Take Two: “The Union” (PG-13)
Mark Wahlberg ("Arthur the King") and Halle Berry ("Monster's Ball") star in the Netflix spy comedy, "The Union."
Freeze Frame: “Alien: Romulus” (R), “The Union” (PG-13), “My Penguin Friend” (PG), “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” (PG-13)
After 45 years and eight previous "Alien" movies, is it possible for yet another installment to be exciting, suspenseful and fresh? In the hands of director Fede Alverez, the answer is "Yes." In "Alien: Romulus" the action takes place between the events of the first and second movies. Springfield, Missouri native...
Freeze Frame: “Love Lies Bleeding” (R), “Arthur the King” (PG-13), “One Life” (PG), “American Dreamer” (Not rated)
The action thriller "Love Lies Bleeding" is an example of extremely well-made sleaze, a midnight movie with a mind. Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brien star in a twisted lesbian romance embellished with violent revenge and occasional magic realism. It's sordid and excessive but give a tip of the hat for...
Freeze Frame: “Wonka” (PG), “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” (PG), “The Family Plan (PG-13)
Did we really need a musical prequel to the classic 1971 fantasy "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?" No. But I'm still glad that we got one. Timothy Chalamet is terrific as the young Wonka in this tuneful and imaginative lark that serves as Willy's origin story. Yes, it's corny...
Freeze Frame: “Three Thousand Years of Longing” (R), “Me Time” (R), “Breaking” (PG-13), “Samaritan” (PG-13)
The Idris Elba film fest continues for the second week in a row with the ambitious fantasy, "Three Thousand Years of Longing." Elba plays a genie who emerges from a bottle to grant scholar Tilda Swinton three wishes. What follows is an off-beat philosophical meditation on human desire. This earnest...
Take Two: “Father Stu” (R)
Mark Wahlberg ("The Departed") stars in the true story of boxer-turned-priest, Stuart Long.
Freeze Frame: “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” (PG-13), “Father Stu” (R)
The Harry Potter prequels have all the superior production values that fans have come to expect from this popular franchise. And while better than the previous episode, "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" is still saddled with a somewhat clunky, meandering storyline. Jude Law returns as Hogwarts professor Albus Dumbledore,...
Freeze Frame: “Uncharted” (PG-13), “Dog” (PG-13), “The Worst Person in the World” (R)
Someday, someone will make a really good movie adaptation of a video game. It has to happen, eventually, right? "Uncharted," based on the PlayStation title, is the latest attempt. It’s an adventure yarn in the mold of Indiana Jones that has a likable cast, spectacular production values and plenty of...
