Now Playing

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

Creed
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, and Phylicia Rashad
Synopsis: "Creed" is technically the seventh film in the "Rocky" cannon, but it's really a film that can stand on its own. It will, in fact, probably fuel a series of its own. And it's one of the more pleasant surprises of the year for me. Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa, but this is unlike any of his previous incarnations of this role. This film is really about Adonis Creed (Jordan), the son of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), who is trying to make it on his own as a fighter. Jordan, who worked with "Creed" director Ryan Coogler on the incredible "Fruitvale Station," is great in the lead role here. And Coogler has an incredible feel for the material. He tells what, to me, feels like one of the best boxing movies I've seen, and certainly a worthy air to "Rocky," which some forget won Best Picture from the Academy Awards. I don't think Jordan will be recognized with an award nomination for his work, though he's quite good, but Stallone has a shot at Best Supporting Actor. His performance in "Creed" is great, partly because it's something different for him. I talked about what I loved about Jack Nicholson in "About Schmidt," and how different it was for him as an actor, yesterday. That's how I feel about Stallone here, who shows a vulnerability — both physically and emotionally — that isn't common to his roles, even his later roles. He isn't the action-hero here, he's the mentor who is no longer able to keep up physically. It's an incredible passing of the torch in this film franchise that is going strong nearly 40 years later. "Creed" is a great and enjoyable film.
Rating: PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

In The Heart of the Sea
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, and Brendan Gleeson
Synopsis: Ron Howard is a good director who has delivered some iconic and epic films. He wants to do that with "In The Heart of the Sea," a film based on the true life story that inspired Herman Melville to write "Moby Dick." He wants it to be epic. But it isn't. And it isn't very compelling or very good, either. And that's a shame. Coming out at this time of the year, you know a movie is aiming to make an impact at awards season. But there are problems with the flow and the narrative here. The movie is choppy and dry for large chunks of time. Also, for a film you expect to be about the epic battle between man and beast, this film falls short. It's often too slow to be relatable, and there isn't enough time spent on this epic battle between two sea faring men and the whale that changed their lives. There was great potential here, and there is some good storytelling in the first act, but it ultimate fizzles by the end.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and peril, brief startling violence, and thematic material.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Ridiculous 6
Starring: Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Luke Wilson, Taylor Lautner, Jorge Garcia, and Terry Crews
Synopsis: There are usually two schools of thought with Adam Sandler — those who love him and those who loathe him. I really don't fall into either category. I don't always appreciate the way he puts together his films, but he has done some movies that I think are great and re-watchable. But lately he has struggled with movies at the Box Office. That's why his partnership with Netflix makes some sense. It's an ideal vehicle that allows people to sample and enjoy his movies at their own pace, and it removes the struggle with Box Office numbers. The first fruits of that partnerships  — "The Ridiculous 6" — debuted last Friday. And it is... pretty much what you'd expect. A lot was made about this movie in the run up to its release because there were reports that Native Americans walked off set due to the racism in the script. And there is racism in there — and not just directed at Native Americans. I'm not excusing that in any way, but I will say this is about on par with what you'd expect to see in a Sandler film. There is sexism and crude stereotyping, too. But I don't think the film glorifies those ideas, or those characters. Instead, this is a plodding film with a lot of recognizable faces this is much ado about nothing. This film is hardly worth getting upset about because it's not really worth watching. And that's its biggest problem.
Rating: TV MA
Verdict: One star out of four

Room
Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, and Joan Allen
Synopsis: "Room" is the devastating story of a young woman who is kidnapped and held in captivity for seven years, and the five-year-old son that is the product of that abuse. But this isn't just a story of abuse. Half the narrative is about the woman (Larson) and her son (Tremblay) trapped, and the second half is about how hard it is to adjust to the world once they are freed. It's a brutally beautiful story, told brilliantly by screenwriter Emma Donoghue, who wrote the novel, and director Lenny Abrahamson. It is a difficult movie to watch at times, but it draws you in thanks to its rich performances. Larson gives one of the best performances by an actress this year, and one that should be recognized come Academy Award season. Tremblay is great, too, showing a power and range that's unexpected for a performer of his age. "Room" is brilliantly put together and haunting. It's one of the best movies I've seen in 2015.
Rating: R for language. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Spotlight
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, and John Slattery
Synopsis: There are a lot of wonderful things the modern age of technology has brought us. But the flip side of every virtue is a fault. And one of the faults of this era is the things we have lost. “Spotlight” shines a light on that, while telling a devastating story. In 2015, newsgathering, reporting and journalism are different than in era’s past. In the past, people worked for months to gather investigative reports, shinning a light on areas of darkness and corruption and safeguarding our society. The Spotlight team at the Boston Globe is one group that does that. In 2001, the Spotlight team began to look into allegations regarding the Catholic Church. What they found rocked not only the city of Boston, but also the world. And watching “Spotlight,” the film based on that story, you can’t help but be moved by the story and by the nagging feeling that we’re losing something as a society as newspapers become marginalized by changes in technology. This is a powerful story beautifully told. Tom McCarthy — who directed and co-wrote the screenplay — has a great feel for telling these kind of smaller, deeply personal stories. In the past he’s done that with “The Station Agent” and “The Visitor,” and now he plies his talent to what is the best film I’ve seen in 2015. It’s a beautiful film that provoked two thoughts for me. First, this kind of investigative journalism is vital and important to our society, but it’s the kind of journalism that is being pushed aside by bloggers and the 24/7 news cycle. In the past we’ve had films like “All The President’s Men” that chronicled stories like this. But I can’t help but wonder if those days are past, and that’s a shame. Second, there is incredible power in the story of what is uncovered. As a Christian, I was particularly moved by the idea that a trusted institution, such as the Catholic Church, would have put its reputation above what is right. By hiding these transgressions they sought to protect their reputation at the cost of so many damaged lives — not just in Boston but, as the film shows, throughout the world. I see it as an incredible cautionary tale about the role of institutions, and their duty to bring dark deeds to light. But this is also incredible as a piece of narrative. It’s full of rich performances — particularly from Ruffalo and Keaton — that help drive the story forward. I was hooked from the beginning and moved by the way this story is told, and the care with which the narrative comes to life on screen. “Spotlight” isn’t a big, flashy movie, but it’s a beautifully told story that says something important about our world. It is a movie I think everyone should see.
Rating: R for some language including sexual references. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, December 18 — "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens," "Sisters," "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip"

Wednesday, December 23 — "The Big Short"

Friday, December 25 — "Joy," "Daddy's Home," "Concussion," "Point Break," "The Hateful Eight," "The Revenant"