Freeze Frame

The teen sci-fi romance “The Space Between Us” has an intriguing premise and good intentions. However, with its plot holes and eye-rolling circumstances, it could have been called “The Space Between its Ears.” Asa Butterfield plays Gardner, the first human …

The teen sci-fi romance “The Space Between Us” has an intriguing premise and good intentions. However, with its plot holes and eye-rolling circumstances, it could have been called “The Space Between its Ears.” Asa Butterfield plays Gardner, the first human born on Mars, the secret love child of an astronaut who dies in childbirth. After 16 years of being raised on the Red Planet, Gardner yearns to travel to Earth, find his father and meet a girl with whom he’s developed an Internet friendship. The scenes on Mars are fairly involving, but when Gardner finally rockets to Earth, the movie almost crashes and burns. The fine cast includes Gary Oldman, Carla Gugino and Britt Robertson and the production values are solid. But this kind of sentimentality requires deft touch of someone like Steven Spielberg to pull it off, and filmmaker Peter Chelsom isn’t quite there. As is, “The Space Between Us” is a sappy sci-fi soap opera.

 

Acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar returns with his 20th feature film, “Julieta,” a beautifully produced drama about a woman’s troubled relationship with her daughter. In a series of flashbacks, we learn why they’re estranged as Almodovar slowly fills in the plot gaps. Emma Suarez and Adriana Ugarte play Julieta at different stages of her life. All of the classic Almodovar elements are present, including the bold colors, melodramatic flourishes and unnecessary sex scenes that give the movie its “R” rating. But like most Almodovar films, “Julieta” is smart, involving and elegant.

 

Also opening this week, Robert De Niro, Danny DeVito and Leslie Mann star in “The Comedian,” about an aging comic struggling to reinvent himself. It’s directed by Taylor Hackford of “An Officer and a Gentleman” fame. “Rings” the third entry in the horror franchise about haunted videotapes that takes place 13 years after the events of the first film. Turns out, there’s a ‘video within the video!’

The teen sci-fi romance “The Space Between Us” has an intriguing premise and good intentions. However, with its plot holes and eye-rolling circumstances, it could have been called “The Space Between its Ears.” Asa Butterfield plays Gardner, the first human born on Mars, the secret love child of an astronaut who dies in childbirth. After 16 years of being raised on the Red Planet, Gardner yearns to travel to Earth, find his father and meet a girl with whom he’s developed an Internet friendship. The scenes on Mars are fairly involving, but when Gardner finally rockets to Earth, the movie almost crashes and burns. The fine cast includes Gary Oldman, Carla Gugino and Britt Robertson and the production values are solid. But this kind of sentimentality requires deft touch of someone like Steven Spielberg to pull it off, and filmmaker Peter Chelsom isn’t quite there. As is, “The Space Between Us” is a sappy sci-fi soap opera.   Acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar returns with his 20th feature film, “Julieta,” a beautifully produced drama about a woman’s troubled relationship with her daughter. In a series of flashbacks, we learn why they’re estranged as Almodovar slowly fills in the plot gaps.…

Who would have thought that the most controversial movie in theaters today would be about puppy dogs? “A Dog’s Purpose” has come under scrutiny because of a leaked video that suggests that a dog might have been treated inhumanely during …

Who would have thought that the most controversial movie in theaters today would be about puppy dogs? “A Dog’s Purpose” has come under scrutiny because of a leaked video that suggests that a dog might have been treated inhumanely during the making of the film. The movie, however, is all about humanity’s love of canines. An adorable pooch who is reincarnated multiple times until he ultimately discovers his reason for living. It’s shamelessly manipulative, corny and mawkish. But if you’re a dog lover, it just might have you reaching for the tissues.

 

“Paterson,” the latest movie from eccentric filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, is perfectly in keeping with his low-key, offbeat sensibilities. Adam Driver plays a New Jersey bus driver who is also a poet. Over a period of a week, we observe his life as he drives his route, writes his poems and interacts with his wife, passengers, co-workers and patrons at his favorite bar. Driver is terrific in this deliberately paced slice of life that is as much a tone poem as a film. Jarmusch fans will be in heaven. To others, “Paterson” could feel like watching paint dry.

 

With all of the compelling elements in its remarkable true story, “Gold,” should have been another “Social Network” or “The Big Short.” Sadly, it doesn’t live up to that promise. Matthew McConaughey stars as an unlucky small-time prospector who enlists a geologist to help locate gold in the jungles of Indonesia. Their fortunes take a turn when they locate a promising vein and raise millions to extract it. But will they be able to keep their money when powerful entities move in? McConaughey goes all out, going fat and bald, but the movie’s jagged structure prevents it from creating an emotional punch.

 

Also opening this week, the so-called finale to the zombie franchise, “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.”

Since hitting the big time with “The Sixth Sense,” the work of quirky filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan has been a hit-and-miss affair. His new horror entry “Split” is something of a return to form. James McAvoy is excellent as a …

Since hitting the big time with “The Sixth Sense,” the work of quirky filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan has been a hit-and-miss affair. His new horror entry “Split” is something of a return to form. James McAvoy is excellent as a man suffering from multiple personality disorder who kidnaps and imprisons three teenage girls. Betty Buckley is also fine as his sympathetic psychiatrist. There are plot holes and absurdities in “Split” that are hard to dismiss, but the actors make this taut chiller work as well as it does.

 

Michael Keaton’s dynamic performance is also the driving force in “The Founder,” the true story of the longtime chairman of McDonald’s, Ray Kroc. As in “Breaking Bad,” Kroc’s character arc takes a surprising turn, first winning audience support as an underdog and then losing it as he evolves into a backstabbing manipulator. It’s a distressing look at unbridled greed and ambition.

 

The talented cast also carries the day in “20th Century Women,” a comic drama about a free-spirited mom raising her teenage son in bohemian fashion in the 1970s. Annette Bening gives a nuanced performance sure to land her another Oscar nomination. It’s a melancholy coming-of-age flick.

 

A fine cast can’t quite save “Trespass Against Us,” a British gangster flick that is somewhat reminiscent of 70s drive-in fare. Michael Fassbender plays a small time hood who rebels against his dad, played by Brendan Gleeson, the head of a rag-tag band of gypsy-like thieves who live in a rural trailer compound. Even if you can navigate through the array of thick accents, this story and its strange conclusion will probably still be unsatisfying.

 

“xXx: Return of Xander Cage” is the third in the over-the-top action series. Vin Diesel is back as the extreme athlete now working as a CIA agent. He’s out to stop some bad guys who’ve gotten their hands on a doomsday weapon. It plays more like a stunt reel than a story.

 

The Screenland Armour presents the annual compilation of horror films, Panic Fest, Jan. 27th -29th. Info is available at panicfilmfest.com.

Since hitting the big time...

Kansas City native Janelle Monáe has proven herself to be a terrific musician. She can now add the title ‘acclaimed actress’ to her resume. She’s part of a strong acting ensemble in “Hidden Figures,” potent follow-up to her role in …

Kansas City native Janelle Monáe has proven herself to be a terrific musician. She can now add the title ‘acclaimed actress’ to her resume. She’s part of a strong acting ensemble in “Hidden Figures,” potent follow-up to her role in the current drama, “Moonight.” Monáe, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer star in the true story of mathematicians whose calculations helped propel NASA’s manned space program the 1960s, in spite of blatant sexism and racism. Kevin Costner is the NASA bigwig who relies on these female computers before IBM introduced mechanical ones. While the storytelling is standard, the cast of “Hidden Figures” is appealing, the production values are spot on and it is an inspiring tale that needed to be told. An allegory is given the big special effects treatment in “A Monster Calls.” It’s a spectacularly produced adaptation of Patrick Ness’s novel about a 12-year-old British boy named Conor who is trying to cope with his mother’s illness, an overbearing grandmother and local bullies. In his dreams, Conor conjures up a giant tree monster, voiced by Liam Neeson, who tells him three stories. Conor must tell a fourth story, or be eaten by the monster. Newcomer Lewis MacDougall plays…