Denial

     "Denial" is based on the true story of Deborah Lipstadt's legal battle for her historical interpretation against David Irving, who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. In the English legal system, in cases of libel, the burden of proof is on the accused, therefore it was up to Lipstadt and her legal team, led by Anthony Julius and Richard Rampton, to prove that the Holocaust really happened.

        The film stars Rachel Weisz as Deborah Lipstadt, Timothy Spall As David Irving, Andrew Scott as Anthony Julius and Tom Wilkinson as Richard Rampton.  The cast is outstanding. Ms. Weisz is fiery and defiant in her pursuit of her defense as the accused. Mr. Wilkinson is just brilliant as Rampton and should be a best supporting actor consideration. Mr. Spall plays the heavy well with a purposeful scowl. And Mr. Scott is a revelation in one of his best roles to date.

       Director Mick Jackson keeps thing taut and to the point. The screenplay by David Hare is smart enough to leave just enough doubt as to the trial's outcome to keep the suspense high.

      Scenes filmed at Auschwitz are chilling and strengthen the audience resolve for justice. Besides the obviously strong subject matter, I also found the machinations of the British legal system fascinating. This is a powerful drama well worth your time.

The Birth of a Nation

          Written and directed by as well as starring Nate Parker, this new drama may not be completely historically accurate but it is an emotional powerhouse and an important American film. It is the story of Nat Turner, a slave and preacher who led a rebellion in 1831 that sparked the flames that eventually led to the Civil War and the emancipation proclamation. 

           Mr. Parker has clearly put his heart and soul into this project but he may have been better served by a different director. His acting is excellent but starring in your own film is always tricky and in this case, Mr. Parker has a hard time turning the camera away from himself, as his subject matter. The film co-stars Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earl Haley, Penelope Ann Miller, and Gabrielle Union. While Mr. Turner is of course, the focus of the film, other characters are sacrificed with little development or after thought. The film would have also benefited from additional editing and a variety of pace. It's a deliberately slow paced film which I interpret as a metaphor for the building anger and rage inside Mr. Turner. 

            The film positions Nat Turner as a hero and while his intentions to fight injustice (as well as a spiritual calling from God, if you believe Mr. Parker) are righteous, the result caused the deaths of not only the fifty seven or so slaves that joined him in rebellion but over 200 innocent black people killed by mobs and the militia during the rebellion. The violence in the film is horrific, brutal and I'm sure accurate in the way many slaves were treated. There has been controversy over certain scenes that may not have actually happened and others that definitely didn't happen, but Mr. Parker has "based" his film on history, never claiming to be making a historical documentary. His script canonizes Nat Turner and justifies violence against violence. 

              Taken as a whole, the film unflinchingly focuses on an important period in American history that deserves to be seen, discussed and certainly further researched.

The Girl on The Train

      This train wreck of a movie is billed as a thriller but unintentionally comes across as a bad comedy. There was lots of unexpected laughing from the sold out show I attended.

       It is based on the best-selling novel which follows a "Gone Girl" formula but not quite as biting. Much like its central character, Rachel, the film is a mess. The story is silly and beyond belief, filled with amazing coincidences and contradictions. The dialogue is ridiculous and it's about as exciting and suspenseful as watching paint dry.

       Rachel is played by Emily Blunt and she is the best thing about the film. As the alcoholic ex-wife of Paul Watson, played by Justin Theroux, we watch most of the film through her blurry eyes. The film also stars Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Luke Evans, Allison Janney, and Edgar Ramirez. Laura Prepon also has a small part as Cathy, Rachel's roommate.

       This is a story that works much better on the page than the screen and if I were you, I would just skip this train and read the book.

The Magnificent Seven

              More like the Magnificent bore, this unnecessary remake is two hours of setup for a 10 minute one sided shootout. It's an excuse for Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun, Manuel Garcia Ruflo and Martin Semsmeier to play cowboy.

              Director Antoine Fuqua throws in almost every western cliche in the book in an attempt to recall the golden days of westerns and while the film looks great, the story lacks the gravitas of the original western (based itself, on the Japanese film, "The Seven Samurai") and any depth of character.  The seven heroes are stereotypes that give us no reason to cheer them on except for the pre-conceived notion that we should because they are, after all, the "Magnificent 7".

               Peter Sarsgaard chews the scenery as the villainous Bartholomew Bogue and Haley Bennet is Emma, the widow who hires Mr. Washington and crew to save her town. Ms. Bennet has the final word as the only fully realized character in the film. For two hours plus, our heroes, with almost no backstory, are introduced, give each other steely eyed stares, twirl their revolvers and set up the inevitable gun fight against overwhelming odds. Of course every bullet fired brings down a "bad guy" instantly so the odds are actually in our heroes favor.

             Anyone who has seen the original western will recognize one of the greatest movie themes in history (by the late Elmer Bernstein). I kept waiting for that theme to rouse me out of my stupor but Mr. Fuqua commissioned an original score to separate his vision, so even that was a letdown.  Thankfully, he does resurrect it for the closing credits, which only serves to remind you that the film has been done much better before. Twice, in fact so seek those versions out for true movie magic.

Snowden

            Depending on your point of view, Edward Snowden is either an American hero or a traitor.  His true story of exposing classified Government information has been well documented in the press and in the excellent documentary, "Citizenfour". Now comes the "dramatization" of his story by director, Oliver Stone.

            Known for incendiary films in the past, Mr. Stone takes a rather pedestrian approach to telling Mr. Snowden's story. He presents the facts as he knows them but stretches and bends the truth for the sake of  absorbing storytelling, using his self proclaimed (at the beginning of the film) "dramatization" as his out.  

            The film starts in 2013 in Hong Kong, where Mr. Snowden, played by Joseph Gordon- Levitt, tells his story to journalists from The Guardian" played by Zachary Quinto and Tom Wilkinson. The event is documented by filmmaker,  Laura Poitras, played by Melissa Leo ( the aforementioned, "Citizenfour"). The story then jumps back in time to Mr. Snowden's time in the military and what leads to various jobs at the CIA and NSA. Early on, we are also introduced to Lindsey Mills, played by Shanilene  Woodley, the young woman who quickly becomes his girlfriend. The film also co-stars Nicolas Cage as a trainer at the CIA, Timothy Olyphant, as a CIA field operative, and Rhys Ifans, as his senior CIA trainer and mentor,  Corbin O'Brian.

        If not for the score, the film would be completely lacking of suspense. The music creates an atmosphere of tension and paranoia that is truly represented in just a few scenes. The rest of the film is saved from utter boredom by the excellent acting of Mr. Gordon-Levitt. The film is really a character study of Mr. Snowden and Mr. Gordon-Levitt, an engaging and thoroughly committed actor, does a fine job in his accurate portrayal. Mr. Ifans is also excellent as Mr. O'Brian, the type of character he has never played before and he is chilling. Ms. Woodley's role calls for her to be eternally understanding and smile a lot. 

          It is clear that Mr. Stone sees Mr. Snowden as a hero, blatantly in fact, as he exits the CIA bunker bathed in light with his stolen documents. Directing without his usual fireworks and even craziness, the film leaves little in the way of entertainment or controversy. Mr. Snowden's real story is controversial enough and the film disappointingly adds nothing on it's own to the real life drama that continues even today.

Sully

       Clint Eastwood directs and Tom Hanks stars in this new drama based on the true story of "the miracle on the Hudson". Sully is Captain Sullenberger, the pilot of the US Airways plane that had an emergency landing on the Hudson River in January of 2009. The film recreates that faithful day but probes deeper behind the the amazing landing that saved all 155 people aboard.

        Mr. Eastwood loves a hero and Captain "Sully" certainly qualifies as such but the film takes us behind the scenes to the NTSB probe and hearings regarding the incident. The National Transportation and Safety Board comes across as the villain of the story trying to place blame on Sully for choosing to land in the river rather than attempt to return to LaGuardia Airport or nearby Teterboro Airport. This makes for greater dramatic impact creating an even stronger affection for the stalwart pilot.

          The films rest squarely on the capable shoulders of Mr. Hanks and he is brilliant. He fully immerses himself in the role and should easily garner award nominations.  Laura Linney and Aaron Eckhart co-star and while Mr. Eckhart is also excellent as Sully's real life co-pilot, Jeff Skiles, Ms. Linney is wasted as the worried wife at home. Anna Gunn, Mike O'Malley, and Jamey Sheridan also co-star as the members of the NTSB investigating the incident. Screenwriter Todd Komarnicki and Mr. Eastwood clearly portray them as the villains in a story that in reality, has no villains.

           The story jumps around in time which successfully fattens the film. The recreated landing is a marvel of CGI and live action that is emotional to watch. The entire film is actually quite stirring and emotional (direction, where Mr. Eastwood excels), especially for native New Yorkers who remember that day clearly, myself being one of them. Sully's sleepless nights haunt him with scenes that present a very different end to the flight, which stir old emotions as well.

             This is  a terrific blend of fact and fiction to create a very entertaining film that ultimately celebrates, not only Captain Sullenberg and his crew but also the brave New Yorkers from the many different agencies that assisted in the rescue and got everyone safely back on dry land.

Captain Fantastic

              Written and directed by Matt Ross, this is a  gem of an Indie film that is definitely worth your while. Viggo Mortensen stars as a father of six kids raising them off the grid in the Northwest Washington forest.

                Rejecting the establishment, Ben and his wife Leslie home school their kids as well as teach them survival techniques and give them rigorous exercise. When Leslie falls seriously ill, Ben is forced raise the kids alone and then later, confront the world he left behind and introduce the children into a society he had long ago rejected.

                  Mr. Mortensen is literally fantastic as Ben. His love and concern for each of his kids is so honest and pure, you believe every moment. The conflicts they encounter back in society are both humorous and heartbreaking. Each young actor has their moment to shine and they play off each other in very convincing ways.

                    The film co-stars Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, Frank Langella, and Ann Dowd all in much smaller but important roles. It's really about Mr. Mortensen and the fine young actors that play his children.

                     This is an offbeat, original film that is filled with warmth and and a wild spirit. It's still playing in Manhattan at The Sunshine Cinema and hopefully in other art house theaters near you. If you miss it in a theater, find it on video or cable. You will be glad you did.

Florence Foster Jenkins

       Based on a true story of a beloved New York socialite in 1944, who loved music and singing but had a terrible singing voice, this is a very entertaining film.

       Supported in her pursuit of a singing career by her husband, Ms. Jenkins hires a pianist to fulfill her dream.  Meryl Streep plays Florence and she is flawless as usual. It is uncanny how she continues to slip chameleon like into every role. Her husband, St. Clair is played by Hugh Grant, who is at the top of his charming self. The pianist, Mr. Cosme McMoon, is played by Simon Helberg (of TV's Big Bang Theory) , who's facial expressions are priceless every time Florence hits a sour note (which is often). There is terrific chemistry between the three leads and especially Ms. Streep and Mr. Grant.

      Whether it's St. Clair paying people off or Florence just winning them over with her warmth and charm, no one close to her can bear to tell her the truth and she continues to believe in her vocal abilities.

         It's an interesting and fun story anchored by terrific performances with just a touch of heartbreak and a nice change of pace from the usual summer film fare.

Don't Think Twice

         The new Indie comedy/drama from writer & director Mike Birbiglia is much more drama than comedy even though its plot revolves around a improvisational comedy troupe.

          When two members of the fictional group, "The Commune" land auditions with the fictional TV show "Weekend Live" ( a very obvious Second City/Saturday Night Live analogy), the group dynamic starts to crack and relationships are strained to a breaking point.

           The film stars Mr. Birbiglia as Miles, the de facto leader of "The Commune" along with Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Mucucci, Chris Gethard, and Tami Sagher as the rest of the troupe. Everyone is so natural in their part, the film could almost serve as a "behind the scenes"  documentary about the world of improvisation.

           Bitingly honest, sharp and witty, the film is ultimately sad and bitter sweet as the group realizes life is interfering in the intimate world they have created as "The Commune". Surprisingly, there are many heartbreaking scenes that fill the viewer with emotions that linger long after the credits roll.

War Dogs

      Based on a true story (but heavily fictionalized) this new film from director Todd Phillips is fascinating in its subject matter and entertaing enough due to it's stars, Jonah Hill and Miles Teller.

       It's far from a great film, containing too much unnecessary profanity that I found distracting, but Mr. Hill and Mr. Teller keep it interesting. What drives the story is the reality that two young "bros" from Miami managed to become international arms dealers making millions selling weapons to the U.S. military. 

      Bradley Cooper is a co-producer and has a supporting role that amounts to little more than a cameo. The film also co-stars Ana de Armas as Mr. Teller's girlfriend.

      Is there fun in watching bad men doing bad things that end badly? As outsiders looking in, there is a certain visceral thrill for the audience watching Mr. Hill as the vulgar and just a bit psychotic, Efraim, lie, cheat and double cross his way to a fortune. While at the same time, Mr. Teller, as David, loses his moral compass by the lure of easy money.

         To keep the story more entertaining for a general audience, many scenes have been fabricated but serve their purpose. There is an ugly truth in this morality tale that our government's shady global dealings only prove war equals profit for far too many people.  

Hell or High Water

          In today's hard economic times, two Texas brothers decide to rob branches of the bank that hold the mortgage to their mother's ranch. On their trail is a pair of Texas Rangers, one, days way from retirement. It's a simple story that we've seen variations of in the past but everything about this film works beautifully. Written by Taylor Sheridan and directed by David MacKenzie, this little crime drama is a near perfect film. 

         The script has a lot to say about these rough times, especially in small towns across America. It's familiar territory but unexpected moments of humor and violence mix things up and the outcome is never certain. There is never a false note in the dialog. Mr. MacKenzie's direction, along with the beautiful cinematography paint amazing pictures across the bleak Texas landscape. You can feel the dust in your face, the heat on your skin and the cold beer in your mouth throughout the film. I also can't say enough of the original music by Nick Cave and the terrific soundtrack that blends perfectly into the story.

          Playing the brothers are Ben Foster, who makes a living playing hard nosed psychopaths with just enough of a tender side to surprise you and Chris Pine who breaks his own image with a character dirty and gritty in his desperation and determination. The Texas Rangers are played by a brilliant Jeff Bridges, who slips into his character like a well worn second skin and Gil Birmingham, as his partner Alberto, who matches Mr. Bridges step by step. Their chemistry together is just wonderful to watch.

         The film takes it's time to tell it's story and some may feel it's too slow but the deliberate pace slows things down just enough to savor the little moments in this terrific crime noir.

Cafe Society

      Woody Allen returns to one of his best loved periods, the 1930's for this new romantic comedy. The film covers no new ground as it's story and structure are pretty common in Mr. Allen's filmography.

       Always writing with himself in mind for the lead but far to old to play the part, Mr. Allen finds a very capable substitute in Jesse Eisenberg as Bobby Dorfman. Bobby is a young Jewish man from the Bronx who seeks his fortune in Hollywood, hoping his Uncle Phil, a powerful Hollywood agent, will find him a job.

      Mr. Eisenberg is perfect in the role, capturing the mannerisms, vocal cadence, and rhythms of a young Mr. Allen perfectly. His Uncle Phil is played with confidence by Steve Carell, who is reluctant at first to help his nephew but grows to like him enough to give him a menial job. Once at the Agency, Bobby becomes smitten with Vonnie, Phil's secretary, played by Kristen Stewart. Ms. Stewart seems an odd choice for the love interest and while her performance is good, I can't help feeling she is miscast.

            Back home in the Bronx, Bobby's parents, Rose (played by Jeannie Berlin) and Marty (Ken Stott) worry about Bobby, his older brother Ben (a gangster played by Cory Stoll) and their daughter Evelyn (played by Sari Lennick). Blake Lively and Parker Posey round out the cast as other women who come into Bobby's life. The sub-plots involving Evelyn and her husband as well as Ben's gangster life are fillers for the central plot and exist as typical Allen characters giving voice to his common themes.

             The film has its charms (as expected from Mr. Allen, it has a great Jazz soundtrack) and is entertaining enough but it is middle of the road Allen writing, neither a hit or a miss but rather a well hit foul ball.

Indignation

       Based on the novel by Phillip Roth and written for the screen and directed by James Schamus, this is an excellent adult drama with a star turn by Logan Lerman.

        Set in 1951, during the Korean War, this is a coming of age film with an unorthodox (in more than one sense of the word) love story. Mr Lerman plays Marcus Messner, a young man of Jewish descent who enters a small Ohio College on a scholarship, thus avoiding the draft.

          Glad to be away from his overly protective parents, especially his father (played by Danny Burstein), Marcus rooms with two other Jewish boys in a school where they are very much in the minority. It is there that he meets Olivia Hutton (played by Sarah Gadon) and a relationship develops.

            The dean of the school is played by Tracy Letts and the scenes with Marcus that take place in his office are powerful and speak to the core of the film. Mr. Lerman has found his perfect role and he embodies Marcus so deeply, we are fully engaged as an audience.

             Ms. Gadon brings a sadness to her character than adds depth to a part many would consider stereotyped. Mr. Letts is a towering authority figure and Mr. Burstein, along with Linda Emond are engaging and surprising parents. 

               Mr. Schamus captures the mood and texture of the period very well and while there are moments of humor, rest assured, this is a serious drama...well written and well acted.

Suicide Squad

           DC tries again after the critical drubbing of "Superman/Batman: Dawn of Justice". This time they flip the script and put their villains front and center as a bad team doing good. Based on the comic created by John Ostrander (nice subtle nod to him in one scene), the film is written and directed by David Ayer.

               The film tires hard to be edgy like "Deadpool" and snarky like "Guardians of The Galaxy" but fails on both accounts (with the exception of Harley Quinn, who deserves her own film). 

               Margot Robbie brings Harley to life right off the comic book pages. She infuses her character with energy and has lots of fun with the role.  Jared Leto as usual, completely inhabits his turn as The Joker and owns his version but since this is about the "Squad", we get too little of him. His scenes with Harley, however are priceless. Viola Davis plays Amanda Waller, the government agent with her own nasty streak and she is always a professional, even when playing a comic book villain. 

                 The rest of the cast are as flat as their original comic pages.  Even Will Smith (who gets a large piece of screen time as Deadshot) disappoints and was far better as "Hancock". The major threat is completely ridiculous and is a minor league version of the climax of "The Avengers: Age of Ultron film"(which itself was a ripoff of the first Avengers climax). Mr. Ayer tries hard to give each character at least one major scene but it all comes back to Harley Quinn as the most interesting character in the film.

                    Even a cameo from Ben Affleck's Batman can't save the day. I'll stick to the graphic novel.

Jason Bourne

        The latest installment in the Bourne series could easily be called "Jason Yawn" considering we have seen it all before. Not only is the film redundant but this time around it doesn't even have a plot to speak of....just evil CIA director Tommy Lee Jones chasing Matt Damon all over the world.

         Mr. Jones considers Bourne a threat so he hires an "asset"/assassin played by Vincent Cassel to kill scores of innocent bystanders in order to find and kill Bourne. Julia Stiles returns for a too brief cameo and the key female role this time is played by Alicia Vikander. Ms. Vikander plays a CIA analyst who ends up helping Bourne for her own secret agenda.

           It's a very nice travelogue with stops in Greece, Germany, Rome, London and Las Vegas but it's all the same mind numbing chase scenes from every other film in the series. A story with some real depth would have us caring a lot more for what transpires.

           Matt Damon wears the character like a second skin and he is still a terrific action hero but with a flimsy motivation behind his actions, who really cares? Director Paul Greengrass (who also co-wrote what passes for the story), moves the film at his trademark breakneck speed from place to place avoiding any time for the audience to realize it's all style without substance.

              For me, this was "The Bourne End of the Line".

Star Trek: Beyond

        A perfect film for a "30 Second Critic" review. The third in the Star Trek reboot series is directed by Justin Lin (Fast & Furious series) and features the original reboot cast. It does not need a deep analysis. It is pure fun from start to finish and the closest any Star Trek film has gotten to recreating an actual episode of the beloved series.

        The crew go on a rescue mission, things turn bad, a villain appears, etc... It is easy to sit back and enjoy. The villain this time out is played by Idris Elba, who, unfortunately is wasted under tons of makeup and restricted speech. But no matter, he is still threatening enough and creates enough havoc to keep the film suspenseful until the end.

         There is plenty of action and typical Star Trek humor and even a heartwarming nod to the original cast. I saw it in iMAX 3D and while the iMAX was terrific, I don't think the 3D did anything to really enhance the film. If you are a fan of the series, you will not be disappointed.

The Secret Life of Pets

         If you have seen the trailer for this new animated film, then you have seen the majority of best parts. The beginning of the film represents the "secret life" best but after a while it turns into a frenetic, elongated chase that loses its charm and wears you down.

         Max. a cute little terrier enjoys his life with his owner, Katie. When Katie brings home gigantic and shaggy Duke, Max's idyllic life is severely threatened. Circumstance finds the two lost in the city and ending up as part of a gang of rogue pets turned out by bad owners, and led by a psychotic bunny named Snowball. Max's friend, Gidget, a Pomeranian, along with an assortment of other friendly animals journey out of their comfort zones to find Max.

         The celebrity voices include Louis C.K. as Max, Kevin Hart as Snowball, Eric Stonestreet as Duke, and Jenny Slate as Gidget...just to name a few. As with most animated films , the actors are paired perfectly with their characters. The animation itself is good but not up to the standards of Pixar (with the exception of the East river which seems very realistic).

          Jokes, both visual and spoken come fast and furious. While they don't all work, there are some very funny lines to be found throughout the film (some aimed directly at the adults in the audience). The film relies heavily on the "cute factor" of all the animated animals. Younger kids will enjoy it ( although there are some "scary" parts) but it lacks the smart humor of "Zootopia" and some of the better animated films to come along recently.

The Infiltrator

         Bryan Cranston channels his most arrogant "Walter White" in this new crime drama, based on a true story. The compelling story of Bob Mazur, an undercover DEA agent combined with a very talented cast make up for any plot weakness and execution.

          Mr. Cranston, playing Mazur goes undercover as Bob Musella, "cleaning" dirty drug money for the Colombian Cartel. Wheeling and dealing with drug lords and dirty bankers, Mazur as Musella flaunts his abilities behind mansions, expensive clothes, jewelry and cars all previously confiscated by the U.S. government. As usual Mr. Cranston is exceptional and a riveting actor to watch. His co-stars here are John Leguizamo as his fellow agent Emir Abreu, Diane Kruger as another agent posing as his fiance, Benjamin Bratt as a high level Cartel member, and Amy Ryan as Mazur's no nonsense boss.  The film also features Juliet Aubrey as Mazur's wife Ev and Joe Gilgun (Cassidy on AMC's Preacher) as Dominic, a criminal Mazur frees in order to help him undercover. 

           The true story gets a bit muddy over the course of the film, bogging down in unnecessary detail and extraneous story elements. Things are not always so clear as we follow the money but the cast is so good, you go with it and are easily caught up in the mounting suspense. Director Brad Furman does a good job of recreating the look and feel of '80's excess but other drug related "true story" films have had stronger screenplays.

            The film relies heavily on Mr. Cranston to carry it's weight and he doesn't disappoint. He is excellent at conveying the dilemma of an undercover operative who gets too comfortable in his role, becoming too close to his targets.

The Legend of Tarzan

         Warner Brothers re-imagines an ancient icon for a new generation and hopes to find an audience. Can a jungle lord raised by apes find his place among todays superheroes? He can if he's played by Alexander Skarsgard. Mr. Skarsgard has plenty of female fans from his time on cable TV and he doesn't disappoint, swinging through the jungle, half naked. Although, sorry ladies, no loincloth for this hero.  For the men in the audience, the lovely Margot Robbie, plays  Jane Porter, Tarzan's love interest and for this version, quite the feminist. 

          The film also stars Samuel L. Jackson as an American government agent helping Tarzan and serving as light comic relief. The villain of the film is played by Christoph Waltz, who can do these roles in his sleep. Dijimon Hounsou also co-stars as a tribal chief with a grudge again Tarzan that sets the plot in motion.

               CGI is the other star of the film. So much so that is becomes hard to tell reality from the created reality. CGI has come such a long way that this film could have easily been shot in a back lot in California and all the animals and scenery added later. I actually started to wonder if the actors were real.

              What is real, however, are some truths behind the fictional story of Tarzan. King Leopold of Belgium actually did rule the Congo and slaughtered and enslaved millions to rape the land of minerals and other natural resources. His chief agent in the Congo was a sadist named Leon Rom, who is gleefully played by Mr. Waltz. Even though Tarzan triumphs (no surprise) there is a sadness that permeates throughout the film, watching people as well as animals slaughtered by greedy, ignorant men that stains the "action adventure" and love story, the studio was hoping to achieve.

The Conjuring 2

     Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as paranormal investigators, Lorraine and Ed Warren in this scary new sequel.  Once again directed by James Wan, the undisputed king of modern day horror movies, "Conjuring 2" keeps up the suspense with just enough moments to have you jumping out of your seat.

       Like the original, this sequel is based on a "true story" of a paranormal incident that took place in 1977 England. Mr. Wan and his team get the period right and draw the audience in with just the right amount of dread and foreboding. Mr. Wilson and Ms. Farmiga both act with conviction as well as Francis O'Connor as the mother of the terrified family. Credit also goes to Madison Wolfe who has the unfortunate role of Peggy Hodgson, the possessed daughter. Ms Wolfe endures quite a bit through the course of the film.

        Mr. Wan builds his suspense very well jolting the audience quite a few times throughout and he does it with very little, if any bloodshed. His one flaw here is overextending himself. The film could easily be cut by 15-20 minutes and still be a very effective chiller. He has a winning franchise here and I look forward to seeing more of Lorraine and Ed Warren.

The Shallows

         Blake Lively is basically a one woman show in this aptly named survival thriller. The film is paper thin.  It's stranded surfer vs. tenacious shark for 87 minutes.

             After a stretched out set up, surfer Nancy begins to enjoy the waves on a secluded beach in Mexico (actually Australia). With only two other surfers around, it seems like an idyllic spot. Pretty soon, the dead carcass of a whale floats into view along with the shark that killed it. Things go downhill from there until Nancy finds herself only 200 yards from shore, wounded on a rock outcrop that is slowly disappearing under the rising tide. 

             Ms. Lively is a very attractive actress who does an admirable job of struggling mightily against the shark and the elements. The scenery is beautiful, the shark realistic, and the tension palatable. It tries hard to be "Jaws" for a new generation but it's a one trick pony...er shark. 

Our Kind of Traitor

         Based on the novel by John le Carre, this is a more of a cerebral spy thriller than an action piece.  It offers a picturesque tour of Europe and a decent amount of suspense. It is a serviceable adult drama sandwiched in between aliens, animated fish and low brow comedies.

            The film has a pedigree cast. It stars Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris as a British couple on vacation in Morocco dealing with some marital issues. They soon find themselves entangled with a Russian mobster played by a scenery chewing Stellen Skarsgard. Once the plot thickens, they seek out the help of British intelligence in the form of a buttoned up Damian Lewis. 

             It's an intriguing plot and holds your attention but it all balances on the unlikely idea that a college professor and his lawyer wife can easily morph into "spy like" behavior to help someone they barely know. If you buy into the concept, you will become much more invested in the characters and care more about the eventual outcome.

Finding Dory

       This sequel to the beloved "Finding Nemo", once again written and directed by Andrew Stanton (along with help from Angus MacLane, Victoria Strause and Bob Peterson), is another winning addition to the Pixar family.

        The central plot revolves around Dory (Vocals once again by Ellen DeGeneres), the little blue Tang with short term memory loss, who begins to remember her past and decides to seek out her parents with the help of Nemo and his father, Marlin. Their search takes them pretty quickly across the ocean to Morro Bay California and the Marine Institute, Dory seems to remember in bits and pieces. Hayden Rolence is the voice of Nemo this time out but Albert Brooks returns as the voice of the nervous Clownfish, Marlin. Mr. Brooks and Ms. DeGeneres have wonderful chemistry together that is evident even through their animated characters.

         The story has many flashbacks to when Dory was a child with her parents (voiced by Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy) and how she eventually got separated from them. Little Dory is absolutely adorable as is pretty much the entire film. It is a warm, funny, bittersweet, exciting and emotional film. Just what we've come to expect from the minds at Pixar.

           Most of the story takes place at the Marine Institute where we meet new characters including Hank, a cranky Octopus (with seven tentacles) voiced perfectly by Ed O'Neill,  Destiny, a near sighted Whale Shark voiced by Kaitlin Olson, and Bailey, a Beluga Whale with a hearing problem, voiced by Ty Burrell. There is also a "Wire" reunion of sorts as Idris Elba and Dominic West voice two silly sea lions. The vocal casting is exceptional as the actors match their characters perfectly.

             The animation as usual is excellent, in particular, Hank the Octopus who has amazing fluidity. The poignant story will affect a viewer of any age and there are plenty of visual gags and verbal jokes aimed at adults in the audience. Take a child or not, the film has universal charm and appeal and is that rare thing, a sequel that really works.

               

Genius

          Behind every great writer is usually a great editor. This new biographical drama is based on the true story of Max Perkins, the editor at Scribner Sons publishing house. Mr. Perkins was the editor for some of the most influential writers of the 20th century including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe. "Genius" centers on the story of the relationship between Max and Thomas Wolfe.

          The film stars Colin Firth as Max and Jude Law as Thomas Wolfe. Mr. Firth plays Max with calm cool restraint as opposed to the loud, boisterous Mr. Wolfe. Also starring are Laura Linney as Louise Saunders (Mrs. Perkins) and Nicole Kidman as Wolfe's lover, Aline Bernstein. It is a joy to watch these actors inhabit these characters. There is great chemistry between the leads. Guy Pearce co-stars as F. Scott Fitzgerald (appearing in just a few scenes) and Dominic West makes a one scene cameo as Ernest Hemingway. 

          Director Michael Grandage faithfully recreates 1930's New York, despite being filmed in Manchester, England (CGI can be a director's best friend). The film itself, is a low key but interesting period story of a simpler time, when books were still a valuable source of entertainment and knowledge.

X-Men: Apocalypse

        Director Bryan Singer knows his subject matter so well, nine films into this franchise,  that his ease of storytelling has become second nature. Building upon the mythos of earlier X-Men films, Mr Singer and screenwriter, Simon Kinberg have crafted a terrific addition to the series. The one caveat, going in you better know your X-Men mythology otherwise you may find yourself lost navigating the characters.

          James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are back as Charles "Professor X" Xavier. So are Jennifer Lawrence as Raven, Nicolas Hoult as Hank McCoy, Rose Bryne as CIA agent,Moira MacTaggert, Lucas Till as Alex Summers, and Evan Peters as Quicksilver. New faces include Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan as Cyclops, Kodi Smit- McPhee as Nightcrawler, Ben Hardy as Angel, Olivia Munn as Psylocke, Alexandra Shipp as Storm, and Oscar Isaac as  mega-villain, Apocalypse.

          Many superhero films attempt to take the comic characters into the real world and sometimes fail when they forget the source material. This film works beautifully as an X-Men comic (or if you prefer, graphic novel) come to life. It's the closest you can come to reading the book and seeing the action as you imagine it in your head, played out on the screen.

           It's a long film ( 2 and 1/2 hours) but its a very full story that takes its time bringing all its pieces together for a terrific climax. There is  plenty of action, drama and humor through out. It even manages a surprise or two. And stay through the credits for an important clue for the ongoing saga.

Alice Through The Looking Glass

        Director Tim Burton steps aside and just produces this sequel to his imaginative take on "Alice In Wonderland". While new director, James Bobin does a credible job, the films sorely lacks Mr. Burton's macabre sensibility and humor.

         Mia Wasikowska returns as Alice and is joined again by Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Ann Hathaway as The White Queen, and Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen.  The vocal talents of Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Timothy Spall, and Michael Sheen also return as the various CGI characters of Wonderland. Joining the cast for this sequel is Sacha Baron Cohen as the human/machine hybrid, Time.

           The plot has very little in common with the original story.  Instead, Alice returns to Wonderland to help the Mad Hatter, who has grown despondent and physically ill after discovering his family may all still be alive but with whereabouts unknown. Alice must borrow the Chronosphere, a device which powers time itself to help the Hatter. Time, of course can't exist without the device making it very dangerous for Alice to use it.

             Far removed from the original plot, the story builds up the character of Time and Mr. Baron Cohen is very good in the role but it diminishes Mr. Depp's role as The Mad Hatter, who ends up with little to do. It's really a waste of Mr. Depp's talent and instead gives Mr. Baron Cohen a chance to really shine. Ms. Wasikowska is a stalwart Alice and a role model for pre-teen girls everywhere.  Ms. Hathaway has little to do as The White Queen. Ms. Bonham Carter as the crazy and villainous, Red Queen chews up the scenery.

             Visually the film is a kaleidoscope of color and movement. The CGI work is excellent but unfortunately even the colorful characters of Wonderland, (Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit etc...) are given a back seat to the main plot.  It's a good concept but it belongs in a different film. Time, his seconds,  his grand clock and castle are amazing but it's not a Wonderland story. It bogs down in dreary details but does pick up enough for an exciting climax.

              If Alice ever decides to return to Wonderland, I hope the studio decides to keep the story about Wonderland and all it's outrageous characters.  Don't mess with the Classics. 

The Man Who Knew Infinity

       Buried among the start of the summer "blockbuster" season is this gem of an Indie film, based on the true story of Indian Mathematician, Srinivasa  Ramanujan, the first Indian to be awarded a Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge.

        Fans of "A Beautiful Mind" and "Good Will Hunting" will certainly appreciate a story centered around mathematics. But rest assured, you don't need be a math scholar to appreciate the moving and human story of this brilliant man. Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) plays Ramanujan, and once he leaves India for England in 1918, he begins a five year collaboration with the mathematician G. H. Hardy (played by Jeremy Irons).

        The friendship that develops between the two men is the core of the story. The very human drama doesn't shy away from the racism and class struggles of the period. Mr. Ramanujan's life in England is far from easy but his early critics and scholarly snobs soon can't ignore his brilliant mind. Mr. Hardy and John Littlewood remain his biggest supporters and working together amass volumes of work that are still studied and applied in today's mathematics.

          Mr, Patel and Mr. Irons have wonderful chemistry together and Mr. Patel is such a charming and engaging actor, it's easy to root for his character to succeed. While the script focuses on the two men, there is a sub-plot of Mr. Ramanujan's wife, (Devika Bhise) and mother (Arundhati Nag) that he left behind in India that becomes integral to the story.

           The is a terrific drama anchored by two excellent performances and a story not easily forgotten.

Money Monster

     Director Jodie Foster brings out one of George Clooney's best performances in years in this new thriller. Mr. Clooney plays Lee Gates, the host of a TV financial advice show, high on entertainment as well as stock tips. His director, Patty Flynn, is played by a very effective Julia Roberts. 

      What starts out as typical episode for them soon escalates into a tense hostage situation when a young man named Kyle ( Jack O'Connell) takes over the studio with a gun and an explosive packed vest. Ms. Foster balances comedic moments with real suspense as she brings together the puzzle pieces of a story more complicated than it seems.

       Mr. Clooney completely disappears into his role and is generous sharing his screen time with Mr. O'Connell. Except for two short moments, Mr. Clooney and Ms. Roberts have no scenes together. Her character Patty spends most of her time talking into Lee's earpiece, keeping him focused while investigating Kyle's motivation for his desperate action. Mr O'Connell's Kyle is all blue collar and jitters as he stalks the TV studio with his finger on the detonator, demanding answers.

       Co-starring is Giancarlo Esposito as the police captain in the street trying to avoid a violent end, Dominic West as the oily CEO of the company that lost all of Kyle's savings, and Caitriona Balfe as Mr. West's Communications Director. Also co-starring  is Christopher Denham as a sorely put upon producer and Lenny Venito as a gutsy cameraman, both providing welcome comedy relief.

        This fast paced thriller with a cautionary message is a safe investment of your time at the movies.

Captain America: Civil War

         The Marvel Studios juggernaut rolls on.  This latest installment in the Marvel film universe does not disappoint. Filled with terrific action sequences but anchored by an strong and emotional script, the film works on every level.

        While Captain America may be in the title, make no mistake, this is a full blown Avengers outing with the team choosing sides after the U.S. Government decides Superheroes should be regulated and not given free reign to act on their own. The concept is taken from a terrific event story line in the comics that was so successful, Marvel is launching a "Civil War II" this summer in the books.

       What works so well is the balance of screen time for the characters. While Captain America, The Winter Soldier, The Falcon and Iron Man have the majority of screen time, all the characters have excellent moments of their own including an "amazing" cameo or two. And the additional balance of emotion and gravitas to the action all make for a very well rounded film.

       You can argue illogical plot points but it's a superhero movie after all and you have already checked your logic at the door. This is pure escapism and fun so I can't argue a few origin changes to suit the story or illogical actions by the characters. Fans should be attending with full knowledge of the characters and backstories. If you are coming in as a novice, it's best to brush up on earlier films or the comic archives.

       Kudos to everyone at Marvel studios for getting their movies right. There is a grand plan in motion and so far, there hasn't been a misstep unlike a certain other brand. As they used to say in the old days, "Make Mine Marvel".

Elvis & Nixon

 It's not an easy task to create an entire film around a famous photograph but that's what director Liza Johnson and writers Joey Sagal, Hanala Sagal and Cary Elwes manage to do successfully in this lighthearted romp down memory lane. The story is true but entirely surreal.

     The year is 1970 and Elvis Presley decides he wants to meet with President Richard Nixon to convince the President he should become a "special agent at large" to fight the war on drugs. The film is not a traditional comedy per se but the events and story itself are so comedic, you can't help but laugh throughout the film. 

      Kevin Spacey is absolutely spot on as Nixon and Michael Shannon does an excellent job channeling the essence of Elvis, even if he really looks nothing like him. The supporting cast of Nixon's aides are Colin Hanks as Egil Krogh, Evan Peters as Dwight Chapin, and Tate Donovan as H.R. Halderman. Tracy Letts is John Finlator, the head of the Bureau of Narcotics in a very funny scene when Elvis pays a visit. Best friends, Jerry Shilling ( Alex Pettfer) and Sonny West ( Johnny Knoxville) accompany Elvis to Washington and help facilitate the historic meeting.

       The film is a time capsule of a specific event and era that is captured perfectly. It's fun and very entertaining.