- What: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
- Who: Directed by Joachim Roning; starring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Harris Dickinson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Rated: PG
- Running time: 120 minutes
- When: Now playing
- Where: Area theaters
- Grade: B+
The sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has deep roots in the Disney canon. The original 2014 film was a spinoff from Disney’s iconic animated picture the 1959 Sleeping Beauty.
That story was lifted from the Brother’s Grimm who penned the original fairy tale in 1821.The 2014 Maleficent with Angelina Jolie in the lead grossed more than $190 million dollars at the box office. In it, Aurora, played by Fanning, comes to terms with her evil queen caretaker Maleficent, played by Jolie.
This sequel has Aurora planning to wed Prince Phillip while the two future mother-in-laws, Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer, go to war over the wedding. It’s a corker.
This is just to say, that this is more than a fairy tale for little girls. There’s an entertaining drama for the grown-ups too.
- What: The Lighthouse
- Who: Directed by Robert Eggers; stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattison
- Rated: R
- Running time: 110 minutes
- When: Playing now
- Where: Area theaters
- Grade: A
Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson are brilliant as an odd couple pair of lighthouse keepers on the coast of New England circa 1890.
What begins as two-man character study quickly devolves into a tale of derangement and madness. This black and white, low-budget film is nothing less than a horror masterpiece that is not for the feint of heart or mind.
This is a very disturbing piece of cinema. It will take some time before you get this story out of your head.
- What: Black and Blue
- Who: Directed by Deon Taylor; stars Naomie Harris,Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Naffessa Williams and Mike Colter.
- Rated: PG-13.
- Running time: 108 minutes.
- When: Now playing
- Where: Area theaters
- Grade: B
This is a better than average urban crime story that involves Naomie Harris as a new cop on the New Orleans police force who witnesses undercover narcotics cops murder a group of drug dealers. The crime is recorded on her body camera and suddenly she is Public Enemy No.1 to the narcs on the NOPD. Fast-paced and action packed.
- What: Harriet
- Who: Directed by Kasi Lemons; stars Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monae and Clark Peters
- Rated: PG-13
- Running time: 125 minutes
- When: Now playing
- Where: Area theaters
- Grade: B-
Harriet is the by-the-numbers historical telling of the life of freedom fighter Harriet Tubman. Cynthia Erivo is powerful in the lead role as the woman who started the underground railroad that led so many slaves to freedom. It’s both educational and entertaining, if a bit long.
- What: The Current War
- Who: Directed by Alfonzo Gomez Rejon; stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Holland and Katherine Waterson
- Rated: PG-13
- Running time: 107 minutes
- When: Now playing
- Where: Area theater
- Grade: D
This is story of the battle between Thomas Edison (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (played by Michael Shannon) as they both race to bring electricity to America. Sadly, it is under two hours but feels more like five. It’s beautifully shot but talky, clunky and boring. Tedious in the extreme.
- What: JoJo Rabbit
- Who: Directed by Taika Waititi; stars Roman Griffin Davis, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johanson and Rebel Wilson
- Rated: PG-13
- Running time: 108 minutes
- When: Opens Nov. 1
- Where: Area theaters
- Grade: A+
This movie about a 10-year-old boy in Nazi Germany whose mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic is hard to describe because it is sweet, scary, hilarious, and heartbreaking all at once. Writer, director, and actor Taika Waititi—who plays the boy’s imaginary friend, Adolph Hitler—is a mighty filmmaking force to be reckoned with. JoJo Rabbit establishes him as one of the greats in all of cinema history. Not to be missed.
