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

1917
Starring: Dean Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden, Mark Strong, and Andrew Scott
Synopsis: We have seen many, many war films over the years. Many classics have been told about World War II and the Viet Nam War. But since WWII, we haven't seen many tales set during World War I. Sam Mendes had a personal connection to that conflict, and he's a heck of a filmmaker. And those two things converge in "1917," which is a fantastically made film about two men (Chapman and MacKay) who are tasked with carrying an urgent message through hostile territory with no time to spare. Along the way we get small cameos from some other more famous actors, such as Firth, Cumberbatch, Scott, Strong and Madden, and we get a slice of what hell awaited those who traveled from muddy trench to muddy trench during that conflict. Chapman, best known for his role on "Game of Thrones," and MacKay carry most of the narrative, and they do a strong job. MacKay, in particular, does a lot with facial expressions and body language to carry the story forward. But the real star here is the craft, with some incredible camera work and tracking shots that seamlessly bring you into the action. Mendes won Best Director at the Golden Globes, is a strong contender for the Director's Guild and a front-runner at the Academy Awards. And one look at the craft in this film and it's not hard to see why. This is a powerful story, beautifully told. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and figures to be a strong contender this year.
Rating: R for violence, some disturbing images, and language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Just Mercy
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson, Jamie Foxx, and Rafe Spall
Synopsis: I remember when I read Bryan Stevenson's book, "Just Mercy." It was so compelling I wanted to move forward. But it was so emotionally draining, I needed to take breaks to ponder the stories I'd just read. But at the heart of the book is the full story of Walter "Johnny D" McMillian, who lived in the same town where Harper Lee set "To Kill a Mockingbird" and suffered a similar injustice due to the color of his skin and his affair with a white woman. In this case he was convicted of a murder he couldn't possibly have done and sent to death row. The case was flimsy, the many witnesses on his behalf were ignored and he waited hopelessly. Until a young, idealistic lawyer with a foundation called the Equal Justice Initiative came calling. Stevenson has spent his career, more than 30 years, fighting injustice for death row inmates in Alabama. The story of McMillian, and so many others, are captured in the book "Just Mercy," which has been adapted into a film of the same name. It got a limited release to close 2019 and went wide last week, and it's well worth checking out. Jordan takes the lead as Stevenson, while Foxx stars as McMillian. Both men are fine actors, and both pour a lot of heart and soul into these roles. This is a powerful story, well told and made even more gripping by the fact it is true. I hope many more learn of this narrative thanks to the film, check out the book and consider what these facts mean for our justice system.
Rating: PG-13 for thematic content including some racial epithets.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, January 17: "Dolittle," "Bad Boys For Life"
Friday, January 24: "The Gentleman," "The Turning," "The Last Full Measure"
Friday, January 31: "The Rhythm Section," "Gretel and Hansel"