Current attractions
“The Birth of a Nation”: Nate Parker makes a strong debut as director, co-writer and star of this drama about Nat Turner and his bloody 1831 slave rebellion. But the picture is unable to reach the lofty artistry it was striving for. Parker’s skillful performance, however, does trace the evolution of a radical whose ideas were molded by unthinkable dehumanization.
½ (Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press) R, 2:00
“Bridget Jones’s Baby”: Bridget (Renée Zellweger) has recently broken up with her longtime love, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). On a getaway with a friend, she winds up in bed with a gorgeous billionaire (Patrick Dempsey). Weeks later she bumps into Mark, who regrets losing her and, after a few drinks, proves just how much. A positive pregnancy test leaves Bridget unsure of who the father is. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) R, 2:02
“Deepwater Horizon”: If you want a serious exploration of the environmental, political and economic fallout from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster — the largest oil spill and worst ecological disaster in U.S. history— you should look elswhere. But this effects-driven action movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell is alarmingly effective. It’s cinematic chaos of the highest order. (Cary Darling, Fort Worth StarTelegram) PG-13, 1:47
“Don’t Breathe”: The realistic setting and newsworthy themes are what make this spooky tale so bonechilling. Three teen burglars live in a downtrodden Detroit wasteland where their lack of options makes them feel that home-invasion burglaries of the “haves” are justified. But they’ve underestimated their latest target. ½ (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) R, 1:28
“Don’t Think Twice”: Writer-director Mike Birbiglia stars as Miles, a 36-year-old improv veteran who fears his big break happened without him. Meanwhile, he works with a troupe whose talented members all hunger for their own big breaks. ½ (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) R, 1:32
“The Dressmaker”: Kate-Winslet plays Myrtle “Tilly” Dunnage, a Parisian seamstress who returns to her tiny Australian hometown nursing a lifelong grudge against her former neighbors. Set in the early 1950s, this toxic tale interweaves carefully staged vignettes with repellent notions of human nature. ½ (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) R, 1:58
“Girl Asleep”: At first, this 1970s-set Australian movie seems like a typical comingof-age movie, in which the new girl, Greta (Bethany Whitmore), must choose between aligning with the nice dorks or the popular jerks. But the gently amusing tale becomes something more intriguing — and much stranger. Stephanie Merry, Washington Post) Unrated, 1:17
“The Girl on the Train:” A fragile woman’s psyche goes off the rails in the gloomy, plodding nail biter in the manner of “Gone Girl” by way of “Memento.” Emily Blunt stars in this adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel. While it’s never a total train wreck, the mystery gets less and less compelling as the glossy voyeurism shatters into violence. (Karen D’Souza, Staff) R, 1:52
“Hell or High Water”: This 21st-century Western, which plays like a Johnny Cash song come to life, has two pairs of central characters — bank robbing brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) and the Texas Rangers on their trail (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham). Both are odd couples who volley folksy wisecracks back and forth as the pairs proceed along a collision course.
Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) R, 1:42
“Kubo and the Two
Strings”: “Kubo,” about a Japanese boy with samurai blood who accidentally raises two malevolent, ghostlike spirits, is both extraordinarily original and complex — and also pretty darn scary — even for a grown-up movie masquerading as a kiddie cartoon. While the film will certainly appeal to many children, it is also richly allusive and metaphorical.
Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) PG, 1:41
“The Magnificent Seven”: This remake of the 1960 John Sturges film, which was based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 classic “Seven Samurai,” follows the blueprint of a classic western. But it doesn’t offer a whole lot more than what we’ve seen. Denzel Washington provides his usual weighty presence and Chris Pratt offers comic relief. But you can see what’s coming a mile away. Tony Hicks, Staff) PG-13, 2:12
“Masterminds”: The plot of this heist comedy — based on a real robbery— revolves around a plan Kelly (Kristen Wiig) and her buddy Stephen (Owen Wilson) hatch to rob the armored truck company they work for and make David (Zach Galifianakis) the fall guy. Director Jared Hess’ approach is to create space for comic weirdness to percolate, and the cast keeps the madness coming. ½ (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) PG-13, 1:34
“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”: Tim Burton’s latest feature follows the template of its young-adult and comic-book predecessors: Young misfits find a home with others who are equally unusual and learn to use their unique powers as members of a team. We meet Miss Peregrine (Eva Green) through the eyes of Jake (Asa Butterfield) in a story that combines wickedly wry humor with enchanting steampunk spookiness. ½ (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service), PG-13, 2:07
“Queen of Katwe”: Newcomer Madina Nalwanga stars as Phiona Mutesi in the inspiring true story of a girl raised in the slums of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda. Phiona’s prodigious gift for chess, despite a lack of formal education, raises her family out of poverty and abjection. Overcoming adversity is the truth here— chess is simply the vehicle for that story.
Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) PG 2:04
“Snowden”: Oliver Stone explores the story of Edward Snowden, the former CIA and NSA computer genius who exposed government programs that spied not only on people in other countries but millions of Americans. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is convincing in the title role, and the film does a good job of asking the right questions but is ultimately one-sided. ½ (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, and Tony Hicks, Staff), R, 2:18
“Storks”: In this animated world, the old wives’ tale of storks delivering bouncing bundles of joy is real history, though things change after one becomes too attached to a baby. Junior the stork (Andy Samberg) and orphan Tulip (Katie Crown) bond through an adventure that concludes with a heartwarming message.
½ (KatieWalsh, Tribune News Service) PG, 1:29
“Suicide Squad”: The much-anticipated supervillain movie from DC is a big mess. Which isn’t to say it’s not fun. It’s worth a look, even if your head may be spinning as you leave the theater. Tony Hicks, Staff) PG-13, 1:40
“Sully”: The conflict of Clint Eastwood’s film starring Tom-Hanks in the title role is not the heartwarming true story of Captain Chesley Sullenberger’s forced landing on the Hudson River with 155 passengers aboard a US Airways flight; it’s the investigation and hearing that took place later. ½ (KatieWalsh, Tribune News Service) PG-13, 1:36