ON THE BIG SCREEN

THE CREATOR
PG-13
Does the idea of AI scare you just a little? Then this is the sci-fi flick for you. John David Washington and Gemma Chan star in this futuristic tale of a time when AI forces are at war with humans for control of the planet. Not surprisingly, the AI forces control a weapon that could destroy everything. Will our heroes save the day? We sure hope so.

DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS
R
Ethan Coen goes out on his own (without brother Joel) as director and writer of this crime comedy that intertwines two women’s road trips with a gang of not-so-smart criminals. Not too surprisingly (think of his other films, like Fargo or Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?), this one gets wiggy fast, with stars Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Margaret Qualley, and Geraldine Viswanathan having a grand old time bringing Coen’s award-winning (and slightly twisted) sensibilities to the screen.

THE EQUALIZER 3
Not yet rated
In this third installment of the popular crime thriller franchise, Denzel Washington is back as Robert McCall, the man they call The Equalizer. This time out, he’s retired in Italy, but (surprise!) he’s pulled back into the action when the Mafia starts pushing his new neighbors around. Dakota Fanning joins in the action, along with David Denman and a slew of Italian thespians in this thriller shot along the Amalfi Coast.

A HAUNTING IN VENICE 
P-13
Kenneth Branagh has settled into his role as Hercule Poirot, this time adapting the Agatha Christie classic Halowe’en Party to a new location. As the film’s director, too, Branagh filmed in Venice (why wouldn’t you, if you could?) and recruited another all-star cast to come along for the mystery: Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Kelly Reilly, Tina Fey, and his young protégé Jude Hill (from Belfast) all keep the suspense going right until the very end when Poirot once again gets his killer.

THE OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK
PG-13 
Michael Jai White writes, directs, and stars in this comedic Black Western that mixes up a bit of Mel Brooks, a dash of Kung-Fu, and plenty of horse-riding, gun-slinging, bar-trashing fun along the way. He’s got a familiar cast in place, from Anika Noni Rose, Tommy Davidson, Jill Scott, and Russell Peters to Barry Bostwick and Chris Browning, all doing their best to keep up with his Wild West antics as the zany plot zings along.