#Middlebury
“The Meg” (PG-13) – Dr. Zhang (Winston Chao) and his daughter Suyin (Li BingBing) are oceanographers exploring the deepest and most treacherous regions of the Marianas Trench from their underwater facility, Mana One. Members of their crew happen upon a tremendously extra-large shark thought to be extinct: the Megalodon, and are trapped in their submersible. Enter deep sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham). There will be no Oscar nominations for this film, but it is truth in advertising: a movie about a giant sea creature with jump scares in a dark and creepy underwater environment that includes some snappy one-liners. Comedy relief provided by Rainn Wilson and Page Kennedy.
“Mile 22” (R) – Mark Wahlberg is American operative James Silva, part of a black-ops organization called Overwatch, under the direction of James Bishop (John Malkovich). Some serious explosives go missing, and the key to finding them is in a disk held by Li Noor (Iko Uwais), who presents himself at the American consulate and attempts to trade a ticket out of the country for the information on the disk. It’s up to Silva and his team to get him to the extraction point – the titular Mile 22, an airstrip with a waiting plane. Goons of all stripes are out to get them as they cross a dangerous urban landscape. The plot is overly complicated by crosses and double crosses, and Wahlberg eschews his usual dopey but sexy performance in favor of playing it crazy psycho.
Kodi Smit-McPhee in “Alpha” (Sony Pictures photo)
“Alpha” (PG-13) – The story of man and his best friend, lovingly told and gorgeously directed. Keda (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is the son of his tribe’s chief, and on the edge of manhood when he is chosen to accompany the tribe’s men on a hunt. Keda is injured and left for dead, then narrowly escapes an attack by a wolf pack, which leaves one of its own for dead. The boy cares for the injured wolf, which he calls Alpha (played by Chuck – a 5-year-old Czechoslovakian wolfdog). As they heal and journey to reunite with their respective packs, they are forever bonded. It’s a moving tale, with thrilling ups and downs that will have your heart pumping and the tears flowing.
“Juliet Naked” (R) – This charming rom-com features Rose Byrne as Annie, a lovely lady who’s been in a long-term relationship with Duncan (Chris O’Dowd), an obsessed fan of obscure rocker Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke). A decades-old recording of Crowe surfaces as a new acoustic album, and Annie, perhaps to spite Duncan’s obsession, posts a negative online review. Surprisingly, she’s contacted by Crowe, and they begin a courtship of words for those who have already lived a life that comes with regrets and still believe in second chances. Based on the novel by Nick Hornby.
New TV Releases
“Star Trek Discovery” Season 1
“The Librarians” Season 4
“A Christmas Story: Live!”
© 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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