Freeze Frame

“Arrival” is a science fiction opus that walks a razor’s edge. It could be hokey in the extreme or profoundly moving. Luckily, it mostly keeps its balance thanks to skillful direction from Denis Villeneuve and a touching performance from Amy …

“Arrival” is a science fiction opus that walks a razor’s edge. It could be hokey in the extreme or profoundly moving. Luckily, it mostly keeps its balance thanks to skillful direction from Denis Villeneuve and a touching performance from Amy Adams. When a number of alien spacecraft abruptly appear in various parts of the world, the US Military recruits an expert linguist, played by Adams, to see if she can communicate with them. Will she be able to discover their motives and intent before humanity reacts with violence? This very smart movie asks more questions than it answers, so this is not a movie for those who hate ambiguity. For many, however, it marks the arrival of a very impressive and thought provoking film. “Christine” tells the true story of Florida television news reporter Christine Chubbuck who gained instant fame in a shocking way. Actress Rebecca Hall portrays the brilliant but troubled newswoman whose personal and professional problems led to a tragedy that was broadcast on live TV in 1974. Hall’s disturbingly believable performance is the driving force behind this gripping but off putting drama directed with impeccable attention to period detail by Carlos Campos. “Christine” is a sympathetic look…

The 14th film from the Marvel Universe is easily the trippiest, yet. Benedict Cumberbatch plays “Doctor Strange” in a visually spectacular origin story about Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme. While you may not be able to make heads or tails out of …

The 14th film from the Marvel Universe is easily the trippiest, yet. Benedict Cumberbatch plays “Doctor Strange” in a visually spectacular origin story about Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme. While you may not be able to make heads or tails out of its plot about mysticism and treachery in multiple dimensions, there’s no denying that this well acted adventure is an involving mess. Cumberbatch is solid and although Tilda Swinton is miscast as his mentor, the Ancient One, she adds a welcome note of gravitas that leavens some of the silliness. “Doctor Strange” is one of the rare movies where the 3-D is actually worth the additional expense. “Hacksaw Ridge” is an outstanding WWII film based on a remarkable true story. Andrew Garfield plays Desmond Ross, a contentious objector who nevertheless enlisted, became an Army medic and saved the lives of 75 soldiers during horrific battles on the island of Okinawa. Director Mel Gibson’s approach is solidly old fashioned except for the ultra-violent combat scenes that put audiences in the midst of the grisly action. “Hacksaw Ridge” is a memorable tale of heroism that should garner multiple Oscar nominations. So, do we really need another animated musical about cute mythical creatures? Well,…

Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard may have gone to the well one too many times with “Inferno,” their third entry in the Robert Langdon “Da Vinci Code” series by novelist Dan Brown. This time out, our intrepid Harvard symbologist …

Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard may have gone to the well one too many times with "Inferno," their third entry in the Robert Langdon "Da Vinci Code" series by novelist Dan Brown. This time out, our intrepid Harvard symbologist tries to unravel his trickiest puzzle, yet, involving Dante, a deadly virus and a crazy billionaire. Howard's directorial style is as showy as ever and Hanks is solid as always. But in this case, the story's threads are so tangled that by the time you figure out what's really going on, you'll probably be rolling your eyes at all of the coincidences and plot holes. Langdon spends much of the movie in a drug-induced mental haze. I felt the same way without the drugs. The drama "Certain Women" sets a new standard for the term "low key." Three intertwining stories about small town Montana life feature actresses Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Kirsten Stewart and Lily Gladstone. The acting is exemplary, especially from Gladstone. There isn't much drama, in the traditional sense in this extremely slow-moving glimpse into the lives of ordinary people. But for those patient viewers who allow the characters' concerns to become their own, it could prove to…

“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” could be described as “’The Last Samurai’ with a Pistol.” Tom Cruise reunites with “Samurai” director Ed Zwick in Cruise’s second go round as Lee Child’s backside-kicking ex-military policeman turned lone vigilante. While it has …

“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” could be described as “’The Last Samurai’ with a Pistol.” Tom Cruise reunites with “Samurai” director Ed Zwick in Cruise’s second go round as Lee Child’s backside-kicking ex-military policeman turned lone vigilante. While it has a sufficient action quotient for undemanding genre fans, this modest thriller is mostly boilerplate fare. Tom seems to be operating on Cruise control. “Denial” is a taut, intriguing true story about an important British legal case. Rachel Weisz plays an American historian who is sued for libel by a Holocaust denier when she calls him a liar. Is someone lying when they really believe what they say is true, even when it isn’t? “Denial” should spark some interesting post-movie coffee talk. “Ouija: Origin of Evil” is a prequel to the 2014 horror hit. When a fake medium tries out a Ouija board, her daughter becomes possessed by an evil spirit. A very talented cast and taut pacing help make this low budget entry a surprisingly effective little thriller. “Keeping Up with the Joneses” is a spy spoof that should have been a lot better than it is. Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher are a suburban couple whose lives are upended…

“American Honey” is the Shia LaBeouf drama that that was shot largely in the Kansas City area and won this year’s jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It’s an unusual coming of age drama about a hard-partying group …

“American Honey” is the Shia LaBeouf drama that that was shot largely in the Kansas City area and won this year’s jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It’s an unusual coming of age drama about a hard-partying group of misfit teens selling magazines door to door. Newcomer Sasha Lane plays a young girl who falls in with these modern day gypsies. British filmmaker Andrea Arnold offers up some interesting ideas in this drama that has won praise from many critics, but this viewer found it to be overlong, meandering and self-indulgent. May I say, “The emperor has no clothes?” In the high concept action flick “The Accountant,” Ben Affleck plays an autistic CPA who cooks the books for mobsters and drug kings. Luckily, this math genius is also an assassin with Jason Bourne-like skills. The strong supporting cast includes J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Anna Kendrick and Cynthia Addai-Robinson. While the concept is ludicrous and the plot is riddled with eye-rolling twists, “The Accountant” is more entertaining than it has any business being. “Kevin Hart: What Now?” is a standup comedy performance piece shot in front of over 50,000 people at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. Hart’s high-energy routine is…