Weekend at the movies

Looking for a movie to see this weekend? Check out our movie capules

“City of Ghosts”

AA group of citizen-journalists living in Raqqa began documenting and uploading the violence happening when ISIS took over the city in July 2014 though it endangered their lives. The violence is wrenching to watch, but the film demonstrates the camera is more powerful than a weapon. Directed by Matthew Heineman. (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) Rated R for disturbing violent content, and for some language. At Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 30 minutes.

“Crown Heights”

BA native of Trinidad is convicted in 1980 for a murder he didn’t commit and his childhood friend is relentless in his efforts to get the sentence overturned. Based on a true story, it’s a film a that will cause conversations, but it feels a bit rushed at the end. Starring Lakeith Stanfield, Nnamdi Asomugha and Natalie Paul. Directed by Matt Ruskin. (Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language, nudity, violence. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 39 minutes.

“The Fencer”

BThis is the true story of an artist who eludes Soviet agents by hiding out in a small town and teaching kids fencing. It’s a bit of a “Hoosiers” remake, but that’s OK, it’s a winner. Starring Mart Avandi, Ursula Ratasepp and Hendrik Toompere Sr. Directed by Klaus Haro. In Estonian, Russian and Armenian with subtitles. (G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle) Unrated. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 39 minutes.

“I Do ... Until I Don’t”

BA documentarian comes to town to film three couples in their marriage and they begin to rediscover long-buried love and tenderness. It’s a play-it-safe film, with its chaos a little too controlled. Starring Lake Bell, Ed Helms and Mary Steenburgen. Directed by Lake Bell. (G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle) Rated R for sexual material and language. At Lefont Sandy Springs and Regal Avalon. 1 hour, 43 minutes.

“The Trip To Spain”

BThe pair of world travelers are back at it, this time talking and eating their way through Spain. Some have found the third go-round tiresome, but it’s unique with the men’s astute understanding of mature male friendship that is rare. Starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. Directed by Michael Winterbottom. (Gary Thompson, Philadelphia Inquirer) Unrated. At Land

STILL SHOWING “Annabelle: Creation:

BA couple takes in six orphan girls and two of them begin to see spooky apparitions. The recipe is one we’ve seen before, but the artistry of the sinister shots are what make this movie scary. Starring Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman and Lulu Wilson. Directed by David F. Sandberg. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated R for violence and terror. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 49 minutes.

“Atomic Blonde”

C+A secret agent is dispatched to recover a microfilm that contains a list of foreign agents working in and around Berlin. The film fumbles on its own tale though it is a visual cinematic delight. Starring Charlize Theron, James McAvoy and John Goodman. Directed by David Leitch. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for sequences of strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 55 minutes. PARENTS GUIDE Definitely too violent for younger kids — for older, mature teens only.

“Baby Driver”

B+A baby-faced getaway driver owes a crime boss and drives his crew around to pay off his debts. The film marries sight and sound and will steal a chunk of the summer’s box office. Starring Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey and Lily James. Directed by Edgar Wright. (Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times) Rated R for violence and language throughout. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 53 minutes.

“The Big Sick”

B+A Pakistani Muslim immigrant who is trying to make it in the stand-up comedy world falls for a white American woman but keeps it from his family, who wants him to wed a South Asian Muslim. There’s enough humor to keep the whole thing from being heavy-handed and it really makes a big impact. Starring Kumail Nanjiani, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano and Zoe Kazan. Directed by Michael Showalter. (Cary Darling, Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Rated R for strong language including sexual references. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 59 minutes.

“Bushwick”

Review not available in time for publication. When Texas attempts to secede from the Union and militia forces take New York City as its base of operations, a woman takes refuge in the basement of a war veteran who reluctantly helps her reach her destination. Starring Brittany Snow and Dave Baustista. Directed by Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott. Unrated. At AMC Riverstone, AMC Classic Snellville and AMC Conyers. 1 hour, 34 minutes.

“Despicable Me 3”

CGru and wife Lucy set out to capture the new bad guy and steal back a diamond. It’s good, but it only aspired to be good enough when it could have been great. Starring the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker. Directed by Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin and Eric Guillon. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG for some mild rude humor and action. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 31 minutes.

“Detroit”

C+After police raided an illegal after-hours bar in Detroit in 1967, a disturbing and harrowing scene happens at a dive motel when a group of officers turn against innocent suspects. This historical drama is an artfully frazzle mosaic of suffering and comes quite close to meeting the challenge of dramatizing civil unrest. Starring John Boyega, Jacob Latimore and Will Poulter. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow. (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) Rated R for strong violence and pervasive language. At Regal Atlantic Station. 2 hours, 23 minutes.

“Dunkirk”

AThis is the tribute to the 1940 evacuation of more than 300,000 British soldiers from a French beach under heavy fire from German soldiers and planes, aided by a flotilla of small boats captained by civilians. The audience is put on the beach with these young men and everything is bigger, realer, in images that are equally breathtaking and terrifying. Starring Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy and Kenneth Branagh. Directed by Christopher Nolan. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for intense war experience and some language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 46 minutes.

“The Emoji Movie”

DThe “meh” emoji has a glitch and he makes his way through the phone trying to fix himself, but ends up becoming a new, more evolved emoji while trying to prevent the user from restoring the phone to factory settings. There aren’t any real jokes, but the film isn’t terrible. It’s just that there are better ways to spend your time. Starring the voices of T.J. Miller, James Corden and Anna Faris. Directed by Tony Leondis. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for rude humor. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 26 minutes.

“Girls Trip”

BA woman invites her friends along on a business trip to New Orleans and things get raunchy, randy and funny. The film balances potty humor with heartfelt female empowerment. Starring Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany Haddish and Queen Latifah. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, pervasive language, brief graphic nudity, and drug material. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 2 minutes.

“Good Time”

B+A pair of brothers embark on a bank robbery, which goes badly, but it seems the police keep giving one brother a break. It’s a crime movie with a sound design that’s right on top of the action, something you can’t look away from. Starring Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Directed by Joshua Safdie and Ben Safdie. (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) Rated R for language throughout, violence, drug use and sexual content. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 40 minutes.

“The Glass Castle”

C+A successful Manhattan woman looks back on her childhood living with her father who couldn’t keep a job and was avoiding bill collectors and her mother. Based on a novel, the coming-of-age film will have its tearjerking moments, but sometimes undercuts itself by spelling things out rather than hinting at them. Starring Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. (Stephanie Merry, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for disturbing examples of family dysfunction, some strong language and smoking. At metro theaters. 1 hours, 7 minutes.

“Ingrid Goes West”

BA troubled young woman with a history of social-media stalking moves to L.A. to follow another woman whose perfectly curated life seems to be a model for all that hers lacks. There are funny bits, but you won’t remember this one long after it’s over. Starring Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen. Directed by Matt Spicer. (Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times) Rated R for language throughout, drug use, some sexual content and disturbing behavior. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 37 minutes.

“Kidnap”

DA mom goes after the abductors who have kidnapped her child. The dialogue is bad, the story is paper-thin and there’s not any suspense or tension at all. Starring Halle Berry, Sage Correa and Chris McGinn. Directed by Luis Prieto. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for violence and peril. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 22 minutes. PARENTS GUIDE Too scary and violent for younger kids, OK for teens.

“LEAP!”

CA girl scams her way into a prestigious ballet school after taking the acceptance letter originally intended for a spoiled brat. In this animated film, the dancing is lovely to watch, but the story is all over the place and inconsistent. Starring Elle Fanning, Nat Wolff and Carly Rae Jepsen. Directed by Eric Warin and Eric Summer. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for some impolite humor, and action. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 29 minutes. PARENTS GUIDE Appropriate for kids of all ages

“Letters From Baghdad”

BThis is the story of Gertrude Bell, the first female intelligence office recruited into the British military. It’s a lively production that reaches a little too far, but not very much. Starring Tilda Swinton and Michael Higgs. Directed by Zeva Oelbaum and Sabine Krayenbuhl. (Colin Covert, Star Tribune-Minneapolis) Unrated. A

“Logan Lucky”

B+A good old boy gathers his kin to pull off a robbery at a NASCAR raceway in Steven Soderbergh’s return from retirement. It’s a bank heist procedural packed with vibrant, mostly lovable characters. Starring Channing Tatum, Adam Driver and Seth MacFarlane. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. (Colin Covert, Star Tribune-Minneapolis) Rated PG-13 for language and some crude comments. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 59 minutes.

“The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature”

D+The mayor is trying to destroy the prk to turn it into an amusement park and it’s up to the animals to save it. The film is an adequate babysitter, but fails to inspire. Starring the voices of Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, Jackie Chan and Katherine Heigl. Directed by Cal Brunker. (Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle) Rated PG. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 31 minutes. PARENTS GUIDE Fine for kids of all ages but could possibly be a bit too extreme for really young kids in the violence/action department.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming”

BThe new web-slinging Spidey goes home to resume his regular routine until the newest villain shows up. There are many story elements and characters, while still finding room for small, funny asides and moments that make it addictively rich and re-watchable. Starring Tom Holland, Michael Keaton and Laura Harrier. Directed by Jon Watts. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 13 minutes.

“War For the Planet of the Apes”

AThe apes are fighting the humans for the fate of their species and the future of the planet. The plot hinges not on huge battles, but characters and story. Starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn. Directed by Matt Reeves. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, thematic elements, and some disturbing images. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 20 minutes.

“Wind River”

C+A fish and wildlife service tracker comes across a body of a Native American girl frozen and calls in the FBI. Inspired by true events, a tense showdown turns the movie from a character-drive procedural into a visceral exploitative pulp. Starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. Directed by Taylor Sheridan. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) Rated R for strong violence, a rape, disturbing images and language. At AMC Phipps Plaza and Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 47 minutes.