By Kurt Jensen A lack of originality, treacly sentiment and a wholly unjustified two-hour, 36-minute running time combine to weigh down the sci-fi adventure Project Hail Mary (Amazon MGM). While it does include themes that might prove too frightening for little kids, the film is nonetheless sufficiently free of objectionable content to make it appropriate for teens as well as grown-ups. ...

By Katie Yoder Martin Scorsese's docudrama series about the saints is featuring the queen of all saints: Mary, the mother of Jesus. "Mary is an unbelievably inspiring character," Matti Leshem, creator of "Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints," said. "Regardless of your level of faith, you should be moved by her. You should be moved by her love." Leshem, who also serves as a director a...

By Joseph McAleer Moviegoers can count on consuming quite a few Kleenex while watching Reminders of Him (Universal) a romantic drama that, when not taxing the tear ducts, offers a compelling take on loss, grief and reconciliation. Based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover (who co-wrote the screenplay with Lauren Levine), the film is reminiscent of a Nicholas Sparks adaptation, a t...

By John Mulderig Although the environmentally themed animated comedy Hoppers (Disney) has everything to do with animals, it has little to do with rabbits. Instead, the title refers to an imaginary technology that allows humans to infuse their consciousness into robots disguised as various fauna and to communicate with real animals. The main person doing such ‘hopping’ throughout the film...

By John Mulderig Goat is an animated underdog sports comedy populated by anthropomorphised animals. While mostly inoffensive and thus suitable for a wide audience - including teens and older kids - the film is also easily forgotten. The amiable proceedings centre on teen goat Will Harris (voice of Caleb McLaughlin). As opening scenes show, it has been Will's dream since childhood to play...

By John Mulderig The validity of faith is a major theme in the sensitive marital drama Midwinter Break (Focus). As adapted from co-writer Bernard MacLaverty’s 2017 novel by director Polly Findlay, the film is an exploration of how contrasting personalities and outlooks can serve either as a source of nuptial balance or of corrosive discord. Ciarán Hinds and Lesley Manville star in a scen...

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star in a scene from the movie “Wuthering Heights." Photo: OSV/Warner Bros. Pictures. By Joseph McAleer “Barbie” meets “Bridgerton” in "Wuthering Heights," the latest screen version of the beloved 1847 novel by Emily Bronte. Writer-director Emerald Fennell has placed those quotation marks around the film’s title to indicate that this is not a faithful ad...

By John Mulderig With apologies to pulp fiction crime writer Mickey Spillane, the dystopian thriller "Mercy" (Amazon MGM) might more aptly be called AI the Jury. That’s because, in the film’s near-future setting, artificial intelligence is empowered to fight crime by generating a rough sort of justice. As explained in the opening scenes, societal breakdown has led to the establishment of...

By John Mulderig Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century), the third film in the always visually rich franchise that got its start in 2009, brings forward thematic elements that had previously been kept in the background and that viewers of faith will find it impossible to accept and difficult to dismiss. As a result, it requires careful evaluation by mature movie fans. Against the recurring ...

By Kurt Jensen There is not one ounce of cynicism in "Song Sung Blue" (Focus), the fact-based tale of a Neil Diamond cover band from Milwaukee. And therein lies immense power. The example set by Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman) and his wife Claire (Kate Hudson), both of whom struggle with the legacy of a difficult past, is one of unswerving perseverance. Nor are they grimly stoic about their ...