XD Now Playing
Smile 2
Cast: Kyle Gallner, Naomi Scott, Ray Nicholson
Director: Parker Finn
• 132 min
The Wild Robot
Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor
Director: Chris Sanders
• 101 min
Now Playing
Joker: Folie à Deux
Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener
• 4 min
We Live in Time
Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Grace Delaney
• 107 min
Goodrich
Carmen Ejogo, Michael Keaton, Poorna Jagannathan
• 111 min
The Apprentice
Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova
• 120 min
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Jenna Ortega, Michael Keaton, Monica Bellucci
Saturday Night
Kaia Gerber, J.K. Simmons, Willem Dafoe
• 109 min
Deadpool & Wolverine
Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
• 128 min
Piece by Piece
Pharrell Williams, Morgan Neville, Kendrick Lamar
• 93 min
Hocus Pocus
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
• 96 min
Speak No Evil
James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi
• 110 min
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara
• 76 min
Transformers One
Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson
• 104 min
Coming Soon
Flight Risk
Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, Topher Grace
Conclave
Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow
Red One
Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu
Wicked
Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Gladiator II
Joseph Quinn, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal
Moana 2
Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Auli'i Cravalho
Movie Guru's Current Movie Briefs
Since I write many of these briefs the day before the movies are released, what we have here are mostly ruminations on movies I have not yet seen. You will have to decide for yourself if these briefs have any value. I believe the less you know about a movie, the better chance you might enjoy it to the upside. Too many reviewers seem to go out of their ways to ruin for you with way too much information your upcoming movie experience. In fact my D graded Master’s Thesis proposed that reviews should be embargoed until after the opening weekends allowing moviegoers to see the movies fresh and without plot summaries taken right out of the press kits.
- We Live in Time
The title sounds a little like The Title It Ends With Us which makes me think this could be about a couple in love. In fact the story that was hard to miss is that the stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh filmed a love scene so hot that the director turned his back and forgot to yell cut. In nine months we will find out how hot the scene really was.
- Goodrich
Lousy title but starring Michael Keaton who between repeating his money making roles for big paychecks chooses to participate in small paycheck movies which tell stories without special effects. Goodrich is one of his small paycheck jobs. I believe it will be worthy of your attendance.
- Smile 2
I am not smiling. Ha ha. In 1968 George Romero wrote and directed the black and white horror film Night of the Living Dead with a Pittsburgh crew and locals playing the zombies. Scary as hell in theaters full of screaming customers. Midnight shows still playing years later. An ending that sums up the randomness of life. Now our children and grandchildren go to garbage like Terrifier and Blink Twice and See No Evil and Smile 1 and 2 and more to come. Sad.
- Saturday Night Live
Oh boy. Time to break out the smoke. Actually, in my day, every TV show and movie was time to break out the smoke. We are about to see a backstage representation of the fear and loathing of the iconic live, late night show’s first week ever, I am afraid it will be filled with more fact than fun. I would prefer a film showing the party going on at my good friend’s Mitch’s house while we watched the first episode ever. We were hooked after the first inhale. And no – Bill Clinton was not invited
- The Apprentice
The Apprentice is finally released. There has been too much controversy about this Donald Trump biography which starts from the beginning. It is an expose. It won’t change your vote, but might make the pain if he wins even worse. In the interests of fairness the movie should have been doubled up with last week’s Vindicating Trump.
- Piece by Piece
Pharrell Williams is a creative genius. This Lego “documentary” musical party including his hip hop and pop friends is getting huge think pieces throughout the print world. Wild Robot is a winner for both adults and children. I cannot wait to see this family affair.
- Nightmare Before Christmas
This is the Wizard of Oz of the modern world. Every Halloween the Tim Burton creation is released in both digital and digital 3D versions. I attended the 3D version the year it first came out. I was disappointed. I need to check it out today and see if there has been an improvement. The original version is deserving of its longevity.
- Sam and Colby: Legends of the Paranormal
I am aging out of this job. I do not know Sam or Colby. I do know the movie is doing boffo business for an independent release, and they are big on streaming. Congratulations!
- Joker Folie a Deux
Maybe it is just me, but I am totally creeped out by the “love” affair between Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in this big budget, mainstream, tentpole that is supposed to carry movie exhibitors into a money making holiday season. I feel like I will be revolted by this movie, but I am wrong 50% of the time.
- Megalopolis
The Francis Ford Coppola who created masterworks of film, now in the final years of his life, has made a muddled and indulgent film that only cineastes could love. However it is wrong to attack what is obviously a bad choice, and in fact his failure is no worse than Orson Welles’ Other Side of the Wind, Muhammed Ali’s final fights, Willie Mays’ misplays in centerfield for the Mets, Johnny Unitas barely able to throw a decent pass for The San Diego Chargers, ad infinitum. For all he has meant to the history of film, I tip my cap to Francis Ford Coppola.
- Transformers One
This looks like a cute Transformers prequel that brings to the screen the origin story of growing up as wild teenager Transformers. The preview draws me into thinking the grandkids must see this one. I am willing to take them. For me maybe XD will make it better than it will probably turn out.
- Speak No Evil
James McAvoy is so creepy in the trailer that I want to throw this movie into the dustbin already. Hopefully it does not come close to Blink Twice for revolting moments that will stick with you forever. However the closeup shot of the little boy unable to speak and points to his missing tongue with a slashing motion is enough to send me to the bathroom. We know how this will go down. Just like Blink Twice we will suffer for two hours until the impossible happy ending that means nothing.
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Thirty six years later the sequel comes to theaters, most importantly filmed by the original directorial genius Tim Burton. Sadly Burton has been in a fallow period for decades, no longer breaking new ground with the likes of Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure, Edward Scissorhands, Batman with Jack Nicholson.s Joker, and Nightmare Before Christmas. What do I expect from this possible return to greatness for Burton. Probably a box office success and a return to glory days. Or maybe fans will be sorry that he took this route with a sequel instead of something original. Either way it is a must see.
- Blink Twice
No wonder people of faith the world over despise Hollywood. Zoe Kravitz, an excellent actress, wrote and directed this moral failure starring her significant other Channing Tatum. Hopefully this short and spoiler filled plot summary will protect you from considering this movie in theaters or via streaming. A rich guy brings a group of single young ladies to join his friends on his secluded luxury island. Each night they rape and sodomize and slice open the necks of various of the female guests after spraying them with a forget everything perfume that erases their memories of the previous night’s debaucheries. Then the remaining two heroines turn the tables and Django Chained- like violently massacre all the males except Channing Tatum who the bigger star of the two survivors marries.There was absolutely no excuse for a distributor financing this script and distributing the finished film worldwide. And the agents involved should take some of the blame as well.
- Reagan
Dennis Quaid as President Ronald Reagan. Quaid is a good choice, and the previews look appropriately reverential. Enough said.
- Deadpool and Wolverine
Written by second summer intern Jake Gaughan. Deadpool and Wolverine was fan service and nostalgia bait at its finest but more than anything it was a lot of fun! Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are playing the roles they were born to in this movie and they are at their best here. It’s the first Marvel movie to release in a long time that I have wanted to watch again. I watched it in XD and it was well worth the extra few bucks!
- Deadpool and Wolverine
Warning. If you are old and prone to fall asleep in front of screens, please be aware that the bottom two rows of seats nearest the screen in the XD theaters recline all the way. They are the only two rows that function that way. At the first showtime of Deadpool and Wolverine, the theater was filled. I was forced to sit in the second row. I reclined all the way. I made it through the many previews and commercials. I watched the creative opening and an exciting and bloody and fun 20 minutes. Next I knew I woke up having missed a bunch of what I assume was great stuff. Thank goodness a summer intern is watching the movie tonight. I look forward to reading his brief.