With only 11 days left in the month, January cinema continues its two traditions. And no, it’s not about drafty theatres. As many moviegoers bemoan, the wintery time is often a “dumping ground” for flicks that don’t quite have the needed “hook” to send folks trudging through the snow to the multiplex. Last weekend’s big releases weren’t made available to us, though the previous week’s “biggie” M3GAN did well with the public and the reviewers. The other tradition is the release to smaller markets of serious “award bait” films, and this is one of three today. It’s got a big “pedigree” cast with a few Oscar winners. And it’s the follow-up to the writer/director’s big award-winner from a couple of years ago, so hopes are high that he’ll grab some more gold with The Son.

As opposed to that former...