Sophia Lillis shines as legendary teen sleuth
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Caribbean Life, A BQ pril 12–18, 2019 41
By Kam Williams
After the untimely death of
his wife, Carson Drew decided
he and his daughter Nancy
(Sophia Lillis) might benefit
from a change of scenery. So,
they moved from Chicago to an
idyllic oasis in suburbia called
River Heights.
The relocation proved to be
far more of a challenge for
Nancy than her civil rights
attorney father, a pillar of the
legal community, since the
16 year-old found herself having
to adjust to a new school.
Plus, the picture-perfect town
seemed pretty dull,at first
blush, to a thrill-seeker born
with a sense of adventure.
When we’re introduced to
our heroine during the opening
credits, she’s careening around
corners on a skateboard, the
driving soundtrack repeating
the refrain, “I’m more than
just a girl!” ad infinitum. And
after star Sophia Lillis takes off
her helmet and shakes her fiery
red mane in the wind, one can’t
help but notice her uncanny
resemblance to a young Amy
Adams.
But I digress. Fortunately, it
doesn’t take long for Nancy to
find a couple of kindred souls
in George (Zoe Renee) and Bess
(Mackenzie Graham), in classmates
also saddled with a low
social status.
Bess is being teased by “boy
most likely” Derek (Evan Castelloe).
Feisty Nancy puts an
end to the bullying by setting
up a stunt that turns his skin
blue while showering. Sure, she
has to do some community
service for the prank, but it
solidifies her relationship with
Bess and George.
All of the above is prologue
for the ensuing case of “The
Hidden Staircase,” a multilayered
mystery which holds
up well for story published in
1930. The plot thickens when
Flora (Linda Lavin) asks Nancy
and company to investigate the
paranormal activity inside her
scary, old mansion, the Twin
Elms.
Is the house haunted or
might this merely be a hoax and
the handiwork of a revengeminded
Derek? A delightful
whodunit/tale of female
empowerment!
“Nancy Drew and the
Hidden Staircase”
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG for peril, mild
epithets, mature themes
and suggestive material
Running time: 89 minutes
Production Companies:
Red 56 / A Very Good Production,
Inc
Distributor: Warner
Brothers Pictures
A scene from the movie “Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase.” www.warnerbros.com
Independent & Foreign Films
A Dark Place (Unrated)
Suspense thriller set
in a sleepy Pennsylvania
town where a sanitation
truck driver (Andrew
Scott) becomes obsessed
with solving a young
local boy’s (Nolan Cook) “missing person’s”
case. With Christa Beth Campbell,
Jason Davis and Denise Gough.
Girls of the Sun (Unrated) Middle
East saga chronicling an all-female,
military battalion’s effort to liberate the
town of Corduene from Muslim extremists.
Co-starring Golshifteh Farahani,
Emmanuelle Bercot and Zubeyde
Bulut. (In French, Kurdish, Arabic and
English with subtitles)
High Life (R for profanity, violence,
sexual assault and graphic
nudity) Futuristic sci-fi thriller revolving
around an ex-con astronaut (Robert
Pattinson) and his test tube baby
daughter (Scarlett Lindsey), the sole
survivors aboard a spaceship mission
to a black hole. With Juliette Binoche,
Andre’ Benjamin and Victor Banjeree.
Mary Magdalene (R for bloody and
disturbing images) Biblical tale, set in
the Holy Land in 33 A.D., recounting
the transformation of a young woman
(Rooney Mara) inspired to follow the
charismatic founder of Christianity,
Jesus of Nazareth (Joaquin Phoenix) Cast
includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Zohar Shtrauss
Kam’s Kapsules
By Kam Williams
and David Schofield as Apostles Peter,
John and Thomas, respectively. (In English
and Hebrew with subtitles)
My Life with Emily (PG-13 for sexuality)
Molly Shannon plays Emily Dickinson
(1830-1886) in this biopic exploring
her long-time relationship with
her sister-in-law (Susan Ziegler). With
Amy Seimetz, Brett Gellman and Jackie
Monahan.
Teen Spirit (PG-13 for suggestive content,
and for underage smoking and
drinking) Coming of age drama about a
shy British girl’s (Elle Faning) attempt to
escape her tiny island by entering a popular
singing competition staging auditions
in town. With Zlatko Buric, Rebecca Hall
and Agnieszka Grochowska.
Wide Releases
After (Unrated) Adaptation of Anna
Todd’s romance novel about a college
freshman (Josephine Langford) tempted
to abandon her high school sweetheart
(Dylan Arnold) when she meets a mysterious
rebel (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin) on
campus first semester. With Selma Blair,
Jennifer Beals and Peter Gallagher.
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