Now Playing

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

Cinderella
Starring: Lilly James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, and Ben Chaplin
Synopsis: Disney has taken to re-creating its classic fairy tales as live action tales. "Cinderella" hews closely to the animated classic of our youth, and it has a beautiful spirit and production. James, best known as Lady Rose on "Downton Abbey," and Madden, otherwise known as Robb Stark from "Game of Thrones," do a nice job in the lead roles. Blanchett is good as the wicked stepmother — a role that is given a bit more depth and explanation in this film — and Bonham Carter has fun as the fairy godmother. Minus the music and the score, this feels very much like a loving tribute to the animated classic, and the classic story, that has been a part of childhood for generations. The color pallet and performances are great. Kenneth Branagh does a nice job bringing the story to life. "Cinderella" is the kind of warm, family-friendly entertainment that has been in short supply to begin 2015. It's no wonder it's tearing up the Box Office.
Rating: PG for mild thematic elements.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

The Gunman
Starring: Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, and Ray Winstone
Synopsis: Having watched the trailer for this film, you'd be forgiven for thinking Penn was channeling his inner Liam Neeson. The film is marketed like an action/revenge piece, and it comes from "Taken" director Pierre Morel. But "The Gunman" isn't as simple as all that. Based on the novel from Jean-Patrick Manchette, the film is a fusion of a spy thriller and an action film. Penn plays Terrier, a mercenary who has turned over a new leaf. Eight years earlier he took a job and killed a world leader at the behest of his employers. It cost him a chance at love and plagued his conscience. In the present, Terrier wants to give back, but his past comes back to haunt him. He is forced to uncover the mystery of who wants him dead while trying to protect his lost love, Annie (Jasmine Trinca), from that past. Penn does a good job in the lead role. He's believable in the action sequences and adds weight to the performance in the more spy-thriller aspects. Morel, no stranger to action sequences, does a good job of pacing and world building with "The Gunman." The film has more of an intricate and defined plot that one might expect from the trailer, and its more of a satisfying film-going experience.
Rating: R for strong violence, language and some sexuality. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Insurgent
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, and Octavia Spencer
Synopsis: There are two reliably bankable features at the cinemas these days — superhero franchises and franchises built on young adult fiction books. Since “Twilight,” tons of YA franchises have made it to the screen, each with varying degrees of success. “Insurgent” is the second entry in the “Divergent” series, based on the books from Veronica Roth. It has a lot of the hallmarks of these type of films — a young female protagonist, a dystopian future and an ideological battle that spurs a war. While some of these YA series have flamed out and some have become blockbusters, “Divergent” rode the middle ground. It did alright, and was pretty well received. The same is true of “Insurgent,” the second installment in the franchise. It continues the story, improves on the original and keeps building toward an epic conclusion. And, much like the first one, it’s done OK with both critics and audiences. “Insurgent” benefits from being the second installment in the series. It doesn’t have to establish the characters or world, so it turns its attention to world-building and ramping up the tension for the final installment. Director Robert Schwentke (“RED,” “Flightplan”) takes the reins from Neil Burger and does a nice job of creating a compelling film. This series, for better or for worse, lives in the shadow of “The Hunger Games.” Both are based on YA book series, both feature a female protagonist played by a rising young actress and both have similar themes. But they aren’t the same film franchise. I feel like “The Hunger Games” plays as more of a slow burn, invests in a central love triangle and is fixated on larger societal questions posed by the material. “Divergent,” by contrast, is more of a fast-paced action series. The first film seemed to burn through a lot of plot, and the follow up does the same. Whereas some franchises would have stretched out the battle between Tris and Jeanine over four films, fans get resolution in “Insurgent.” At the same time, the film opens the door to an expanded world, and an expanded world of possibilities, for its final installment. Fans of the books are aware of this, but for the casual film fans it keeps each installment more engaging and more action-oriented. At the same time, the series has good actors giving good performances. Woodley is a fine young actress, and brings a lot of different skills to her role. “Insurgent” also populates the world with decorated actors and actresses, including Spencer, Watts and Daniel Dae Kim. The film does a good job of moving at a quick pace, expanding the visual look of the world and expanding the scope of the story. It also has enough character-building beats to keep the audience invested in the main characters. The “Divergent” series might not reap the critical or commercial success of some of its YA peers, but it’s a fun, fast-paced and entertaining franchise. I can’t wait to see how it all ends.
Rating: PG-13 for intense violence and action throughout, some sensuality, thematic elements and brief language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, March 27 — "Get Hard," "Home," "It Follows"