What to Watch for June 30–July 6
This week, we feature a hilarious whodunit from the ’80s and a deeply moving romance about two souls who seem destined to be together.
New Release
‘Past Lives’
When Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) were kids living in South Korea, they were so close that their parents thought that they would marry one day. But when Nora’s family moved away, she went on with her life, marrying Arthur (John Magaro), an American writer. However, when Hae Sung reappears, he and Nora wonder what could have been.
This is a hauntingly beautiful film about two intertwined souls who seemed destined to be together but were torn apart by circumstances. It’s a delicate examination of love, loss, and destiny.
Drama | Romance
Release Date: June 23, 2023
Director: Celine Song
Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro
Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Theaters
Rated: 4 stars out of 5
An Endearing Coming-of-Age Rom-Com
‘Adventureland’
It’s the summer of 1987, and James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) has just graduated from college and plans to spend time in Europe. Due to limited finances, however, he gets a job at an amusement park. There, he meets Em Lewin (Kristen Stewart) and sparks begin to fly, but she’s involved with someone else. James soon finds that true romance may not come so easily.
This film has plenty of endearing moments and, besides a few bits of crude humor, is more relatable than “Superbad” director Mottola’s other major coming-of-age comedy.
Comedy | Drama | Romance
Release Date: April 3, 2009
Director: Greg Mottola
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds
Running Time: 1 hour, 47 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Where to Watch: Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu
Rated: 3.5 stars out of 5
A Great Comedy With a Whodunit Twist
‘Clue’
Six guests from Washington are invited to a spooky mansion in New England for a dinner party. Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving) shows up and informs the guests that he’s the one who’s been blackmailing them. But when Mr. Boddy is found murdered, the guests become suspects and must figure out who the culprit is.
Based on the classic game of deduction, this whodunit is anything but boring: With scathing, rapid-fire dialogue and numerous interesting plotlines, it packs a lot of laughs into its running time.
Comedy | Crime | Mystery
Release Date: Dec. 13, 1985
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Starring: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn
Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Amazon, Fubo, Vudu
Rated: 3.5 stars out of 5
A Powerful Drama About WWII Survivors 
‘The Search’
In post-World War II Europe, U.S. soldier Ralph Stevenson (Montgomery Clift) finds young Karel Malik (Ivan Jandl), who escaped from a Nazi death camp. Stevenson tries to help the boy find his mother, who is also looking for her son.
With excellent narration and cinematography, this heartrending drama, which was filmed on location, has an almost documentary vibe to it.
Drama | War
Release Date: March 26, 1948
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Montgomery Clift, Ivan Jandl, Aline MacMahon
Running Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Vudu
Rated: 4 stars out of 5
