In theaters this week
Published 9:26 am Friday, January 5, 2018
Can’t decide what to see this weekend?
Bowling Green Daily News film critic Micheal Compton is here to tell you the best – and worst – now playing at your local cineplex.
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All the Money in the World (B)
Christopher Plummer stepped in at the last minute in place of Kevin Spacey in a compelling thriller from Ridley Scott that you wouldn’t know while watching that the film had extensive reshoots a month before its release. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)
Coco (B)
PIXAR’s latest is a visual marvel, with a strong message about the importance of family. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Darkest Hour (A)
This could easily have been a one-man show – with a transformative piece of work from Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill – and been a film that is well worth your time.
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Fortunately, director Joe Wright doesn’t rest on the incredible work of his lead actor. The result is a crisply paced film with many layers, thanks to a supporting cast that brings depth to the story and Wright’s sharp eye behind the camera. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
The Disaster Artist (A-)
Directed and starring James Franco, it’s a delightful tale of how one man followed his dreams at all costs and made the cult hit “The Room” – something that was so bad, it become a “you have to see it, to believe it event.” (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Downsizing (B-)
An interesting premise gets a little bogged down in preachiness in this Alexander Payne comedy that stars Matt Damon and features amazing work from Hong Chau (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)
Father Figures (D+)
Very few laughs are to be found in this long delayed comedy starring Owen Wilson and Ed Helms as brothers who set out to find their real father. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
Ferdinand (B-)
A mildly engaging family film that features John Cena as a voice of a bull who seeks to find his true calling. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall 10, Highland Cinemas)
The Greatest Showman (C)
There is a lot of razzle dazzle, but no real pizzaz in this musical based on the life of P.T. Barnum. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
Insidious: The Last Key (not reviewed at this time)
(Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
Jumanji (C+)
A part reboot, part follow-up to the 1995 Robin Williams hit that has a strong cast doing some really good work, but then completely wastes it with a convoluted script and a parade of CGI moments that overshadow what the cast is doing. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
Justice League (B)
Continuing DC’s momentum from “Wonder Woman,” “Justice League” is a breezy, fun extension of “Batman vs. Superman” that finally feels like the event superhero movie that DC has tried to concoct since “Man of Steel.” It isn’t quite up to the same level as “Wonder Woman,” but it is still a pleasant surprise and is easier to defend than “Batman vs. Superman” or “Man of Steel.” (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Lady Bird (A)
You don’t have to be from California or have grown up in the early 2000s to appreciate “Lady Bird,” the beautiful new film from Greta Gerwig.
The indie darling wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical film that should ring true with almost every audience member. It’s a personal story, but also a coming-of-age tale that anyone can identify with, at least in part. Gerwig handles it with extreme confidence, and it doesn’t hurt to have a strong cast anchored by a pair of actresses who probably have Oscar nominations in their futures. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Pitch Perfect 3 (C-)
The third time is not the charm for this comedy, with the entire cast going through the motions. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (A-)
The “Star Wars” franchise kicks into high gear with “The Last Jedi,” the second installment of the reboot trilogy, with director Rian Johnson taking the reigns from J.J. Abrams and delivering one of the best films in the series.
Johnson, best known for the Bruce Willis/Joseph Gordon-Levitt time-shifting thriller “Looper,” grabs the audience from the very first scene and doesn’t let up, guiding viewers on a thrill ride that will have audiences gasping, laughing and perhaps even shedding a tear. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas)
Thor: Ragnarok (A-)
The third solo film for the Norse God is easily the best of the three films, aided by a clever script that gives the title character a lighter side and the watchful eye of director Taika Waititi. As Marvel Universe films go, this is one of the lightest – but also one of the funniest. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Wonder (B)
This story of a young boy with a deformity who goes to school for the first time is a must for all school age children with its strong message about the effects of bullying. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)