Movie openings are tempting us back into theaters

Above: The DreamWorks feature "Spirit Untamed" is scheduled to open in theaters on Friday. (Photo/DreamWorks)

Friday’s openings will include at least a couple of movies/miniseries that I’ve already written about. I’ll list those and some other viewing material that I haven’t yet mentioned.

“Super Frenchie”: Opening at the Magic Lantern, this documentary feature about extreme skier/base-jumper Matthias Giraud was directed by Chase Ogden. The film played at the 2020 Spokane International Film Festival and is now being distributed nationwide.

As I wrote in my preview of the film's SpIFF screening, "Amid all the stomach-dropping moments of Giraud flying off mountains, wearing his skis as he plummets toward the snow-covered rocks below, Ogden includes a number of touching scenes with Giraud's friends, wife and young son — a boy who seems to be following in his dad's shoes."

"Undine": Also opening at the Magic Lantern, this German-language fantasy explores the story of a woman (Paula Beer) who embodies the myth of a mermaid come to live in the human world and how she deals with heartbreak. Directed by Christian Petzold, the film won Beer the Silver Bear Award as Best actress at the Berlin Film Festival.

Stephanie Zacharek of Time magazine wrote, "Petzold loves his romantic bargains, his meditations on longing, obsession and deceit, and he unfurls all of that seductive cloth of gold in 'Undine.' "

“Spirit Untamed”: DreamWorks unveils its latest animated creation, which is set to play in theaters, a story about a young city girl who moves to the country and befriends a wild mustang. Among the voices you might recognize are Julianne Moore, Jake Gyllenhaal, Walton Goggins and Andre Braugher.

Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, " 'Spirit Untamed' is beautiful to look at and occasionally genuinely funny."

“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It”: This latest in “The Conjuring” franchise will play both in theater and on HBO Max. Directed by Michael Chaves, it returns Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as the supposed paranormal researchers investigating … murder.

Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote, "In a 'Conjuring' movie, the forces of blasphemous evil are presented as "real," but they seem about as real as the exhibits in a funhouse. Or, in this case, a not-so-fun house."

“Lisey’s Story”: Adapted by Stephen King from his own novel, the first episode of this eight-part miniseries will play on Apple TV+. Directed by Pablo Larrain, it stars Julianne Moore as the widow of a writer who finds herself stalked by an obsessed fan of her late husband.

As of this morning, "Lisey's Story" had scored a 54 percent Fresh Rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

That’s it for the moment. I’ll update as the week progresses.