If Beale Street Could Talk

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Kiki Layne and Stephan James give outstanding performances as Tish and Fonny, a young couple living in Harlem in the 70s and facing discrimination from the police force and justice system.

Look for a best picture nomination and possibly noms for Layne and James as well.
-
The movie ended leaving viewers with so many questions...even though it was probably the best ending to keep the story "real."

Rated R
1 hr 59 min

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

Mary Poppins Returns

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Emily Blunt deserves a nomination for her role as Mary Poppins in this entertaining and visually enjoyable sequel to the original Mary Poppins film.

Look for a best picture nomination.
-
See this one on the big screen!

Rated PG
2 hr 10 min

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

Ben is Back

☆☆☆☆☆

+
"Ben is Back" is the gripping story of Ben (Lucas Hedges), a 19 year-old drug addict living in a sober living facility, who surprises his family by coming home on Christmas Eve. The next 24 hours show what a mother (Julia Roberts) will do to keep her son alive.
Look for nominations for Julia Roberts and possibly Hedges for this film or "Boy Erased."

This film should be nominated for best picture.
-
This film may steal the thunder from "Beautiful Boy."

Rated R
1 hr 43 min

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

Second Act

☆☆☆☆

+
Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman who is tired of street smarts playing second to book smarts. She convinces everyone she can compete on Madison Avenue with just a GED...but maybe not by being completely honest.
-
Don't let so-so reviews keep you from seeing this movie. It's worth the price of admission.

Rated PG-13
1 hr 44 min

Visit the official movie website and see the trailer!

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

☆☆☆

+
A fun twist on the story of Spider-Man...with some female spider power included.
-
Just too many Spider-Man movies!

Rated PG
1 hr 57 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer!

Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Saoirse Ronan gives an award-winning performance as Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots) who enters a power struggle with Queen Elizabeth (Margot Robbie...excellent performance as well) that could change history.
-
In order to get so much information into a 2 hour film, important details were not given the attention they needed to keep the story clear.

Rated R
2 hr 4 min

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

The Favourite

☆☆☆☆

+
The performances are nomination-worthy (Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz) in the story of the competition between Lady Sarah (Weisz) and Abigail (Stone) to be the Queen's "favorite."
-
No necessarily the movie you think you are going to see based on the trailer. Not nearly as humorous as the trailer. Actually, there is more sadness and greed than humor.
Rated R
2 hr

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

At Eternity's Gate

☆☆☆☆

+
Willem Dafoe gives an award winning performance as Vincent van Gogh.
-
A little long and a little slow.

Rated PG-13
1 hr 50 min

Border (2018)

☆☆☆☆

+
The most original film to date in 2018.
-
This film surprises viewers with a storyline that at times may make you feel compassion and other times disgust.

Rated R
1 hr 41 min

subtitled

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

☆☆☆

+
The magical world is back in a prequel to the Harry Potter films.
-
From the beginning, it feels like we are supposed to know and care about these characters.
Reading the book beforehand may help.

Rated PG-13
2 hr 14 min

Green Book

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
This story about race will tug at your heart in many ways. Possible nominations.
-
See this before it leaves theaters.

Rated PG-13
2 hr 10 min

Can You Ever Forgive Me

☆☆☆☆

+
Melissa McCarthy will receive nominations for her excellent portrayal of author Lee Israel.
-
The character and her story are just so sad.

Rated R
1 hr 46 min

Boy Erased

☆☆☆☆☆

+
One of the best films of the year. "Boy Erased" tells the important story (based on true events) of a Jared (Lucas Hedges), a young man sent to a gay conversion therapy program.
-
This type of therapy is still legal in several states!

Rated R
1 hr 55 min

Nobody's Fool

☆☆☆☆

+
Tiffany Haddish lights up the screen once again in this crazy romantic comedy. Haddish plays Tanya the wild sister...and Tika Sumpter stars as Danica...the sister looking for love.
-
If you want to have some fun...go see Haddish in action.

Rated R
1 hr 50 min

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

Bohemian Rhapsody

☆☆☆☆☆

+
Rami Malek gives an Oscar worthy performance as Queen's front man Freddie Mercury.
The story of the groups ups and downs in the 70s and 80s is fulled with history, music, strong performances, laughs, and tears.

Look for Oscar nominations for best actor (Malek) and best picture.
-
Ignore any negative review!

PG-13
2 hr 15 min

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

Night School

☆☆☆

+
Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart provide the laughs in the fun story of Teddy (Hart) going back to school to get his GED...and finding a teacher that refuses to give up on him (Haddish).
-
It's a little too crazy and over-the-top, but Haddish makes it worth the price of admission.

Rated PG-13
1 hr 51 min

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

First Man

☆☆☆

+
Ryan Gosling gives an excellent (and very subtle) performance as Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.
-
The movie lacks connection.

Rated PG-13
2 hr 18 min

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

A Star is Born (2018)

☆☆☆☆☆

+
Loved the 1976 version, and this one is equally as good!
Bradley Cooper directs and stars as Jackson Maine, a popular singer who discovers and falls in love with Ally (Lady Gaga).
Cooper can not only act (and sing), but he can direct as well...and Lady Gage can act!

Awards nominations are coming their way!
-
Hard to beat the 1976 version...but they may have done it.

Rated R
2 hr 15 min

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

Colette

☆☆☆☆

+
Keira Knightley stars as Colette, the engaging story of a county girl from rural France who marries a writer...goes to Paris...becomes a ghostwriter for her husband. Conflicts arise over creative ownership and couple's changing romantic interests.

Based on a true story.
-
Looking for a little more.

Rated R
1 hr 52 min

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Life Itself

☆☆

+
"Life Itself" tells the story of a young woman (excellent performance by Olivia Wilde) who falls in love in college, her relationship, and family.
-
The story is focused on so much tragedy...that it is hard to enjoy.

Rated R
1 hr 58 min

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

A Simple Favor

☆☆☆☆

+
"A Simple Favor" stars Blake Lively (excellent performance as Emily) and Anna Kendrick (excellent performance as Stephanie) as unlikely friends that find themselves in an intriguing mystery with twists and turns.

-
One or two confusing points...but it doesn't make much difference.

Rated R
1 hr 56 min

Visit the official movie website and watch the trailer.

Juliet, Naked

☆☆☆

+
Rose Byrne stars as Juliet...married to a man that is singer Tucker Crowe's biggest fan. When Juliet and Tucker end up meeting through a fan website, the drama begins.
-
The characters could be more interesting and written in a way that we care more about them.

Rated R
1 hr 45 min

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

The Wife

☆☆☆☆1/2
+
Glenn Close (nomination worthy performance) stars as Joan, the wife of a popular novelist who wins the Nobel Prize in literature. This experience leads to family drama and a hidden truth.

-
It is difficult to find much to like about Joan's husband.

Rated R
1 hr 40 min

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

Searching

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
John Cho and Debra Messing star in the suspenseful, fast paced, and exciting story of a teenage girl that goes missing and the investigation (with twists and turns) that follows.

-
See this one before it's gone!

Rated PG-13
1 hr 42 min

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

☆☆☆☆1/2
+
Chloë Grace Moretz gives a nomination worthy performance as Cameron, a teenager caught having a sexual relationship with another female and sent to a conversion center called God's Promise.

Although compliant, Cameron questions the practices of the center and realizes that it is not working for her and others.
-
This movie may not be a blockbuster...but awareness of what some young people are forced to do because they are different makes it a must see.

Not Rated
1 hr 31 min

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

The Happytime Murders

☆☆☆1/2
+
Melissa McCarthy adds extra enjoyment to all of her movies.

When two former police officers (one puppet and one human) find themselves working together again to solve a series of puppet murders, the craziness begins.
-
This movie is NOT for the kids!

Rated R
1 hr 31 min

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

Crazy Rich Asians

☆☆☆☆
+
"Crazy Rich Asians" is the fun romcom starring Constance Wu as Rachel Chu, a woman that comes to find her boyfriend is actually part of one of richest families in Singapore.

Family secrets are revealed when Rachel and boyfriend, Nick go back to Singapore for a family wedding.
-
You may want more Awkwafina! She really steals the show...as Rachel's college friend Goh Peik Lin.

Rated PG-13
2 hr

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

Puzzle

☆☆☆☆
+
Kelly MacDonald gives a strong performance as Agnes...a woman who wants more than what she is living. She finds satisfaction in doing jigsaw puzzles...which leads to family tension.

The story is engaging...
-
...but it may be too slow for many.

Rated R
1 hr 43 min

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

Christopher Robin

☆☆☆☆

+
"Christopher Robin" is the heartwarming story of the adult Christopher (Ewan McGregor) losing his focus...only to be reminded by his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh.

With all of the love in his heart and his beautiful view of the world, Winnie-the-Pooh (voiced perfectly by Jim Cummings) is one the best characters on screen this year. Extra ☆ for Winnie.
-
It's a sweet movie. If you are looking for excitement, this may not be the movie for you.

Rated PG
1 hr 44 min

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.

Three Identical Strangers

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
The incredible true story of triplets who accidentally find each other after about 18 years of being separated by adoption. The question as to why they did not keep the three together leads to some interesting information.
-
See this before it leaves the theater.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 36 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

The Spy Who Dumped Me

☆☆☆☆

+
Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon make a great team as best friends Audrey and Morgan who end-up getting involved in an international spy situation.

Kunis and McKinnon nailed the humor and they work well as a tough duo.
-
It is violent. Leave the kids at home.

Rated R
1 hr. 56 min.

Visit the official movie website and see the trailer!

Eighth Grade

☆☆☆☆

+
"Eighth Grade" is the engaging and very real story of a teenage girl struggling to find happiness in her last year of middle school.

Excellent performance by Elsie Fisher
-
The story was almost too real. Even though the movie is very good, at times it felt like a documentary.

Rated R
1 hr. 33 min.

Visit the official movie website and watch the trailer!

Incredibles 2

☆☆☆☆

+
The family will enjoy this story about a master plan to try to get the public to support superheroes once again.
-
It may be more of the same, but take the kids and have fun.

Rated PG
1 hr. 58 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
This documentary tells the real story of the incredible Fred Rogers...the man who cared deeply about children and their world. Married with children of his own, he worked tirelessly to bring his show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" to the small screen...addressing issues such as race and assassination.
-
Emotional story for anyone who cares about children and making their world a better place.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 34 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

☆☆☆☆

+
If you enjoy music, fun, and Cher...go see this story of Donna (played by Merly Streep)in her early years (meeting Sophie's fathers and getting pregnant) juxtaposed to Sophie's story of opening a hotel (and becoming pregnant as well).
-
Had to wait a long time to see Cher, but it was worth it.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 54 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

☆☆☆☆

+
Paul Rudd adds that extra something to his character once again to make this story of he and the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly...great performance) fun and entertaining.
-
Honestly...a little confusing when it comes to entering a different dimension.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 58 min.

Visit the official movie website and see the trailer.

Leave No Trace

☆☆☆☆

+
The quiet and absorbing story of a father suffering from PTSD and his teenage daughter who are homeless by his choice...living on someone else's land.
-
Viewing the film...the frustration mounts as the father continues to turn down help...including a place to live.

Rated PG
1 hr. 49 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

☆☆☆1/2

+
The dinosaurs' home is in danger, and the question is..."Should they be saved or allowed to become extinct?"

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard make a good team.
-
A little less exciting than the first installment...but worth seeing.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 8 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Hotel Artemis

☆☆☆1/2

+
Great to see Jodie Foster on the screen again playing a nurse who is in charge of a criminals only hospital.

Set in the future...the technology is interesting.
-
Be ready for quirky and unusual.

Rated R
1 hr. 33 min.

Visit the official movie website and watch the trailer.

Tag

☆☆☆1/2

+
Every year in the month of May five adult friends come together for a relentless game of tag. The fact that this film is based on a true story...makes it even more fun.
-
The story gets a little out of control and over the top.

Stay to see some actual footage of the real life friends.

Rated R
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Ocean's 8

☆☆☆1/2

+
Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) brings together eight of the smartest and toughest women (all star cast includes Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, and more) she can find to help organize and execute this fun to watch $150 million heist.
-
Although it is very similar to the other male dominated films...it is worth the price of a ticket.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.

Overboard

☆☆☆1/2

+
In this fun and heartwarming film...Anna Faris stars as Kate, a single mom trying to make ends meet. When she is fired by a billionaire...Kate decides to try and outsmart him when he ends-up with amnesia after falling overboard on his yacht.
-
If you want to have a little fun...ignore any bad reviews and see this film.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

Deadpool 2

☆☆☆☆

+
Ryan Reynolds is back (and funnier than ever) as Wade Wilson...a superhero (Deadpool) battling villains and trying to save family and friends.
-
Don't leave too early and miss the post credit scenes.

Rated R
1 hr. 51 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Avengers: Infinity War

☆☆☆☆

+
In this exciting and action packed story...the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, and more come together to fight Thanos...one of the greatest villains in Marvel comics.
-
Some distracting C.G.I.

Stay for the post-credit scene to get a hint at what's coming next.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 29 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer!

Book Club

☆☆☆

+
Four great actresses (Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen) join forces in this enjoyable story about putting the zest back into your life.
-
The story just doesn't have enough...feeling, humor, and depth.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 44 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.

Life of the Party

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Melissa McCarthy stars as Deanna, a divorced mother who decides to go back to her daughter's college to finish her degree.
McCarthy hits all of the right notes in this laugh out loud comedy!
-
See it again before it leaves the theaters.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 45 min.

Visit the official movie website and watch the trailer.

Tully

☆☆☆☆

+
Marlo (Charlize Theron), struggling to be the best mother she can be to her three kids, starts to unravel after the third is born. Marlo's brother hires her a night nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis), who saves her sanity.
Theron and Davis give excellent performances in this very real dramedy.
-
In this very real story...there is an unreal twist.

Rated R
1 hr. 34 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.