Spirited

Spirited; Reynolds & Ferrell demonstrate how their peerless comedy comes from a heartfelt place, w/earnest attempts at singing & updating the Dickens classic. Best moments come in a Monty Pythonesque period number and when the two are riffing off each other. Sweet Xmas fare; B+
 

Thunder Force

Thunder Force; McCarthy’s delivery makes most anything funny. The flimsy premise and telegraphed plot exist solely to service the comedic talents of McCarthy and Bateman. Unironical use of the music is baffling, especially Dreams by The Cranberries. Silly, throwaway comedy; C+

Snowpiercer

Snowpiercer; Riveting, thought provoking and intriguing. Class stratification and warfare set on a train has all the obvious metaphors yet doesn’t fail to entertain while reflecting on our society. Action is raw & bloody. Bold performances help sell the story. Excellent film; A-

Onward

Onward; Pixar was once high and above all others but this flick rests with your average excellent animation in look, character and story. Fun adventure that exposed too much in the trailers and didn’t leave many surprises. Themes are heartfelt and score emotionally driven; B+

The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water; A simple tale with deeper themes, @RealGDT weaves his fantastic magic over a love story between those cast to the margins of our society. Great performances all around add gravitas and genuine sweetness and humour; A-

Gifted

Gifted; Exceptional acting elevates what could be a syrupy flick. Instead, characters are honest, real and fully formed. Enjoyable film; A-

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures; Important, fascinating reveal of unsung NASA heroines. Compelling despite its traditional, stale storytelling mechanisms; B

Allegiant

Allegiant; Like watching a book be read aloud by boring characters. No. It IS a book spoken aloud with boring actors. Sci-fi FX are lame; D