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Annette Bening gives a "spot on" performance as Dorothea, a single mom living in Santa Barbara (1979) and trying her best to be the best parent she can be.
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Too many quirky characters with very little to work with as far as screenplay.
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James Franco gives a solid comedic performance as Laird, a young billionaire who is struggling to make a good impression on his girlfriend's parents (Bryan Cranston, Megan Mullally).
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Ignore bad reviews if you want to just have fun!
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"Hidden Figures" tells the incredible story (based on true events) of three brilliant African-American women who, due to their race, were working behind the scenes at NASA...but vital to the success of John Glenn's launch into space.
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae give outstanding performances. Look for nominations.
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Some say the screenplay is a little too casual about the struggles these women faced.
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Natalie Portman gives an award winning performance as Jackie Kennedy in the tragic story of the days following the assassination of President John K. Kennedy.
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See this movie before it leaves theaters!
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The entertaining and heartfelt story (based on true events) of Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep - Golden Globe Nomination), an heiress with a terrible voice who aspires to be an opera singer.
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Actually felt sorry for Florence, and certain scenes were tough to watch.
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Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt team-up in this entertaining sci-fi action adventure as Aurora and Jim...two passengers on a 120 year journey to another planet...who wake-up 90 years too early.
Lawrence and Pratt not only bring the chemistry...but they make this film work.
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Ignore any negative reviews and see this film!
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Look for an Academy Award nomination for Viola Davis for an outstanding performance as Rose, the wife of Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington)...a man living with deep unhappiness and pain...that he takes out on his family...due to being unable to reach his dreams.
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The script of "Fences"...based on August Wilson's play...is caught between being a movie or a play.
It is filled with long character speeches...that feel like soliloquies...and create a disconnection between the characters.
Davis manages to make the words on the page seem real, and her performance is the reason for the extra ☆.
Viewers need to find some redeeming qualities in a character, and it is difficult with Troy Maxson.
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"Lion" is the engaging, heart tugging story (based on true events) of Saroo (excellent performance by Dev Patel), who after being separated from his family at the age of five and adopted by an Australian couple...is compelled to find his mother and brother in his home county of India.
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The story slows mid-movie, but picks-up the pace toward the end.
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"La La Land" is not only one of the best movies of the year...it is a movie that will stay with you forever. It is a story...told through music, dance, laughs, and tears...of two young people trying to make it work while chasing their hopes and dreams in Los Angles.
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling give performances worthy of Academy Award nominations.
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From a movie making perspective...the ending will please, but...
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Based on a true story..."Loving" (directed by Jeff Nichols) is the touching story of the love of an interracial couple fighting (all the way to the Supreme Court) for the right to live as husband and wife in their hometown in Virginia.
The strength and love of this couple is inspiring.
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The story lacked the emotional impact it could have had.
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"Moonlight" is the award winning film directed by Barry Jenkins that tells a three part moving story of a man coming to terms with his sexuality (as a boy, a teen, and an adult).
Look for Academy Award nominations.
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The teen character may have been miscast.
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Hailee Steinfeld steals the show in an award winning performance as Nadine, a struggling 17 year old high school junior who loses her father and her only friend...all of which adds to her downward spiral.
"Edge..." strikes a great balance of comedy and drama.
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See this movie before it leaves theaters!
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In one of the best films of the year to date, Casey Affleck gives an award worthy performance as Lee Chandler, a Boston janitor whose brother passes and leaves him as guardian of his nephew Patrick.
Well developed characters, good mix of drama and a little humor, and strong performances by Michelle Williams and Affleck (one of the most natural actors in front of the camera) add up to an excellent film.
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Looking for a little more emotion.
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Writer/Director Tom Ford creates a spellbinding, moody, sleek, sexy thriller staring Amy Adams as an art gallery owner who is captivated by a novel written by her ex-husband (played out on the screen)...a novel that makes her take a difficult look at her current life.
Outstanding performances (and possibly a few nominations) by Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Michael Shannon.
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Ignore any negative reviews and see this movie.
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In this entertaining old Hollywood film, Oscar winner Warren Beatty stars (directs, and co-produces) as billionaire Howard Hughes who employees
and ends-up becoming very involved in the lives of young actress (Lily Collins) her driver (Alden Ehrenreich).
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Difficult to take on the character of Howard Hughes after the image of Leonardo DiCaprio's award winning performance a few years back.
Unfortunately, the story is somewhat forgettable.
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J.K. Rowling brings a little magic back in the story of Newt Scamander (great performance by Eddie Redmayne) a young brit who comes to America with a case full of creatures that end-up causing some problems for the wizarding community and the city of New York.
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The story just does not development into anything exciting or even all that interesting.
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In this engaging sci-fi film...Amy Adams stars as Louise Banks, a linguist called on to investigate the alien language, and in turn help save the world.
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Expectations could have been too high.
The reactions to the arrival of the spacecrafts was underplayed, and it was hard to get a sense of the impact of such an event.
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In this fun and entertaining Marvel film, Benedict Cumberbatch gives a strong performance as Stephen Strange...a surgeon forced to give-up his career...only to become a powerful sorcerer.
Outstanding special effects.
Great mix of fantasy and reality.
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Do not miss the post credit scenes by leaving too early.
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Oscar winner Renée Zellweger is back as the endearing Bridget Jones. In this funny third installment of the franchise, Bridget finds herself pregnant...but uncertain which of her two love interests (Patrick Dempsey or Colin Firth) is the father.
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It may be tough to find in theaters, but worth the rental.
