The Hateful Eight **½

Quentin Tarantino directed this Western. Watch Preview. Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, , Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kurt Russell, Bruce Dern, Demian Bichir, Walton Goggins, Channing Tatum. Rated R for strong bloody violence, a scene of violent sexual content, language and some graphic nudity. Running time is two hours and 48 minutes.

A bounty hunter (Russell) and his prisoner (Leigh) find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters and he becomes convinced they may not make it to their destination after all.

There is truly something to offend almost everyone in this film. It's hard to imagine a less appropriate film for the Christmas season. It is, however, a very well done Western if you can stomach the gruesome violence, sexual scenes and almost constant profanity. This was filmed in 70mm and is being shown is some markets in that format, but I have to wonder why since virtually the entire story takes place in a one room cabin. The cast is first rate with Jackson, Groggins (Boyd Crowder in the TV series Justified), and Russell in the leads. There is enough action along with good pacing to make the excessive length bearable and I don't recall looking at my watch once if that tells you anything. The plot keeps twisting so you're never sure where it's heading, which keeps you involved (whether you want to be or not). I don't have any idea who the audience for this film will be and my guess is it won't have a lengthy run due to its excesses. This would definitely be a poor choice for a date movie.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. A large screen is preferred but not necessary. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 12/31/15

MetaCritic indicates The Hateful Eight (69) is the top ranking film this week.  I saw it and found it so graphic I have to wonder who the audience is. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses. 

Opening 12/31/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

The Hateful Eight [R] 2 hrs. 47 min. Western Watch Preview Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, , Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kurt Russell, Bruce Dern, Demian Bichir, Walton Goggins, Channing Tatum. Plot: a bounty hunter (Russell) and his prisoner (Leigh) find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters and become convinced they may not make it to their destination after all. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 12/30/15

Movie Machine -The Good Dinosaur
Palace West -  The 33
Warren East 13th - Krampus
Warren West 21st - Krampus, In The Heart Of The Sea
Warren Old Town - nothing

Concussion **½

Peter Landesman co-wrote and directed this Drama. Watch Preview .Cast: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arliss Howard, Paul Reiser, David Morse, Albert Brooks. Rated PG-13 for thematic material including some disturbing images, and language. Running time is two hours and three minutes.

Based on the David vs. Goliath journey of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of football-related brain trauma in a pro player and fought to bring awareness to the public.

As a medical documentary this is a very well made film. For me the problems started when it was felt necessary to introduce a love story into the mix, which added thirty unnecessary minutes to the film without making it any more interesting. I will have to say my wife enjoyed that part of the film, so perhaps women will care more for this film than I did. The medical part is informative and the fight against letting this information be known publicly certainly doesn't do the NFL's reputation any favors. Smith is clearly the lead actor in the film although Baldwin and Brooks have strong secondary roles. Mbatha-Raw is fine as an actress but adds little to the story. If you're looking for a football film, this isn't it. It's far more about medicine than gamesmanship.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Joy **½

David O. Russell  directed this Drama .Watch Preview Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen, Isabella Rossellini, Elisabeth Rohm, Bradley Cooper. Rated PG-13 for brief strong language. Running time is two hours and four minutes.

About a girl (Lawrence) who becomes the woman who founds a business dynasty, starting with the Miracle Mop, and becomes a matriarch in her own right despite the antics of her dysfunctional father (De Niro) and mother (Madsen), but with the help of the manager of QVC (Cooper).

This would have been a bit more enjoyable with a few less downs and a few more ups, but it does show the hardships of an entrepreneur, especially one who doesn't have a lot of support. It's probably more appropriate for a business school class than a general audience but I found it did hold my attention. This has a high powered cast who are all in supporting roles to Lawrence, who does a fine job as the plucky girl with dreams who becomes a savvy business owner. This wouldn't be my first choice for a holiday film but it is worth your while. I should point out that although they're selling this as a comedy/drama, there's very little laughter in this film.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 12/25/15

MetaCritic indicates The Big Short (81) is the top ranking film this week followed by The Danish Girl (66), Joy and Concussion tied at (56), Point Break (45) and Daddy's Home (44).  I saw three of these and found one excellent and the other two worth watching. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses. 

The Big Short ****

Adam McKay directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Melissa Leo, Brad Pitt, Rafe Spall, Tracy Letts, John Magaro, Jeremy Strong, Byron Mann, Finn Wittrock, Hamish Linklater. Rated R for pervasive language and some sexuality/nudity. Running time is two hours and ten minutes.

When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis ("The Blind Side," "Moneyball").

If you have even the slightest interest in things financial, or why the economy crashed in 2008, this is a must see film. It manages to clearly explain what happened, and does so while being entertaining. I have to warn you, though, after seeing it you're going to want to sell your stocks, close out your bank accounts and bury it all in a Mason fruit jar in your backyard! And you're really going to wonder why none of the people who caused the collapse ended up in prison! At the end it summarizes what happened to the film's characters and points out that it's starting over again. The cast is first rate and the pacing is so good I barely noticed this was over two hours long. I highly recommend you see this film, and do so soon as, unfortunately, I don't think it will be here long.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Opening 12/23,25/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Wednesday 12/23/15

The Big Short [R] 2 hrs. 10 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Steve Carell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Melissa Leo, Brad Pitt, Rafe Spall, Tracy Letts, John Magaro, Jeremy Strong, Byron Mann, Finn Wittrock, Hamish Linklater. Plot: when four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis ("The Blind Side," "Moneyball"). Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Friday 12/25/15

Concussion [PG-13] 2 hrs. 4 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arliss Howard, Paul Reiser, David Morse, Albert Brooks. Plot: based on the David vs. Goliath journey of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of football-related brain trauma in a pro player and fought to bring awareness to the public. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Daddy's Home [PG-13] 1 hr. 36 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church, Hannibal Buress. Plot: a mild-mannered stepfather (Ferrell) is forced to compete for the affection of his kids with their real, freeloading father (Wahlberg). Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

The Danish Girl [R] 2 hrs. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Ben Whishaw, Sebastian Koch, Amber Heard, Matthias Schoenaerts. Plot: iInspired by the true story of Danish painter Einar Wegener and his wife, this tender portrait of a marriage asks: What do you do when someone you love wants to change? Showing at: Warren East.

Joy [PG-13] 2 hrs.Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen, Isabella Rossellini, Elisabeth Rohm, Bradley Cooper. Plot: about a girl (Lawrence) who becomes the woman who founds a business dynasty and becomes a matriarch in her own right. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Point Break 2D/3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 54 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Delroy Lindo, Ray Winstone. Plot: a young FBI agent, (Luke Bracey) infiltrates a cunning team of thrill-seeking elite athletes suspected of carrying out a spate of crimes in extremely unusual ways. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 12/22,24/15

Movie Machine -12/24 - In The Heart Of The Sea
Palace West -  Sicario, The Last Witch Hunter, Ant-Man
Warren East 13th - 12/22 - Spotlight; 12/24 - Spectre, Love The Coopers, The Night Before, The Peanuts Movie, In The Heart Of The Sea, Dilwale
Warren West 21st - 12/22 - Spectre; 12/24 - The Peanuts Movie, The Night Before, StarWars 3D, Love The Coopers
Warren Old Town - 12/22 - The Night Before; 12/24 - In the Heart Of The Sea, Star Wars 3D

Sisters **½

Jason Moore directed this Comedy. Watch Preview. Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz, John Leguizamo, Dianne Wiest, John Cena, James Brolin. Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, and for drug use. Running time is one hour and fifty-eight minutes.

Two disconnected sisters (Fey and Poehler) are summoned home to clean out their childhood bedroom before their parents (Weist and Brolin) sell the family house. They decide to throw a party for their old school classmates before the new owners move in.

There are a lot of laughs in this, even for older adults. But this film was clearly made with a young audience (18-35) in mind, because the totally unnecessary volume of profanity is detracting for those of us who don't find massive amounts of it humorous in and of itself. Fey and Poehler are first rate comedians who are fun to watch. The rest of the basically SNL cast pale in comparison. It was interesting to see Weist and Brolin as a married couple since they're playing the same roles on the TV series Life In Pieces, which is actually funnier, at least for adults, than is this film. I watched this with a basically younger audience and they clearly liked it more than I did, as did my wife. My guess is everyone will find something to laugh about, which is fine as long as you don't mind wading through a lot of crudeness along the way.

There are outtakes that occur during the credits. Screen size is unimportant. Theatres/Times.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens ***½

J.J. Abrams directed this Sci-Fi Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Harrison Ford, Andy Serkis, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Max von Sydow, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Lupita Nyong'o, Crystal Clarke, Pip Anderson, Christina Chong, Miltos Yerolemou. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence. Running time is two hours and fifteen minutes.

Thirty years after the events of "Return of the Jedi."the saga continues. New characters are added to old familiar ones as the Force is once again needed to fight evil as the Resistance faces off against the First Order.

While I have seen all of the Star Wars films and basically enjoyed them, I wouldn't consider myself  a fan...no light saber for me. That said, number seven is very entertaining and really shines, especially  when compared to the three prequels. There's plenty of action and the plot keeps everything moving along nicely. The film is longer than I prefer, but the pacing is good enough it didn't seem overly long. While it was nice seeing some of the familiar characters from versions past, the real attraction to me was the new character, Rey, played by Daisy Ridley. She is the glue that holds everything together and I certainly hope, no, I'm sure, we'll be seeing more of her in the sequels scheduled to follow. While this film wasn't actually shot in 3D, the digitally remastered IMAX 3D version I saw was excellent and the 3D actually added to the film's enjoyment.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. You must see this on a large screen for maximum graphic impact. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 12/18/15

MetaCritic indicates Star Wars: The Force Awakens (81) is the top ranking film this week followed by Sisters (58) and Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip (30). The Bollywood film, Dilwale, has no MetaCritic rating. I saw two of these and found one very good and the other a mixed bag. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses. 

Opening 12/18/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip [PG] 1 hr. 28 min. Family film Watch Preview Voices: Jason Lee, Tony Hale, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Josh Green, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate. Plot: Alvin, Simon and Theodore come to believe Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in Miami…and dump them. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

Dilwale [PG] 2 hrs. 30 min. Indian musical comedy Watch Preview Cast: Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon. Plot: a couple in love try to overcome the violent conflict between their respective families. Showing at: Warren East.

Sisters [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz, John Leguizamo, Dianne Wiest, John Cena, James Brolin. Plot: two disconnected sisters are summoned home to clean out their childhood bedroom before their parents sell the family house. Showing at: Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2D/3D, IMAX 2D/3D 2hrs. 16 min. Sci-Fi Action film Watch Preview Cast: Harrison Ford, Andy Serkis, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Max von Sydow, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Lupita Nyong'o, Crystal Clarke, Pip Anderson, Christina Chong, Miltos Yerolemou. Plot: 30 years after the events of "Return of the Jedi."the saga continues. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 12/17/15

Movie Machine - Krampus, Creed, Mockingjay Part 2
Palace West -  Inside Out, Woodlawn, War Room
Warren East 13th - Bridge Of Spies, The Martian, Spotlight, Secret In Their Eyes, Trumbo, The Letters, In The Heart Of The Sea 3D
Warren West 21st - Bridge Of Spies, The Martian, Secret In Their Eyes, The Letters, In The Heart Of The Sea IMAX 2D/3D
Warren Old Town - Krampus, Creed, Mockingjay Part 2, Spectre

In The Heart Of The Sea **

 Ron Howard directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Ben Whishaw, Cillian Murphy, Chris Hemsworth, Jordi Molla, Benjamin Walker, Tom Holland, Michelle Fairley.

In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Melville's Moby-Dick.

This is a well made film, as you would expect from director Ron Howard, but because it's so depressing I can't imagine what prompted the film company to release it at this time, especially a week before the latest Star Wars feature. It was originally scheduled for release in March of this year which would have been a much better time period. As it is, this will be shunted off to a small auditorium after a week where its scale can't be appreciated and my guess is it will disappear shortly thereafter. You won't be disappointed in this film's quality but if you're  in the least depressed when thinking about seeing it, avoid it like the plague. I saw this in the 2D IMAX version. The 3D version is a digitally remastered version of the 2D version as this was not filmed in the 3D process.

There are no additional scenes once the credits begin. A large screen is needed to appreciate the action sequences. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. 2D IMAX Times. 3D IMAX Times.

Worthwhile (or not) 12/11/15

MetaCritic indicates In The Heart Of The Sea (51) is the top ranking film this week. Since it's the only film opening this week it wins by default. I saw this film and found it well made but very depressing. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses. 

Opening 12/11/15

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

In The Heart Of The Sea 2D/3D/IMAX 2D/3D [PG-13] 2 hrs. 2 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Ben Whishaw, Cillian Murphy, Chris Hemsworth, Jordi Molla, Benjamin Walker, Tom Holland. Plot: in the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Melville's Moby-Dick. Shown in 2D and digitally remastered 3D. Showing at: Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 12/10/15

Movie Machine - Victor Frankenstein, Peanuts Movie
Palace West -  Our Brand Is Crisis, Crimson Peak, Everest
Warren East 13th - Good Dinosaur 3D, Victor Frankenstein
Warren West 21st - Good Dinosaur 3D, Victor Frankenstein, Mockingjay Part 2 IMAX
Warren Old Town - Victor Frankenstein

Worthwhile (or not) 12/4/15

MetaCritic indicates Krampus (45) is the top ranking film this week, followed by The Letters (26). Since I'm not fond of horror films and the Mother Teresa film had horrible reviews, I decided to pass this week, so no reviews. For national reviews take the link to the MetaCritic website for each film by clicking on the titles above.

Check out Monday's Opening section below to see the previews and synopses.