This week, we feature an Aussie actioner where a hardened smuggler finds his humanity and a modern Cinderella tale involving mistaken identities and class divisions.
New Release
‘The Run’
In 2036, Mac (Callan Mulvey) hauls black-market cargo across a battered Australian wasteland and rarely asks who signs his checks. That indifference starts cracking when he crosses paths with Aliah (Charlotte Maggi), a teenage mother guarding the first baby born in years.
The setup recalls earlier dystopian thrillers, though the Australian landscape and Mulvey’s gritty performance give this one its own character. Watching Mac recover some humanity, by shielding a frightened mother with a child everyone wants to possess, proves compelling.
Action | Thriller
Release Date: Aug. 7, 2026
Director: Stephen de Villiers
Starring: Callan Mulvey, Charlotte Maggi, Felix Cameron
Running Time: 1 hour, 57 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: Theaters (limited)
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
Family Pick
‘Operation Dumbo Drop’
‘Operation Dumbo Drop’After North Vietnamese troops kill a village elephant, Capt. Sam Cahill (Danny Glover) vows to replace it before an upcoming ceremony. Cahill and his hotheaded replacement, Capt. T.C. Doyle (Ray Liotta), lead a small Army team through hostile territory with their new delivery.
Simon Wincer, who also directed “Free Willy,” keeps the Green Berets’ journey playful as the stubborn elephant ruins every military plan. Glover and Liotta work well together, and the promise made to the village puts some decency behind all the complications.
Comedy | Drama | Family
Release Date: July 28, 1995
Director: Simon Wincer
Starring: Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, Denis Leary
Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
Love Complicated by Class Assumptions
‘Maid in Manhattan’
Bronx single mom Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) cleans rooms at an expensive Manhattan hotel and hopes to move into management. Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes), a wealthy politician, mistakes her for a guest and the two begin a tenuous romance.
Fortunately, the main cast injects real warmth into a rather familiar plotline that keeps the ride enjoyable enough. Tucked inside its breezy love story are uplifting lessons about overcoming challenging circumstances and misperceptions.
Comedy | Drama | Romance
Release Date: Dec. 13, 2002
Director: Wayne Wang
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson
Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
Two Rudolfs and One Crown
‘The Prisoner of Zenda’
Rudolf Rassendyll (Stewart Granger) poses as the drugged king of Ruritania, drawing him into a plot against the throne and a romance with Princess Flavia (Deborah Kerr), who believes he is her fiancé.
Granger handles the royal masquerade and palace intrigue with an easy heroism, and the sacrifices demanded by love and duty make this old-fashioned adventure an enjoyable ride.
Adventure | Mystery | Romance
Release Date: Nov. 14, 1952
Director: Richard Thorpe
Starring: Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, James Mason
Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon
Rated: 4 stars out of 5
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