The strange story of the rise-and-fall story of 1988 Presidential candidate Gary Hart should have been a riveting political drama. "The Front Runner" is workmanlike and well-acted but lacks the dramatic arc that would have made it a winner. Hugh Jackman stars as the Democratic contender who was riding high until he challenged journalists to follow him around if they thought he was doing anything wrong. They did…and it became clear that he was having an affair. Jackman and Vera Farmiga are fine as the Harts and the writing is intelligent, but the movie is pretty much a one-note affair and just isn't as gripping as it should be.   Need a feel-good movie for your holiday viewing? Look no further than "Green Book." Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen are terrific in the true story of African-American concert pianist Dr. Don Shirley and his Italian-American driver from the Bronx, Tony Lip.  They experience some severe ups and downs on a tour the Deep South in 1960. While the movie doesn’t dig too deep, the actors are extremely appealing. They start out on an antagonistic note but ultimately ingratiate themselves to one another and then, to the audience. Oddly, the…

KC native screenwriter Gillian Flynn might finally get the Oscar love that eluded her for "Gone Girl." "Widows" is a fierce and gritty heist movie that is also a potent, beautifully acted social drama with powerhouse performances from Viola Davis and Daniel Kaluuya. It's disturbing, realistic and easily one of the best movies of the year. If “Ocean’s 11” had had a social conscience, it would have been “Widows.”   The second in the Harry Potter prequel series is pretty much what you'd expect. "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" is a beautifully produced but rambling adventure with dark overtones. Johnny Depp returns as an evil wizard who gives Eddie Redmayne and the other good wizards a run for their money. The multiple plot threads aren't woven together successfully, but there's enough movie magic to please most fans.   Mark Wahlberg's family comedy "Instant Family" is a pleasant surprise, based loosely on director Sean Anders’ own experiences. This story about foster parenting and adoption has more meat on its bones than most movies in this genre and manages to be a genuinely touching experience.   An outstanding cast and thoughtful execution make "Boy Erased" a winner. It tells the true…

Shakespeare said it best. “Brevity is the soul of wit.” The classic 1966 animated TV version of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Chuck Jones proves that Shakespeare was right. “The Grinch” was perfect at 26 touching minutes. …

Shakespeare said it best. "Brevity is the soul of wit." The classic 1966 animated TV version of Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Chuck Jones proves that Shakespeare was right. “The Grinch” was perfect at 26 touching minutes. While the new computer-generated adaptation is pleasant enough, at 86 minutes, it seems a bit padded. Benedict Cumberbatch provides the voice of the Grinch and other voice talent includes Pharell Williams, Rashida Jones, Angela Lansbury and Keenan Thompson. It comes from the filmmakers behind the “Despicable Me” franchise and they know how to do cute, attempting to flesh out the run time of the story with kid-friendly humor. The visuals are dynamic and its heart is in the right place...even if the heart of this Grinch is two sizes too small. Actor Paul Dano makes his directorial debut in an austere adaptation of Richard Ford's melancholy novel, "Wildlife." It tells the sorrowful story of the deterioration of a marriage from the perspective of the couple’s 16-year-old boy son. Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal are excellent as the bickering parents as is young Ed Oxenbould as the perplexed boy. Dano also adapted the screenplay along with his partner, Zoe Kazan. “Wildlife”…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …