Hollywood Rx

What can be said by now that hasn’t already been said about Ryan Coogler’s FUBU superhero epic that continues a long history of…absolutely nothing else like it. But it takes more than a daily dose of vibranium for maladies to escape the forensic eyes of the Doctors. Put this tiger in your tank!

Not since Silence of the Lambs has a film generated so many quips of “They gave it to THAT?!?” Guillermo del Toro’s sensual fantasy boldly goes where no Best Picture has gone before, commingling genres as easily as, er, its characters. Your favorite cinemedics return from hiatus and dive deep to chart the see-worthiness of this monster love story. Anchors await…

Do androids dream of lethargic sequels? In his latest LA story, Ryan Gosling stars as a replicant desperately searching for his origins. Denis Villeneuve delivers every sci-fi geek’s wet dream of a follow-up to Ridley Scott’s iconic portrait of a not-too-distant dystopia – and upholds the tradition of atmosphere and ambiguity. So is he or isn’t he?  Is this a brilliant reboot or humdrum homage? The gloves come off as your good doctors trade blades for scalpels in this epic dissection of this long-imagined sequel and the original 1982 film. (If you’ve never seen the original and/or just want to get to the sequel, zip ahead to 38:09, although we do reference points made in the original film.)

Christopher Nolan returns and manages to twist time in this harrowing WW II story spanning three overlapping stories. Understated yet powerful, this utterly unique war movie leaves your good doctors breathless -- and certain that you'll be too.

While the world wrings its wrists and the bookies sweat the odds, your good doctors close the season with a dive deep – deep into the bottle – in search of Oscar gold. Who’ll get gypped? Who’ll win undeservedly? And who had no business being nominated? Fasten your headsets – it’s going to be a bumpy night! Cast your vote for this year’s best Oscar prediction show and drink along at home...

Let’s cut to the chase, folks: Your good doctors were mesmerized by this quietly devastating film chronicling three periods in the life of a young gay black man played by three different actors. Writer-director Barry Jenkins and a phenomenal cast transcend all expectations in this virtual cinematic symphony about love and identity. What does speechless sound like? Find out with us...

One of the most talked-about movies of the year, 'Manchester by the Sea' plays like an ode to the human condition. Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, and Lucas Hedges turn in stellar performances, and writer-director Kenneth Lonergan keeps many hands close to his chest. With its unique blend of tragic circumstances and almost painfully comic moments, can one call it the Feel-Good Grief Movie of the Year? The doctors have plenty to say on the matter…

In the mood for love? Damien Chazelle’s epic love poem to the Golden Age of Musicals has it all – songs by streetlamp, dances on stardust, and two leads whose chemistry could melt permafrost. But for all the dreamy delights, your good doctors find themselves on opposite sides of the age-old dilemma of tunes versus tonsils. The gloves and scrubs come off as we put the spotlight on Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and… Shelley Duvall?!?? They sure don’t 'cast ‘em like this anymore...

A stunning linguist (Amy Adams) is recruited to decipher the alien language of Earth’s first extra-terrestrial visitors. Director Denis Villenueve seems determined to channel Christopher Nolan with moody ambience and introspective performances, but if it looks alien and sounds alien, is it welcome in the Sci-Fi Hall of Fame?? The Doctors present a dissection worthy of an Area 51 autopsy table. Fasten your headphones…

Check your senses at the door! Benedict Cumberbatch stars in the latest comic book extravaganza about a broken antihero who masters the art of astro-dimensional super powers and cape-flinging. Its quasi-mysticism angle aside, the film is uniquely dazzling, even for a comic book movie, and The Batch embodies the titular hero uncannily, but can this potion cure superhero fatigue? 'Cast this spell to find out!