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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

The Aeronauts
Starring: Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne
Synopsis: It's not always easy to chase your dreams. Sometimes it forces you to face your fears as you step into the unknown. That's certainly a big part of the story in "Aeronauts," the new film from Amazon that sees Jones and Redmayne reunited in the lead roles. The pair previously dominated award season opposite one another in "The Theory of Everything," and here they bring their great screen chemistry to a new role. In this one, they're partners who take to the skies in a hot air balloon over London. They're trying to set a record for height, and to learn more about the atmosphere. But they end up learning more about each other, and leaning on each other to get past frustrations and struggles that have plagued them. These actors are good, and the story is decent. But they definitely make it better. Even with that, this film is uneven and drags at times. It has potential, but it doesn't totally live up to that potential.
Rating: PG-13 for some peril and thematic elements.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Little Women
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep, and Timothée Chalamet
Synopsis: Gretta Gerwig is a talented writer and director. A couple years ago she delivered "Ladybird," teaming with Ronan on a film that earned a number of award nominations. For this new team up, she tackles a classic in "Little Women," based on the popular novel from Louisa May Alcott. This is a familiar story, one that's been done many times by different directors and casts. And while this is a familiar story, Gerwig manages to make this adaptation her own, and unique. That's quite an achievement. This is an incredible cast, the way the film is put together combined with the performances make it something special. This is probably the biggest and most anticipated of the films released today for Christmas, and it certainly delivers. Gerwig has a great eye for visuals, a good feel for pacing and a great knack for creating an atmosphere. Though much of the dialogue and story is a gift of the book, the way she packages it makes this feel fresh and different. Ronan is a special talent, and great in the lead. But all four March girls—Watson, Pugh, Scanlen and Ronan—are great, and I was particularly taken with some of the work from Dern, who is quietly having a phenomenal year. Another highlight for me was Cooper, who delivered a subtle performance. But one of his scenes with Ronan near the end, when discussing her sister Beth, was one of the most emotional of the film for me. Even if you think you know this story, it's worth seeing this take on the material. You won't be disappointed.
Rating: PG for thematic elements and brief smoking.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Star Wars, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, and Adam Driver
Synopsis: The final installment in this 42-year-old franchise is here and it brings plenty of expectations. The previous installment of "Star Wars," released in 2017, was a critical hit and a film many, including myself, thought was a masterpiece. Others hated it, and the audience score for this film was much lower. With this latest installment, the hope was to please fans—but what does that mean? Well, for me, this film worked. I loved it and, though I want to see it again, my initial feeling is that it's a Top 3 "Star Wars" film for me. It's quite different than "The Last Jedi," and doubtless not everyone will be pleased with the direction this story takes. But I've always enjoyed J.J. Abrams as a filmmaker, and I think he does strong work here. This is a film that's nostalgic and fun, and moving. But it also moves the story forward. Is it perfect? No, but it was never going to be. No film can live up to the expectations of fans, which was the same fate that befell the final season of "Game of Thrones." I liked this film, I liked the touches and I thought it worked. It gave me a lot of feels. I was also quite moved by the performances from Ridley and Driver in particular, but the cast as a whole. To me, this was one of the best and most satisfying films of 2019.
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi violence and action.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

The Two Popes
Starring: Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce
Synopsis: Netlfix has had a heck of a year, landing three films with Best Picture nominations for the Golden Globes. While "The Irishman" has been the splashiest, and "Marriage Story" has been praised for it's emotional heft, the third film, "The Two Popes," has gone a big under the radar. But it's equally worthy of being praised. The film, which centers on the relationship between Pope Benedict (Hopkins) and the Cardinal who would soon become Pope Francis (Pryce), is mostly a quiet film with two actors sharing views and debating theology. That's a tough nut to crack, but this film from director Fernando Meirelles and based on the play from Anthony McCarten works really well. It's engaging, engrossing and sucks you in. I thought the performances were great, and there was something cathartic about these fictionalized exchanges. This is a movie that is pretty subtle that reaches out and grabs you. It's well worth checking out for those who enjoy think pieces and drama.
Rating: PG-13 for thematic content and some disturbing violent images.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Wednesday, December 25: "Little Women," "Spies in Disguise"