This week, we feature a new actioner that pits one man against overwhelming odds and a refreshingly unique Western that is set in Brazil.
New Release
‘Ghost Soldier’
Henry “Fitz” Fitzgerald (Jim Caviezel), an ex-Green Beret and weapons designer, lives a quiet life in Wyoming. But when a corporation moves in to seize the surrounding ranches for profit, he puts his old Army training and newer inventions to use.
Although the plot is fairly derivative—at times it feels like a Tom Clancy video game—Caviezel’s acting chops and director Eubank’s inventive action scenes give the film a welcome buoyancy, especially when Fitz turns the tables on his pursuers in a David versus Goliath showdown.
Action
Release Date: Nov. 11, 2026
Director: William Eubank
Starring: Jim Caviezel, Garret Dillahunt, Olivia Thirlby
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Theaters
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
Family Pick
‘The Ant Bully’
Ten-year-old Lucas Nickle (Zach Tyler Eisen) can’t stand up to the bully at school, so he picks on the ants in his yard. The colony’s wizard, Zoc (Nicolas Cage), shrinks him, and Hova (Julia Roberts) guides the reluctant newcomer through their world.
There’s quite an inventive backyard adventure here, with Lucas’s tiny new world full of hazards and comic mishaps. The message about treating smaller creatures with care is clear, and the outstanding cast and playful scale keep the film from devolving into one long lecture.
Comedy | Family | Fantasy
Release Date: July 28, 2006
Director: John A. Davis
Starring: Zach Tyler Eisen, Nicolas Cage, Julia Roberts
Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube
Rated: 4 stars out of 5
An Old Love Returns
‘Persuasion’
Years after Anne Elliot (Dakota Johnson) was persuaded to reject Frederick Wentworth (Cosmo Jarvis), the former lovers meet once again when her family’s money troubles force them to leave their estate. He’s now a celebrated naval captain, and Anne must decide whether to risk loving him again.
Johnson brings some charm to to the main character, and the romance has enjoyable moments here and there. However, the modern updates pull the film too far from Jane Austen’s highly regarded source material.
Drama | Romance
Release Date: July 15, 2022
Director: Carrie Cracknell
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Richard E. Grant, Henry Golding, Ben Bailey Smith
Running Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Netflix
Rated: 3 stars out of 5
A Big Voice From a Small Town
‘The Americano’
To recoup the losses from a cattle deal gone wrong, Sam Dent (Glenn Ford) heads into Brazil’s backcountry to sell his prized bulls. But a dead buyer and the beautiful Marianna Figuerido (Ursula Thiess) turn a simple delivery into a dangerous choice of sides.
Watching Ford trade Texas range country for Brazil’s cattle wars gives the film a fun change of scenery, and Cesar Romero’s Manuel Silvera livens up a familiar showdown.
Adventure | Drama | Western
Release Date: Jan. 29, 1955
Director: William Castle
Starring: Glenn Ford, Frank Lovejoy, Cesar Romero
Running Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: YouTube
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
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