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“Annihilation” (R) – Based on the first installment of the “Southern Reach Trilogy” by Jeff Vandermeer, “Annihilation” stars Natalie Portman as Lena, a biologist whose military husband Kane (Oscar Issacs) returns – barely alive – a year after being presumed dead on a mission to a biological anomaly called “the Shimmer.” In order to treat him, Lena must find out what happened to him, and so becomes a willing participant in a return mission. She is joined by psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a physicist (Tessa Thompson), anthropologist (Tuva Novotny) and paramedic (Gina Rodriguez). Each discipline reveals new horrors inside the Shimmer: disturbing debilitating personality changes, deconstruction of DNA, morphing species and more, and all the while, the group is being stalked by strange, unrecognizable forces.
Shia LaBouf, Sverrir Gudnason in ”Borg vs McEnroe” (SF Studios photo)
“Borg vs McEnroe” (R) – The fire and ice rivalry that was John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg in the summer of 1980 is meticulously detailed and gloriously brash seen through the eyes of director Janus Metz. Borg (Sverrir Gudnason) is leading into his attempt at a record-breaking fifth consecutive Wimbledon win. He is the embodiment of cool, controlled elegance. Opposing him is a young, loudmouth upstart, the talented but feisty John McEnroe (played to perfection by Shia LaBouf). The contrasting personalities alone make the matchup dramatic, and we are treated to perfect character studies of these men, culminating in the tense, nail-biting set that transfixed the tennis world.
“Beirut” (R) – Jon Hamm turns in a convincing performance as Mason Skiles, a former diplomat to Lebanon whose wife was murdered in a terrorist attack. He leaves state service and fades into a life of alcohol-laced labor negotiations until he is resurrected 10 years later when CIA operative Cal Riley (Mark Pellegrino) – a former contact – is abducted in Beirut, and Mason is requested as the negotiator. Old relationships surface, as he and agent Sandy Crowder (Rosamund Pike) must track down and free the man who orchestrated his wife’s death to exchange for Riley. The gritty, urgent feel is palpable, as are the competing undercurrents of American, Israeli and local interests.
“Journey’s End” (R) – Based on the play of the same name by R.C. Sherriff, “Journey’s End” details a tragic and heroic group of World War I soldiers – stuck in a trench, their only orders to hold the line for as long as possible. No one expects that time frame to be very long. Asa Butterfield brings his dazzling innocence as Raleigh, a young officer who is excited to take his post under his former schoolmate, now Capt. Stanhope (Sam Claflin). Stanhope, romantically attached to Raleigh’s sister, is a shell of his former self who stays deep in the bottle in order to deal with the anxieties of his station. The message: War is hell. Cherish your memories.
New TV Releases
“I’m Dying Up Here” Season 1
“Diff’rent Strokes” The Final Season
“The West Wing” Seasons 4-7
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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