It’s the weekend again, and that means Film Focus. Here’s Mike Laidman with what’s new in local theaters.




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This week, the recent past and potentially near future collide to bring us two exciting dramas. As humans reach farther into space there exists the very real possibility that within our lifetimes, life could be discovered beyond Earth. But that might not be a good thing, as Life teaches us.

Then, it’s onto Patriots Day, a full-blooded American movie starring Mark Wahlberg and about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. But will it miss its mark and move too far into action thriller territory? Let’s find out.

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Mike Laidman

Welcome to another edition of Film Focus. I’m Mike Laidman.

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Life (2017, Daniel Espinosa)
Scientists aboard the ISS discover a rapidly-evolving life form.

Let me start by saying that Life definitely pushes things over the top, but does so from a scientific perspective...somewhat. While it is very true that NASA and other space agencies are worried about the very things that happen in the film, no one is quite expecting them to turn out like they do here.
Six astronauts aboard the space station study a sample collected from Mars that could provide evidence for extraterrestrial life on the Red Planet. The crew determines that the sample contains a large, single-celled organism - the first example of life beyond Earth. But..things aren't always what they seem. As the crew begins to conduct research, and their methods end up having unintended consequences, the life form proves more intelligent than anyone ever expected.

The movie has plenty of suspense, a great twist, and is a fun, if not overly-original, space thriller. It’s true that, in the shadow of Alien it doesn't make the mark it could have, but it remains an exciting space romp with committed performances nonetheless.


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Patriots Day (2017, Peter Berg)
The story of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and aftermath.

Patriots Day does exactly what it needs to do considering its delicate subject matter: it stays true to the events of the time, and is a stirring, well-crafted tribute that doesn’t become exploitative.

An account of the Boston Marathon bombing, Patriots Day is the powerful story of a community's courage in the face of terror. In the aftermath of an unspeakable attack, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders joins survivors, first responders, and investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the bombers before they strike again. Weaving together the stories of Special Agent Richard DesLauriers, Police Commissioner Ed Davis, Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese, and nurse Carol Saunders, this unflinching chronicle captures the suspense of one of the most sophisticated manhunts in law enforcement history and celebrates the strength of the people of Boston.

It’s efficient, it’s intense, and it’s more thoughtful than you might otherwise imagine. Worth a night out, by any means.