The first week of October is here, and it’s brought not only a high-profile theatrical release but a trio of streaming films. Below is a look at the new films I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Play Dirty (Prime Video)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, LaKeith Stanfield, Keegan Michael-Key, and Rosa Salazar
Synopsis: This new film for Prime Video is based on the book series from Donald E. Westlake. It comes from director Shane Black, who co-wrote the screenplay. We follow a crack thief named Parker (Wahlberg) whose job goes bad. He’s double-crossed by Zen (Salazar) and his good friend (Thomas Jane) is killed. After narrowly surviving, he goes on the hunt. He wants his money, but he’s also promised his friend’s widow a measure of revenge. When he finds Zen, he learns of another, bigger job. He soon grabs his friends and dives in. But will he keep his promise? I love Black as a writer/director. There’s usually some great dialogue and characters, and all his films are set at Christmas. This film, too, is set during the holiday season, which factors into the décor and more. I liked the cast and the humor. This is like Ocean’s Eleven crossed with Lethal Weapon at times. It was a lot of fun, and I’d be down if he wanted to adapt another of the books. Wahlberg does a nice job in the lead role, and I enjoyed the rest of the cast and the action. This is a solid streaming film.
Rating: Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, some sexual content and nudity.

The Smashing Machine (Theaters)
Starring: Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt
Synopsis: The latest from Benny Safdie is a biopic about the fighter Mark Kerr (Johnson), who was one of the early stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and mixed martial arts movement. This film focuses on a few years of his life and career from 1997 to 2000. It focuses on his training, career, struggles with substance abuse, some big fights, and his relationship with girlfriend Dawn (Blunt). It’s an interesting slice of his life and career—especially if like me you’re not familiar with Kerr and the UFC. Johnson, under some prosthetics and wigs, settles into a different kind of role. Kerr was a big man with muscles, but he was more of a gentile soul. Johnson does a decent job of bringing him to life. So, too, does Blunt with Dawn. The problem is in the story and what we’re supposed to take away from it all. I wanted to like the film, and there are certainly some compelling moments, but it doesn’t all come together well enough. It feels like a failure of story, but the performances feel awkward against one-another as well. Overall, it’s a decent premise with some potential that falls short.
Rating: Rated R for language and some drug abuse.

Steve (Netflix)
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Tracey Ullman, and Emily Watson
Synopsis: This new film reunites Murphy with Tim Mielants, who directed Small Things Like These. It is based on the book from Max Porter, who wrote the script. We follow the head of a school, Steve (Murphy), which serves as a last chance for young men who are on the outskirts of society and need help smoothing out their rough edges. We follow him on one long day. Not only is a crew in to film the students and teachers for a story, but Steve is dealing with staff woes, behavioral issues, and some bad news that impacts all their future. Through it all, he’s trying to hold it together and do some good. This is a potentially powerful story with a very powerful topic. I enjoyed Murphy here in the lead role, who has some exceptional scenes. The supporting cast, which includes Ullman and Watson as part of the staff, also does a nice job. But it doesn’t all coalesce into something that matches the potential. It’s a decent watch with a strong lead performance but it falls short of some of its potential.
Rating: Rated R for pervasive language, substance abuse and some sexual material.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.