Current attractions
“Bad Moms”: The raunchy humor that often inhabits bro-centric comedies this time speaks to all the mothers who feel like they’re drowning in commitments. Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Bell deliver laughs as moms straining to meet the demands of work and home. ½ (Stephanie Merry, Washington Post) R, 1:41
“Blair Witch”: This second sequel of the 1999 horror film sensation is a pale imitation void of any creativity, with the found-footage style having run its course. James Allen McCune plays James, the brother of Heather, who went missing in the original. Now he wants to find out if there’s any possibility his sister is still alive after all these years. James is joined by friends who have agreed to shoot a documentary about the search, which sets this group on its path of doom. No stars (Rick Bently, Fresno Bee) R, 1:29 “Bridget Jones’s Baby”: Nostalgia pervades this uneven but fitfully funny sequel. Bridget (Renée Zellweger) has recently broken up with her longtime love, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). On a getaway with a friend, she winds up in bed with a gorgeous billionaire (Patrick Dempsey). Weeks later she bumps into Mark, who regrets losing her and, after a few drinks, proves just how much. A positive pregnancy test leaves Bridget unsure of who the father is. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) R, 2:02
“Captain Fantastic”: Viggo Mortensen leads a terrific ensemble in this film about a family of off-the-gridders. Ben, along with his wife, have been rusticating in the dripping woods with their six kids since the birth of their now-teenage son. A family crisis sends the whole clan on bus trip where they soon realize how alienated they’ve become. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) R, 1:58 “Don’t Think Twice”: Writer-director Mike Birbiglia stars as Miles, a 36-year-old improv veteran who fears his big break happened without him. Meanwhile, he works with a troupe whose talented members all hunger for their own big breaks. ½ (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) R, 1:32
“Don’t Breathe”: The realistic setting and newsworthy themes are what make this spooky tale so bone-chilling. Three teen burglars live in a downtrodden Detroit wasteland where their lack of options makes them feel that homeinvasion burglaries of the “haves” are justified. But they’ve underestimated their latest target. ½ (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) R, 1:28 “Florence Foster Jenkins”: Bring ear plugs. Youmay also want to bring along a double mocha frappuccino, because this draggy operatic farce is never quite as funny as it thinks it is. The film paints a sweet but slow-moving portrait of the infamous Manhattan socialite who fancied herself a high priestess of the opera. In reality, she sang like a dying cat. Underwater. ½ (Karen D’Souza, Staff) PG-13, 1:50
“Hell or High Water”: This 21st-century Western, which plays like a Johnny Cash song come to life, has two pairs of central characters — bank robbing brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) and the Texas Rangers on their trail (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham). Both are odd couples who volley folksy wisecracks back and forth as the pairs proceed along a collision course. Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) R, 1:42
“The Hollars”: From its first moments, “The Hollars” announces that it intends to be another “quirky” dysfunctional family dramedy. John Krasinski plays John Hollar, a young father-to-be living in New York, when he’s called back to his hometown for a health emergency involving his parents (played convincingly by Margo Martindale and Richard Jenkins). (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) PG-13, 1:28
“Jason Bourne”: Matt Damon’s fourth go-round as the memory-challenged former CIA hit man doesn’t do much to set itself apart from the other movies, though the finale does offer some hope that, if the franchise carries on, there might be a new direction. ½ (Tony Hicks, Staff) PG-13, 2:03 “Kubo and the Two
Strings”: “Kubo,” about a Japanese boy with samurai blood who accidentally raises two malevolent, ghostlike spirits, is both extraordinarily original and complex— and also pretty darn scary — even for a grownup movie masquerading as a kiddie cartoon (which it kind of is). While the film will certainly appeal to many children, it is also richly allusive and metaphorical.
Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) PG, 1:41 “The Light Between
Oceans”: Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander play a couple in post-World War I Australia who, after not being able to have their own child, discover a baby washed up on the shore near the isolated lighthouse where they live. After deciding to raise the baby, they discover the grieving mother, and they face a terrible choice. While a beautiful movie, it’s also extremely heavy and features a conclusion that doesn’t feel very satisfying.
½ (Tony Hicks, Staff) PG13, 2:12
“Pete’s Dragon”: Pete is the lone survivor of an automobile accident. In the woods, the fabled Millhaven dragon of local folklore comforts his newfound human friend. Six years later, the boy is 10 and living in a treehouse. ½ (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) PG, 1:43 “The Secret Life of Pets”: A playful premise, endearing performances (featuring the voices of Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate and Albert Brooks) and outstanding score make “Pets” fun family fare. Two would-be rivals fighting for the love of their owner are forced to unite for a common cause. Sandy Cohen, Associated Press) PG, 1:31
“Snowden”: Oliver Stone explores the story of Edward Snowden, the former CIA and NSA computer genius who exposed government programs that spied not only on people in other countries but millions of Americans. Joseph GordonLevitt is convincing in the title role, and the film does a good job of asking the right questions but is ultimately one-sided. ½ (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, and Tony Hicks, Staff), R, 2:18 “Southside With You”: The retelling of the 1989 first date between Chicago law firm associates Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson, while not completely factual, is a sweet and charming look at what brought two extraordinary people together to, eventually, change history. Tony Hicks, Staff). PG-13, 1:24
“Suicide Squad”: The much-anticipated supervillain movie from DC is a big mess. Which isn’t to say it’s not fun. It’s worth a look, even if your head may be spinning as you leave the theater. Tony Hicks, Staff) PG-13, 1:40
“Sully”: The conflict of Clint Eastwood’s film starring Tom Hanks in the title role is not the heartwarming true story of Captain Chesley Sullenberger’s forced landing on the Hudson River with 155 passengers aboard a US Airways flight; it’s the investigation and hearing that took place later. ½ (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) PG-13, 1:36
“Star Trek Beyond”: This latest feature film pulled from the hallowed TV series isn’t quite up to the 2009 and 2013 movies. The nemesis this time is a lizard fellow named Krall, played by Idris Elba. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the gang reassemble to defeat him. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) PG-13, 2:00
“The Wild Life”: What if Robinson Crusoe’s story had been presented from the perspective of the wildlife he encountered during his shipwrecked stay on a tropical island? That’s the approach of this visually impressive animated feature that will likely delight kids. KatieWalsh, Tribune News Service) PG, 1:30