In theaters this week
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.
The Accountant (D+)
(Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas)
The Birth of a Nation (B)
Nate Parker’s story about Nat Turner’s slave uprising is full of powerful moments, but also uneven with some moments of heavy-handiness with imagery and symbolism that sometimes distracts from the story. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)
Blair Witch (C)
The follow-up to the 1999 horror game-changer that ushered in the found footage era tries to expand the myth of the original a bit, with a few different twists on the original tale. But those moments aren’t properly taken advantage of as they are quickly skipped over and not expanded upon in a manner that would have been more effective. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Bridget Jones’s Baby (C)
A stale third entry into the franchise that doesn’t feel like it was really needed. Not as funny as it wants to be, until a final act that comes way too little too late. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)
Deepwater Horizon (B+)
Director Peter Berg and actor Mark Wahlberg reteam in this stirring tale of the 2010 oil-rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that resulted in the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
The explosion itself is an amazing spectacle, but the film also takes time to make the audience invested in the crew’s plight – only enhancing the drama. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
The Girl on the Train (C-)
This adaptation of the Paula Hawkins novel tries to capture the same vibe as “Gone Girl,” but doesn’t translate well to the screen with a clunky narratibe and a twist that ultimately isn’t very twisty. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas)
Don’t Breathe (C+)
A thriller that starts out well enough before eventually jumping the rails, resulting in a near miss that could have been more. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Hell or High Water (A)
A good, old-fashioned Texas potboiler with a magnificent cast that builds to an explosive finale. It’s one of 2016’s best films. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)
Kevin Hart: What Now? (C)
The latest concert film from the popular comedian is an uneven endeavor with a clunky framing device around an inconsistent stand up routine. It’s not completely void of laughs, but not as funny as it thinks it is either. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas)
The Magnificent Seven (B)
I’m not sure if there was a major outcry for a remake of “The Magnificent Seven,” the 1960 Western spectacle that was itself a remake of the Akira Kurosawa film “Seven Samurai,” yet here we are with an all-star cast headed by Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua ready to take this story and saddle up one more time.
As modern Westerns go, “The Magnificent Seven” has enough juice to qualify as crowd-pleasing – with the cast bringing plenty to the table and Fuqua moving it all along briskly. It’s a light piece of rootin’-tootin’ fluff that serves its purpose as entertaining escapism. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas, Franklin Drive-In)
Masterminds (F)
A comedy based on true events surrounding one of the biggest heists in U.S. history takes a very talented cast (including Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig, and Owen Wilson) and completely wastes them. It’s like watching a Saturday Night Live sketch that won’t end, only there is no DVR fast forward option (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Max Steel (not reviewed at this time)
(Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (not reviewed at this time)
(Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (B-)
A solid bit of fantasy from director Tim Burton, that may not cover much new ground but is still able to play to Burton’s strengths. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas, Franklin Drive-In)
Queen of Katwe (B)
Chess gets the Disney treatment in “Queen of Katwe,” the latest in a string of sports movies from the studio, ranging from “Remember the Titans” to “The Rookie” to “The Miracle.” And while some might consider chess a bit of a stretch when it comes to being a sport, the film’s infectious charm, similar to the films mentioned, can’t be denied. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)
Priceless (not reviewed at this time)
(Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)
The Secret Life of Pets (B)
This animated film that builds off the idea of what pets are like when the owners are away. It is a fund film for the whole family, with a fully realized universe that left me with a big smile on my face throughout. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)
Storks (B)
A goofy entry from Warner Brothers animation that has something for all ages. It’s full of silliness, butt here are actually moments that tug a little at the heart strings. One of the more pleasant surprises in recent memory. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)
Suicide Squad (B-)
Both frustrating and engaging this is a mixed-bag entry into the DC Comics film universe.
It’s overstuffed with a rather conventional villain and story, yet it also manages to build up enough good will thanks to three standout performances from Margot Robbie, Will Smith, and Viola Davis. It’s a step in the right direction for DC but still a long way from being in the Marvel league. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
Sully (B)
This essentially is a two-man showcase – one in front of the camera and one behind it.
The movie, based on the 2009 plane crash on the Hudson River where all 155 passengers survived, is anchored by strong work from Tom Hanks, but it also allows Clint Eastwood to showcase his skills as a director. It’s fascinating to watch this film unfold and realize that the 86-year-old continues to create work that is challenging yet entertaining. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)
– For showtimes visit regmovies.com or fandango.com or marqueecinemas.com