New Release
‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’
In this action-packed, animated adventure (under the Shrek franchise’s umbrella), we follow the titular-hero Puss on his latest daring enterprise. Puss’s previous perilous escapades have cost him eight of his nine lives. Will he be able to restore them on this quest, or fall to nefarious forces?
Many animated films fail to entertain adults and kids at the same time. But this one’s an exception. It’s got enough relatable content for both grown-ups and (older) kids, while having a pace peppy enough to keep little ones engaged.
Family Pick
‘CODA’
“CODA,” or Child of Deaf Adults, is a charming coming-of-age tale, starring Emilia Jones as Ruby. The teenager is the only hearing person in a deaf family, and when she discovers that she has a gift and passion for music, she struggles between chasing after her aspirations and helping her family’s struggling business.
This rather wholesome family film has acting that’s earthy and a script that not only has some surprising laugh-out-loud moments but that will also elicit a tear or two. It may be formulaic, but it’s effective.
A Masterful Drama of Mozart’s Later Life
‘Amadeus’
Tom Hulce stars as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the famous Austrian composer, in a fictionalized biography. Telling the dramatic tale is jealous fellow composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham).
“Amadeus” represents acclaimed director Milos Forman’s masterclass contribution to filmmaking. It features a superb cast, a top-notch score, and excellent writing that seeks to fill in the historical gaps in the genius’s later life. You’ll see why it’s considered to be one of the best films of all time.
A Snappy Romantic Comedy
This screwball comedy from legendary director Howard Hawks is about Walter Burns (Cary Grant), a newspaper editor, desperately trying to win back his ex-wife Hildy (Rosalind Russell) who is engaged to another man.
In what may be the fastest-paced film ever, Grant and Russell pair marvelously in this comedy that never loses its rapid-fire momentum. A fine rom-com from the ’40s.
