CURRENT RELEASES
A-
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST This smartly cast story brings subtle upgrades to the timeless classic, adding new songs and paying homage to the splendid visuals inspired by the animated and stage versions. Starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Ewan McGregor, Luke Evans and Ian McKellen. PG (action violence, peril and frightening images). 129 mins.
B+
THE BOSS BABY Every joke has a payoff in this animated tale of a talking baby (voiced by Alec Baldwin) whose demeanor is more corporate CEO than diaper dandy. It will please the kids, and there are plenty of tugs at nostalgia for parents, too. PG (mild rude humor). 97 mins.
THE CASE FOR CHRIST (Not reviewed.) Journalist Lee Strobel begins a quest to debunk the claims of Christianity in an attempt to save his marriage after his wife adopts the faith, but he finds unexpected results that change everything he believes to be true. This drama is based on Strobel’s award-winning book. Directed by Jon Gunn. PG (thematic elements including medical descriptions of crucifixion, and incidental smoking). 112 mins.
CHIPS (Not reviewed.) Dax Shepard directs and stars alongside Michael Peña. They play a pair of California Highway Patrol officers in this movie adaptation of the television series from the 1970s and ’80s. R (crude sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, some violence and drug use). 101 mins.
B-
COLOSSAL Anne Hathaway fully embraces the role of a down-on-her-luck drunk who stumbles on an unexpected road to recovery. By the end, the character’s heroic stature is both improbable and undeniable, and it stems less from what she’s done than from what she’s finally stopped letting others do. R (language). 110 mins.
C
A DOG’S PURPOSE A puppy (voiced by Josh Gad) is reincarnated as various breeds across the decades in this adorable but forgettable film. PG (thematic elements and some peril). 120 mins.
C+
THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS The series’ eighth installment has everything the franchise’s fans crave, and it has moments that are still a heck of a lot of fun. But it’s a comedown from the gas-fume highs of the last three films. Starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Charlize Theron, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Kurt Russell. PG-13 (prolonged sequences of violence and destruction, suggestive content and strong language). 136 mins.
FIFTY SHADES DARKER (Not reviewed.) A reunion between Christian and Ana (Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson) is threatened by a shady character from his past in this follow-up to the kinky drama. R (strong erotic sexual content, some graphic nudity and language). 115 mins.
B-
FIST FIGHT This comedy is a pleasantly foul-mouthed exercise that gets by on the chemistry of its two stars: Ice Cube, with his NWA-trained death glare, and Charlie Day, who basically recycles his likable, hapless yet inventive character from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia into a more responsible suburban dad. R (strong language throughout, sexual content/nudity and drug material). 91 mins.
A-
FRANTZ French filmmaker François Ozon’s carefully calibrated meditation on loss and reconciliation, set in Germany after World War I, is the unlikeliest of love stories. It brings profound insights about forgiveness, perseverance and responsibility. PG-13 (thematic elements including brief war violence). 114 mins.
B
GET OUT Writer-director Jordan Peele offers a chilling portrait of the racism that can lurk beneath smiling white faces in this horror film about a black man who goes to visit his white girlfriend’s parents at their rural estate. Starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams. R (violence, bloody images and language including sexual references). 103 mins.
B
GHOST IN THE SHELL Scarlett Johansson stars as Major, a human saved from a terrible crash who has been cyber-enhanced into the perfect soldier and crime fighter. The mind and spirit of the 1995 original film have been preserved in this remake, directed by Rupert Sanders. Also starring Pilou Asbaek and Takeshi Kitano. PG-13 (sequences of sci-fi violence, suggestive content and some disturbing images). 106 mins.
B-
GIFTED Chris Evans, putting down the star-emblazoned shield, demonstrates his chops beyond the Avengers universe in this exceedingly pleasant tale of a young prodigy and the uncle who encourages her to just be a kid. Despite its relaxed charms, the film is hampered by a tendency toward the overwrought and unrealistic in the realm of the courtroom drama. PG-13 (thematic elements, language and some suggestive material). 101 mins.
B
GOING IN STYLE Lifelong friends Will (Morgan Freeman), Joe (Michael Caine) and Al (Alan Arkin) decide to break out of the straight and narrow path of retirement after their pension funds become a corporate casualty. Zach Braff’s
direction isn’t perfect, but it does the important things right. PG-13 (drug content, language and some suggestive material). 97 mins.
B
HIDDEN FIGURES The previously untold story about the African-American women who worked at NASA when astronaut John Glenn was first sent into orbit is gratifying but not great. PG (themes and language). 127 mins.
B
KONG: SKULL ISLAND This action movie has a smart script, imaginative filmmaking and a cast of fine actors who actually get to act. King Kong has never looked so good. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly. PG-13 (sci-fi violence and action, and brief strong language). 118 mins.
B+
LA LA LAND Two beautiful young artists — a pianist (Ryan Gosling) and an actress (Emma Stone) — find themselves in the blissful early stages of love in this often-captivating musical. Directed by Damien Chazelle. PG-13 (language). 128 mins.
B+
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE A lonely vigilante hero must learn to work with others to save Gotham from the Joker’s attempted takeover in this funny animated parody. Featuring the voices of Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson and Zach Galifianakis. PG (rude humor and some action). 104 mins.
B
LIFE Six crew members on the International Space Station discover the first evidence of life on Mars, and their research reveals that the life form is both intelligent and dangerous. While the film borrows much from Alien, it is a welcome addition to the science-fiction/horror genre. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson and Ryan Reynolds. Directed by Daniel Espinosa. R (language throughout, some sci-fi violence and terror). 103 mins.
B+
LION An Indian man who was adopted by an Australian family as a child sets out to find his lost family in this heartwarming tale. PG-13 (thematic material and some sensuality). 118 mins.
B+
LOGAN In Hugh Jackman’s last stab at the X-Men icon, Wolverine’s vulnerability makes us like him more than ever. The film earns its R rating with a bleak setting and a high body count. Also starring Patrick Stewart. R (strong violence and language and brief nudity). 137 mins.
C
POWER RANGERS This serviceable reinvention of the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers manages to be cheesy even by 1990s teen action show standards, but fans of the original series will find their favorite elements in the movie. Directed by Dean Israelite. PG-13 (sci-fi violence action and destruction, language and crude humor). 124 mins.
A-
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY This tale of war, repression and rebellion is not only the best Star Wars prequel film, it’s also a movie that stands impressively tall on its own merits. Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk. PG-13 (sci-fi violence and action). 133 mins.
B
THE SHACK Though the dialogue in this faith-based drama about a wayward soul has all the finesse of a self-help book, and the visuals are a garish technicolor explosion, there are some nuggets of wisdom that resonate, regardless of personal belief. Starring Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer and
Tim McGraw. PG (thematic material including some violence). 132 mins.
C-
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE This animated tale has enough bright colors and slapstick humor to enchant its target audience. But anyone much taller than a Smurf may turn blue. Featuring the voices of Mandy Patinkin, Jeff Dunham, Danny Pudi and Demi Lovato. PG (mild action and rude humor). 81 mins.
B+
THEIR FINEST This movie about making a movie, specifically a glossy propaganda film meant to bolster morale in WWII Britain, is good-looking, finely acted and well-told. Starring Gemma Arterton, Jack Huston and Sam Claflin. R (language and a scene of sexuality). 110 mins.
B-
TOMMY’S HONOUR This drama is based on the true story of the relationship between Tom Morris (Peter Mullan) and Tommy Morris (Jack Lowden), the father-son team who ushered in the modern game of golf. The duo experiences challenges and tragedy in a way that is both universally effective and familiar to audiences. Directed by Jason Connery. PG (thematic elements, some suggestive material, language and smoking). 112 mins.
B
T2 TRAINSPOTTING This sequel reunites the old gang from the depressing yet exhilarating 1996 cult classic. T2 is lighter in tone, the accents aren’t as thick and the drug use isn’t as horrifying. Still, it’s a lot of dark fun, and director Danny Boyle keeps everything moving quickly. Starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle. R (drug use, language, graphic nudity and violence). 117 mins.
B
YOUR NAME Two high school kids — complete strangers living separate lives — randomly switch places on multiple occasions and find themselves inhabiting the other person’s body. They soon use this bizarre circumstance to their advantage, communicating with each other by leaving notes and messages, eventually building a bond. What starts out as a Freaky Friday-type body exchange becomes a rumination on time travel, cataclysmic fate and rural-urban dynamics — and, of course, a love story. Directed by Makoto Shinkai. PG (suggestive content, language and smoking). 106 mins.
B
THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE A Warsaw zoo becomes a haven for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution during World War II. Though the film has flaws in pacing and suspense, they’re easily overlooked thanks to Jessica Chastain’s soul-baring performance. PG-13 (disturbing images, violence, brief sexuality, nudity and smoking). 124 mins.
Gemma Arterton plays a writer on a British propaganda film in Their Finest.
Dwayne Johnson in The Fate of the Furious
Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis co-star as hometown friends in Colossal, directed by Nacho Vigalondo.
Power Rangers brings back favorite elements, in all their cheesy glory, from the 1990s TV show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Jessica Chastain stars in The Zookeeper’s Wife, which takes place during World War II.
A scene from Smurfs: The Lost Village