2 of world’s finest administrators are at their finest

Two of today’s most renowned international filmmakers – Pedro Almodovar and Asghar Farhadi – prove they still have a masterful touch in this week’s new releases. Here is our summary.

“Parallel mothers”: Spain’s influential filmmaker Pedro Almodovar shows us in this sinfully good and surprisingly emotional melodrama, which takes up weighty questions of history, birthright and bonds between women, as playful, adventurous and relevant as ever. Almodovar also gives Penelope Cruz a chance to shine brighter than she has recently. She plays Janis, a bright, successful single woman who is overjoyed with the imminent arrival of her firstborn. In the hospital, she meets Ana (Milena Smit), a teenage girl who is not that enthusiastic about her pregnancy. The two different women bond and their lives intertwine in incredible, unexpected and 100 percent Almodovan ways. It’s also a powerful and devastating look at Spain’s turbulent history and attitudes towards women. Details: 3½; Opens in theaters in San Francisco on January 7th, expands on January 14th.

“A hero”: A seemingly good deed – giving back a missing bag of gems – becomes a viral sensation, with neighbors, strangers and strategists praising and sometimes co-opting the good Samaritan “act” of Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who has just got out of prison was released a penalty for failing to pay a debt. Iran-born filmmaker Asghar Farhadi (“The Salesman” and “A Separation”) takes a clear black and white premise and shadows it with many moral gray areas as the circumstances untangle for Rahim, who has a girlfriend and a disabled person Son. True to his form, Farhadi swims into these moral questions without being shrill or even choosing a side. This unbiased approach makes this a smarter, richer story that speaks to the volatile mood of our world where blame and outrage drown out decency, compassion, and an understanding that we all make mistakes. The last scene is overwhelming. Details: 3½ out of 4 stars; opens January 7th in select cinemas; Streaming on January 21st on Amazon Prime.

“The Book of Boba Fett”: Disney + dips into the “Star Wars” treasure chest – as with the extremely successful “Mandalorian” – and comes up with another gold nugget. Looking like a cross between Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel, Temuera Morrison from New Zealand is an ideal fat, taciturn bounty hunter to clean up the havoc wrought by intergalactic slob / mob boss Jabba the Hutt. Robert Rodriguez stages this series with verve and style, especially in the scenes with parkour-like Derring-Do and the flashbacks that pay homage to the science fiction greats Robert Heinlein and Ray Harryhausen. Add in a badass Ming-Na Wen as fat muscle and this first episode promises this will be another winner. Details: 3 stars; now available on Disney +.

“Look for me”: Canadian newcomer Randall Okita brings a new engine to the chugging home invasion thriller genre, adding visual flair and style to that endeavor. Former Olympic skier Sophie (Skyler Davenport; so good and so strong) remains bitter after an accident put an overtaking career on hold. Sophie, who was blinded during the accident, encounters unsavory characters while doing house manners in a remote mansion in the woods. Cue the scary soundtrack. The clever script by Adam Yorke and Tommy Gushue juices out a predicament that Audrey Hepburn’s character faced in the 1967 classic “Wait Until Dark”. Details: 3 stars; opens on January 7th in selected cinemas and on demand.

“Poupelle of Chimney Town”: In this animated fable, a hard-working young chimney sweep named Lubicchi meets his best and only friend, a L. Frank Baum-like creation made from trash. Akihiro Nishino’s spirited adventure does an excellent job of building the world and creating a city devoid of greenery. Richly animated and surprisingly touching, “Poupelle” is a jewel from Studio4ºC in Tokyo. Details: 3 stars; in selected cinemas on January 7th.

“Crime Scene: The Killer in Times Square”: Netflix nourishes the insatiable appetite for true crime stories with a lurid three-part series about a serial killer who chases after sex workers in New York in 1979. Joe Berlinger compiles re-enactments, archive footage, and interviews to review the horrific murders most commonly committed in rundown motels. It’s irresistible for true crime lovers, but what makes Times Square Killer better than the standard is how it reflects the rampant shadiness that covered the area. Details: 2½ stars; now available on Netflix.

“The calm sea”: This new Netflix science fiction series from South Korea is as derivative as it is compelling. The eight-piece piles up on the cliffhangers in each episode and makes for an excellent cast as it focuses on a decommissioned lunar space station where the team is tasked with salvaging an unknown item. Doctor Song Ji-an (Bae Doona from “Sense8”) is looking for answers, especially about what happened to her sister in the research station. They and others have fled a parched earth where scarce water is controlled with a box-like system. “Sea” doesn’t always work, but when it’s running at full speed (near the 5th Details: 3 stars; available on Netflix.

“The relatives”: On this claustrophobic horror show, new mom Helen (April Pearson) wakes up from a coma to learn the devastating news that she was in hospital after her father committed suicide in front of her. Their marriage has gone through a difficult period and Helen suffers from strange visions as she tries to figure out what caused her father to end his life. Director Jamie Pearson creates a “Rosemary’s Baby” atmosphere, while Christian J. Hearn’s script takes us to some very gnarled and desperate psychological places. Details: 2½ stars; available on request on January 7th.

Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.