The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At the movies
Looking for a good movie to see this weekend? Check out our capsule reviews of what’s in theaters now,
NOW PLAYING “Breathe” C
This is the story of Robin Cavendish who lived with polio for 36 years and worked toward helping others with his condition. It takes an unbalanced approach, relying on a son’s memories without ever really getting into Robin’s head. Starring Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy and Diana Rigg. Directed by Andy Serkis. (Alan Zilberman, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for sexual situations and bloody medical imagery. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 57 minutes.
“The Florida Project” C+
Six-year-old Moonee navigates life at a Florida hotel while her mother and other adults around her struggle to survive. It’s an ode to the innocence and resilience of childhood, but at time is over-directed. Starring Willem Dafoe and Brooklynn Prince. Directed by Sean Baker. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) Rated R for profanity throughout, disturbing behavior, sexual references and some drug material. At Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 55 minutes.
“Geostorm” C+
A satellite designer hurries to avert disaster when the planet’s climate control satellites begin to malfunction. The film keeps slowing down for political moments and the writing comes across like the half-baked plot lines of a low-grade TV show. Starring Gerard Butler and Jim Sturgess. Directed by Dean Devlin. Rated PG-13 for destruction and action and violence. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 49 minutes.
“Jungle”
Review not available in time for publication. After a terrible accident leaves him stranded in the Amazon alone, a man is forced to survive for weeks without a knife or a map. This is based on a true story. Starring Daniel Radcliffe and Thomas Kretschmann. Directed by Greg McLean. Rated R for language and some drug use. At Lefont Sandy Springs. 1 hour, 55 minutes.
“Lucky” B
A man lives a simple life, shuffling between the local bar, the local diner and various social events. It’s Harry Dean Stanton’s last performance, a sardonically comic shamble through one man’s December years. Starring Harry Dean Stanton, David Lynch and Ron Livingston. Directed by John Carroll Lynch. (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) Unrated, but contains some language. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 28 minutes.
“Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House” C+
This is the story of Deep Throat, who anonymously fed information to the news media about what was happening in the White House during the Nixon administration. It is a fact-rich, but it lacks the passion needed. Starring Liam Neeson, Diane Lane and Marton Csokas. Directed by Peter Landesman. (Colin Covert, Star Tribune-Minneapolis) Rated PG-13 for some language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 43 minutes.
“Only the Brave” A
Firefighters called the Granite Mountain hotshots crew battle the 2013 Yarnell Fire in Arizona. The visuals are stunning and it’s a true-life tale that will grasp onto your heart. Starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller and James Badge Dale. Directed by Joseph Kosinski. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug material. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 13 minutes. PARENTS GUIDE This is fine for teens of all ages but is too mature in terms of themes and sexuality for kids.
“The Snowman” D+
A detective is investigating the disappearance of a victim on the first snow of winter and thinks an elusive serial killer may be active again. The film is edited mercilessly and the screenplay makes very little sense. Starring Michael Fassbender and Rebecca Ferguson. Directed by Tomas Alfredson. Rated R for grisley images, violence, some language, sexuality and brief nudity. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 59 minutes.
“Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton: C
The documentary looks at the life story of the man who is widely considered the world’s best big-wave surfer. There’s little sense of revelation and the film doesn’t give us reason to invest deeply in his story. Starring Laird Hamilton and Gabrielle Reece. Directed by Rory Kennedy. (Kristen Page-Kirby, Washington Post) Unrated, but contains strong language. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 58 minutes.
“Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween”
Review not available in time for publication. Madea and the gang venture to a haunted campground where they must run from monsters, goblins and the bogeyman. Starring Tyler Perry and Cassi Davis. Rated PG-13 for sexual references, drug content, language and some horror images. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 41 minutes.
STILL SHOWING “American Assassin” D+
A young man loses everything in a terrorist attack and is sent to an unlicensed training camp where he is conditioned to become an assassin. It’s another legitimation of psychopathic men, presented as heroes doing official government work. Starring Dylan O’Brien and Michael Keaton. Directed by Michael Cuesta. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for strong violence throughout, some torture, language and brief nudity. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 51 minutes.
“American Made” C+
This is the true life story of a pilot who turned his CIA gig of taking surveillance photos of Communist armies into delivering Soviet AK-47s to rebel fighters and returning with thousands of kilos of cocaine, dodging DEA and FBI planes all the way. It has some glorious moments, but doesn’t achieve internal consistency. Starring Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson and Sarah Wright. Directed by Doug Liman. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 55 minutes.
“Annabelle: Creation” B
A couple takes in six orphan girls and two of them begin to see spooky apparitions. The recipe is one we’ve seen before, but the artistry of the sinister shots are what make this movie scary. Starring Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman and Lulu Wilson. Directed by David F. Sandberg. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated R for violence and terror. At Regal Hollywood 24, Austell Stadium and Regal Georgian. 1 hour, 49 minutes.
“Battle of the Sexes” A
The 1973 tennis match between 29-year-old women’s champion Billie Jean King and 55-year-old former star Bobby Riggs made headlines. Just about every aspect of this movie is pitch-perfect. Starring Emma Stone, Steve Carell and Andrea Riseborough. Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. (Rafer Guzman, Newsday) Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and partial nudity. At metro theaters. 1 hours, 1 minute.
“Blade Runner 2049” B+
LAPD officer K searches out illegal replicants in this return of the popular flick. The film posed the question of human or machine with urgency sense of intelligence and intimacy. Starring Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford and Ana De Armas. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for violence, some sexuality, nudity and language. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 43 minutes.
“Brad’s Status” C+
A man questions his “status” as he tours colleges with his son and thinks about his friends and their successes. The film ends with a beautiful revelation, rendered with a gentle touch. Starring Ben Stiller, Austin Abrams and Jenna Fischer. Directed by Mike White. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language. At Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 41 minutes.
“Despicable Me 3” C
Gru and wife Lucy set out to capture the new bad guy and steal back a diamond. It’s good, but it only aspired to be good enough when it could have been great. Starring the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker. Directed by Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin and Eric Guillon. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG for some mild rude humor and action. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 31 minutes.
“Dolores” B+
This documentary illustrates social-justice pioneer Dolores Huerta’s life with archival and contemporary news footage, supplemented by peer testimonials and the recollections of family members. It’s educational, but also exhilarating and inspiring. Starring Dolores Huerta. Directed by Peter Bratt. In English and Spanish with subtitles. (Lora Grady, Washington Post) Unrated but contains footage of police brutality, the Robert Kennedy assassination and children with medical deformities. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 37 minutes.
“The Emoji Movie” D
The “meh” emoji has a glitch and he makes his way through the phone trying to fix himself, but ends up becoming a new, more evolved emoji while trying to prevent the user from restoring the phone to factory settings. There aren’t any real jokes, but the film isn’t terrible. It’s just that there are better ways to spend your time. Starring the voices of T.J. Miller, James Corden and Anna Faris. Directed by Tony Leondis. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for rude humor. At Regal Arbor Place and Austell Stadium. 1 hour, 26 minutes.
“The Foreigner” C
A man wants revenge for those responsible for his daughter’s death and he goes to many lengths to find out who did it. Based on a novel, “The Chinaman,” the film never digs deep enough to care about the characters or the plot twists. Starring Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan and Michael McElhatton. Directed by Martin Campbell. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for violence, language and some sexual material. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 54 minutes. PARENTS
GUIDE This film a bit too violent and thematically mature for kids, though fine for teens.
“Friend Request” D+
A popular college girl accepts a friend request from someone she doesn’t know and soon her friends begin dying violently one by one. Despite a few well-time jump scares, the film never really builds much tension. Starring Alycia Debnam-Carey and William Moseley. Directed by Simon Verhoeven. Rated R for horror violence, disturbing images and language. At AMC Southlake. 1 hour, 32 minutes.
“Girls Trip” B
A woman invites her friends along on a business trip to New Orleans and things get raunchy, randy and funny. The film balances potty humor with heartfelt female empowerment. Starring Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany Haddish and Queen Latifah. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, pervasive language, brief graphic nudity, and drug material. At Austell Stadium. 2 hours, 2 minutes.
“Happy Death Day” B
A sorority girl keeps waking up and reliving the day when she gets murdered and must figure out who her killer is to make it stop. It has its scary moments that’s also delivered with wit and wisdom. Starring Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard and Ruby Modine. Directed by Christopher Landon. (Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language, partial nudity. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 33 minutes.
“The Hitman’s Bodyguard” D+
When a bodyguard is taxed with protecting a hitman who is supposed to testify against a Belarussian dictator, the jaunt to court proves eventful. The violence is dull, the cinematic geography is mush and the stunts aren’t particularly thrilling. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek. Directed by Patrick Hughes. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for strong violence and language throughout. At Regal Arbor Place and Regal Georgian. 1 hour, 58 minutes.
“Home Again” B
A woman returns to her father’s L.A. pad with her daughters to get back on her feet when her world is rocked by the arrival of three 20-something men. The sharp screenplay is modern and sly, universally relatable and poignant at times too. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Candice Bergen and Pico Alexander. Directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for some thematic and sexual material. At Regal Town Center, Regal Hamilton Mill and GTC Park 12. 1 hour, 37 minutes.
“It” B
Children begin to disappear in the small town of Derry and a group of teens face off against Pennywise, the creepy clown killer. Based on Stephen King’s novel, the film works not because of its supernatural scares, but because of the characters at the center of its tale. Starring Sophia Lillis, Bill Skarsgård and Finn Wolfhard. Directed by Andy Muschietti. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for violence/horror, bloody images, and for language. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 15 minutes. FROM STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES
“The King’s Choice” C
This film looks at the first couple of days of Germany’s occupation of Norway in 1940 when the previously neutral country was pulled into World War II. It’s set up like a suspense thriller, but the stakes seem more theoretical than actual. Starring Jesper Christensen and Anders Baasmo Christiansen. Directed by Erik Poppe. In Norwegian and German with subtitles. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Unrated, but contains some violent war imagery. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hours, 13 minutes.
“Marshall” B
The fact-based drama looks at the early career of the late Supreme Court justice, when he was assigned a case of a black chauffeur accused of sexual assault against his employer’s wife. Despite simplistic moments and needless disgressions, the film still makes for an engaging legal drama. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Sterling K. Brown and Josh Gad. Directed by Reginald Hudlin. (Alan Zilberman, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for strong language, violence, sexual situations and rape. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 58 minutes. PARENTS GUIDE This might be a good film for teens to learn about an important part of civil rights history, but the themes about sex and rape are mature, and the victim blaming and accusal of a false accusation will require some discussion.
“The Meyerowitz Stories” C+
This is the story of an aging sculptor in New York and his three adult children who deal with sibling rivalry, a long-hidden secret about sexual misbehavior and paternal resentment. The acting is impeccable, though the film is rarely laugh-out-loud funny. Starring Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller and Dustin Hoffman. Directed by Noah Baumbach. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated TV-MA but contains obscenity, including sexual dialogue, nudity and a drug reference. At Landmark’s Midtown Arts. Also available on Netflix. 1 hour, 50 minutes.
“The Mountain Between Us” C+
A man and a woman get stranded on a snowy mountain after a plane crash, with little food and no cell reception. The two leads are so likable and charismatic together, they just about sell it. Starring Kate Winslet, Idris Elba and Dermot Mulroney. Directed by Hany Abu-Assad. (Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times) Rated PG-13 for a scene of sexuality, peril, injury images and brief strong language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 49 minutes.
“My Little Pony: The Movie” D+
The ponies want to throw a festival, but their happy kingdom is invaded by the Storm King. It feels like four episodes of a cartoon strung together and there are times where it truly drags. Starring the voices of Tara Stong, Liev Schreiber and Emily Blunt. Directed by Jayson Thiessen. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for mild action. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 39 minutes.
“Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” A
A psychology professor and his wife welcome a beautiful undergrad into their home and bed and this becomes the inspiration for the Wonder Woman comic book. The film is beautifully and brilliantly made. Starring Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall and Bella Heathcote. Directed by Angela Robinson. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for strong sexual content including brief graphic images, and language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 48 minutes.