OPENING TODAY
Ben-Hur
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov; stars Jack Huston, Morgan Freeman, Rodrigo Santoro, Toby Kebbell
A prince, who is forced into slavery, learns to forgive after an encounter with Jesus. Forbes.com’s Luke Y. Thomson relates: “The pitch here is basically ‘300: Rise of an Empire’ with cheaper-looking costumes.” Commonsense Media notes: “As in ‘Gladiator’ … expect a lot of action, violence, cruelty, as well as romance.”
Nine Lives
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld; stars Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Walken
After an accident, billionaire wakes up in the body of the family’s pet cat. Los Angeles Times’ Katie Walsh calls it “a Frankenstein’s monster of Hollywood’s worst instincts.” MTV’s Amy Nicholson remarks: “Yes, [it’s] dumb. Yes, it’s for very young kids … And yes, I giggled anyway, as did the strange man next to me.”
The Curse of Sleeping Beauty
Directed by Pearry Reginald Teo; stars Ethan Peck, Natalie Hall, India Eisley, Bruce Davison
Man inherits a mansion—and, with it, an ancient curse dating back to the Crusades. The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck quips: “Shamelessly rips off the brothers Grimm … won’t leave you believing in fairy tales.” Reel Talk Movie Reviews’ Betty Jo Tucker differs: “Fascinating … very intense and not for kids.”
Captain Fantastic
Directed by Matt Ross; stars Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn
A devoted father raises his six kids, isolated from society. Philadelphia Inquirer’s Steven Rea says: “A rare movie that asks big questions … and comes up with answers that are moving and meaningful.” Wall Street Journal’s Joe Morgenstern agrees: “A tremendously accomplished and enjoyable film.”
Never Let Go
Directed by Howard J. Ford; stars Angela Dixon, Nigel Whitmey, Lisa Eichhorn, Heather Peace
Single mom struggles to retrieve her child, who was abducted while on va- cation. Eye for Film’s Jennie Kermode points out: “Frenetically paced … plot twists come as a genuine surprise.” Thepeoplesmovies.com’s Bradley Hadcroft exclaims: “Leaves the blocks like an amphetamine-snorting cheetah … beautifully shot.”
Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
Directed by Takeshi Nozue; with the voices of Aaron Paul, Lena Headey, Sean Bean, Amanda Piery
Awar rages between two kingdoms, but the union of a prince and a captive princess can lead to peace. IGN.com’s Marty Sliva enthuses: It “has some of the craziest, most exciting action scenes in a CG movie. Opening battle is nuts.” Gamefaqs.com concurs: “Simply looks amazing. Visuals have so many details.”
The Amityville Terror
Directed by Michael Angelo; stars Nicole Tompkins, Kaiwi Lyman, Kim Nielsen, Tonya Kay
Family moves into a house haunted by a sinister spirit. Awordofdreams.com’s Andrew Bruckner asserts: “The result is a minor but charming foray into subtle trepidation.” Jmountswritteninblood.com states: “Notice that the title has graduated from being a Horror to being a Terror; or is that a downgrade?”