NEW THIS WEEK
Nominated for Best Animated feature at the Academy Awards,
Pixar’s new heartwarming adventure Coco tells the story of a young boy
who wishes to become a musician despite his family’s generations-old ban on
music. Determined to prove his musicianship and unlock the secrets of his
family history, the young Miguel finds himself trapped in the Land of the Dead,
racing against his ancestors to prove himself before his musical idol.
We Said: “By expanding in
scope, and touching on hurdles all families must face in their own time, Coco
shows how all of us are alike regardless of our ethnic backgrounds. The final
moments, joyously plucked to the strings of a guitar, are guaranteed to strum a
few heartstrings, as well.” Rating: 4 out
of 5
Nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture, the controversial Three Billboards follows a single mother (Frances McDormand) on a quest for justice after the brutal murder of her young daughter. Emptying her bank account, she erects the titular signs challenging the inactive police force (Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell) for the little action they’ve taken in solving the cold case, and violent hypocritical attitudes they force on the town as a whole.
We Said: “Throughout, [writer/director
Martin] McDonagh's deft screenplay keeps us on our toes, never letting us get
comfortable for even a moment. The
result is a film that is as much a crowd-pleaser (That ending!!!!) as it is
extremely difficult to watch at times, and no matter what Three Billboard Outside Ebbing,
Missouri is always rewarding.” Rating:
4 out of 5
Based on the classic novel, Murder on the Orient Express is
a stylish, star studded whodunit. When a mysterious murder and a sudden
avalanche derails a train through Europe, it’s up to the self-proclaimed “world’s
greatest detective”, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), to piece together the
clues and solve the case before time runs out. With an all-star cast featuring
Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom
Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley, Murder on the Orient Express is
endless suspenseful fun.
We Said: “There's a lot to
love about Kenneth Branagh's handsome but slightly messy adaptation of Agatha
Christie's 1934 mystery, Murder On the Orient Express. Lushly
detailed, as much in production value as with the beautifully-assembled cast,
the film is gorgeous to look at from start to finish; as elegant as the dainty
morsels of food served in the titular train's dining car. And while it helps if
you've never read Christie's story before, even those who have will come away
hoping to see more of Branagh as the thickly-mustachioed detective, Hercule
Poirot.” Rating: 3 out of 5
Another best Picture nominee, Darkest hour stars Gary
Oldman in one of his most acclaimed and transformative roles yet: Winston
Churchill. Set in the middle of the second world war, the film gives you a
thrilling glimpse inside the turbulent first weeks Churchill spent in office.
We Said: “Visually, [director
Joe Wright] literally rips through the critical month of May 1940 to convey the
urgency of events, and only occasionally does the film bog down into excessive
conversation. But even when it does, Oldman is there to power through with a
big, bold performance that will define how Churchill is portrayed on the big screen.”
Rating: 4 out of 5
Also Available 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene, Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield, Just Getting Started, Let There Be Light, and Hangman
