This week in theaters we return to the Harry Potter franchise with the spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them". For adults and young adults, we have the boxing biopic "Bleed for This" and the R-rated teen comedy "The Edge of Seventeen". In limited release, the dramatic thriller "Nocturnal Animals" is a must-see.
Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
Official Synopsis
The year is 1926 and Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident...were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt's fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds
Film Details
- Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Carmen Ejogo, Jenn Murray, Jon Voight
- Director: David Yates
- Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
- Running Time: 133 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for some fantasy action violence
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 76% (153 fresh, 48 rotten, score: 6.9/10)
- Metacritic: 65 out of 100 (31 positive, 15 mixed, 2 negative).
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is an excellent addition to the Harry Potter franchise, especially since spinoffs rarely succeed as well as the original property they're based on. Featuring the rich mythology that made J.K. Rowling's writing so successful, as well as an amazing cast and great visuals, the film should please both Potter and fantasy genre fans.
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
Official Synopsis
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN is a new coming-of-age movie in the vein of Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club - an honest, candid, often hilarious look at what it's like to grow up as a young woman in today's modern world. Everyone knows that growing up is hard, and life is no easier for high school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), who is already at peak awkwardness when her all-star older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) starts dating her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). All at once, Nadine feels more alone than ever, until the unexpected friendship of a thoughtful boy (Hayden Szeto) gives her a glimmer of hope that things just might not be so terrible after all.
Film Details
- Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner, Hayden Szeto, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, Alexander Calvert
- Director: Kelly Fremon Craig
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Running Time: 104 min.
- Rating: R for sexual content, language and some drinking - all involving teens
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 95% (86 fresh, 5 rotten, score: 7.9/10)
- Metacritic: 77 out of 100 (29 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative).
"The Edge of Seventeen" is a rare example of a great teen comedy, the kind that you don't see anymore. Drawing inspiration from John Hughes' films, perceptive and genuinely funny, the film benefits from a sharp script and a star-making performance by Hailee Steinfeld.
BLEED FOR THIS
Official Synopsis
BLEED FOR THIS is the incredible true story of one of the most inspiring and unlikely comebacks in sports history. Miles Teller (Whiplash, Divergent) stars as Vinny "The Pazmanian Devil" Pazienza, a local Providence boxer who shot to stardom after winning two world title fights. After a near-fatal car accident leaves Vinny with a broken neck, he is told he may never walk again. Against all odds and doctor's orders, renowned trainer Kevin Rooney (Aaron Eckhart) agrees to help Vinny return to the ring just a year after the accident for what could be the last fight of his life.
Film Details
- Starring: Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart, Katey Sagal, Ciarán Hinds
- Director: Ben Younger
- Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
- Running Time: 116 min.
- Rating: R for language, sexuality/nudity and some accident images
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 63% (45 fresh, 27 rotten, score: 6.0/10)
- Metacritic: 62 out of 100 (17 positive, 11 mixed, 1 negative).
"Bleed for This" might not be the most original boxing biopic out there, but it's worth seeing for Miles Teller's powerful performance and its incredible true story.
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
Official Synopsis
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Venice International Film Festival. From writer/director Tom Ford comes a haunting romantic thriller of shocking intimacy and gripping tension that explores the thin lines between love and cruelty, and revenge and redemption. Academy Award nominees Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal star as a divorced couple discovering dark truths about each other and themselves in NOCTURNAL ANIMALS.
Film Details
- Starring: Tom Ford
- Director: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Andrea Riseborough, Michael Sheen
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- Running Time: 117 min.
- Rating: R for violence, menace, graphic nudity, and language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 72% (91 fresh, 35 rotten, score: 7.1/10)
- Metacritic: 69 out of 100 (27 positive, 13 mixed, 1 negative).
Tom Ford's stylish "Nocturnal Animals" is a hypnotic movie, featuring a great-looking visual aesthetic, stellar performances and a powerful story. For some though, it might feel like too much style and not enough substance. Perhaps not a surefire recommendation for everyone, but it is worth checking out.
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