Wild

A chronicle of one woman's 1100 mile solo hike taken to recover from a recent catastrophe and a life on the skids.  Cheryl Strayed is a self-destructive divorcee who is seeking to conquer her demons.  She was raised with an abusive father who her mother leaves and takes  Cheryl and her brother.   At 22, Cheryl is in college and her mother decides to join her to better her life.  But, her mother is suddenly diagnosed with cancer and dies.  Cheryl who is married goes into a downward spiral and becomes a heroine addict.  Her marriage ends and when she hits bottom she starts the hike.   Dark so very dark and sad.  I give it an 8.  Stars Reese Witherspoon, Gaby Hoffman, Michael Huisman and Marc Vallee.

The Homesman

A claim jumper (Tommy Lee Jones) and a pioneer woman (Hilary Swank) team up to escort three insane women from Nebraska to Iowa.  Dark so very dark drama with not one light moment.  Great names and a good performances but the story is totally disjointed and leaves one wondering what just happened.  Save it for DVD.  I give it a 5.  Stars Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep, John Lithgow.

Rosewater

A drama based on a memoir by the Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari.  Bahari returns to his home country in order to report on the 2009 presidential elections there.  When the results lead to public protests, Bahari videotapes the civil unrest.  This brings him to the attention of the authorities who apprehend him and keep him in solitary confinement in hopes of getting him to confess his crimes.  Very intense movie with acts of violence.  Definitely not a travel log for Iran.  It will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I give it an 8.  Bahari is played by Gael Garcia Bernal.

The Theory of Everything

With his body progressively ravaged by ALS, world famous physicist Stephen Hawking must rely on his wife, Jane, to continue his life's work as he faces various challenges.  This biographical drama centers on the couple's fertile partnership.  Well acted even if as he ages, he becomes an ungrateful husband.  I won't ruin the movie.  I give it a 7.  Stars Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Emily Watson, David Thewlis.

Force Majeure

At a ski resort in the Alps, the sudden and terrifying approach of an avalanche opens a deep fissure in the lives of a vacationing Swedish family when the patriarch flees to save himself instead of protecting his wife and children.  The avalanche is "snow control" by the resort.  The wife is astounded by the husband's reaction.  The movie explores human behavior when facing a crisis.  I give it an 8.  Stars Johannes Bah Kuhn, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettengren.

Nightcrawler

Eager for any work that will make ends meet, Lou Bloom joins the flock of camera crews prowling the nighttime streets of LA in search of scandal and crime.  But before long, Lou finds himself caught in the tabloid limelight. This is somewhere between a drama and dark comedy.  Sheds a whole new light on news teams and their motives.  Jake Gyllenhaal does an outstanding job as Lou Bloom.  You will hate him by the end.  I give it a seven.  Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton.

The Blue Room

This French thriller will throw you for a loop.  In the intimate confines of a hotel room, married Julien Gahyde and his paramour, Esther Despiere, meet  regularly for erotic encounters--until he is arrested for an unstipulated crime connected to their intense affair.  The movie will keep your attention, however it is French, need I say more?  I give it a 6.  Stars Lea Drucker, Mathieu Amaltric, Stephanie Cleau.