Now in Theaters, January 21-28

new in theaters

BORDER 2: Anurag Singh’s action epic portrays Indian fighters during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. (200 min, NR. Majestic)

H IS FOR HAWK: Claire Foy finds solace in a goshawk’s company after a loss in this drama based on Helen Macdonald’s memoir. (114 min, PG-13. Marquis)

MERCY: A detective (Chris Pratt) has 90 minutes to prove to an AI judge that he didn’t kill his wife in this sci-fi thriller from Timur Bekmambetov. (100 min, PG-13. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Welden)

NO OTHER CHOICE★★★★1/2 A laid-off manager (Lee Byung-hun) would literally kill for another job in this acclaimed dark satire from Park Chan-wook (Oldboy). (139 min, R. Majestic, Savoy; reviewed 1/14)

OBEX: A man seeks his dog in the surreal world of a video game in this sci-fi horror thriller from Albert Birney. (90 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE: Mona Fastvold tells the story of the founder of the Shaker movement (Amanda Seyfried) in this Golden Globe nominee. (137 min, R. Essex, Majestic, Savoy)

currently playing

28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE★★★★ Residents of the quarantined UK continue to fight for their lives in Nia DaCosta’s horror sequel. (109 min, R. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Stowe, Welden)

ANACONDA★★ A group of midlife friends sets out to remake the 1997 giant-snake thriller in this action comedy. (100 min, PG-13. Majestic)

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH★★★ Pandora faces a conflict between Na’vi tribes as the sci-fi adventure saga continues. (195 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

CACTUS PEARS★★★★1/2 A city dweller (Bhushaan Manoj) returns to his rural hometown and is romantically drawn to an old friend in this acclaimed drama. (112 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

CHARLIE THE WONDERDOG: Owen Wilson voices a dog who uses alien-endowed superpowers to battle an evil cat in this animated adventure. (95 min, PG. Essex, Marquis)

THE CHORAL★★★ A controversial choral director (Ralph Fiennes) must recruit teenage singers during World War I in this drama from Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys). (113 min, R. Capitol)

GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION★★1/2 In the sequel to the 2020 disaster film, a family must trek across a frozen wasteland. (98 min, PG-13. City Cinema)

HAMNET★★★★/2 William and Agnes Shakespeare (Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley) grapple with loss in the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel. (125 min, PG-13. Capitol, Catamount, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Playhouse; reviewed 12/10)

THE HOUSEMAID★★★1/2 A young woman’s dream job has a dark side in Paul Feig’s adaptation of Freida McFadden’s thriller. (131 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Welden)

I WAS A STRANGER: A family’s misfortune in Syria causes a chain reaction in Brandt Andersen’s drama. (103 min, PG-13. Big Picture)

IS THIS THING ON?★★★1/2 Sports and standup comedy help a troubled couple (Will Arnett and Laura Dern) in this comedy-drama directed by Bradley Cooper. (124 min, R. Majestic)

MARTY SUPREME★★★★1/2 In the 1950s, a young man (Timothée Chalamet) sets out to be a table tennis champion in Josh Safdie’s comedy-drama. (150 min, R. Big Picture, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Partizanfilm, Star, Stowe; reviewed 1/7)

RESURRECTION★★★★1/2 Forbidden dreams transport us into past cinematic eras in this surreal sci-fi drama from Bi Gan. (160 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

SONG SUNG BLUE★★★ Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a married Neil Diamond tribute band in this fact-based drama. (133 min, PG-13. Majestic)

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS★★★1/2 A ghost pirate leads SpongeBob to the ocean’s depths in this animation. (96 min, PG. Majestic, Welden)

ZOOTOPIA 2★★★1/2 Disney’s animated critters return for another mystery. (108 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star)

older films and special screenings

THE BAD SEED (Catamount, Wed 21 only)

CARRIE (Catamount, Fri only)

DEAD RECKONING (Catamount, Wed 28 only)

DEMOCRACY NOIR (Playhouse, Sun only)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING — EXTENDED EDIT (Essex, Fri & Sat only)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING — EXTENDED EDIT (Essex, Sun & Mon only)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS — EXTENDED EDIT (Essex, Sat & Sun only)

MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART 1 — LAST AIR IN MOSCOW★★★★★ (VTIFF, Fri & Sat [Section 1], Sat & Sun [Section 2]; reviewed 1/21)

PILGRIM, FAREWELL (Partizanfilm, Wed 28 only)

STATE AND MAIN (Partizanfilm, Wed 21 only)

open theaters

(* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)

*BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info
BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com
*CAPITOL SHOWPLACE: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com
CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org
CITY CINEMA: 137 Waterfront Plaza, Newport, 334-2610, citycinemanewport.com
ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER:
21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com
MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com
MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com.
PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com
*PARTIZANFILM: 230 College St., Unit 13, Burlington, 276-4588, partizanfilm.org
PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE: 11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com
SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com
THE SCREENING ROOM @ VTIFF: 60 Lake St., Ste. 1C, Burlington, 660-2600, vtiff.org
STAR THEATRE: 17 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-9511, stjaytheatre.com
*STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com
WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com