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Scene from “Ferdinand” (Blue Sky Studio/20th Century Fox photo)
“Ferdinand” (PG) – Ferdinand (voiced unironically by former cage fighter John Cena) is a gentle-natured bull with tender tendencies that don’t quite lend themselves to bullfighting. Tragically orphaned when he was young, Ferdinand runs away and finds refuge on a florist’s farm (he loves flowers!). But an accidental rampage gets him sent back to the bullfighting farm where he was born, and so begins his struggle to return home. With the help of a would-be trainer and goat Lupe (Kate McKinnon), a passel of hedgehogs (there’s a back story; stay through the credits) and fellow bulls Bones (Anthony Anderson), Guapo (Peyton Manning) and Valiente (Bobby Cannavale), Ferdinand finds the strength to be vulnerable. It’s an endearing story with a sweet, positive message for all ages: Be yourself.
“The Shape of Water” (R) – One part “Beauty and the Beast,” one part “Creature from the Black Lagoon,” and 100 percent distinctive, Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning Best Film of 2017 involves a cleaning crew, a secret government laboratory and a mysterious underwater creature. Sally Hawkins plays Elisa, a mute member of the two-person janitorial staff (Octavia Spencer is the other, with enough commentary for both) in a highly classified research facility. While cleaning, Elisa meets and forms a relationship with an amphibious being held under lock and key. The patina of the Cold War on the science-experiment setting manages to be both lush and clinical, and the story, while being fairly “out there,” is all empathy and heart.
“The Disaster Artist” (R) – In 2003, writer and director Tommy Wiseau made “The Room,” a love story of sorts, absolute trash and sometimes referred to as “The Citizen Kane of Bad Movies.” It was a total flop at the time, but has since carved a niche as a comedy with a cult following. This is the movie about the making of that movie. James Franco directs and stars as Wiseau. In acting classes, he meets fellow thespian Greg Sistero (Dave Franco); Wiseau’s passion and zest (and instability) meet Sistero’s seemingly bottomless cash drawer (and affability), and a partnership is born. Absolutely brimming with cameos, it even has some side-by-side comparisons with the original film that will have you in tears.
“I, Tonya” (R) – The incredibly mostly true and absolutely in-your-face story of groundbreaking figure skater and notorious Olympic bad sport Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie). From her unabashedly redneck upbringing and disastrously offensive mother (played in high glory by Allison Janney) to her allegedly abusive, estranged husband Jeff Gillooly (Stan Sebastian) and the scandalous clubbing of fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan. It’s a dark comedy as well-executed as a Harding triple axel.
New TV Releases
“The New Adventures of Old Christine” The Complete First Season
“Letterkenny” Season 2
“Kendra on Top” Season 6
“Fear the Walking Dead” The Complete 3rd Season
“Major Crimes” The Complete Series
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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