ON THE BIG SCREEN
By Jenny Peters
A WRINKLE IN TIME
Rated PG
A Wrinkle in Time, the much-loved Madeleine L’Engle novel, blows onto the big screen in this ambitious (and expensive) adaptation from director Ava DuVernay (Selma) starring Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling. It’s a time-twisting tale of adventure, as a teen girl (the adorable Storm Reid) searches for her scientist dad (Chris Pine), who has discovered a new form of space travel—and disappeared. She soon gets help from three otherworldly beings, and the search is on, as she begins a journey of both rescue and self-discovery. Chockablock with talented actors, eye-popping visuals and a story that has enchanted young readers since 1962, this one is a sure winner for all ages.
GRINGO
Rated R
Crazy situations abound in this black comedy/action thriller with an all-star cast. David Oyelowo leads as a fish-out-of-water businessman on a trip to Mexico, where all hell breaks loose. He encounters drug lords, mercenaries, beautiful women with their own agendas and more, as he gets pulled deeper and deeper into an inadvertent life of crime. Charlize Theron and Amanda Seyfried join in the nonstop mayhem, along with Sharlto Copley, Thandie Newton, and Joel Edgerton. The Edgertons make this one a family affair, as Joel’s brother Nash makes his feature film debut with Gringo. Paris Jackson (Michael’s daughter) also makes her film-acting debut here as well.
READY PLAYER ONE
Rated PG-13
Steven Spielberg returns to crowd-pleasing adventure in Ready Player One, his long-awaited adaptation of the award-winning science-fiction novel by Ernest Cline. Set in a dystopian future, the fast-paced story follows a teenage boy as he searches for a missing virtual reality simulator that will win him a fortune. It’s a roller-coaster ride in and out of classic video games and movies, as he unlocks different worlds during his search. Think The Iron Giant (with Vin Diesel reprising the giant’s voice), Tron, The Lord of the Rings and more. Tye Sheridan stars, along with Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, and T. J. Miller.
RED SPARROW
Rated R
Jennifer Lawrence portrays a Russian ballerina turned spy in this espionage thriller from Viennese director Francis Lawrence, who is no relation. But the pair worked together on three of the installments of The Hunger Games together; this time out, Joel Edgerton joins them as the American CIA agent who plays a cat-and-mouse game with her. Red Sparrow follows a complicated (and frankly too long) plot that involves intrigue, graphic torture, gory fights and the obligatory romance between the two spies from very different worlds. And while the pacing leaves something to be desired, there’s a satisfying twist ending that makes us more willing to forgive the more plodding moments that should have ended up on the cutting room floor. Jeremy Irons, Joely Richardson, and Mary-Louise Parker also star.
TOMB RAIDER
Rated PG-13
Seventeen years after Angelina Jolie brought Lara Croft to life in the original movie adaptation of the classic video game in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Alicia Vikander arrives in this complete reboot based on the new version of the video game series (that changed things up in 2013). But some things have stayed the same—in Tomb Raider, Lara Croft is still a tough-as-nails woman whose adventurer father has been missing for years. This Lara also goes in search of her dad, looking for a famous tomb on a mythical island. Vikander pumped up for this incredibly physical role, so look for her in tight tank tops throughout, showing off her biceps. Dominic West and Walton Goggins are her co-stars in this hoping-to-create-a-new-franchise action flick.
ISLE OF DOGS
Rated PG-13
We love Wes Anderson, the director-writer of favorites like The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom and Fantastic Mr. Fox, which is his stop-motion animated feature from 2009. Anderson returns to stop motion with Isle of Dogs, a comedy set in Japan, as a boy searches for his lost dog Spot. Gorgeous animation and a host of familiar voices (Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Greta Gerwig, Scarlett Johansson, Liev Schreiber, and Courtney B. Vance) meld with Anderson’s unique storytelling voice to create a movie that cinema-goers of every age can love.
SHERLOCK GNOMES
Not yet rated
What happens when garden gnomes come to life via the magic of animation? All sorts of adventures, of course! The cute little creatures are living a happy life in their London garden until tragedy strikes. But never fear, for there’s a super-sleuthing gnome available to take on their case—he’s Sherlock Gnomes, a funny take on the original Sherlock and voiced by Johnny Depp. This film skews more toward kids than adults, but there are enough double entendre jokes to keep the grown-ups amused, too. Emily Blunt, James McAvoy, Maggie Smith, Mary J. Blige and Chiwetel Ejiofor round out the vocal cast.
As a longtime freelance journalist, Jenny Peters covers beats that range from entertainment to lifestyle topics. She writes on film, television, travel, restaurants, wine, design, architecture, beauty, spas, cars, fashion and celebrity events for USA Today, AARP, New York Magazine and many other domestic and international outlets.
