“Untemed” series on Netflix gets a big boost from Yosemite

Is Yosemite ready for his close -up on Netflix? Not so fast….

This week we are reviewing a six-part mystery series in the famous national park and four indie features that deserve wider attention. They all debut together with the angular western “Eddington” this week.

Here is our summary.

“Untamed”: It is a pleasure to see a series in Yosemite, even if, 1.), it is not really filmed there (British Columbia Sub for her with important iconic pictures) and 2.), the riddle in the heart of it, it is a false building itself. Eric Bana is particularly Brüte as a park special investment agent Kyle Turner, a guy who drove after the death of his son of despair and mourning is. He is shaken something out of this immense depression when he suspects that a bad game was involved in the death of a female hiker who made a fatal jump in El Capitan. He and the Newbie partner Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), who have moved from the big city to great nature, examine their death and record the useful nest of the proverbial hornet.

The premise promises more than what is ultimately delivered in this incoherent, semi -compelled six -part series by Showrunnern Mark L. Smith (“American Primeval”) and Elle Smith (“The Marsh King's Daughter”). With too many red herrings and subordinate actions, the story consider and prevents the viewers from investing emotionally in the solution of the crime in its core. Even worse, the secret leads to an absurd, unsatisfactory and predictable solution. Bana's performance is caught by melancholy, while Santiago counteracts this brood with energy. Sam Neill is okay as Chief Park Ranger Paul Souter, a subordinate part, while Rosemarie Dewitt resigned well as KYLES ex-wife channels. But the actor and the character that is the ignition of “untamed” is Wilson Bethel as Shane Maguire. His extra-harmful ex-military park wilderness expert offers the threat and the narrative tension, which is often missing “untamed”. Too bad, “untamed” did not focus on the collision between Shane and Kyle and dropped all of these other strands. Details: 2 stars of 4; falls on Netflix on July 17th.

“Don't let us go to the dogs tonight”: In her directorial debut, actor Embeth Davidtz takes a clever step after the other, both as a filmmaker and as a screenwriter. Her urgent, rich adaptation of Alexandra Fuller's memoir of the same name from 2001 is a fascinating drama, which was told from the perspective of a child, in this case that the curious 8-year-old Bobo (Lex Venter gives one of the most important child performances of all time). With the POV, the film can vividly convey how racist prejudices are handed over over generations and serves as a historical snapshot of life for white agriculture in the turbulent days of 1980 Rhodesia, since the South African state gained independence as a Zimbabwe. Davidtz, who grew up in South Africa, is unbelievable in the central role of Boshos stubborn and mentally enchanting mother Nicola, whose psyche is racing raw through tragedy and does not see herself as a racist. Your actions often say something else. Bobo observes her behavior, which then penetrates her own actions, for example when she plays with the children who work for her parents and surround them. It is recognition for her talents that Davidtz successfully juggles many balls (the family's family house takes trouble to show what a mess and to unstable heads), and one of them is how it increases the history of family man Sarah (Zikhona Bali), whose friendliness costs it and ultimately costs it. This is an enormous directorial debut in every respect. Details: 3½ stars; Opened on July 18 at Elmwood in Berkeley; The Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael; and the Landmark Opera Plaza in San Francisco; Expose to South Bay theaters next week.

“Unicorns”: The Straight Guy World of Essex Mechanic and single father Luke (Ben Hardy) gets up when he steps into a club and is weakened by drag performer Aysha (Jason Patel). The problem is that Luke does not notice that Aysha is the stage personality of Ashiq – a gay, closed Muslim man who leads his own life from his conservative parents. Aysha is also attracted to the robust and pretty Lukas, and after a confrontation, they finally join an agreement in which the hatch becomes a night driver for Aysha with cash and accompanies them to private dance and performance gigs. While the scenario follows the blueprints of many romantic dramas, the characters – both leads are written and carried out so well – are with stories that we have not seen before and are told with the right measures by Grit and grace. The co-directors Sally El Hosaini and James Krishna Floy, who also wrote the beauty of a script with Hardy and Patel in his feature debut that this is an authentic story about complicated people who do not lean in stereotypes or result in another tragic, queer romance. There is hope and joy to find passion and real heat here and give us a gay romance for the coming years. Hardy's performance in particular is unforgettable. It's a shame that it only shows in a theater in Bay Area; It deserves a much broader publication. Details: 3½ stars; Opened on July 18 at the Opera Plaza in San Francisco.

“Apocalypse in the tropics”: Timing could not be more important for the publication of director Petra Costa's worrying documentary about the factors and people who are responsible for the Mercurial Ascendancy and the case of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. With the pursuit of President Donald Trump Branding Brazil's pursuit of justice to Bolsonaro, a “witch hunt”, Costa's passionate documentary serves as a historical wake -up call about the actual factors that are involved in his choice and presidency and how this led to an uprising of the results of a fair election. Sounds familiar? Costa's film reflects with this relevance, but also deals with the question of how evangelical leaders have led to transforming Bolsonaro into a superhero and how a nation became “moral” seekers to his willing disciples and defenders. It is a timely documentation of the manufacturer of “The Edge of Democracy”, which sets the political upheaval not only in Brazil, but also in America in a strong perspective. Details: 3½ stars; Now available on Netflix.

“Press”: A nightmare of a car accident shakes the life of the real estate agent Natalie Flores (Alicia Sanz), born in Barcelona, whose representation of an isolated property could last. In this blood curdler from David Charbonier's crack team and Justin Powell (“The boy behind the door”, “The Djinn”) there is a lasting zeal for all things. Raúl Castillo plays against the guy and ensures a threatening, unstoppable presence in a surreal homage that is pleasant and benefits from Daniel Katz's great cinematography. Details: 3 stars; Now available on a shudder.

Contact Randy Myers at Soitsrandy@gmail.com.