The 1992 comedy-drama about two street basketball hustlers gets a fun update from director Calmatic (who also recently reworked House Party), with a few tweaks to the racial politics and a more laidback approach to the pair’s comic rivalry. Sinqua Walls and rapper Jack Harlow take on the Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson roles – and while they don’t have the same star quality, they banter around the cliches and impress in the outdoor court scenes, as they aim for a big-money tournament that will cure their financial ills.
A damning indictment of US police work, Nancy Schwartzman’s documentary follows journalist Rae de Leon’s investigation into women who reported sexual assaults – and were then prosecuted for lying about their attacks. Her four-year search turned up 200 such cases, and it’s shocking to hear and see – from police interview tapes – how vulnerable young people can find the tables turned on them. Detectives wedded to stereotypes are shown neglecting the basics of their job; they’re even legally allowed to lie (they call them “ruses”) to encourage victims to retract. The film focuses on the women’s lives damaged as a result but De Leon’s devotion to justice brings hope that times are changing.