LITTLE WOMEN

LITTLE WOMEN:  This retelling of the Alcott classic is definitely for a new generation and well it should be. This new batch of March women are a strong lot, particularly Jo, played beautifully by Saoirse Ronan who garnered a Golden Globe nomination.   Her sisters are portrayed equally as well....Meg (Emma Watson), Beth (Eliza Scanlen) and Amy (Florence Pugh).  Filling the role of Marmee (and doing it admirably) is Laura Dern while Aunt March is brought to life by the incandescent Meryl Streep (who brings magic to her every performance).  With Timothee Chalamer as Theodore "Laurie" Laurence and Chris Cooper as his grandfather.  While the plot is familiar, it is told with such love and caring that it becomes a fresh take on how women were pigeonholed in earlier times.  Unless you married well...…..(you get the drift).  Beautifully photographed, this film is absolutely exquisite.  It does however dart back and forth in flashbacks but they are never disconcerting.  And the ending which is totally new to this telling, feels remarkably perfect.  An extremely satisfying movie!

BOMBSHELL

BOMBSHELL:  And the nominees are...………..well, you decide...…….Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and John Lithgow are clearly in the running and certainly Theron will get a nod portraying Megyn Kelly in this look at the sexual misconduct by Roger Ailes (Lithgow) at FOX television. Told with bits of humor, the film still packs a wallop displaying the beginning of the "Me, too" movement (before Weinstein and all the others). The film is chocked full of actors portraying the likes of Rudy Giuliani, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reillly, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Geraldo Rivera, Chris Wallace and the list goes on and on.   Among the other supporting actors are Allison Janney, Connie Briton and Malcom McDowall as Rupert Murdock.   Whatever your beliefs in politics and/or FOX news, this is a first rate portrayal of a not too bygone past.   Never boring, always madding, and worth your attention.

JUMANJI,THE NEXT LEVEL

JUMANJI, THE NEXT LEVEL:  The original cast is back and the basic formula is here as well, but given a boost with more of everything, including an ostrich stampede, attacking baboons, and some of the best CGI work you will ever see.  The plot concerns the teenagers getting sucked back into the video game where they become Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, and Awkwafina,   Also on board this time around is Danny DeVito and Danny Glover as well as brief appearances by Colin Hanks and Bebe Neuwirth.   As they all switch avatars at various time, you would think it would be hard to follow, but to the credit of the screenwriters, it isn't and you are always aware what character is inhabiting which body.  And it all makes for great adventure and great fun with some witty dialogue and even an homage (in the music) to "Lawrence of Arabia."  For pure escapism, this one will be hard to beat.  An extremely entertaining trip into the land of Jumanji.

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FROZEN 2

FROZEN 2:   The long awaited sequel, has wonderful moments and some brilliant animation but the plot will be hard to follow for the younger set.   It's all about an enchanted forest with stone giants, horses made out of water, a cute little creature that carries fire on his/her back and a bunch of swirling leaves called Gale. The regulars are back, Elsa (the snow queen) voiced by Idina Menzel, Anna (Kristen Bell) Olaf, the snowman (Josh Gad) and the Disney Magic.  The musical numbers are varied and memorable as is the beautiful animation which harkens back to the Disney classics. It is quite a lovely film and one worth seeing.

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KNIVES OUT

KNIVES OUT:  With an all-star cast, this deliciously wicked thriller is great fun and a roller coaster of twists and turns.   I refuse to give any of this intricate plot away, so you'll have to solve it as you go along.   We start out with a dead body.  Foul play?  Suicide?  And who hired the detective to investigate and why?  Even the detective doesn't know!  The superb cast is headed by Daniel Craig as the detective with the suspects seeming to be most of the family of the deceased.   On board for the mayhem is Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, and Toni Collette among others with Christopher Plummer as the deceased.  ( But as the story unfolds he is very much alive in a series of flashbacks.) And it all takes place in a spooky estate worthy of Agatha Christie.  I might add, they even manage to get in a car chase.  And some laughs, as well.  (My favorite....Daniel Craig waiting in a car singing "Or am I  losing my mind" from "Follies")   If this genre is for you (as why wouldn't it be?)  treat yourself and see it pronto.