Loving

Loving celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving, who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their Virginia hometown.  Their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1967 reaffirmed the very foundation of the right to marry - and has gone down in history as an inspiration to couples everywhere.  Slow at times but a piece of history that needs to be told.  I give it a 7.  Stars Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga.

Moonlight

Set amid the height of Miami's War on Drugs,  this tender, heartbreaking story follows one man across three defining chapters in his life as he wrestles with the beauty and pain of falling in love, while grappling with his sexuality.  I expected violence and drug gore but there was none.  The story centers on character development and does a fantastic job.  I give it a 9.  Stars Mahershala Ali, Naomie  Harris,  Janelle Monae.

The Handmaiden

A gripping and sensual tale of two women-- a young Japanese Lady living on a secluded estate, and a Korean woman  who is hired to serve as her new handmaiden but is secretly plotting with a conman to defraud her of a large inheritance.  By sensual we mean soft porn.  Some of the scenes are very explicit.  My movie companion and I needed a drink after the movie.  Although the story line is good, it leaves nothing to the imagination.  I give it a 5.  Stars no one you have heard  about.

Aquarius

Clara , who has vowed not to leave her quickly gentrifying home in Recife, Brazil, until her death faces confrontation with the new owners of the building who want her to sell and move out.  Her steadfastness brings about a mysterious confrontation, tingeing even Clara's most familiar routines with tension.  A very long movie even though it is very good, a good 30 minutes could have been eliminated.  Brace yourself for some raw sex scenes.  I give it an eight.  Stars Sonia Braga.

Girl On The Train

During her daily rail commute divorcee Rachel Watson observes the happily married couple living in a house near the train route.  One day, she witnesses a scene that enrages her--and soon finds herself deeply entangled in the ensuing mystery.  I give it a seven.  Rachel is a alcoholic and doesn't remember a lot of  her experiences.  Very emotional movie and I am not that type.  I would have gone to the police long before she took things into her own hands.  It stars Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson.

The Birth Of A Nation

Very, very intense movie and at times hard to watch.  The movie follows a slave and preacher Nat Turner, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat's preaching to subdue unruly slaves.  As he witnesses countless atrocities against himself and his fellow slaves, Nat orchestrates an inspirational uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.   I give the movie a seven.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.  As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies.  Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.  I would have gotten more out of the movie if I was 12 years old.  Great  technological side effects.  I am sure the movie followed the book.  Upper elementary and young teens would love it.  I give it a five.  Judy Dench is the only known star.