THE TOP 5
The top five movies at the North American box office:
Bohemian Rhapsody: If this movie were a song, it would have a slow opening and a weak bridge. But it would also include some fine verses and a strong finish that would have you humming it a few days later. Rami Malek stars as Freddie Mercury, and the actor electrifies every scene he’s in.
★★★1/2 (Chris Knight) The Nutcracker and the Four Realms: Mackenzie Foy stars in this loose adaptation of the 200-year-old Nutcracker tale. With a so-so score and a wobbly plot it may not become the Christmas classic Disney is hoping for, but its striking visuals make it a treat for the eyes, and kids should be fine with its mild levels of peril. ★★★ (Chris Knight)
Nobody’s Fool: This stars Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), Tika Sumpter (Southside With You) and Whoopi Goldberg. And trailers suggest it’s a comedy in which a successful businesswoman has her life derailed by the arrival of her ex-con sister. Except that’s only the first half of the trailer. Keep watching, and it turns into a different comedy.
Not reviewed (Chris Knight) A Star Is Born: Starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (who also directs) as star-crossed lovers. The two leads have genuine chemistry. Sure it’s maudlin and overly earnest, but it’s also an ecstatic re-telling of a love story we never can say goodbye to. ★★★★1/2 (Calum Marsh)
Halloween: David Gordon Green’s movie is the 11th in the franchise, but he wisely ignores everything since the original. We pick up 40 years later with a former terrorized babysitter (Jamie Lee Curtis) now a pistol-packing survivalist, and Michael Myers on the loose again. Mixed results. ★★★ (Chris Knight)