THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN:  This original musical based loosely on the inventor of  "show business," P. T. Barnum is a wonderful role for the multi-talented Hugh Jackman.  And he wears it well. No, make that exquisitely! This rags to riches story is so full of heart that it practically bursts from the screen.  The score is a treasure with some of the most exuberant dancing you will ever see this side of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."  The supporting cast led by Michelle Williams and Zac Efron are all first rate.  The entire film is a wonder to behold and the perfect way to spend some time during the holidays.   It will make you smile from ear to ear for hours on end.   Go see it on the big screen!   You won't regret it.  It is pure joy!

JUST GETTING STARTED

JUST GETTING STARTED: This action comedy stars Morgan Freeman as Duke Diver, the manager of a Palm Springs resort (A man with a past) and Tommy Lee Jones as Leo, an ex-marine who checks into the resort (for a reason that will be revealed.)  In the meantime they both stumble upon Suzie (Rene Russo) and it seems that both men have eyes for her. Along the way we meet the supporting cast....Elizabeth Ashley, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Glenne Hedley, George Wallace, Jane Seymore and even Johnny Mathis....And what a cast...And what a bomb!   Not much action, not much comedy (although the highlight of the film is Freeman doing the Limbo)  But it never quite wins you over and ends abruptly with no-comeuppance for some of the characters.....So, skip this one.

COCO

COCO:  The latest Pixar/Disney animated release is a hymn to the culture of Mexico. (A little love letter to counterpunch the Wall that Trump wants?) Politics aside, it is a charming film about a boy names Miguel who wants to become a musician despite his family's generations-old ban on music. Determined to find out what prompted this hatred for music, he sets out on an adventure which ultimately brings him to the "Land of the Dead."  While I won't go into the plot. suffice it to say that this is one of the most beautiful animated films in my memory and sure to be a contender in the Oscar race in that category.   The actors who voice the various characters include Anthony Gonzalez as Miguel with supporting roles filled by Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Edward James Olmos and Cheech Marin.  I hope this film finds an audience beyond the Latino community because it is a tender story of a boy's rite of passage and a universal theme of  "family comes first."  And beautiful!

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI:   Yes, that's the title.  When a mother is frustrated at the lack of progress in the investigation of her daughter's brutal mother, she rents space on three billboards in an attempt to spur the police into action.  Frances McDormand  delivers a tour de force performance as the mother, Mildred.  Equally adept in his performance as the town sheriff is Woody Harrelson who seems to get better and better as he ages.  Sam Rockwell as the racist deputy in the case doesn't mask any of his inner demons and is as brilliant as the aforementioned two. I  would expect Oscar nominations for Dormand as well as a best supporting actor nod to Rockwell who goes through the biggest change. The movie careens between comedy and drama with plenty of blood spilled along the way.   But, if there was a theme to this film, I would not cite the violence and blood shed which is in no way gratuitous, but rather the pain that the mother goes through until she realizes she is not alone.  The sheriff  has his own private pain to deal with.  And the moral of the story, is that hate begets hate.  It is a remarkable movie on many levels and will mesmerize you.

WONDER

WONDER:   And indeed it is, as in wonderful.  Based upon a true story and starring the incomparable Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, this one will tug at your heartstrings and inspire you with its warmth and humanity.  This is the story of a young boy, August Pullman (Auggie) played to perfection by Jacob Tremblay, who happens to have facial differences and is entering the fifth grade at a main stream school with much trepidation and doubt about his fitting in to unknown terrority. Mandy Patinkin is in the supporting cast as well as a bunch of terrific young actors, most notably Noah Jupe as Auggie's best friend and Izabela Vidovic as his sister. I won't give away any of the plot here but only say it is the perfect film to kick off the holiday season.  It is just brimming with love and good will which is sorely needed this year.  It will bring you to tears but they are tears of sheer joy!

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS:  A remake of a classic?   Really?  I approached this movie with a bit of trepidation having loved the 1974 Sidney Lumet version. Was I disappointed?  Yes and no.  Featuring an all-star cast headed by Kenneth Branagh (who also directed) with Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer, Williem Dafoe, Derek Jacobi and Josh Gad, how could you miss?  Well, to each his own.  A new generation will find it intriguing, no doubt. However, Branagh, for some reason, has chosen to give his Hercule Poirot this enormous mustache that is almost scene stealing.  Perhaps I am too used to that wonderful David Suchet BBC version (not to mention the Albert Finney one in the aforementioned Lumet film.) At any rate, I found it a little bit of too much gilt on the lily. On the plus side, Mr. Branagh chose to film in the 65-millimeter format which leads to an opulent look for the proceedings (in the genre of "Doctor Zhivago" and "Lawrence of Arabia")  It also made it necessary to "open" the film up and shoot a number of scenes off of the train and in the snowy countryside. And, I must say, the cinematography to first rate.  Although the film does bog down a bit toward the end, all in all, it was entertaining and we are told in the final frames that there may be a sequel.  Seems someone arrives and wants Mr.Poirot to head for the Nile.  We shall see.

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN:  A fascinating film about the life of A. A. Milne and how he came to write of  Winnie the Pooh. Staring a cast of mostly unknowns (at least to me), the movie show us the joys and woes of obtaining celebrity status and how it affected the young Christopher Robin.   There is joy throughout the film but also a good deal of sadness as Christopher grows up and becomes unable to handle his "stardom."  Introducing Will Tilston as the young Christopher with Domhnall Gleeson aa Alan Milne and Margot Robbie as his wife, Daphne. And Kelly Macdonald plays the nanny to perfection caring for the young boy when his parents are too busy.....Be forewarned, bring your Kleenex. But. it's a good cry.