Extraction (Netflix)
Stop the presses … Netflix has finally produced an action movie worth watching. Extraction stars Chris Hemsworth as a sad-eyed mercenary hired to rescue the kidnapped teenage son (Rudhraksh Jaiswal) of a Bangladesh drug lord. Things don’t go according to plan, prompting a spectacular 12-minute one-shot action sequence reportedly filmed with a hand-held camera strapped to the chest of stunt coordinator-turned-director Sam Hargrave. Written by Avengers director Joe Russo, Extraction proves itself memorable not for its crazy action but for the poignant chemistry between Hemsworth and Jaiswal. On set, Hemsworth is said to have referred to Jaiswal as “the little legend.” It’s easy to see why. (CW)
Abe (VOD)
Its summer in Brooklyn and 12-year-old Abe (Noah Schnapp) is secretly working as an apprentice for a Brazilian chef (Seu Jorge) whose lessons in fusion Abe hopes to apply to his religiously diverse, emotionally fractured family. A low-key charmer rich in complex themes and delectable-looking food, Abe is the perfect movie to watch alongside your favorite young foodie. (CW)
Circus of Books (Netflix)
For decades, the Circus of Books stores in West Hollywood and Silverlake weren’t just a place to buy porn and poppers, they were a safe harbor for gay men still nervous about being themselves. Filmmaker Rachel Mason’s parents, Karen and Barry, owned the shops, and in a Netflix documentary of particular interest to Angelenos, tracks her folk’s battles against censorship and homophobia, even as they struggled to reconcile their son’s emerging sexuality. Narratively, Circus of Books moves in fits and starts, but the story of how the Masons stumbled into the porn biz is fascinating — it’s easy to imagine executive producer Ryan Murphy making the Masons the heroes of a future mini-series. (CW)
Sea Fever (VOD)
There’s a monster under the boat! Well, isn’t there always? The squid-like creature that attaches itself to an Irish fishing trawler in Neasa Hardiman’s impressive debut feature soon has the crew wondering which of them have been infected with its body-exploding parasites. While the setup is familiar, a gifted cast, led by Dougray Scott, Connie Neilsen and newcomer Hermione Cornfield, and a script more interested in character than gross-out scares — there’s one really good one — make this a monster movie with unexpected (wait for it) depth. (CW)
Selah and the Spades (Prime)
Five social factions rule the illicit goings-on at the Haldwell Prep School, including the Spades, the school’s drug and booze running posse, led by Selah (Lovie Simone), a brilliant, beautiful senior looking for her successor. Enter Paloma (Celeste O’Connor), a socially ambitious photographer flattered by Selah’s attentions but soon overwhelmed by the labyrinthine turns of prep school villainy. For her virtuoso debut feature, writer-director Tayarisha Poe has made a film that’s funny and sexy, angry and complicated and most wonderfully, proudly ferocious. (CW)
Stray Dolls (VOD)
In upstate New York, Riz (Geetanjali Thapa), an undocumented Indian immigrant, is ensnared by Una (Cynthia Nixon), a motel owner who promises her papers in exchange for work. A beat later, Riz is in deep with fellow maid, Dallas (Olivia DeJonge), who becomes both her best friend and biggest danger point, in ways that feel true to the complexities of a friendship built in duress. First-time writer-director Sonejuhi Sinha is frustratingly skimpy on plot specifics but her resourceful young leads, buoyed by the ever-amazing Nixon, are captivating. It’s been a week since I saw Stray Dolls, and I’m still worried about Riz. (CW)
Straight Up (Outfest On Demand)
Straight Up is the pitch perfect debut of writer-director James Sweeney, who also stars as Todd, a young Asian-American coder who’s cool with being gay except for the sex part — he’s not keen on bodily functions. Feeling experimental, he begins a friendship/relationship with Rory (Katie Findlay), an actress as whip-smart as Todd and just as lonely (but not quite willing to admit it). These two talk at warp speed, a trait that might be annoying if their banter weren’t so funny and revealing. Romantically subversive in ways that feel true to the current moment, Straight Up may well become an era-defining classic. (CW)