San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Opening Friday
Fantasy Island Come as You Are Downhill The Photograph Sonic the Hedgehog What She Said
1917 Cinematographically, this is a great film, a World War I movie involving scores of characters, shot over a wide expanse, that gives the illusion of having been done in just one take. But the movie is overlong and not especially gripping, and the strategy of one shot done in real time might not have been ideal for this story. Still, it’s so well-done that it’s worth seeing, or almost worth seeing. (R. 119 minutes.) — M. LaSalle
The Assistant Kitty Green wrote and directed this slowmoving, somber and occasionally engrossing study that approaches the story of a Weinstein-like mogul, sexually assaulting his underlings, from an original angle — from that of his young assistant, who only knows of what’s happening through inference. It’s a good and original movie about how such behavior corrupts everyone connected with it. (R. 87 minutes.)
— M. LaSalle
Bad Boys for Life In this third installment of the “Bad Boys” series, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence play longtime detectives whose lives become complicated when a mass murderer/ gang leader/witch (Kate del Castillo) targets one of them for death. It’s a fun movie that avoids the bloat and sentimentality of “Bad Boys II.” (R. 123 minutes.)
— G.A. Johnson
Birds of Prey Movies simply don’t get any worse than this sequel to “Suicide Squad,” with Margot Robbie as the Joker’s now ex-girlfriend. There’s really no character for her to play, and so the role is reduced to gestures, gimmicks and mannerisms, and the movie is all commotion but no action. There’s not a single 10 seconds of cinematic charm or interest to be found in it. (R. 109 minutes.) — M. LaSalle
Bombshell The toxic culture of Fox News is explored in this brisk drama, starring Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson and Margot Robbie as Kayla, a fictional young woman just starting her career. Based on a true story. Directed by Jay Roach. (R. 108 minutes.)
— M. LaSalle
Cats Long-awaited movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running stage musical is a bland, almost plotless adaptation that doesn't translate the excitement of a live performance. The all-star cast includes Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Jennifer Hudson (who sings "Memory"), Taylor Swift, James Corden and Idris Elba — all of whom have their moments of catnip — but the breakout star is Francesca Hayward, a Royal Ballet dancer making her film debut. (PG. 100 minutes.)
— G.A. Johnson
Color Out of Space Surprisingly watchable adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft short story about a family, headed by Nicolas Cage, infected by an alien presence after a meteor crashes in their backyard. The cast, which includes Joely Richardson and Tommy Chong, transcend the script, and the second half is a suspenseful, special effects-laden tour de force. (Not rated. 111 minutes.)
— G.A. Johnson
Dolittle Robert Downey Jr. is properly eccentric in the title role as a guy who communicates with animals, pretty much how he played Sherlock Holmes, but going even more over the top. It’s essentially an animated film, fronted by a live-action Downey and Michael Sheen’s one-note villain. Young children might find the film entertaining, but adults will tire of it quickly. (PG. 106 minutes.)
— G.A. Johnson
Ford v Ferrari The competition between Ford and Ferrari to produce the world’s fastest and most durable race car in the 1960s is the pretext for this great American story, directed by James Mangold and brilliantly played by Christian Bale and Matt Damon as driver Ken Miles and carmaker Carroll Shelby, respectively. One of the five best movies of the year, so far. (PG-13. 152 minutes.)
— M. LaSalle
Frozen II No classic, but inspired in its own right, this sequel to the blockbuster animated musical has a lot of just-OK songs, but they’re put over so well by Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell and others that it doesn’t matter. It’s a feast for the eyes, and fans of the original will find much here to enjoy. (PG. 103 minutes.)
— M. LaSalle
Ip Man 4: The Finale Set in San Francisco during the 1960s, the (supposedly) final film in this vaunted Chinese martial arts franchise has the title character coming to America for cancer treatment and to find a school for his son. But what he steps into is a cultural clash that requires him to flex his muscle. For some, the arrival of these movies is as important as a new “Star Wars” film. And while “Ip Man 4” is entertaining enough, it fails to deliver a knockout punch. (Not rated. 105 minutes.)
— C. Darling
Jojo Rabbit Taika Waititi wrote and directed this brilliant, offbeat satire, about a boy in the Hitler Youth who discovers that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is harboring a Jewish girl behind the walls of their house. Waititi plays the boy’s imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler. (PG-13. 108 minutes.)
— M. LaSalle
Jumanji: The Next Level Continuing the story of what happens when people get sucked into a video game, this sequel ably matches its predecessor for emotional investment while exceeding it in ambition. (PG-13. 123 minutes.)
— Z. Hasan
Just Mercy Writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton’s screenplay is slightly muddled, the pace is too languorous and the
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