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Friday, December 22, 2017
Movie Reviews: Darkest Hour, Pitch Perfect 3, Downsizing, Jumanji
Molly's Game, All the Money in the World, Thelma
Posted By Scott Renshaw on December 22, 2017, 10:00 AM
Christmas week means a mega-download of new releases, including everything from Oscar-bait dramas to escapist fantasy and light comedy.
Gary Oldman (pictured) might be the front-runner for Best Actor playing Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, but the story itself is more showy than insightful. The a cappella Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3 for a story that practically mocks its own existence. The Norwegian thriller Thelma brings terrific filmmaking, but falls just short with its uneven allegory about repression. Downsizing might be pitched as a fantasy about a world of shrunken Americans, waiting too long before revealing its true intentions.
Eric D. Snider praises Jessica Chastain's performance in the uneven but entertaining biopic Molly's Game. A lack of focus hinders the fact-based story of greedy billionaire in All the Money in the World.
MaryAnn Johanson notes that weak attempts at humor and world without any clear stakes doom Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Also opening this week, but not reviewed: A pair of brothers search for their biological dad in Father Figures.
In this week's feature review, knowing it's a movie musical with Hugh Jackman as P. T. Barnum should tell you all you need to know about whether you want to see The Greatest Showman.
Gary Oldman (pictured) might be the front-runner for Best Actor playing Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, but the story itself is more showy than insightful. The a cappella Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3 for a story that practically mocks its own existence. The Norwegian thriller Thelma brings terrific filmmaking, but falls just short with its uneven allegory about repression. Downsizing might be pitched as a fantasy about a world of shrunken Americans, waiting too long before revealing its true intentions.
Eric D. Snider praises Jessica Chastain's performance in the uneven but entertaining biopic Molly's Game. A lack of focus hinders the fact-based story of greedy billionaire in All the Money in the World.
MaryAnn Johanson notes that weak attempts at humor and world without any clear stakes doom Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Also opening this week, but not reviewed: A pair of brothers search for their biological dad in Father Figures.
In this week's feature review, knowing it's a movie musical with Hugh Jackman as P. T. Barnum should tell you all you need to know about whether you want to see The Greatest Showman.
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