Feeling stuffed but unsatisfied after the big Thanksgving meal? Recommendations from Up To Date's indie, foreign and documentary Film Critics have just what you need to feed your emotions. Whether it's family tradition to see a Thanksgiving movie, or you just want an escape from the fridge of leftovers and your own lack of self-control, these are the best movies to see this holiday weekend.
Steve Walker
"Border," R
- Confident in its utter weirdness, this Swedish film from Ali Abassi follows the feral relationship between a couple with enhanced senses, whose strange, Neanderthal-like facial features only hint at the true nature of their otherworldly origins.
"Boy Erased," R
- In this powerful and timely drama, a pastor and his wife, played by Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, send their son (Lucas Hedges from "Manchester by the Sea") into a faith-based conversion therapy program aimed at obliterating his same-sex attractions.
"Can You Ever Forgive Me?" R
- In an uncanny dramatic performance, Melissa McCarthy plays real-life writer Lee Israel who, after crippling writer's block, forges and sells letters from literary icons like Noel Coward until the law catches up with her.
Cynthia Haines
"Free Solo," not rated
- For Alex Honnold there are two options, be the first person to free solo climb El Capitan, or die trying. The Yosemite scenery will take your breath away but the images of a lone man climbing a 3,000-foot rock wall will bring you to the edge of your seat.
"Can You Ever Forgive Me?" R
- Lee Israel made her fame profiling celebrities. When her unconquerable writer's block and her alcoholic tendencies leave her broke, she does what she knows best. This time, though, her thoughtfully crafted stories about the famous were made up.
"Border," R
- A cynical Swedish romance rooted in Nordic lore that is unike anything you will see this year. Its supernatural elements and startling plot line pale next to the real stand-outs of the film, the complex and irresistable characters.
