THE ACCOUNTANT. 3 stars. Crime thriller specialist Gavin O'Connor ("Hope and Glory"), delivers a slick, well-paced actioner based on the most ludicrous premise. Ben Affleck stars as an autistic accountant who also happens to be an expert sniper and martial arts master who is targeted by assassins after he finds financial irregularities at a powerful tech firm. Anna Kendrick is terrific as a geeky junior accountant who falls for the heroic CPA. With John Lithgow, J.K. Simmons, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson. 2 hr. 8 R (strong violence and profanity throughout) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
ALLIED. 2 stars. Robert Zemeckis ("Forrest Gump") pays tribute to classic Hollywood films with this sub-par romantic WWII spy yarn starring the 52-year-old Brad Pitt as a commando who parachutes into Casablanca to help an agent from the French Resistance (Martion Cotillard). The derivative story is so far-fetched and the romance so tepid, the film lacks any real vitality. That's especially true of the latter half which has the now-married couple become entangled in a spy-hunt in London. The thriller elements are too thin to be taken seriously and the romance far too sentimentalized. 2 hrs. 04 R (violence, some sexuality/nudity, profanity and brief drug use) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
ARRIVAL. 3 stars. The military recruits a linguist (Amy Adams) to help decipher alien communications. "Arrival" is at once majestic and melancholy. It's a grand endeavor, and Adams, at the center of it all, brings pluck and smarts and a deep-seated sorrow to her role. 1 hr. 56 PG-13 (brief strong language) _ Steven Rea
BEING 17. 3.5 stars. Two teens, both going through difficult personal situations, come together after initially not getting along. 1 hr. 56 No MPAA rating (violence, profanity, sexuality, nudity) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK. 2 stars. Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain") directs this ambitious and deeply flawed look at the differences between the public's perception of war and what actually happens in battle. 1 hr. 50 R (for language throughout, some war violence, sexual content, and brief drug use) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
THE BIRTH OF A NATION. 3.5 stars. Nate Parker's Sundance sensation lives up to the hype: A powerful work of history and myth alike, it depicts Nat Turner's transformation from a preacher who taught his fellow slaves to submit to white ownership into a firebrand and rebel who led a bloody, if short-lived, mutiny in 1831. Parker, who also wrote and directed, gives a rousing, controlled performance as Turner, and he's ably backed up by Aunjanue Ellis, Aja Naomi King, and Armie Hammer. 2 hrs. R (disturbing, violent content, and some brief nudity) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN. 2.5 stars. Tyler Perry is back as Mabel "Madea" Simmons _ and brother Joe and nephew Brian, whose daughter slips out of the house to attend a fraternity Halloween party. Madea _ along with Aunt Bam (Cassi Davis), Hattie (Patrice Lovely), and Joe _ follows, and they crash the party. Laughs galore, of course, and nothing more. 1 hr. 43 PG-13 (drug use and references, suggestive content, language, some horror images, thematic material) _ Sofiya Ballin
CERTAIN WOMEN. 3.5 stars. Based on a series of short stories by Maile Meloy, this minimalist masterwork from Kelly Reichardt ("Wendy and Lucy") offers brief portraits of three Montana women going about their daily lives. Some are funny, others heart-breaking. All are told with quiet confidence and artistry. With great turns by Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, James Le Gros, Kristen Stewart, and newcomer Lily Gladstone. 1 hr. 47 R (profanity) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
CHRISTINE. 3.5 stars. Rebecca Hall delivers a haunting performance in this true story about Christine Chubbuck, a local TV reporter in Florida who committed suicide on live TV in 1974. A 29-year-old virgin, Chubbuck was intensely intelligent and ambitious but felt unable to connect with people, including her blustering boss (Tracy Letts) and the news anchor whom she loved from a distance ("Dexter's" Michael C. Hall). Directed with brilliance by Antonio Campos ("Afterschool"), the film has the weight of a true modern tragedy without falling prey to self-importance. It evokes compassion, not pity, for its unforgettable heroine. 1 hr. 55 R (profanity including some sexual references; a scene of disturbing violence) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
DEEPWATER HORIZON. 3 stars. One of the most effective action directors in the biz, Peter Berg recounts the April 20, 2010, explosion that englufed the massive Deepwater Horizon oil rig with rare grace and style. Featuring Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Kate Hudson and Gina Rodriguez, this is a film of great economy and elegance, a no-nonsense recreation of a tragedy that's thrilling, suspenseful, heart-stopping. Yet one can't help but wonder if the story would not have been better served with a more thoughtful drama that captured its long-term consequences. 1 hr. 47 PG-13 (prolonged intense disaster sequences and related disturbing images, and some profanity) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
DOCTOR STRANGE. 2.5 stars. Benedict Cumberbatch ("Sherlock") acquits himself most awesomely in the 14th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a visually sumptuous, trippy origin story about an arrogant surgeon who loses his career but regains his soul _ and the ability to cast wicked spells, do wicked kung fu and look wicked cool in majestic blood-red cape. The plot? Hm, well evil threatens to swallow all of reality and the good guys try to stop it. The fine ensemble cast includes Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong and Mads Mikkelsen. 1 hr. 55 PG-13 (sci-fi violence and action throughout, and an intense crash sequence) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN. 3 stars. A teen's (Hailee Steinfeld) life takes a turn for the worse when her best friend begins dating her brother. It works because it's not a candy-coated version of teenagedom. It's harsh, awkward and funny, just like being a teenager. 1 hr. 30. R (for sexual content, language and some drinking) _ Molly Eichel
ELLE. 3.5 stars. Paul Verhoeven's most daring exploration of sexual politics features a stunning performance by Isabelle Huppert as a successful business executive and single mother who is violently raped by a masked assailant. Refusing to become a victim or to seek revenge, she tries to understand the dynamics of rape, going as far as to befriend and seduce her attacker. 2 hrs. 10 R (violence involving sexual assault, disturbing sexual content, some grisly images, brief graphic nudity, and profanity) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM. 3 stars. Harry Potter spin-off scripted by J.K. Rowling brings the wizarding world across the pond to our side. Set in 1920s Manhattan, with Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterson, Colin Farrell. 2 hrs. 13. PG-13 (some fantasy action violence) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
HACKSAW RIDGE. 3.5 stars. One of Mel Gibson's greatest achievements as director, this incredibly violent, gory WWII epic tells the true story of U.S. Amy medic Desmond Doss (a remarkable Andrew Garfield), who became one of the most decorated soldiers of the Pacific Theater without firing a single shot. A conscientious objector, he single-handedly saved more than 75 wounded men during the Battle of Okinawa. The first-rate ensemble cast includes Hugo Weaving, Sam Worthington, Rachel Griffiths and Teresa Palmer. 2 hrs. 11 R (intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence including grisly bloody images) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
THE HANDMAIDEN. 3.5 stars. Based on Sarah Water's novel the "Fingersmith," this breathtaking, clever, funny sexy _ and sexually graphic _ romantic thriller from "Oldboy" director Park Chan-wook is about a lesbian romance that develops between an impoverished confidence trickster and an isolated, naive heiress. Set during the 1930s, when Korea was a vassal state to Japan, the film cleverly addresses a range of themes about power, economic exploitation and sexuality. 2 hrs. 24 No MPAA rating (nudity and graphic sexual situations throughout, profanity, smoking, violence) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
INFERNO. 1.5 stars. Director Ron Howard reteams with Tom Hanks for their third Dan Brown adaptation, a tedious thriller set across Italy that has symbol expert Robert Langdon (Hanks) racing to solve clues derived from Dante to save the globe. Ben Foster is wonderfully weird as the hero, while Felicity Jones is charming as Langdon's young helper. Great film technique, a great supporting cast and gorgeous locations can't save this story from sinking into tedium. 2 hrs. 01 PG-13 (sequences of action and violence, disturbing images, some profanity, thematic elements and brief sensuality) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK. 3 stars. Tom Cruise has found his ideal role in novelist Lee Child's anithero Jack Reacher, the former U.S. Army criminal investigator who travels around helping people who've been exploited by bad guys. This sequel, costarring Cobie Smulders as a current Army cop and Danika Yarosh as a teenage runaway, has Reacher taking on a private military contractor run by an evil former gerneral (Robert Knepper). 1 hr. 58 PG-13 (sequences of violence and action, some bloody images, profanity, thematic elements) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
KEVIN HART: WHAT NOW? 2.5 stars. Kevin Hart comes back home to Philly for his latest concert movie, which was filmed last year over a sold-out two-night stand at Lincoln Financial Field before crowds of 53,000 a night. Hart mocks James Bond pictures in a silly prologue costarring Halle Berry before taking the stage, where he dominates with sharp-edged jokes based on his daily life with his two kids and his fiancee. His surreal routines are less funny when they touch upon sex. 1 hr. 36 R (sexual material, profanity) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
LOVING. 3 stars. True story of an interracial couple who were jailed for getting married in 1950s Virginia. Their case led to the Supreme Court decision invalidating race-related marriage laws. 2 hrs. 3 PG-13 (thematic elements, some profanity) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. 3.5 stars. Kenneth Lonergan ("You Can Count on Me," "Margaret") proves once again he's one of America's finest dramatists with this working class drama about loss, grief and family obligations. Casey Affleck is sensational in an Oscar-worthy performance as a self-hating, melancholic who has lived a miserable life as a janitor since he lost both his children in an accident. When his older brother (Kyle Chandler) dies, he's forced to return to his tiny hometown and assume responsibility for his teenage nephew (Lucas Hedges). Costars Michelle Williams, Matthew Broderick and Gretchen Mol. 2 hrs. 17 R (profanity throughout and some sexual content) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
MOANA. 3.5 stars. This delightful, lyrical and deeply moving 3-D computer animated family picture is a semi-comic adventure story featuring the first truly feminist heroine to grace Walt Disney's animated features. Based in part on Polynesian myths, it's about a teenage princess (15-year-old Hawaii-born singer Auli'i Cravalho) who goes on an arduous journey to restore the creative powers of the fecund earth mother who created the world. Co-starring Dwayne Johnson as a macho demi-god, the film is fueled by a wondrous, ecofeminist point of view. 1 hr. 53 PG (peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
MOONLIGHT. 4 stars. A true American masterpiece, the sophomore feature from Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy") is a heady mix of brutal social realism and poetry as it tells the coming age story of a young black gay man from the Miami ghetto. Divided into three parts, it tells the story of Chiron as a 10-year-old, a high school student and a 20-something professional as he wrestles with external forces he can't control including poverty and drug crime and internal desires he cannot ignore. Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes give memorable performances as Chiron. With Andre Holland, Janelle Monae, Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali. 1 hr. 50 R (some sexuality, drug use, brief violence, and profanity throughout) _ T.D.
THE PICKLE RECIPE. (Not previewed) In cornball Borscht Belt romp, a struggling DJ steals his grandmother's prize-winning pickle recipe. Sample joke: A guest at a wedding reception complains about the pickles being served. Her tablemate concurs, adding, "And they hardly give you any!" 1 hr. 37 PG-13 (brief suggestive humor, drug references).
SHUT IN (Not previewed) Naomi Watts plays a widowed child psychologist who lives in isolated solitude in rural New England with her bedridden teen son (Charlie Heaton). A fierce winter storm and an odd young houseguest (Jacob Tremblay) rock their world. With Oliver Platt. 1 hr. 31 PG-13 (terror and some violence/bloody images, nudity, thematic elements, brief strong language).
STORKS. 2 stars. The latest 3-D, CGI, animated family adventure saga tries to combine the cuteness factor of newborn babies with the edgy humor of a Saturday Night Live skit. Featuring voices by Adam Samberg, Jennifer Aniston, Kelsey Grammer, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jordan Peele, it's about a rebellious stork that accidentally ruins the latest business venture of the world's storks _ tired of delivering babies, they now make home deliveries for an online retailer. 1 hr. 29 PG ( mild action and some thematic elements) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
SULLY. 3.5 stars. Tom Hanks stars as veteran airline pilot Chesley Sullenberger in this deftly executed account of the amazing emergency landing of a US Airways passenger jet in the middle of the Hudson River _ the so-called "Miracle on the Hudson." A true-life drama about heroism and people working in harmony under exceptional conditions _ and a sobering deconstruction of the flight's aftermath: Second-guessing, self-doubt, an administrative body _ the National Transportation Safety Board _ that appears on the hunt for a scapegoat. Clint Eastwood directs. 1 hr. 35 PG-13 (profanity, adult themes) _ Steven Rea
TROLLS. 2 stars. DreamWorks Animation's mediocre animated 3-D musical family adventure is the first big-screen story spun from the Good Luck Troll line of toys introduced in 1959. Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick voice the two leads and sing a couple of nice duets. Timberlake, who produced the music, does a great job, but the film has no magic, no real luster. 1 hr. 32 PG (some mild rude humor) _ Tirdad Derakhshani
