The Washington Post - 30.08.2019

25

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THE WASHINGTON POST

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

Movies

Bennett’s War (PG-13)
Age 12+
Predictable crowd­pleaser feels
like a motocross commercial.

“Bennett’s War” — a drama
that follows a medically
discharged soldier (Michael
Roark) who spends a year in
rehab — is part motocross-
comeback story, part wounded-
warrior tale. Produced by
motocross-industry sponsors
and insiders, the film brings the
sport to mainstream audiences
while heavily promoting its
corporate products and brands
(primarily Lucas Oil, MAV TV,
and Protect the Harvest, all
companies that are run by the
filmmakers). There’s occasional
cursing (including “s---,” “ son of a
b----,” “ bulls---” and more) and a
few jokes that come across as
Islamophobic. The movie opens
with wartime violence that
seriously injures two American
soldiers, and later the main
character is reinjured during
motocross-related accidents. A
married couple embraces and
kisses. In addition to promoting
the sports the producers sponsor,
the film has messages about
second chances, discipline, hard
work and the value of teamwork
and mentorship. (95 minutes)

Don’t Let Go (R)
Age 15+
Violent thriller has great
performances, lackluster plot.

“Don’t Let Go” is a thriller
with sci-fi elements about a
teenage girl named Ashley

(Storm Reid) and her uncle Jack

(David Oyelowo), who somehow

gain the ability to talk to each

other during different moments

in time after she and her parents

are mysteriously murdered.

Expect violence and death, with

multiple views of the same awful

incident unfolding in real time,

as well as a gory crime scene and

graphic photos. Blood spatters

and pools, and there’s gore on

the back of one character’s head

after he’s been shot. Characters

are also shot on-screen (the

camera usually but doesn’t

always cut away at the moment

of impact), including a teen girl

who cowers, terrified, in her

bedroom before being killed.

Viewers see her dead body, but

her face is usually obscured, and

there’s no gore. Drugs are an

element of the plot, though no

one is shown using them;

characters do drink in times of

stress, and one is said to have a

drinking/drug problem.

Language isn’t frequent but

includes “f---,” “ s---,” “ a--hole” and

more. A black family anchors

this drama, and a black teen girl

is the heroine, which is relatively

rare for thrillers. Ashley is a

strong, brave character, as is

Jack, and they demonstrate great

teamwork, but we don’t get to

know much about their lives

before or after the movie’s

events, nor are other characters

fleshed out. (103 minutes)

Basketball or Nothing

(TV-PG)

STREAMING

Age 10+

Captivating docuseries inspires,

challenges stereotypes.

“Basketball or Nothing” is a

captivating docuseries about a

Navajo Nation high school

basketball team whose players,

coaching staff and fans have their

sights set on the Arizona state

title. The show follows the team

through the ups and downs of

regular season games and the

adjustment to a new coach’s more

traditional style of play. Some

exchanges get heated when stakes

are high, but there’s no strong

language in the coach’s stern and

honest criticisms of his players. In

addition to the drama on the

hardwood, the series offers a

revealing look at life on the

Navajo Nation reservation, where

depressed socioeconomics,

suicide rates, substance abuse

and other harsh realities

challenge the players to remain

focused on the team’s goals and

their means of future success.

That said, in many cases the teens

inspire with their determination,

perseverance and openness to the

influence of strong role models in

the form of their coaches and

family members. (Six half-hour

episodes)

Available via streaming on Netflix.

Sextuplets (TV-14)

STREAMING

Age 16+

Wayans plays many roles in

raunchy slapstick comedy.

“Sextuplets” is a bawdy

comedy that stars Marlon

Wayans as seven characters: six

sextuplets (male and female), as

well as a “surprise” c haracter at

the end. It’s a noisy, fast-paced

movie with lots of slapstick

action — falls, chases, an

abduction, fights, tasers, a gun

threat — ridiculous situations

and all-out, over-the-top

performances. Many of the

characters will probably strike

viewers as stereotypical and/or

offensive, and they’re

purposefully crude: a blubbery

dolt with a cereal obsession; a

tough-talking, take-no-prisoners

exotic dancer; a tiny invalid in

desperate need of a kidney; and a

gold-toothed con artist, among

others. Expect jokes about sex,

drugs, farting and race, along

with tons of profanity: “f---,”

“slut,” “ hos,” “ s---,” “ testicles” and

more. A sexually aggressive

employer harasses an employee.

Characters drink, sometimes to

excess and there are drug

references and fat-shaming. (99

minutes)

Available via streaming on Netflix.

Common Sense

Media helps

families make smart media choices.

Go to commonsensemedia.org for

age-based and educational ratings

and reviews for movies, games, apps,

TV shows, websites and books.

ESX ENTERTAINMENT

Michael Roark, right, with Ali Ashfar plays an Army veteran in “Bennett’s War.” The film is partly

a motocross-comeback story and partly a wounded warrior tale.

Common Sense Media What parents need to know

LACEY TERRELL /UNIVERSAL PICTURES/OTL RELEASING

In “Don’t Let Go,” Storm Reid stars as Ashley, a teen who can
communicate with her uncle after she and her parents are killed.

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Thu 9/5 at 12:45pm

Fri-Mon: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

Tue-Thu: 12:45, 3:00, 7:45

Sat 8/31 at 3:15pm

PAVAROTTI

THE FAREWELL

WEEKEND FAMILY MATINEES:

TOY STORY 4

Fri-Mon: 10:00am, 12: 30 Fri-Mon: 1:00, 5:45

MAIDEN

Fri-Mon: 3:15, 8:00

Tue-Thu: 5:15

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Avalon 2 will

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RENOVATION: