Category: Ratings
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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (****1/2): There is hope. Lot’s of it.
#RogueOne This film makes the film that immediately follows it better. I did not think it was possible. Go see it. Again and again.
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Bridget Jones’s Baby (**1/2) Just a little further…
Ultimately this is the story about Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy. In that respect, it feels more stilted than ever. Someone took happily ever after and broke it up only so they could make a couple of sequels. If it were only possible to make a happily ever after sequel that didn’t involve the split…
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Arrival (****1/2) is learning to accept a different language.
For those of us who are interested in good sci-fi, Arrival hits the mark pretty solidly on the head. Approaching the concept of first contact from a practicality rarely seen in films, it asks questions few movies dare to ask.
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Loving (*****) brick by brick
#loving is one incredible true film event. If you can see it, do so. This should see plenty of nominations, but probably won’t because it’s not tied to an agenda.
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Hell or High Water (****1/2) is a bummer, well played
Hell or High Water – 2016 Director David Mackenzie Screenplay Taylor Sheridan Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham, Katy Mixon, Marin Ireland “The things we do for our kids, huh?” Two brothers seeking vengeance on a bank that tried to take everything from their mother. A Texas Ranger on the verge of retirement out for one last adventure…
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Doctor Strange (****) cuts a few corners but is no less enjoyable
Dr. Strange – 2016 Director Scott Derrickson Screenplay by John Spaihts, C. Robert Cargill and Derrickson Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton We may be reaching a breaking point on guest stars in Marvel films. The talent in Dr. Strange is at once invigorating and frustrating. To find that Ejiofor plays Mordo…
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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (****)
Burton’s instincts are tempered here. He’s allowed the weirdness we normally get from him, but without any of the routine “no one understands how weird I want to be” normally pushed to the forefront. Having Green in the role normally reserved for Helena Bonham Carter infests certainly helps. Ultimately we get all of the benefits…
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Ouija: Origin of Evil (***1/2) improves upon the model
The first story was kind of a throwaway. Kids get hooked into a board game that is tied to a house with a past. The past is kind of interesting though, and they wisely decide to mine that fertile territory for this episode.
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Sully (****1/2) provides a perfect landing
A good film leaves you wanting more, but knowing you’ve seen enough. Eastwood shows glimpses of Sully’s past when they apply to how it made the hero with whom we’re presented. His doubt is resistant to every indication that he deserves praise. It makes a remarkably satisfying result when we finally see the tide is…
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The Accountant (****) is compelling though predictable
It’s a potential franchise for the perpetually disenfranchised. It’s Rain Man on steroids. It’s not so good will hunting. It’s a connection for all of us who thought we could never connect to someone of different ability, often referred to as being in an autism spectrum.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 