For a movie about two people who loved each other so deeply, they risked losing everything to be together—their families, homes, even their countries—“A United Kingdom” plays it frustratingly safe. David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike can do no wrong, but they can only do so much to convey passion in...
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Reviews
RogerEbert.com — The Space Between Us
“The Space Between Us,” about the romance between a boy from Mars and a girl from Earth, plays like a “Muppet Babies” version of “Starman.” It’s nutty. Not nutty enough that you should run out and see it, but still. It features an exploding barn. My 1 1/2-star review, at...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Split
This psychological thriller marks a return to form for M. Night Shyamalan, featuring a tour de force performance from James McAvoy as a kidnapper suffering from multiple personality disorder. The big twist is, there is no big twist: It’s just a suspenseful, well-acted film. My RogerEbert.com review. Read the review...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Why Him?
Bryan Cranston and James Franco are stuck in one-note roles as an uptight father and his wild, would-be son-in-law, respectively, in this raunchy, R-rated comedy. Meanwhile, the young woman at the center of their squabble, a Stanford University senior played by Zoey Deutch, doesn’t seem to have much agency in...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Two Lovers and a Bear
“Two Lovers and a Bear” does indeed contain two lovers and a bear — and the bear can talk. The story of tortured people (Tatiana Maslany and Dane DeHaan) in a fiery romance in the icy Canadian Arctic is beautiful and strange, and it heads in directions you won’t expect....
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Moana
The latest musical extravaganza from Walt Disney Animation Studios follows the adventures of a young woman who finds her own voice and forges her own identity as she becomes the first female leader of her people. It’s a complete blast with a great message. But for all its thrills, laughs...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — The Edge of Seventeen
“The Edge of Seventeen” is a strong successor to John Hughes’ legacy with its mix of biting humor and bittersweet heart. But writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig also dares to go to places that are darker and truer in her feature filmmaking debut. Hailee Steinfeld is just radiant as a high...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — The Girl on the Train
The book wasn’t great. It was solid trash — a juicy page turner. The movie version isn’t even that. It’s a surprisingly flat and suspense-free tale of pretty people in peril. Emily Blunt gives it her all, though, as the title character: a damaged woman on a misguided quest for...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
It’s essentially “Groundhog Day” meets “X-Men.” But really, Tim Burton’s latest fantasy adventure is much more complicated than that, with a dense mythology and overly explanatory dialogue that may leave you wondering what you’d just seen. The costumes are gorgeous, though. My RogerEbert.com review. Read the review here...
Read moreRogerEbert.com — Storks
“Storks” is shockingly good — way better than it looks. It’s got a zippy, zany streak filled with absurdist asides reminiscent of “Looney Tunes” cartoons. But it also sneaks up on you with genuine emotion by the end. Just don’t look for real-world logic here — and enjoy those awkward...
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