Captain Fantastic

Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, isolated from society, a devoted father dedicates his life to transforming his six young children into extraordinary adults.  But when tragedy strikes the family, they are forced to leave their self-created paradise and begin a journey into the outside world that challenges his idea of what it means to be a parent and brings into question everything he's taught the children.  Not a comedy but there are some humorous moments.  I give it a seven.  Stars Viggo Mortensen.

The Innocents

Upon the conclusion of the second World War, a nurse, Mathilde is treating the last  of the French survivors of the German camps in Warsaw, Poland when a panicked Benedictine nun appears at the clinic, begging Mathilde to follow her back to the convent.  What she finds there is shocking:  a holy sister about to give birth and  a several more in advanced stages of pregnancy.  Mathilde enters the sisters' fiercely private world, dictated by the rituals of their order and the strict Reverend Mother.  Fearing the shame of exposure, the hostility of the new anti-Catholic Communist government, and facing an unprecedented crisis of faith, the nuns increasingly turn to Mathilde as their belief and traditions clash with harsh realities.  Based on a true story, not for the faint of heart.  The crimes of war that involve civilians are laid out in graphic detail.  The movie is well done.  I give it an 8.  Stars Agata  Kuleszo.

Free State Of Jones

This epic action-drama is set during the Civil War.  It follows a defiant Southern farmer Newt Knight and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the Confederacy.  Banding together with small farmers and local slaves, Knight launched an uprising that led Jones County, Mississippi to secede from the Confederacy, creating a Free State of Jones.  Knight continued his struggle into Reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the War.  The movie can be slow at times but good.  We too often forget about this part of history.  I give it an eight.  Stars Matthew McConaughey and Gary Ross.

Money Monster

Landing in dire financial straights after following a stock market tip from bombastic TV persona Lee Gates, fuming Kyle Budwell takes the Lee hostage on live television and threatens to kill him and the CEO of the losing stock unless they apologize for the bad tip.  A different kind of thriller but good.  I give it a 7.  Stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Jack O'Connell.

Love & Friendship

This is an adaptation of Jane Austen's novella Lady Susan.  Set in the 1790s, the film follows the title character, a beautiful young widow as she arrives in Churchill, to wait out colourful rumours about her dalliances circulating through polite society.  While there, she embarks upon securing a husband for herself, but the Churchill waters are troubled when handsome, eligible Reginald DeCourcy and cheerful Sir James Martin arrive.  After a series of dramatic turns, Lady  Susan ultimately risks destruction when her jealous rival comes to call, uncovering a revelation that leads to the denouncement of denouncements.  The characters needed name tags to determine who is sleeping with whom.  Still an entertaining movie. Stars:  Kate Beckinsale, Xavier Samuel, and Tom Bennett.  I give it a seven.

The Meddler

A recent widow and eternal optimist, Marnie Minevini moves from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be closer to her daughter-a successful-but single- screenwriter who firmly draws strict personal boundaries for her mother.  Armed with an iPhone and a full bank account, Marnie sets out to make friends, find her purpose, and possibly open up to someone new.  Marnie is played by Susan Sarandon who gives a career-best performance in this charming movie.  Rose Byrne plays the daughter and is equally as good.  Both mothers and daughters will love this movie.  I give it a seven.

Marguerite

French socialite Marguerite Dumont has one great passion in life:  singing opera.  Unfortunately, she is exceedingly bad at it.  But no one  is brave enough to tell her.  She throws her heart and soul into preparing for her first solo recital.  Humorous but sad, the movie has some good laughs.  I guess we would call it a "dark comedy".  It is based on a true story.  I give it a 6.  Stars:  Catherine Frot, Andre Marcon, Michel Fau.