It’s Oscar weekend, which doesn’t always lead to the biggest releases, but I did catch up on some notables, along with what’s new. This set of write-ups includes a couple of Oscar-nominated docs, a dramatic biopic about deep sea workers, a sports movie about a girls’ robotics team, a historical action film, and a Looney Tunes movie. The following features reviews for Last Breath, Rule Breakers, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, No Other Land, Porcelain War, and 100 Yards.
Last Breath: 6 out of 10
The Setup: The true story of seasoned deep-sea divers who battle the raging elements to rescue a crewmate who’s trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface.
Review: Director Alex Parkinson has come along to deliver a dramatized feature film version of the 2019 documentary he co-directed with Richard da Costa to provide a more cinematic take on this intense story. For all his efforts, the film gets by on the strength of a committed cast and a choice to play out the events in a manner that feels genuine, despite some filmmaking choices that threaten to widen the scale to the level of a disaster blockbuster. But I suppose one has to make things as exciting as possible; otherwise, we’d just be waiting a lot. That said, Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, and Finn Cole make for a fine trio of performers placed in this situation, each offering just enough nuance for their characters to stand out. Reliable work from Cliff Curtisand Mark Bonnaras the men piloting the ship also adds to what the cast can pull off.
Of course, the deep-sea diving sequences should serve as a highlight, and as minimal as the circumstances are regarding exactly what took place, a good level of tension and unease comes from what we see. With only so much to offer as a story, there’s not much else to this feature, but it’s a good enough redoing of a story already captured in doc form.
Where To Watch: Opening in theaters on February 28, 2025.
Rule Breakers: 7 out of 10
The Setup: In a nation where educating girls is seen as rebellion, a visionary woman dares to teach young minds to dream. When their innovation draws global attention, their success sparks hope—and opposition. As threats loom and sacrifices are made, their courage and unity ignite a movement that could forever transform the world.
Review: I’m all for a solid, feel-good story, and while Rule Breakers isn’t trying to break the mold as far as presenting an underdog story, it knows what targets to aim at and gets in some good hits. Adding to that is the notion of seeing a film that wants to present a hopeful story concerning actions taken by progressive women from Afghanistan. I’m sure some will want to dig deeper than needed to learn what Afghan culture was like when this film was set or whatever other aspects of this story may be somewhat fictionalized, but this is not a documentary.
Director Bill Guttentag and his team have made something that should play for audiences of all ages that is inspiring, exciting, and dramatic in the right sort of ways, which is all a film like this needs to do, let alone works as something we could use more of. Nikohl Boosheri does a fantastic job as the spirited teacher Roya Mahboob, whose efforts made a true dent in an unexpected way. It’s enough to celebrate what transpires, even if the film doesn’t leave out certain other aspects of what issues persist.
Where To Watch: Opening in theaters on March 7, 2025.
The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie: 8 out of 10
The Setup: Porky and Daffy, the classic animated odd couple, turn into unlikely heroes when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot. Against all odds, the two are determined to save their town (and the world!)…that is, if they don’t drive each other crazy in the process.
Review: It’s wild to think that Warner Bros. has shifted its priorities so far that the idea of releasing a Looney Tunes movie in theaters or on its own platform is deemed a bad idea. However, here we are with the first fully animated Looney Tunes feature film, and it’s pretty good. There’s a fun story here about an alien invasion, but its foundation lies in the relationship shared by Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, which really allows the film to shine in ways I did not expect. Of course, the film is also full of non-stop gags, one-liners, and wacky set pieces as well. Plus, at 90 minutes with credits, director Pete Browngardt and his team do what’s needed to keep things moving without losing steam. Anyone who has fun with the Looney Tunes has a perfectly entertaining movie here to dive into.
Where To Watch: Opening in theaters on March 14, 2025.
No Other Land
The Setup: For half a decade, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, films his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israel’s occupation, as he builds an unlikely alliance with an Israeli journalist who wants to join his fight.
Review: No matter what one’s opinion is regarding what’s currently happening in and around Israel and the West Bank, there’s no doubt the work done by co-director Basel Adra and everyone involved is impressive. No Other Land offers a unique perspective from the ground regarding what life is like in this volatile area based on footage filmed between 2019 and 2023. It’s the kind of thing where I’m not necessarily surprised to find out how intensive the process of putting a documentary like this together was, let alone the difficulties in finding distribution. As it stands, the feature offers something that rightfully feels urgent in its design, and within specific contexts, it is crucial to better understand how those involved are contending with such extreme circumstances in a way others are not.
Where To Watch: Now playing in select theaters.
Porcelain War
The Setup: Ukrainian artists Slava, Anya, and Andrey choose to stay behind and find beauty amid the destruction. They show it may be easy to make people afraid, but it is difficult to destroy their passion for living.
Review: Another Oscar-nominated documentary with a different set of extreme circumstances at play, Porcelain War is a compelling look at how certain individuals utilize their art skills to show their resistance to the war in Ukraine despite having to be involved in it. I especially appreciated what directors Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyevclearly wanted to emphasize, which is the porcelain figure artwork on display, matching that with the wrecked Ukrainian landscapes, and having it all set to music by DakhaBrakha. This combination of war footage through GoPros and drones, along with CG embellished scenes to keep on the theme regarding the art really allowed the film to open up in interesting ways.
Where To Watch: Now playing in select theaters.
100 Yards: 7 out of 10
The Setup: In volatile 1920s Tianjin, a mere decade after China’s last imperial dynasty was overthrown, a clandestine martial arts circle arose to deter crime and maintain peace between rival martial arts schools. But after a renowned master dies and names his apprentice—rather than his son—as his successor, he unwittingly kicks off a fierce power struggle that will bring the entire city to the brink of chaos.
Review: For a tight action drama set in a specific era of Chinese history, there’s only so much I really want to say about the story. It’s not that it’s inessential, as the film has a complex plot revolving around the politics of the time, a romantic angle, and other facets. Still, this film really wants to impress with the specific style of action on display, and yes, it does deliver. Directors Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng are new to the scene, but they exhibit an ability to really focus in on the intense kineticism of the warriors we watch fight, whether using weapons or their bare hands. Seeing one fight already feels like a lot, but the progression of the action in this film, combined with the stakes at play really make this a movie that action fans will want to be seeking out for sure.
Where To Watch: Now available on Blu-ray, VOD, and digital.
