The Shape of Water

A mute woman, working as a janitor at a government facility, forms an unlikely relationship with the latest top secret discovery.

This is a very dark and twisted adaptation of Hans Christian Andersens' The Little Mermaid. Set in Baltimore, during the 1950's cold war era, the production design is immaculate. The special effects are well done and the characters are intriguing. Nevertheless, the tale itself, is a far cry from Guillermo del Toros' Oscar award winning Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and at times the romantic element is slightly uncomfortable to watch.

** Rentable

Rated R (for sexual content, graphic nudity, violence and language) 

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

After her daughters' rape and murder has gone unsolved for months, an enraged woman, puts up three billboards outside of her small town questioning the honor and integrity of the local police, specifically Chief William Wiloughby.

This is a rough and gritty film about how hate projects itself from generation to generation, from class to class, and from race to race. It's infectious, like a disease, and clings onto those that are so angry and often selfish that they can't see beyond themselves.

Extremely well acted, not sure if it is best picture material but expect to hear a lot of buzz come Oscar time.


*** See it before March 4th (Oscar Sunday)

Rated R (for language and violence)

I, Tonya

This biopic chronicles the rise and eventual fall of Olympic ice skater Tonya Harding.

It is a harsh dark comedy that unwinds the complicated web of what led up to the "incident" that made Tonya's name a punch line.

Brilliantly acted, Margot Robbie and Allison Janney are both heroic and horrifying in their portrayal of young Harding and her mother.

Slow in spots but worth the watch.

*** Must See

Rated R (for language, violence, sex and nudity)

Pitch Perfect 3

The Bella's are back, again. This time each of them are facing the sad disappointments of adulthood and life after their never ending college party, they decide to go out with a bang and have one last performance tour with the USO.

Hopefully the last sequel of this dying story, as this went out without the bang. Stupid and forgettable.

* 1/2 Rent it if you're bored.

Rated PG-13 (for crude humor and language) 

The Greatest Showman

Based on the imagination of P.T. Barnum, this original musical tells the story of a spectacle that became a sensation.

The music is fantastic, the story has many holes and is extremely "Disneyfied" as history tells us that Barnum was not at all benevolent or kind. So take the historical element with a grain of salt.

The movie itself is filmed like a play rather than a moving picture - which again creates holes in the storyline and can also be a tad claustrophobic. That being said the music and performances alone are spectacular and worth the ticket.

**1/2 - Rentable - but worth seeing on the big screen

Rated PG (for mild language and violence)

Victoria & Abdul

Based on a recently discovered true story, this is a bittersweet tale of an implausible and what was considered by most to be a scandalous friendship between a Queen and a servant.

Brilliantly acted, fabulous, albeit underdeveloped, story that is both heartwarming and horrifying assuming it is all historically correct.

Slow at times but worth the watch.

*** Must See

Rated PG-13 (for language and violence)