Mad Max: Fury Road

☆☆☆☆

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No one plays tough better than Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron...who stars in this post-apocalyptic sci-fi action adventure.

Winner of several Academy Awards...including film editing, production design, costume design, make-up/hairstyling, sound mixing, and sound editing.
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Tough to find in theaters...but worth the effort.

Rated R
2 hr.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

☆☆☆☆

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The seventh installment of the Star Wars saga is filled with action and adventure, and is sure to please Star Wars fans.
Great to be reacquainted with all of our favorite characters: Han Solo (Harrison Ford) , Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).
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It felt like watching a movie we have already seen. The film doesn't seem to be keeping-up with the times.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 16 min.

The Revenant

☆☆☆☆1/2

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Based on true events, "The Revenant" is a cinematic experience starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass...an explorer attacked by a bear and left for dead by a member of his own hunting team.

A top contender for the Oscar for best picture, best actor (DiCaprio), and best director (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu).
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Although DiCaprio gives an amazing performance...the lack of dialogue (some very difficult to understand) and the length of the film make it feel a little long.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Rated R
2 hr. 36 min.

The Big Short

☆☆☆☆1/2

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Adapted from Michael Lewis' best seller "The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine," the film manages to take a story about the housing credit bust from a few years ago and make it into an entertaining story with strong performances by Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt.
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May be a little hard to understand and follow at times...but some fun "explanations breaks" help keep viewers on-track.

Rated R
2 hr. 10 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Carol

☆☆☆☆☆

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Based on the novel "The Price of Salt," "Carol" is a beautiful story of a woman who falls in love with another woman.
The performances are strong and subtle (Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara), and the film creates a mood that captivates the viewer.

Look for more award nominations for this film (best actress, best supporting actress, best picture).
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Some may want more emotional impact.

Rated R
1 hr. 58 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Joy

☆☆☆☆1/2

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Yes...this story of the woman who invents a mop is not only engaging...but it also offers great performances, laughs, inspiration, and a few tears of joy.
Jennifer Lawrence gives a Golden Globe nominated performance as Joy.
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Isabella Rossellini is miscast as Trudy (love interest of Joy's grandfather...Robert De Niro).

Rated PG-13
2 hr.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

The Danish Girl

☆☆☆☆1/2

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Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander give award winning performances as artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener (respectively) in this moving love story (based on true events) of a couple loving each other in spite of the husband coming to terms with being transgendered.
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This is what some might call a tragic love story...and (aside from the ending) it lacks emotional impact.

Rated R
2 hr.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Sisters

☆☆☆1/2

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The comedy team of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler produce and star in this fun (and at times laugh out loud) holiday season comedy about two sisters who decide to throw one last house party before their parents sell the family home.
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The screenplay (the party) gets a little out of control.

Rated R
1 hr. 58 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Trumbo

☆☆☆☆

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Based on a true story, "Trumbo" is the engaging story of Dalton Trumbo (strong performance by Bryan Cranston)...one on Hollywood's best screenwriters until he was added to the Hollywood blacklist.
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The screenplay is engaging...but slow moving.

Rated R
2 hr. 4 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

The Good Dinosaur

☆☆☆☆

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Pixar's "The Good Dinosaur" is the heartwarming story of Arlo, a dinosaur who makes an unlikely friend.
This film delivers some of the best animation to date...along with an all-star cast including Frances McDormand, John Lithgow, Neil Patrick Harris, Bill Hader, and Judy Greer
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The story could have been stronger.

Rated PG
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

Spotlight

☆☆☆☆1/2

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"Spotlight" is the compelling story of the Boston Globe's investigation and ultimate story regarding allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church.
All star cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Billy Crudup, Stanley Tucci, and John Slattery.
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The actors don't all get to show the depth of their talent.
Some say the story is several years too late.

Rated R
2 hr. 7 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Brooklyn

☆☆☆☆1/2

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Once in a great while...a movie comes along that is so satisfying. "Brooklyn" is one of these movies. Saoirse Ronan gives a wonderful performance as Eilis Lacey, a young woman who leaves Ireland for opportunities in America. Once she is settled in Brooklyn, she must go back home...and then decide if she will ever return to the man she met in America.
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This story may be a little "quiet" for many movie goers.

PG-13
1 hr. 51 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

☆☆☆☆

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The final chapter of the "Hunger Games" series offers excitement and non-stop action as Katniss Everdeen (perfectly cast Jennifer Lawrence) leaves District 13 to kill President Snow and save the citizens of war-torn Panem.
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Tough to live-up to the first few installments in this franchise.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 16 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Room

✩✩✩✩1/2

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"Room" tells the story of a women who gives birth to a son after a few years of captivity. "Ma" and her son "Jack" live in the one room shed for five years before they manage to come-up with a plan to escape. Brie Larson (Ma) and Jacob Tremblay (Jack) give award winning performances in this powerful and emotional story.
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The second half doesn't offer the same "power."
Too often child actors do not get the recognition they deserve...and Jacob Tremblay deserves recognition.

Rated R
1 hr. 53 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Miss You Already

✩✩✩

Written Review Coming Soon

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Burnt

☆☆☆1/2

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"Burnt" is the engaging story of Chef Adam Jones (well-played by Bradley Cooper) who returns to the restaurant world looking to redeem himself (by earning 3 Michelin stars) after losing everything due to drugs and alcohol.
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Foodies may appreciate the focus on preparing food. Sometimes it seems it is more about that than the actual story.

Rated R
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

The Martian

☆☆☆☆

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In this powerful story...Matt Damon gives an excellent performance as Astronaut Mark Watney, who was left behind for dead on a special Mars mission.
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It's predictable...but the ending still manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

PG-13
2 hr. 14 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Steve Jobs

☆☆☆1/2

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An interesting slice of Steve Jobs' (strong performance by Michael Fassbender) life through behind the scenes product launches. The story helps to reveal not only Jobs' genius, but also his struggle with fatherhood.

All star cast includes Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels.
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The story is "thin," and Jobs' character is an unlikeable bully.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Rated R
2 hr. 2 min.

The Intern

☆☆☆☆1/2

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"The Intern" is the well-written and truly funny story of Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) a retired businessman who applies and becomes an intern for an online fashion website headed-up by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). An unlikely, but heart warming, connection develops between Ostin and Whittaker.
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Hathaway's husband may have been miscast.
Ignore any negative reviews, and go see this feel-good movie.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 1 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Grandma

☆☆☆☆1/2

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Lily Tomlin gives one of her best performances to date in this entertaining and touching story of Grandma and Granddaughter (Sage played by Julia Garner) coming together for a day that changes their family forever.

The audience laughed and cried in this truly satisfying movie.
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Don't pay attention to any negative reviews. This one is worth seeing!

Rated R
1 hr. 22 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.