Take Two: “Napoleon” (R)
Filmmaker Ridley Scott ("Gladiator") tries his hand at yet another epic, "Napoleon." Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") stars as the French emperor and military genius.
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...
Take Two: “Leave the World Behind” (R)
Julia Roberts ("Eat, Pray, Love"), Mahershala Ali ("Green Book") and Ethan Hawke ("Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery") star in the apocalyptic Netflix thriller, "Leave the World Behind," directed by Sam Esmail ("Mr. Robot").
Freeze Frame: “Maestro” (R), “Elieen” (R), “Leave the World Behind” (R), “Merry Little Batman” (TV-Y7)
The contentious relationship between renowned composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia is the focus of the biopic, "Maestro." It's in theaters now and on Netflix on December 20th. Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan will likely receive Oscar nominations for their impressive performances in this drama that deals with Bernstein's...
Freeze Frame: “Candy Cane Lane” (PG), “May December” (R), “Family Switch” (PG), “Under the Influencer” (Not rated)
Eddie Murphy's comic dexterity isn't enough to save the bloated Amazon Prime Christmas fantasy, "Candy Cane Lane." Murphy makes a deal with a backslidden elf to help him win a neighborhood decoration prize. There is too much of everything in this wacky and painfully overlong mess. “Candy Cane Lane” is...
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.
