The Light Between Oceans

World War I veteran Tom accepts a job as a lighthouse keeper in a remote  site in Australia.  He woes and marries Isobel to live with him at this remote site.  Unfortunately, she has a series of miscarriages and is distraught with not being able to have a child.  They find a child floating in the ocean on a lifeboat, who they take to raise as their own and Tom gives in to Isobel's pleading to keep the child.  Tom discovers that the child's mother is searching for the child and her missing husband.  I did not read the lengthy book so there are missing pieces.  If  Isobel cried one more time, I was going to smack her.  She comes off as a spoiled brat.  I suggest one reads the book and then see the movie.  I give it a 6.  Stars Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Rachel Weisz.

White Girl

Equipped with platinum blonde hair and a winning smile, NYC college girl Leah seeks out pleasure in any form.  Between getting high with her roommate and snoring lines with her boss, Leah falls for Blue, a young man dealing drugs on her corner.  Within days, the two are selling dime bags to her boss and his downtown friends, collecting fast cash, and living the high life.  But summer love crashes to a halt when Blue is arrested and Leah is left with a ton of  his coke.  Enlisting the aid of an overpriced lawyer, Leah finds herself deep in debt and over her head as she pushes all limits to get Blue back.  Leah is the ultimate dumb blond--no even dumber than you can imagine with the morales of an alley cat.  Mostly, I just wanted to smack her.  The movie was a wake-up call for my generation.  The movie is not for the faint hearted.  For parents, you will realize why young college students should be in a supervised dorm.  I give it a 4.  Stars Morgan Saylor, Brian Marc, Justin Bartha, and Chris North.

Hell or High Water

Faced with losing the family farm to foreclosure, brothers Toby and Tanner decide that their best move is to rob some banks.  Not surprisingly, their plans quickly go awry, and a grizzled but relentless lawman picks up their trail.  Not your standard shoot 'em up story.  Some great lines and great acting.  You are actually rooting for the brothers.  I give it a nine.  Stars Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster.

Indignation

When he is admitted to a rigidly Christian college in the Midwest, Marcus Messner also achieves another goal:  to get away from his domineering Jewish dad.  But Marcus's optimism is soon tempered by a nettling dean and signs of anti-Semitism on campus.  Add to the mix a bat-shit crazy girl who is chasing him.  Not a thriller but one of those touchy feely ones.   I give it a five.  Stars Logan Lerman, Sarah Gadon.

Florence Foster Jenkins

It is the 1940's in New York and heiress Florence Foster Jenkins has a music passion but unfortunately  her singing voice is always-off-key.  Florence's passion drives her to become an opera singer.  When she announces her plans to sing at Carnegie Hall, her husband St. Clair goes to extreme lengths to make sure  she never becomes aware that the angelic voice she hears in her head lacks any resemblance to the voice people hear when she sings.  Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant how can this go wrong.  Based on a true story, it is funny and sad.   I give it a nine.  Stars Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant.

Ghostbusters

In this reboot of the 1984 classic, it's the ladies doing the ghost-busting.  After writing a book suggesting that ghosts are real, Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates are called upon to lead the fight when spooks overrun Manhattan.  Two laughs in one week and I am loving it.  Not an academy award winner but the  special events and dialogue are good.  I give it a seven.  Stars Melisa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon.

Bad Moms

Looking behind the veneer of perfection sought by American mothers, this comic tale follows a trio of  fed-up unappreciated suburban mothers as they set out to liberate themselves, leaving their parental responsibilities behind.  Very, very funny movie and if you have ever been involved in the PTA you will laugh yourself silly.  But it is not a bad silly movie, it is very good and hits home.  I give it an eight.  Stars Mila Kunis,
Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn.