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“Coco” A Centered on Dia de los Muertos, when families memorialize their ancestors, “Coco” tells the story of Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), who desperately wants his family to understand his passion for music. It’s not until he unearths the truth about his family history that they are able to understand why it’s so important to him. The film uses the vibrant colors and style of the holiday to spin an imaginative tale, while using the themes of family history, memory and legacy to create a tremendously moving story, with an important message about honoring one’s roots. With the voices of: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach and Renee Victor. Directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for thematic elements. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 49 minutes. “The Man Who Invented Christmas” B This film has taken “A Christmas Carol” and blended it with biographical material to look at the journey Charles Dickens made from being mired in a writing funk to creating one of the greatest pieces of literature. His companion is a manifestation of Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), who serves as both a writing guide as Dickens finds his way through the novel and as a personification of all that Dickens sees wrong with the world and himself. This fresh look at a familiar story is worthy of becoming a holiday classic. (Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service) Starring Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce, Justin Edwards. Directed by Bharat Nulluri. Rated PG for thematic elements, mild language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 24 minutes. “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” C Denzel Washington buries himself deep in the role of a savant lawyer who finds himself at a major junction in his life when his mentor dies. But his portrayal so obliterates everyone else on the screen the film comes across less as an examination of a man trying to deal with the shifting quicksand of time and more as a vanity project for Washington. Starring Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo and Tony Plana. Directed by Dan Gilroy. (Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for mild language, violence. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 9 minutes. STILL SHOWING “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. “A Bad Moms Christmas” D+ The moms of the moms from the first film come for the holidays and now there’s even more naughty mommies. The shoddily-made film seems to spring from a single inspirational scene. Starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn. Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, and some drug use. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 44 minutes. “BPM (Beats Per Minute)” B The film is based on memories of the director’s time in ACT UP, during the AIDS crisis in Paris. It’s a big investment, and some of the sameness of the scenes cause it to flag, but its a true and committed document. Starring Arnaud Valois and Nahuel Perez Biscayart. Directed by Robin Campillo. In French with English subtitles. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) Unrated. At Landmark Midtown Art. 1 hour, 57 minutes. “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. “Daddy’s Home 2” C+ The sequel brings the granddads in for the holidays. The film is deliriously silly and delightful, but also lacks the consistency of the first film. Starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson and Jon Lithgow. Directed by Sean Anders. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for suggestive material and some language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 40 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. “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. “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 halfbaked 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. “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. “Jigsaw” Not reviewed. Police chase the ghost of a man dead for more than a decade and wonder whether he’s back or if it’s a trap set by a killer with an idea of their own. Starring Matt Passmore and Callum Keith Rennie. Directed by Michael and Peter Spierig. Rated R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, and for language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 31 minutes. “Justice League” D+ The superheroes all get together to stop a space monster from getting the three thingamajigs he needs to end the world. There’s a blur of horrible CGI that never lets up and the action is insane and impossible to follow. Starring Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Ezra Miller. Directed by Zack Snyder. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 1 minute. “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” B A doctor takes a boy under his wing before discovering his real intention will end in a horrific conclusion. It is strange and wonderful and profoundly disturbing. Starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated R for disturbing violent and sexual material, some graphic nudity and coarse language. At Lefont Sandy Springs and Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 56 minutes. “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” D A drug lord in the Cambodian jungle decides to hold the world hostage by infecting drug users with a mysterious virus in order to push through legalization of all drugs. The film is flippant, fueled by pop references, a nonsensical plot and adolescent body humor. Starring Taron Egerton, Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. Directed by Matthew Vaughn. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout and some sexual material. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 21 minutes. “Lady Bird” A A self-consciously eccentric teen is trying to find herself in a Catholic high school. It puts equal weight on the dark parts as it does the joyous, euphoric moments. Starring Saorise Ronan, Laurie Metcalf and Tracy Letts. Directed by Greta Gerwig. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language, sexual content, brief graphic nudity and teen partying. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 33 minutes. “Last Flag Flying” A A man asks his Marine Corps buddies to help him retrieve the body of his son who was killed in Iraq. It’s a dramatic comedy with feelreal conversations. Starring Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston and Laurence Fishburne. Directed by Richard Linklater. (Jordan Hoffman, New York Daily News) Rated R for language throughout including some sexual references. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 2 hours, 4 minutes. “The Lego Ninjago Movie” C+ A Lego ninja crew battles the evil villain in an attempt to save their town. The emotional story isn’t there and this one doesn’t come close to the high-key antics of the first two films in the series. Starring Dave Franco, Justin Theroux and Jackie Chan. Directed by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher, and Bob Logan. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for some mild action and rude humor. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 41 minutes. “Loving Vincent” B+ A man is delivering a letter from Vincent van Gogh to his brother and the more he learns, the more he begins to question the reports that van Gogh committed suicide. The director used a selection of van Gogh paintings as the basis of the visuals for the production and created a world of animated van Gogh paintings. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Douglas Booth and Chris O’Dowd. Directed by Dorota Kobiela. (Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for mature themes, violence, sexual material, smoking. At Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 35 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. “Murder on the Orient Express” B A murder happens aboard a sleeper train. Based on Agatha Christie’s mystery novel, the film starts out with a pop and a fizz, but grows darker and ultimately cold to the touch. Starring Kenneth Branagh, Johnny Depp and Judi Dench. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for violence and thematic elements. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 54 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. “The Star” C This is an animated fable that reimagines the Nativity story from the perspective of an animal. It isn’t great, but has enough good qualities that some viewers looking for faith-based family fare will like it. Starring the voices of Steven Yeun, Keegan-Michael Key and Kelly Clarkson. Directed by Timothy Reckart. (Jane Horwitz, Washington Post) Rated PG for some frightening images and mature thematic material. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 26 minutes. “Thor: Ragnarok” A Thor sets out to stop evil Hela from taking over the celestial realm of Asgard. There’s just the right balance of sublimely silly humor and meaty action. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Ruffalo. Directed by Taika Waititi. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 but contains fantasy/action violence, brief sexual humor and some strong language. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 10 minutes. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” A A woman whose daughter was raped and murdered puts up a billboard outside town targeting law enforcement. Frances McDormand is riveting in this hot-blooded tale. Also starring Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson. Directed by Martin McDonagh. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for violence, language throughout, and some sexual references. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 55 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. “Wonder” B A 10-year-old boy with a disfigurement bravely starts public school. It does occasionally suffer kid-movie pitfalls, but it succeeds in telling several complicated stories and giving the experience of being a confused and scared youngster the space it needs. Starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson. Directed by Stephen Chbosky. (Stephanie Merry, Washington Post) Rated PG for mature thematic elements, including bullying and some mildly coarse language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 53 minutes. — FROM STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES