1 One Fine Morning (Opens Friday, February 3) The luminous, season-hopping eighth feature by Mia Hansen-Løve (“Eden,” “Things To Come,” “Bergman Island”) places Léa Seydoux center frame as a modern woman dealing with everyday life. Through consternation and confusion, duty and desire, Seydoux is specific and enigmatic.
2 Magic Mike’s Last Dance (Opens Friday, February 10) Soderbergh and Tatum’s “unexpected” third soul-baring comedy-drama follows Mike preparing to put on the biggest show of his life, reportedly culminating with a half-hour dance sequence.
3 Argento 1970s (Siskel, February 3-9) New 4K digital restorations of six films from the “ghastly, gorgeous” horror output of Italian master Dario Argento, including “Suspiria,” “Deep Red,” “Four Flies On Grey Velvet,” “The Cat O’ Nine Tails” and “The Bird With The Crystal Plumage”
4 Pacifiction (Siskel, opens Friday, February 17) Capitalism sows confusion on Tahiti in Albert Serra’s bold oddity. Beware the approaching submarine!
5 Ace In The Hole (Music Box, February 4-5) Crackling cynical savagery from Billy Wilder: “I don’t go to church. Kneeling bags my nylons.” “I met a lot of hard-boiled eggs in my life, but you, you’re twenty minutes.” “I’ve done a lot of lying in my time. I’ve lied to men who wear belts. I’ve lied to men who wear suspenders. But I’d never be so stupid as to lie to a man who wears both belt and suspenders.”
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
Film Top 5: February 2021 Frances McDormand hits the road and the road hits back; Fred Hampton lights up the screen; a Korean family makes an Arkansas home; a regal if rocked Michelle Pfeiffer; and a pandemic-shot black-and-white relationship fizzle chamber drama.
