Jack Reacher

The idea of Tom Cruise portraying Jack Reacher was laughable to my late mother, a fan of the novels. Cruise’s relatively diminutive physical presence is apparently not a match for the character on the page, but, as this film demonstrates, it’s not really an issue once the longtime star makes the role his own. The bedrock of Cruise’s success in movies has been confidence, the possession and projection thereof—and as usual, Cruise brings his A-game essence to this story. You get the sense, when you’re watching his portrayal of the ex-army investigator, that Cruise’s Reacher really can take out five or so dudes of bad intention without any help. You also believe the more contemplative aspects of the tale—for an action thriller, this film has a lot of quiet and talky (but not boring) scenes—and that Reacher is not just a bundle of writhing muscles, but a substantial brain, too. The mystery requires that sort of thinking; while some pieces of the puzzle may seem (or are) simple, how the picture resolves offers a worthy challenge to even the most seasoned whodunit fan. Put all that together with strong supporting work by Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins and David Oyelowo, as well as the city of Pittsburgh in all its glorious grittiness, and you end up with a perfectly respectable thriller that doesn’t, um, fall short of expectations.

Nightmare Alley

Just like a carny sideshow, this flick is filled with obvious humbug. The story takes its sweet time getting into the meat of the matter, mostly through creating a number of set ups that will have rather clear payoffs in scenes down the line. On the plus side, this film is visually fine to look at, both from a design standpoint and in terms of cinematography (both typical strengths of any Guillermo del Toro movie). Overall, there’s enough entertainment here to let you watch it without feeling like a total mark, but one has to suspect that this could have been a more dazzling show, without resorting to any sideshow tricks.

LBJ

Everyone is the hero of his own story. Hence, it should come as no surprise that Lyndon Johnson comes out looking good--metaphorically speaking--in a movie titled LBJ. Was the workhorse Texas politician exactly as he is portrayed in this biopic? It's hard to say. The scenes depicted seem to jibe with the historical record, so far as it's known. (Anyone with even the slightest interest in and/or knowledge of the period represented by the movie has encountered these scenes in a different context.) The titular character is aided immensely by Woody Harrelson's spot-on portrayal. Perhaps the strongest takeaway from this flick is the sense that, when an awful and chaotic moment came for the nation, the USA was lucky that a thoroughly accomplished political animal like Johnson was in place to pull things together and, as he says to Congress in the story's climax, keep things moving forward. Overall, the film is boilerplate presidential biography, but that one big takeaway maybe makes it all worthwhile.

The Shape of Water

Charming in many ways. Beautiful looking for sure, given its strong art direction and masterful cinematography. That's a bit ironic given the picture's overall theme, but I guess it's a movie so at least some parts of the work must be good-looking. That doesn't necessarily come from the cast, all of whom are unconventional (though hardly monsters); the movie and its makers deserve credit for confounding the usual cinematic expectations in that way. It helps that every performance is spot on, and in a few instances downright powerful. I can't quite say for sure that this rises to the level of Best Picture, but the film is surely worth your time. Go ahead and dive right in.

The Tale of Despereaux

A beautifully made movie, with plenty of visual and directorial artistry. It seems to diverge quite a bit from the book--it's been forever since I read the original--but in this case that may not be a bad thing. Like all animation today, this one suffers from "familiar voice syndrome," but not as much as other animated movies. (There's no Chris Rock doing a jive-turkey routine here.) And there's enough quirky, individualistic charm to overcome any flaws. All in all, a satisfying viewing experience.

Outside Providence

Not the laugh riot you expect from a Farrelly Brothers association (they scripted), but that doesn't mean it's bad, either. Some parts are flat, but most of the film adds up to a low-key but effective coming of age story. The best stuff lies in the relationship between Shawn Hatosy's lead bonehead teenager and his father, strongly played by Alec Baldwin. There's some touching drama here, making for a nice balance against a good chunk of sharp humor. This one flew below the radar, but if you happen to catch hold of it, you will not be disappointed.