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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week, including the rise of the Black Panther!

Black Panther
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Forrest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy Serkis, Sterling K. Brown, and Winston Duke
Synopsis: Ryan Coogler is an excellent filmmaker. His first feature, "Fruitvale Station" in 2013, was an award-worthy debut, though it was sadly overlooked. His second feature, "Creed," was far better than it had any right to be. It was the seventh film in the "Rocky" franchise, and it earned a nomination for Sylvester Stallone's work, but it was really the style of Coogler and the performance from Jordan that lifted that film to heights I didn't expect. That made Coogler an inspired choice to tackle "Black Panther," the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but a film that is incredibly important, and a game-changer for this world. It also seems fitting that, years ago, Boseman was tapped for the lead role. Boseman has developed a remarkable career in large part by playing some iconic figures. He was Jackie Robinson in "42," James Brown in "Get On Up," and Thurgood Marshall this fall in "Marshall." He has played a number of iconic heroes, and it only seems fitting that he plays another iconic hero in T'Challa, the King of Wakanda and the Black Panther. Boseman made his debut as T'Challa in "Captain America: Civil War" back in the summer of 2015, and since that time many have eagerly anticipated this standalone feature that would focus on Black Panther and, more importantly, his home world of Wakanda. And Coogler's film proved to be worth the wait. It's easily one of the best Marvel films I've seen, and it's shattered records, bringing in $242 million over the four-day President's Day Weekend. But this is a movie that's bigger than what it means to the MCU and to Box Office records, it's a film that depicts a different kind of hero, one that audiences deserve to see. And it's a film that feels relevant to our contemporary culture in terms of its ideas as much as it is satisfying as an action adventure. That is a credit to Coogler, and his cast, which includes Boseman and Jordan. The film picks up not long after the events of "Civil War," with T'Challa returning home to take the mantle as King of Wakanda after his father T'Chaka was killed. But things don't go smoothly. His first order of business is to capture the arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Serkis), who stole a good amount of Vibranium from Wakanda, and eluded T'Chaka's efforts to capture him for many years. That mission doesn't go according to plan, and it leads T'Challa down a rabbit hole that forces him to see his father in a different light, and to re-consider the policy of isolationism for his nation when they have the means and resources to help so many struggling and oppressed people around the world. Both are big ideas, handled well, and are just part of the reason this was such a powerful and thrilling film. Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, had a great feel for the characters and world, and that comes through in the film. He directs the film with a deft hand, mixing some beautiful effects and big action set pieces with plenty of time for bigger ideas and character development. He's also blessed with a good cast and good performances. Boseman is solid in the lead role and Jordan is fierce as the primary antagonist. Though they have different styles, they play off each other well. But the MVPs of the film were the ladies, Nyong'o, Wright and Gurira. All three were given interesting parts to play that served as much more than background or supporting characters. They often carried the heart and humor of the film, too. I especially enjoyed Wright as T'Challa's whiz kid younger sister, Shuri. This was a fantastic film and an exciting ride. Thanks to the trailers for "Avengers: Infinity War," we know Wakanda will soon play an important role in saving the world this summer. But I can't help but hope we get to take a journey back to this world, with these characters, and Coogler leading the way some time soon.
Rating: PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action violence, and a brief rude gesture.
Verdict: Four Stars out of Four.

Hostiles
Starring: Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Jesse Plemmons, Rory Cochrane, Jonathan Majors, Timothée Chalamet, Adam Beach, and Ben Foster
Synopsis: "Hostiles" is a movie that dropped with little fanfare nationwide in late January. Some had thought it would be an award season contender, but that never materialized. Instead, the film didn't garner a single nomination and has quietly been a part of the Box Office landscape for the last month. The film is set in 1892, and centers on a U.S. Army Captain (Bale), famous for hunting Native Americans and, in many cases, killing them, who is given a strange final assignment. Before he can retire, Capt. Blocker must escort Chief Yellow Hawk (Studi), long his enemy and one of his fiercest adversaries, home to Montana from his prison in New Mexico. Blocker is initially hesitant, and is standoffish as the journey begins, but it comes to be a mission that changes the perspective of both men, as they reflect on their long, often violent lives. Scott Cooper ("Crazy Heart," "Out of the Furnace") wrote and directed the film based on a manuscript from Donald E. Stewart. And he does a beautiful job of crafting a subtle and beautiful western, a style of film that's in short supply in the modern era. The story includes a widow (Pike), whose family was massacred by a different Native American tribe who finds healing and purpose as she blends her own wounds with that of Blocker, and finds an unexpected friendship with Chief Yellow Hawk and his family. This is a film that has moments of quiet significance, and exceptional beauty. But it's also a violent and, at times, difficult film. Life in the old west was arduous, and this film certainly doesn't pull any punches. It's a perilous journey, one often filled with heart-break. But it is brought to life by some exceptional performance, first and foremost from Bale. He was incredible in this film, making it one of my favorites of this winter so far. This is a great film with a stellar cast that really delivers something memorable. And it's well worth seeing on the big screen for the scale and scope of the vistas and the action sequences.
Rating: R for strong violence, and language.
Verdict: Four Stars out of Four.

15:17 to Paris
Starring: Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler
Synopsis: Let me be clear, Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler are heroes. Their bravery aboard a passenger train bound for Paris, and the way they stepped up to twart a potential terrorist is inspiring. They're deserving of praise and recognition, and "15:17 to Paris" certainly brings attention to what they did and seeks to honor their efforts, which is commendable. But, since this is a film review, I'm setting aside the merits of their actions and focusing on the product that is brought to the screen by Clint Eastwood, who opted to have the three actual heroes star in the movie depicting their bravery, and their lives. And as a film, this simply doesn't work. Spencer, Anthony, and Alek are not professional actors, and it shows. Their delivery of dialogue often felt stilted and I wondered if that was because it was a new experience, or because the dialogue wasn't authentic. (Supposedly they helped craft their dialogue, so I don't know what to make of it.) Eastwood is a talented filmmaker who has done some wonderful and memorable films. But this one doesn't work. It's not just the lack of compelling performances, but a screen story that jumps all over the place, showing pieces of their lives, but without really connecting it back to a central theme or meaning in a compelling way. That makes this a difficult film to watch. The narrative is dull and often feels a bit meandering. This is likely something of a result of trying to build a feature around a short incident on the train, but the idea and intent of this project far outpaces the actual result. Again, these men should be lauded for their action, but as a film "15:17 to Paris" falls flat.
Rating: PG-13 on appeal for bloody images, violence, some suggestive material, drug references and language.
Verdict: One Star out of Four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, February 23 - "Every Day," "Annihilation," "Game Night," "War With Grandpa"