Freeze Frame

This is what "Bohemian Rhapsody" is NOT: The definitive biopic about Freddie Mercury of Queen. This is what it IS: A very entertaining overview of the British rock band that features a powerhouse performance by Rami Malek. It skims the surface, but in an engaging way. Disney's gargantuan reworking of the famous fairytale and ballet, "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" takes a lot of liberties with the original story. There's plenty of spectacle and dazzle, but very little dance or movie magic. The remake of the cult classic 1977 Italian horror film "Susperia" is a pretentious and tedious experience. Director Luca Guadagnino probably thinks his hollow and grisly horror flick is high art. It ain't. Even the presence of Tilda Swinton in multiple roles can’t save it. Tiffany Haddish is hilarious as a recent parolee who makes life difficult for her uptight corporate-climbing sister in Tyler Perry's first foray into R-rated comedy, "Nobody's Fool." This outrageous movie is often funny, but Haddish mostly disappears in the movie's final 20 minutes and the mirth comes to a screeching halt. Melissa McCarthy takes an unusual dramatic turn in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” the true story of Lee Israel, a noted…

A game cast isn’t quite enough to keep the submarine thriller “Hunter Killer” afloat. Gerard Butler plays Captain Joe Glass, the square-jawed leader of an American nuclear sub that is called upon to fulfill a unique mission: To save the …

It’s been 40 years since the masked killer Michael Meyers slashed his way into movie infamy in the horror classic “Halloween,” but there was one victim who got away. After decades in an asylum, Michael escapes to finally finish things …

A game cast isn't quite enough to keep the submarine thriller "Hunter Killer" afloat. Gerard Butler plays Captain Joe Glass, the square-jawed leader of an American nuclear sub that is called upon to fulfill a unique mission: To save the leader of Russia from an internal military coup. There are so many improbabilities in "Hunter Killer" that audiences are forced to suspend disbelief more than for a Harry Potter movie. And why did Gary Oldman choose to follow up his Oscar-winning role as Churchill with this goofy enterprise? As a military thriller, the submarine flick "Hunter Killer" is sub-par. The one good thing you can say about the goofy spy spoof sequel "Johnny English Strikes Again" is that it's more believable than "Hunter Killer." British comic Rowan Atkinson, best known as Mr. Bean, returns as a bungling secret agent in this sequel to his 2003 comedy. English is called upon to save the world from an evil computer entrepreneur who's bent on world domination. Peter Sellers in "The Pink Panther" movies is the obvious template for this character, but "Johnny English" lacks the inspired lunacy of those comic hits.   “Free Solo” is a documentary about mountain climber Alex Honnold and his…

It’s been 40 years since the masked killer Michael Meyers slashed his way into movie infamy in the horror classic “Halloween,” but there was one victim who got away. After decades in an asylum, Michael escapes to finally finish things with Laurie Strode in the reboot of “Halloween.” Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie and Nick Castle is back as Michael. Filmmaker David Gordon Green’s film dispenses with storylines from all nine of the other bloody sequels and remakes but retains the grisly elements for fans of this violent, morally dubious genre. While the reimagined version doesn’t add much that’s new, the revamped “Halloween” is creepy, unnerving and considerably better than any of the other follow-ups.   “The Oath” is a pitch-black comedy that takes a poke at America’s deep political divide. Comedian Ike Barinholtz wrote, directed and stars in this edgy farce about an insufferably self-righteous liberal whose rigidly right-wing family members come over for Thanksgiving dinner just as the President requires every citizen to sign an oath of loyalty to him. The caustic banter between these relatives quickly devolves into violence. The strong cast includes Tiffany Haddish, John Cho and Carrie Brownstein who make the grating dialogue a…

Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle goes from “La La Land” to outer space with “First Man.” Ryan Gosling plays the ultra-reserved astronaut Neil Armstrong and Claire Foy is his devoted wife, Janet. It’s beautifully produced, but like Armstrong himself, “First Man” …

Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle goes from “La La Land” to outer space with “First Man.” Ryan Gosling plays the ultra-reserved astronaut Neil Armstrong and Claire Foy is his devoted wife, Janet. It’s beautifully produced, but like Armstrong himself, “First Man” is emotionally aloof.   “Bad Times at the El Royale” is half of a great movie. This slick and violent grindhouse exploitation flick is involving and features a great cast, but it wears out its welcome in the bloated second half. It’s overdone and overlong but will be a guilty pleasure for some.   Amandla Stenberg gives a star making performance “The Hate U Give,” a YA offering about an African American teen walking a tightrope between her poor black neighborhood and the upscale white prep school she attends. This social drama has a lot more meat on its bones than most teen movies.   “Colette” is a decadent biopic about the infamous French writer. Keira Knightley plays the author of the semi-autobiographical novels about her bohemian lifestyle that scandalized early 20th century Paris. “Colette” may lack inspiration, but it’s never dull.   “Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween” is a sequel to the 2015 hit horror movie for kids inspired by…

There are two words that best describe the fourth big screen version of the old Hollywood chestnut, “A Star is Born”: Oscar bait. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are impressive in this tragic romance about an alcoholic musician on the …

There are two words that best describe the fourth big screen version of the old Hollywood chestnut, “A Star is Born”: Oscar bait. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are impressive in this tragic romance about an alcoholic musician on the downslide and his protégé who’s on the rise. Cooper directed and co-wrote this update, his first foray behind the camera. He also provides his own songs. In her movie debut, Lady Gaga displays solid acting chops to go along with her radio-ready original music. Even though you know the outcome, the story is still affecting thanks to the realistic treatment and the chemistry between the stars. “A Star is Born” doesn’t just refer to Lady Gaga, it also refers to Cooper as a talented budding filmmaker.   A Spider-Man supervillain gets his own feature film in Marvel’s “Venom.” Tom Hardy plays an investigative reporter who becomes the unwitting host for an alien parasite that provides him with amazing shape-shifting abilities, super strength and an intense hunger for human organs. When the Venom parasite starts making small talk with his host, however, the movie becomes unintentionally funny. The tone of this movie shifts shape more often than the title character. While…

The themes in the animated goof “Smallfoot” may be a bit heavy-handed, but it’s still a modestly amusing musical lark. Channing Tatum provides the voice of Migo, a giant yeti living in an isolated village atop a hidden mountain in …