ON THE BIG SCREEN

THRILLS & CHILLS
THE 355
PG-13
There’s a new crew of secret agents hitting the big screen this winter, as Jessica Chastain leads an all-star cast of powerful women in what they hope will be the launch of a new film franchise, a la Charlie’s Angels or the Bourne flicks. Oscar winners Penelope Cruz and Lupita Nyong’o are part of the pack, along with Diane Kruger. Meanwhile, Chinese actress Bingbing Fan is in the shadows; is she on their side in this action thriller? You’ll have to hit the theater to find out.

MORBIUS
PG-13
There’s a new crew of secret agents hitting the big screen this winter, as Jessica Chastain leads an all-star cast of powerful women in what they hope will be the launch of a new film franchise, a la Charlie’s Angels or the Bourne flicks. Oscar winners Penelope Cruz and Lupita Nyong’o are part of the pack, along with Diane Kruger. Meanwhile, Chinese actress Bingbing Fan is in the shadows; is she on their side in this action thriller? You’ll have to hit the theater to find out.

SCREAM
R
Speaking of franchises, it has been 26 years since the first Scream burst into the world’s nightmares. Which explains why these new filmmakers didn’t bother to produce a new name, even though it is a sequel starring many of the original players. Look for Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette back in their original roles; older, wiser, and making bank on the franchise that keeps on giving horror fans just the shivers they love.

GREAT LOVE, SCARY LOVE
CYRANO
PG-13  
Peter Dinklage grabs hold of the lead role in Cyrano, in this adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play written by Erica Schmidt (who is married to Dinklage in real life). Set in courtly times, the story still revolves around Cyrano’s unrequited love for Roxanne (Hailey Bennett). Directed by Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement), this fanciful tale had a limited December run for Oscar consideration.

DEEP WATER
R
Remember when Ben Affleck was dating Ana de Armas? This dark and scary (and erotic) love story brought them together in real life, too, but not for long. All you need to know is that it is directed by Adrian Lyne (9 1/2 Weeks, Fatal Attraction) and based on a Patricia Highsmith novel (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Strangers on a Train), to know that this one is going to be seriously twisted.

LICORICE PIZZA
R
Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s love letter to first love and life in the San Fernando Valley in 1973 had a limited Christmas Day release for awards consideration, with January being when it rolls out to theaters across America. It’s a quintessentially L.A. flick, as “older woman” Alana (she’s 25) and teenager Gary (he’s 15, going on 30) fall in love amidst a slightly surreal and frenetic backdrop that includes famed Hollywood characters from the time. Gary is played by Cooper Hoffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman’s son, in his first starring role.

KIDS CORNER
BELLE
PG
The latest from Oscar-nominated animator Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai), Belle is all about a shy high-school girl who creates an alter ego for her social media, with somewhat shocking results. The action-packed film is visually striking, warm-hearted, and socially relevant, presented in a way that adolescent kids can watch and come to understand that their future is in their own hands.

SESAME STREET
Not yet rated
In their latest movie adventure, the Sesame Street gang is plunged into a mystery when they suddenly cannot live in their neighborhood any longer. Big Bird, Oscar, and all our other favorite denizens of Sesame Street enlist the help of a history TV show host (Anne Hathaway) to find their way back to the place that kids, adults, and all our favorite characters used to know just how to get to—Sesame Street!