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, there’s no room for war, nor is there room for sweeping vistas. But that doesn’t by any means mean that there’s no room for fast action and plenty of cute little yellow things. That’s right. Evil villain Gru and his crew of minions are back for Despicable Me 3.

And next on the list is a closer, more intimate character study from director Terrence Malick, that’s sure to bring the noise in more ways than one.

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Mike Laidman

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

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Despicable Me 3 (2017, Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin)
Gru meets his long-lost and more successful brother, Dru.

Once you’ve found a good thing, it’s tough to let it go. That good thing here is the Despicable Me franchise - one that has consistently given excellent box office results, continuing with the spinoff Minions movie a couple years ago. Now, it’s time for round 3.
After he is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down the latest bad guy to threaten humanity, Gru finds himself in the midst of a major identity crisis. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother - a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin's despicable footsteps - this former super-villain will rediscover just how good it feels to be bad.

All the things that regulars have come to love from the series are here - dazzling animation, excellent voice acting, Minion-induced silliness, and some heartwarming conclusions. This third outing likely won’t pull in many people who don’t have an investment in the series, but it’s a worthwhile watch for those who have.


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Song to Song (2017, Terrence Malick)
Two love triangles set against the music scene in Texas.

Second today is the somewhat poorly-titled Song to Song, which recalls terrible romantic comedies or teenage dance movies. It is instead a Terrence Malick movie, meaning you can be sure it’ll delve deep into what it means to be human.

In this modern love story set against the Austin, Texas music scene, two entangled couples - struggling songwriters Faye and BV, and music mogul Cook and the waitress whom he ensnares - chase success through a rock 'n' roll landscape of seduction and betrayal.

The movie is beautiful, with sumptuous cinematography, but the fleeting looks, spartan dialogue, and free-form style means that it’s not easy to follow. But maybe it shouldn’t be; much like poetry from your high school English class, Malick’s films can take repeat viewings, thought, and discussion to really glean the meaning peppered throughout.