Welcome to Erik Henriksen Tells You What to Watch This Weekend™, a weekly post in which I, Erik Henriksen, tell you what you should watch this weekend! I will continue doing this post until you have watched everything you should watch.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale—Sabrina Spellman’s back with a holiday special! Mercury Editor-in-Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey loved the first season of Sabrina, calling it “entertaining, dark, and blisteringly pro-feminist.” (Now streaming, Netflix)
Roma—Alfonso Cuarón’s insanely acclaimed drama is finally out, and you can either go see it in a theater or stay home and watch it on Netflix. Go see it in a theater. (Now playing at the Hollywood Theatre, now streaming on Netflix)
Half the Picture—”A documentary about women directors—or, more accurately, the lack thereof,” says Elinor Jones. “Featuring interviews with Ava DuVernay, Miranda July, Penelope Spheeris, Catherine Hardwicke, and more, the doc includes most of the women who have directed feature films over the last two decades, who are easy to fit into 94 minutes because there aren’t that many of them. It’s at first eye-opening, then infuriating.” (Fri Dec 14, NW Film Center’s Whitsell Auditorium, followed by panel discussion with filmmaker)
Mary Queen of Scots—”Mary Queen of Scots is the latest effort to bring 16th century British historical drama into the millennial age,” writes Marc Mohan, “and for better and worse, it bears many of the hallmarks of such an effort.” (Now playing, Fox Tower 10)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse—Everyone who’s had the displeasure of spending any time with me over the last few days has had to endure me refusing to shut up about how much I love Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Please, pull up a chair, enjoy my cool company. (Now playing, various theaters)
Mortal Engines—”Like most steampunk stuff,” notes Arts Editor Suzette Smith, “Mortal Engines is a pile of shit with some antique-looking cogs stuck on.” (Now playing, various theaters)
Silent Night, Deadly Night—”It’s no Black Christmas,” says Zac Pennington, “but 1984’s inevitable Santa-turns-slasher bloodbath has a few likeable qualities nonetheless.” (Tues Dec 18, Hollywood Theatre)
A Christmas Story and Die Hard—Two movies that get trotted out every Christmas. One is an all-time classic and the other has a very racist scene at a Chinese restaurant. (A Christmas Story Fri Dec 14-Thurs Dec 20, Academy Theater; Die Hard Fri Dec 14-Thurs Dec 20, Academy Theater, and Fri Dec 14-Sat Dec 15, Kennedy School)
Once Upon a Deadpool—This is Deadpool 2, but now it’s rated PG-13 instead of R. Neat. (Now playing, various theaters)
Re-Run Theater: Christmas in Space—Okay, I know Suzette just described Mortal Engines as a piece of shit, but for real, The Star Wars Holiday Special is a real piece of shit. (Wed Dec 19, Hollywood Theatre)
Shoplifters—Senior Editor Ned Lannamann says Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “warm, heartbreaking” drama “is vivid and truthful and lived-in, with characters you’ll remember for a long, long time.” (Now playing, Living Room Theaters)
Vox Lux—Natalie Portman’s latest wasn’t screened for Portland critics, so you’re on your own. Good luck! (Now playing, Cinema 21)
Read more of the Mercury’s award-winning* movies and TV coverage! For movie times, click here.
*Not actually award-winning
