Take Two: “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” (PG)
The quirky short story by Roald Dahl ("The Witches") is now a quirky short film on Netflix directed by Wes Anderson ("Asteroid City").
Freeze Frame: “Napoleon” (R), “Wish” (PG), “Saltburn” (R), “Dashing Through the Snow” (PG), “Leo” (PG)
"Napoleon," Ridley Scott's historical epic about the infamous French emperor, comes up a bit short. Joaquin Phoenix mumbles his way through this visually spectacular, often funny, but dramatically lackluster extravaganza. This Napoleon is a petulant and childish ruler cuckolded by his wife Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby. His megalomania is strangely...
Take Two: “Miranda’s Victim” (Not rated)
The story behind the Supreme Court's historic Miranda Ruling is the focus of the drama, "Miranda's Victim." Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") plays Trish Weir, who suffered a rape in 1963 and fought a technicality that kept her rapist out of jail.
Take Two: “The Killer” (R)
The dark Netflix thriller "The Killer" stars Michael Fassbender ("Next Goal Wins") as a philosophical assassin who scrambles to save himself when a hit goes bad. It's the latest from director David Fincher ("The Social Network," "Gone Girl").
Freeze Frame: “Rustin” (R), “Next Goal Wins” (PG-13), “Trolls Band Together” (PG), “Best. Christmas. Ever!” (TV-PG)
A riveting performance from Colman Domingo and an important untold story propel the Netflix biopic, "Rustin." The film focuses on the Civil Rights activist Bayard Rustin and his efforts to organize the groundbreaking 1963 March on Washington while deflecting criticisms within the movement about his gay lifestyle. While structurally unbalanced,...
Take Two: “Pain Hustlers” (R)
Emily Blunt ("Oppenheimer") and Chris Evans ("Captain America") star in the Netflix opioid crisis drama, "Pain Hustlers." They play pharmaceutical sales reps who skirt the law by offering bribes to doctors to prescribe their addictive meds.
FREEZE FRAME: “Priscilla” (R), “What Happens Later” (R), “The Marsh King’s Daughter” (R), “Nyad” (PG-13)
“Priscilla,” Sophia Coppola’s subtle and nuanced movie about the relationship of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, is the polar opposite of Baz Luhrmann’s flashy and bombastic musical biopic “Elvis.” Cailee Spaney and Jacob Elordi are well cast in this tale of the unsteady tightrope walk of love and fame. It’s solid,...
Freeze Frame: “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (PG-13), “The Killer” (R), “Anatomy of a Fall” (R), “Pain Hustlers” (R)
The PG-13-rated Halloween offering "Five Nights at Freddy's" plays on the creepy feelings generated by those animatronic animals at kids' pizza joints. Josh Hutcherson plays a night security guard who discovers that the robotic creatures at an abandoned entertainment venue have murderous intent. “Five Night’s at Freddies” is very, very silly,...
