WORTH SEEING
Movies to Watch This Weekend
Can You Ever Forgive Me? Melissa McCarthy is terrific in this real-life story of the writer Lee Israel who, after the collapse of her literary career, found a lucrative second career as the forger of letters by historical people. Directed by Marielle Heller, it’s a film of wit and atmosphere and about the most twisted rags-to-riches story you could ever hope to see. Rated R. 106 minutes. — Mick LaSalle
Free Solo Thrilling, vertigo-inducing documentary that chronicles Alex Honnold’s quest to scale the 3,000-foot vertical rock face of Yosemite’s El Capitan with just his hands and feet — no ropes. It’s never been done; will he be the first? The photography is incredible, as is its subject. Rated PG-13. 100 minutes. — G. Allen Johnson
The Great Buster: A Celebration This documentary by Peter Bogdanovich makes its case that Buster Keaton was indeed a great comedian and filmmaker. There’s digitally restored footage from many of his best movies, and testimonials from the likes of Mel Brooks, Richard Lewis, Dick Van Dyke and Werner Herzog. The film also recounts Keaton’s later decline, a very sad story. Not rated. 102 minutes. — Walter Addiego
Outlaw King This impressively made historical drama, about Scottish rebels’ efforts against English occupiers, has a story that gets a little stuck in the mud of the Middle Ages, but there’s almost always something on the screen to admire. Rated R. 121 minutes. — David Lewis
A Private War Rosamund Pike gives an impressive performance as the late war reporter Marie Colvin, in an unconventional and effective biopic that focuses not only on Colvin’s achievements, but also on her psychological problems and alcoholism. Rated R. 106 minutes. —Mick LaSalle