"The Hunger Games" movie series comes to a satisfying conclusion with "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2." Francis Lawrence, who directed all four films, kept the film focused and organized so that the 137 minutes moved rapidly. The well-written screenplay was penned by Danny Strong [..]
Love the Coopers (2015)
Christmas cliches and holiday hollowness pull "Love the Coopers" into the lower levels of Yuletide movies. Unfocused direction by Jessie Nelson ("I am Sam" 2001) and a terrible screenplay by Steven Rogers make this star-studded film drag on and on; it seems longer than its 107 minutes. [..]
Creed (2015)
Producer Sylvester Stallone has come out with a winner in the seventh "Rocky" film. "Creed" has good acting, outstanding character development, a consistent storyline from a well-written screenplay, and focused direction that keeps this two hour-plus film moving rapidly. MGM and Stallone [..]
I Saw the Light (2015)
"I Saw the Light" is a biographical motion picture about the life of country music legend Hank Williams. Producer-director-writer Marc Abraham ("Air Force One" 1997) based his work on the 1994 book "Hank Williams: The Biography" by Colin Escott, George Merritt, and William MacEwen. The results [..]
Goosebumps (2015)
Actor Jack Black and director Rob Letterman team up for a third time in "Goosebumps." This very entertaining family comedy film is based on the children's books by R. L. Stine. The screenplay by Darren Lemke, like Letterman's direction, is very economical, does not waste the [..]
Steve Jobs (2015)
Producer-director Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire" 2008) has come out with a new movie about "Steve Jobs." This basically unwatchable and unentertaining motion picture is simply a montage of boring speeches, monologues, and arguments Jobs has had with people over the years. Michael [..]
Son of Saul (2015)
The horrors of the Holocaust were vividly portrayed in "Son of Saul." This Hungarian film followed a man imprisoned in Auschwitz, as he went about his daily activities, which basically consisted of burying the dead. It was filmed on 35 mm film, giving "Son of Saul" [..]
The Letters (2015)
"The Letters" provides a rare and interesting look into the life and ministry of famous humanitarian Mother Teresa. Director-screenwriter William Riead based the film on personal letters she wrote to a friend over a fifty year period. Acclaimed English actress Juliet [..]
Bridge of Spies (2015)
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks team up once again, this time for an espionage thriller. "Bridge of Spies" is based on the true story of attorney James Donovan's efforts on behalf of the Eisenhower Administration to negotiate the release of U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers from the [..]
The Martian (2015)
"The Martian" is an old-fashioned science fiction thriller about an America astronaut stranded on Mars and efforts on Earth to rescue him. Producer-director Ridley Scott ("Alien" 1979) and screenwriter Drew Goddard did an outstanding job with great production values and wonderful material for Matt Damon to deliver. [..]