Movies: New and Noteworthy

COMING THIS WEEK

By Gary Thompson

Kong: Skull Island. Explorers (Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston) venture into the jungle of a remote and forgotten Pacific Island, where they find a very large, hairy problem. PG-13

Donald Cried. Often funny, often excruciating comedy about a Manhattan banker (Jesse Wakefield) who returns to his small Rhode Island hometown to take care of his grandmother's estate and ends up being drawn by an estranged friend (Kris Avedisian) into a world and an identity he'd hoped to leave behind. No MPAA rating.

Mr. Gaga

Documentary about internationally acclaimed choreographer Ohad Naharin, who created the daring form of dance and "movement language" gaga.

The Ottoman Lieutenant On the brink of World War I, an idealistic nurse from the United States falls in love with a lieutenant in the Ottoman Imperial Army.

Wolves A high school basketball star who seems to have it all struggles with a difficult family life.

Reviewed by critics Tirdad Derakhshani (T.D.), Molly Eichel (M.E.), Steven Rea (S.R.), and Gary Thompson (G.T.). W.S. denotes a wire-service review.

I Am Not Your Negro A stunning documentary about James Baldwin's work as an artist and civil rights activist by celebrated Haitian-born director Raoul Peck (It's Not About Love; Lumumba). The film has an ambitious goal: to use footage and narration (read by Samuel L. Jackson) to reconstruct Baldwin's unfinished opus Remember This House, a study of the life and death of assassinated civil rights activists, including Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1 hr. 35 PG-13 (disturbing violent images, thematic material, profanity, and brief nudity) - T.D.

La La Land Some kind of transcendent magic happens in this starry-eyed musical from Damien Chazelle (Oscar for best director), with one foot (in tap shoes) firmly planted in the past, and the other (in taps, too, of course) planted in a me-first, modern-day world. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (best-actress Oscar) are the struggling Los Angelenos who fall in love despite a mutual wariness, walking and talking, singing and dancing, amid a swirl of classic Hollywood references. Not quite perfect, but its imperfections, and its embrace of passion over cynicism, are part of the charm. 2 hr. 8 PG-13 (profanity, adult themes) - S.R.

Moonlight A true American masterpiece and Academy Award-winning best picture, the sophomore feature from Barry Jenkins is a heady mix of brutal social realism and poetry as it tells the coming-of-age story of a young black gay man from a Miami ghetto. Divided into three parts, it tells the story of Chiron as a 10-year-old, a high school student, and a 20-something professional as he wrestles with external forces he can't control, including poverty and drug crime and internal desires he cannot ignore. Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes give memorable performances as Chiron. With André Holland, Janelle Monáe, Naomie Harris, and Mahershala Ali (Oscar for best supporting actor). 1 hr. 50 R (some sexuality, drug use, brief violence, and profanity throughout) - T.D.

Paterson One of Jim Jarmusch's most accomplished films, this extraordinary visual poem is a wry, gently comic celebration of the creative spirit as it manifests itself in everyday life. Inspired by the works of American modernist William Carlos Williams, Jarmusch's film follows seven days in the life of a Paterson, N.J., bus driver named Paterson who spends his free time writing poetry. (Composed for the film by Ron Padgett). Adam Driver (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) is revelatory in the title role as the mild-mannered driver-poet while Golshifteh Farahani is radiant as his madly eccentric wife, a would-be country singer. 1 hr. 58 R (profanity) - T.D.

20th Century Women Masterpiece of mother-child dynamics from director Mike Mills (Beginners) follows attempts by a single mom (Annette Bening, who's fantastic) to tutor her son (played by Lucas Jade Zumann) in the ways of manhood. The setting is the late 1970s, so Our Bodies, Ourselves, Talking Heads, and President Jimmy Carter's malaise speech all factor in. With Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, and Elle Fanning. 1 hr. 58 R (sexual material, some nudity, obscenity, brief drug use) - W.S.

Fences

August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece about a working-class African American family in the 1950s is transformed into a compelling, searing film in the hands of producer, director, and star Denzel Washington. He plays a charismatic, funny, energetic but embittered Pittsburgh garbage collector who derides anyone - including his wife, Rose (Viola Davis, Oscar for best supporting actress), and his best friend (Stephen Henderson) - who suggests life has improved for African Americans since the Civil War. Once a star baseball player forced by segregation to play in the Negro League, the aging patriarch is harshest on his sons (Russell Hornsby, Jovan Adepo), whose optimism disturbs him deeply. 2 hrs. 18

PG-13

(thematic elements, profanity, and some suggestive references)

- T.D.

Manchester by the Sea Kenneth Lonergan (You Can Count on Me; Margaret) proves once again he's one of America's finest dramatists with this working-class drama about loss, grief, and family obligations. Casey Affleck (best-actor Oscar) is sensational as a self-hating melancholic who has lived a miserable life as a janitor since an accident. When his older brother (Kyle Chandler) dies, he must return to his tiny hometown and assume responsibility for his teenage nephew (Lucas Hedges). Costars Michelle Williams, Matthew Broderick, and Gretchen Mol. 2 hrs. 17 R (profanity throughout and some sexual content) - T.D.

The Salesman Oscar-winner for best foreign film, Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi's latest domestic masterwork is about a pair of young husband-and-wife actors (Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti) rehearsing for a production of Death of a Salesman whose world falls apart when an intruder almost assaults the wife. Her husband becomes possessed by rage and vengeance and loses his humanity. 2 hrs. 5 PG-13 (mature thematic elements and a brief bloody image) - T.D.

A United Kingdom David Oyewolo and Rosamund Pike shine in this true story about the remarkable marriage of African tribal prince Seretse and London office girl Ruth Williams. They met in 1947 and wed less than a year later, an event which sparked an international diplomatic crisis. Seretse was set to lead his people - under the guidance of Britain. Instead, the British exiled him. Shot on location in Botswana, the film shows how the couple's commitment to each other and to democratic ideals allowed them to triumph against all odds. 1 hr. 51 PG-13 (some language, including racial epithets and a scene of sensuality) - T.D.

Before I Fall ***

Surprisingly dark, often interesting variation on

Groundhog Day

about a teen girl (Zoey Deutch) who relives the same tragic day, reevaluating her life in the process. With Jennifer Beals. 1 hr. 39 mins.

PG-13

(drinking, sexuality, bullying) -

G.T.

A Cure for Wellness *1/2 Dane DeHaan plays a crooked corporate hustler sent to the Alps to retrieve his AWOL boss from a sinister health spa. Would-be horror movie from Gore Verbinski offers few chills, fewer thrills, and is punishingly long. 2 hrs. 22 R (disturbing violence, graphic nudity) - G.T.

A Dog's Purpose ** Hokey family drama about the reincarnated spirit of a dog who comes back to life in different bodies for different humans, looking to discover his purpose. Some of the segments work better than others, but the film is mostly forgettable. Dennis Quaid stars. 2 hrs. PG (thematic elements and some peril) - W.S.

Fifty Shades Darker ** Dull sequel to the smash-hit original, adapted from the E.L. James novels about a woman (Dakota Johnson) and her on-again, off-again romance with a billionaire playboy (Jamie Dornan) who is into S&M. The title to the sequel is a bit misleading, since the two get along just fine in this installment, which owes as much to "Cinderella" as it does to erotica. With Kim Basinger and Marcia Gay Harden. 1 hr. 55 mins. R (strong sexual content, graphic nudity, language) - G.T.

Fist Fight ** Charlie Day plays a teacher who gets a colleague (Ice Cube) fired, leading to a showdown brawl in the parking lot after school. The fight is unexpectedly epic, but the comedy leading up to it is not. With Jillian Bell, Tracy Morgan. and Dean Norris. 1 hr. 31 R (language, sexual content, drugs) - G.T.

Get Out *** Jordan Peele's horror movie about a black man (Daniel Kaluuya) who heads to mansion country to meet the parents (Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener) of his white girlfriend (Allison Williams). Conceptually clever, though not always as scary as it could be, with a winning supporting role for Lil Rel Howery. 1 hr. 43 R (violence, bloody images) - G.T.

Hidden Figures *** Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe are terrific in this feel-good family movie about a group of black female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the 1960s. The true story is about overqualified scientists who could only get jobs crunching numbers for their white male bosses but who overcame prejudice to make their own mark on the space program. What it lacks as serious history it makes up for with an empowering social message. The ensemble cast includes Kevin Costner, Glen Powell, Mahershala Ali, and Aldis Hodge. 2 hr. 7 PG (thematic elements and some profanity) - T.D.

John Wick: Chapter Two **1/2 Action-packed sequel again starring Keanu Reeves as the underworld's most fearsome hit man, this time squaring off against the world's most adept assassins (including Common) in scenes of highly stylized violence that build to crescendos of comic absurdity. At better than two hours, though, the movie feels overstretched. With Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne, reunited with his costar from The Matrix. 2 hrs. 2 R (strong violence throughout, nudity, language) - G.T.

Kedi ** An endearing documentary about cats that roam the streets of Istanbul, forming bonds with Turkish citizens and killing rats. 1 hr. 20 No MPAA rating (adult themes) - W.S.

Land of Mine *** Tense, thoughtful drama, set in Denmark during the months after the conclusion of WWII, detailing the often ruthless practice of using German POWs to defuse land mines. With Roland Moller. 1 hr. 50 mins. R (grisly images) - G.T.

The Lego Batman Movie *** Witty animated sequel to the surprise hit original, with Will Arnett providing the voice of lonely recluse Batman, who changes for the better when he falls for the police commissioner's daughter (Rosario Dawson) and adopts an orphan (Michael Cera) who becomes Robin. Fast-paced, full of jokes that draw from the long history of Batman comic books, movies, and television shows. Also featuring Zach Galifianakis as the voice of the Joker. 1 hr. 30 PG (rude humor and some action) - G.T.

Lion *** Australian TV director Garth Davis (Top of the Lake) makes his feature debut with this heartbreaking, if sometimes maudlin, true story told in two parts. In the first, a 5-year-old boy in India becomes separated from his impoverished family and ends up adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham). In the second part, the boy has grown up to be a young man (Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire) who goes back in search of his lost family. 1 hr. 48 PG-13 (thematic material and some sensuality) - T.D.

Logan **1/2 A promising premise has the title X-Man (Hugh Jackman) and Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) stricken with old age, but the movie, which has them guiding Mexican children over the border, becomes relentlessly, gruesomely violent, and the kids get some of the worst of it. 2 hrs. 15 mins. R (strong brutal violence) - G.T.

My Life as a Zucchini *** Charming stop-motion animated movie from France (dubbed in English) about an orphan boy who finds happiness in a home for troubled children. Featuring the voices of Nick Offerman, Will Forte, and Ellen Page. 1 hr. 6 PG-13 (suggestive material) - G.T.

Oscar-Nominated Short Films (Not previewed) Live-action and animated shorts. Each features five short films, including "Pear Cider and Cigarettes," a wild animated film with a graphic-novel feel, and "Timecode," a live-action pic from Spain about two parking garage attendants working opposite shifts who leave each other video messages to pass the time. Not rated

Rings (Not previewed) Reboot of the Japanese-horror franchise. It's about a videotape that will cause your death seven days after being viewed. 1 hr. 42 PG-13 (violence/terror, thematic elements, some sexuality, and brief drug material).

Rock Dog ** Disjointed animated comedy mixing Tibetan culture with British rock music, about a dog that leaves his home in the mountains to find his tribe. Add in organized crime and sheep, and you have an amusing, musical mess. 1 hr. 20 PG - W.S.

The Shack *1/2 A young man receives an invitation to meet God at a place called "The Shack." 2 hrs. 12 PG-13 (violence and mature themes) - W.S.

Split *** M. Night Shyamalan, who made something of a comeback with the small-budget found-footage horror pic The Visit, continues the trend with this intensely creepy, engaging, and entertaining psychological thriller featuring a virtuosic performance by James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, the X-Men series) as a deranged killer with 23 distinct personalities who abducts three teenage girls he plans to feed to a demonic beast he believes is emerging as his 24th personality. Anya Taylor-Joy (Morgan) is terrific as one of the hostages, the strong-willed, disturbed outcast Casey. 1 hr. 57 PG-13 (disturbing thematic content and behavior, violence, and some profanity) - T.D.

Table 19 *1/2 After being dumped as maid of honor, a young woman (Anna Kendrick) shows up at her friend's wedding and is seated with five random guests. 1 hr. 27 PG-13 (adult themes) - W.S.