In Theaters: SILENCE, PATRIOTS DAY, LIVE BY NIGHT, SLEEPLESS

The new year starts off with a full roster of four wide releases. First we have Martin Scorsese's "Silence" and Peter Berg's "Patriots Day", which are expanding nationwide after spending some time in limited release to qualify for the awards season. Unfortunately, neither film managed to score any big nominations, but they are certainly two of 2016's best films.

We also have Ben Affleck's Prohibition-era crime drama "Live By Night" and the action thriller "Sleepless" starring Jamie Foxx. These two have been getting a pretty harsh reception from critics, and Affleck's film in particular is proving to be a disappointment after a lot of hype.

Synopses, details, critical reception, trailers, clips and more after the jump.

SILENCE

Official Synopsis

Martin Scorsese's SILENCE tells the story of two Christian missionaries (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who face the ultimate test of faith when they travel to Japan in search of their missing mentor (Liam Neeson) - at a time when Christianity was outlawed and their presence forbidden. The celebrated director's 28-year journey to bring Shusaku Endo's 1966 acclaimed novel to life will be in theaters this Christmas.

Film Details

• Starring: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Ciarán Hinds, Yôsuke Kubozuka, Yoshi Oida
  
  
• Director: Martin Scorsese
  
  
• Genre: Drama, History
  
  
• Running Time: 161 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for some disturbing violent content
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 83% (135 fresh, 27 rotten, score: 7.5/10)
  
• Metacritic: 79 out of 100 (38 positive, 8 mixed, 1 negative).

"Silence" is a powerful film that cuts deep into the depths of human nature and spirituality, resulting in one of Martin Scorsese's best works. However, it's not an easily digested film, and even with an immensely talented cast at work, the film's two and a half hours running time may prove too much for the unconverted.

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PATRIOTS DAY

Official Synopsis

An account of the Boston Marathon bombing, PATRIOTS DAY is the powerful story of a community's courage in the face of terror. In the aftermath of an unspeakable attack, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg) joins courageous survivors, first responders and investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the bombers before they strike again. Weaving together the stories of Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon), Police Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman), Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese (J.K. Simmons) and nurse Carol Saunders (Michelle Monaghan) this visceral and unflinching chronicle captures the suspense of one of the most sophisticated manhunts in law enforcement history and celebrates the strength of the people of Boston.

Film Details

• Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, J.K. Simmons, John Goodman, Rachel Brosnahan, Kevin Bacon, Lana Condor
  
  
• Director: Peter Berg
  
  
• Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
  
  
• Running Time: 133 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for violence, realistically graphic injury images, language throughout and some drug use
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 79% (97 fresh, 26 rotten, score: 7.0/10)
  
• Metacritic: 70 out of 100 (32 positive, 6 mixed, 0 negative).

"Patriots Day" could have turned into an exploitative action thriller in the wrong hands, but director Peter Berg crafts a thoughtful and stirring tribute to the heroes of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the city-wide manhunt that followed.

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LIVE BY NIGHT

Official Synopsis

“Live by Night” is set in the roaring `20s when Prohibition hasn’t stopped the flow of booze in an underground network of gangster-run speakeasies. The opportunity to gain power and money is there for any man with enough ambition and nerve and Joe Coughlin, the son of the Boston Police Superintendent, long ago turned his back on his strict upbringing for the spoils of being an outlaw. But even among criminals there are rules and Joe breaks a big one: crossing a powerful mob boss by stealing his money and his moll. The fiery affair ends in tragedy, setting Joe on a path of revenge, ambition, romance and betrayal that propels him out of Boston and up the ladder of Tampa’s steamy rum-running underworld.

Film Details

• Starring: Ben Affleck, Elle Fanning, Brendan Gleeson, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, Chris Cooper
  
  
• Director: Ben Affleck
  
  
• Genre: Crime, Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 128 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for strong violence, language throughout, and some sexuality/nudity
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 32% (41 fresh, 89 rotten, score: 5.2/10)
  
• Metacritic: 48 out of 100 (9 positive, 29 mixed, 3 negative).

"Live By Night" is a not exactly a bad movie, but it's not quite the powerful crime saga that writer/director Ben Affleck intended it to be. It's a visual treat and features an excellent cast, but the familiar themes Affleck explored in "Gone Baby Gone" and "The Town" just don't work so well this time, and perhaps Affleck should have considered someone other than himself for the lead role, as his performance is the film's weak link.

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SLEEPLESS

Official Synopsis

SLEEPLESS stars Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained, White House Down) as undercover Las Vegas police officer Vincent Downs, who is caught in a high stakes web of corrupt cops and the mob-controlled casino underground. When a heist goes wrong, a crew of homicidal gangsters kidnaps Downs' teenage son. In one sleepless night he will have to rescue his son, evade an internal affairs investigation and bring the kidnappers to justice.

Film Details

• Starring: Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney, Gabrielle Union, Scott McNairy
  
  
• Director: Baran bo Odar
  
  
• Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
  
  
• Running Time: 95 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for strong violence and language throughout
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 12% (2 fresh, 15 rotten, score: 4.6/10)
  
• Metacritic: 28 out of 100 (0 positive, 4 mixed, 4 negative).

"Sleepless" is unfortunately another generic action film that is nothing but a louder and more contrived version of the 2011 french film "Sleepless Night". It also works with an overqualified cast that only seem to be in it for the paycheck.

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