U.S. Release Date: 2018-02-02
MPAA Rating: "NR" (Violence, Adult Themes)
Genre: Science Fiction/Drama
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Cast: Masami Nagasawa, Ryuhei Matsuda, Hiroki Hasegawa, Mahiro Takasugi, Yuri Tsunematsu, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Kazuya Kojima, Ken Mitsuishi
There are moments of pathos and deft comedy but, overall, "Before We Vanish" is overlong, poorly paced, and scattershot.
U.S. Release Date: 2017-12-29
MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity, Sexual Content, Nudity)
Genre: Drama
Director: Paul McGuigan
Cast: Jamie Bell, Annette Bening, Julie Walters, Vanessa Redgrave, Stephen Graham, Leanne Best, James Bloor
Despite some great acting, this is a largely unpleasant viewing experience and the downbeat tone isn’t helped by a narrative that flits back and forth in time without rhyme or reason.
U.S. Release Date: 2017-12-25
MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity, Violence, Sexual Content, Brief Nudity, Drugs)
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris, Timothy Hutton, Charlie Plummer, Andrew Buchan
It’s a serviceable thriller at best although Christopher Plummer’s late-to-the-party performance is worthy of praise.
U.S. Release Date: 2017-12-22
MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity, Sexual Content, Brief Nudity)
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Director: Alexander Payne
Cast: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Rolf Lassgård, Udo Kier, Jason Sudeikis
The central character is as small figuratively as he is literally, and that limits the movie’s capacity to enthrall and engage.
U.S. Release Date: 2017-11-17
MPAA Rating: "PG"
Genre: Drama
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Izabela Vidovic, Mandy Patinkin, Noah Jupe, Bryce Gheisar, Danielle Rose Russell, Daveed Diggs, Nadji Jeter
From its imagination-tinged opening to its Kumbaya ending, "Wonder" never forgets that its mission is to provide a non-threatening, warm-and-fuzzy experience.
U.S. Release Date: 2017-11-10
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Profanity, Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Director: Sean Anders
Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, John Lithgow, Mel Gibson, Linda Cardellini, John Cena, Alessandra Ambrosio
There are worse ways to get some cheap laughs and the warm, fuzzy feeling that comes with any rendition of “kumbaya.”
U.S. Release Date: 2017-11-10
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Gore, Profanity, Sexual Content, Nudity, Drugs)
Genre: Action/Comedy
Director: Joe Lynch
Cast: Steven Yeun, Samara Weaving, Steven Brand, Caroline Chikezie, Kerry Fox, Dallas Roberts
A little like "The Purge" in an office building with the best moments coming in the early-going.
U.S. Release Date: 2017-11-03
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Cartoon Violence, Profanity)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Taika Waititi
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, Anthony Hopkins
Boasts a lighter tone but regurgitates the basic story of every other superhero team-up.
U.S. Release Date: 2017-11-01
MPAA Rating: "R" (Profanity, Sexual Content, Drugs)
Genre: Comedy
Director: Scott Moore, Jon Lucas
Cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, Susan Sarandon, Jay Hernandez, Peter Gallagher
A plot-by-numbers sit-com movie that tries hard (perhaps too hard) to reproduce the elements that made its predecessor successful.
U.S. Release Date: 2017-10-27
MPAA Rating: "R" (Sexual Content, Profanity, Nudity)
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Ruben Ostlund
Cast: Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, Christopher Laesso
The interminable setup and unfocused ending bookend an otherwise engaging experience.