big screen, especially in IMAX where it would feel even more immersive. At a running time of 1 hour and 19 minutes, Underland opens at Angelika Film Center via Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Number of times I checked my watch: 1