new in theaters
THE CONJURING: LAST RITES: Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) investigate one last case of demonic activity that supposedly raises the ante in director Michael Chaves’ (The Nun II) latest contribution to the horror franchise. (135 min, R. Bijou, Essex, Majestic, Star, Sunset, Welden)
DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT: Embeth Davidtz cowrote, directed and stars in this drama based on Alexandra Fuller’s memoir of growing up on a Rhodesian farm in the 1980s, with Lexi Venter and Zikhona Bali. (99 min, R. Catamount)
SPLITSVILLE: Four friends attempt to remedy one couple’s impending separation with a little swapping in this comedy from Michael Angelo Covino (The Climb), who stars with Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona and Kyle Marvin. (104 min, R. Majestic)
currently playing
THE BAD GUYS 2 @★★★ In the sequel to the animated animal adventure hit, a squad of reformed villains gets pulled back into the life of crime. With the voices of Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron and Craig Robinson. (104 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic)
CAUGHT STEALING ★★★1/2 A former baseball player (Austin Butler) gets embroiled in crime in 1990s New York City in Darren Aronofsky’s dark comedy/thriller. Regina King and Zoë Kravitz also star. (107 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe, Sunset, Welden)
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS ★★★ The Marvel superhero quartet gets a second reboot set on an alternate Earth with a retro vibe, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. (115 min, PG-13. Majestic, Sunset)
FOLKTALES ★★★1/2 This documentary from Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady profiles students of a “folk high school” in Norway, where sled dogs help open paths to coming of age. (105 min, NR. Savoy)
FREAKIER FRIDAY ★★★ Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles 22 years after the hit comedy about a magical mother-daughter body swap. (111 min, PG. Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Sunset)
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST ★★★1/2 A music mogul deals with ethical dilemmas and a ransom plot in this crime thriller from Spike Lee, loosely based on Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low and starring Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright. (133 min, R. Savoy [Fri-Sun & Wed], VTIFF [Wed 3 only])
HONEY DON’T! ★★1/2 A small-town private investigator (Margaret Qualley) examines deaths related to an enigmatic church in this dark comedy from director Ethan Coen. Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans also star. (88 min, R. Capitol, Playhouse; reviewed 8/27)
JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH ★★1/2 In the seventh installment, a pharmaceutical research team seeks out the surviving dinosaurs on a remote island. (134 min, PG-13. Sunset; reviewed 7/9)
THE LAST CLASS: Former U.S. Secretary of Labor and political economist Robert Reich gives his final lecture on “Wealth and Poverty” in this documentary from Elliot Kirschner. (71 min, NR. Savoy)
THE NAKED GUN ★★★★ Liam Neeson plays the son of Leslie Nielsen’s character in a belated sequel to the action-comedy franchise about a bumbling cop. (85 min, PG-13. Capitol, Majestic, Stowe, Welden)
NOBODY 2 ★★★ Bob Odenkirk returns as an assassin turned suburban dad in the sequel to the 2021 action hit. Timo Tjahjanto directed. With Christopher Lloyd and Connie Nielsen. (89 min, R. Stowe)
THE ROSES ★★★ Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman and Kate McKinnon star in this remake of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses, about an escalating spousal battle. Jay Roach directed. (Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Savoy, Star)
SKETCH ★★★★ A young girl’s drawings come to life and wreak havoc in this fantasy comedy directed by Seth Worley. (92 min, PG. City Cinema)
SUPERMAN ★★★★ The DC Comics superhero gets another reboot, this time directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and starring David Corenswet. (129 min, PG-13. Majestic; reviewed 7/16)
THE TOXIC AVENGER ★★ In this reboot of the beloved Troma Entertainment horror franchise, Peter Dinklage plays the janitor transformed into a smelly superhuman vigilante. Macon Blair directed. (102 min, R. Essex, Sunset)
WEAPONS ★★★★ The bizarre disappearance of every kid in an elementary school class rips their town apart in this psychological horror film from Zach Cregger (Barbarian). Julia Garner and Josh Brolin star. (128 min, R. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Sunset; reviewed 8/13)
older films and special screenings
DO THE RIGHT THING (VTIFF, Sat only)
EAST OF WALL (VTIFF, Thu only)
HAMILTON (Essex, Majestic, starts Thu)
HIGH AND LOW (VTIFF, Fri only)
INHERIT THE WIND (Catamount, Wed 3 only)
JAWS 50TH ANNIVERSARY (City Cinema, Essex, Paramount, Savoy [Mon only], Sunset, Welden)
THE MALTESE FALCON (Catamount, Wed 10 only)
PUPPY LOVE (Savoy, Tue only)
open theaters
(* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)
- 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. Closed through September 10.
- *PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com
- 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
- SUNSET DRIVE-IN: 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, 862-1800, sunsetdrivein.com
- *WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com
This article appears in 30th Birthday Issue.
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