Opening Today: September 4, 2019

Sanggano, Sanggago’t Sanggwapo

Directed by Al Tantay; stars Andrew E, Janno Gibbs, Dennis Padilla, Eddie Garcia

Three men try out a life of affluence after one of them discovers that he’s the heir of a tycoon.

Andrew E describes the film’s humor as similar to the his ’90s movies’: “It was how comedy was back then. There was no long setups for jokes. The punchlines are snappy.”

Haunt

Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods; stars Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Shazi Raja

Friends looking for a thrill enter a haunted house that manifests their darkest fears.

SciFiNow’s Anton Bitel says, “The audience is taken through some very unnerving sets and set pieces, which become [even] more sinister and labyrinthine the more these confused coeds tread and retread them.”

Alexandra Daddario in “Can You Keep a Secret?”

Can You Keep a Secret?

Directed by Elise Duran; stars Alexandra Daddario, Tyler Hoechlin, Laverne Cox

A woman confesses to a stranger when their plane hits turbulence, and he later turns out to be her company’s CEO.

Daddario shares on Instagram of her experience, “Romantic comedies are fun because you get to laugh and cry and make out with boys. And now you can watch us do it!”

It Chapter Two

Directed by Andy Muschietti; stars James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Bill Skarsgard

Decades after the defeat of a monstrous entity, survivors reunite to solve the mystery of disappearing children.

Author Stephen King relates, “I had hopes for the film, but I was not prepared for how good ‘It’ was. I think the best vote of confidence for the second movie is that when the first movie ended with a title card that says, ‘It Chapter One,’ audiences applauded. They wanted more. Now, they’re going to get the rest. It’s not a sequel; it’s the second half of one unified story.”

Nicholas Hoult in “Tolkien”

Tolkien

Directed by Dome Karukoski; stars Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins

The film looks back at the author’s formative years and the events that would help shape his stories.

Newsday’s Rafer Guzman says, “‘Tolkien’ has plenty to recommend it, beginning with a more than credible performance from Nicholas Hoult in the title role.”

NPR’s Bob Mondello opines, “It’s perhaps understandable that the Tolkien estate isn’t interested in being associated with this biopic—and not just because it simplifies and fudges, as biopics do.”