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Movie guide: Dann Gire recaps upcoming, current films

Coming Friday, Dann Gire reviews the fantasy film “Pan,” a “Peter Pan” prequel guaranteed to mesmerize kids with flying pirate ships, leaping crocodiles and ghostly mermaids. Gire also tells us about the fact-based police romance “Freehold” and the quirky, clever, maniac movie spoof “The Final Girls.”

Four stars: superior. Three stars: good. Two stars: average. One star: poor. D (drug use), L (language), N (nudity), S (sexual situations, references), V (violence). Ratings by Dann Gire, Daily Herald Film Critic, unless otherwise noted.

Picks

“Ant-Man” — Charming Paul Rudd goes superhero in this comical take on the Marvel character who can shrink to the size of insects so he can stop a corporation from creating a “small” army of assassins. With Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly and Chicago's Michael Pena on comic overdrive. (PG-13) V. 115 minutes. ★ ★

“Black Mass” — Johnny Depp goes full-Oscar-bore with his electrifying portrait of South Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger. A terse, compact bio-drama all about bad decisions by the FBI in taking a gangster under its protective wing. With Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch. (R) D, L, S, V. 122 minutes. ★ ★ ½

“The Gift” — Joel Edgerton directs, writes, produces and acts in this slick thriller about an old high school acquaintance who invades the lives of an apparently happy couple (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall). Nothing is as it appears to be. (R) L. 108 minutes. ★ ★ ½

“Grandma” — Lily Tomlin's pithy, potent performance as an aging lesbian poet highlights Paul Weitz's economic, empathetic screenplay about the quest of a woman to secure $630 for her pregnant granddaughter (a luminous Julia Garner) to buy an abortion. It's actually a study of three female generations masquerading as a quest tale, filled with pathos and truth-based humor. (R) D, L. 82 minutes. ★ ★ ½

“Inside Out” — Pixar's trippiest, most audacious animated comedy concerns five emotions — Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust — who manage the feelings of an 11-year-old female hockey player. With Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Lewis Black and Phyllis Smith supplying key voices. 82 minutes. (PG) ★ ★ ½

“Learning to Drive” — A recently estranged book critic (Patricia Clarkson) takes driving lessons from an Indian cabbie (Ben Kingsley) adjusting to an arranged marriage in Isabel Coixet's romantic drama. (R) L, S. 105 minutes. ★ ★

“The Martian” — Ridley Scott's fact-based science-fiction space survival thriller blasts off, pushing us down with tremendous G-force, and never lets up until the end. An astronaut (Matt Damon), presumed dead and left behind on Mars, is still alive. How can he survive on 31 days worth of food and oxygen when it will take four years to rescue him? With Jessica Chastain and Jeff Daniels. (PG-13) L, N. 134 minutes. ★ ★ ★

“Mr. Holmes” — In 1947, an elderly Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) struggles to solve the case that forced him into retirement, with help from a boy (Milo Parker) who has befriended him. Reviewed by Stephanie Merry, Washington Post. (PG) 104 minutes. ★ ★

“99 Homes” — Andrew Garfield and Chicago's Michael Shannon provide virtuoso performances in Ramin Bahrani's anger-fueled morality drama about a young father forced to kick families out of foreclosed houses for the soulless capitalist who booted him out of his own home. At the River East 21 and Century Centre in Chicago, plus Evanston's CineArts 6. (R) L, S, V. 112 minutes. ★ ★ ½

“Pawn Sacrifice” — Fact-based drama about how the U.S. government quietly funded Bobby Fischer (Tobey Maguire) to beat Russian champ Boris Spassky (Liev Schreiber). At the River East 21 and Century Centre in Chicago, plus the Evanston Century 12/CineArts 6. ★ ★

“Shaun the Sheep Movie” — Wonderfully wrought stop-motion animation and hilarious sight gags highlight this charming comedy about a sheep trying to find his missing Farmer in the Big City. A dialogue-challenged work of art. (PG) 85 minutes. ★ ★ ★

“Sicario” — Wow! Gripping from start to finish. An idealistic FBI agent (a luminous Emily Blunt) gets drafted into a secret Mexico mission to disrupt drug lords. A tense, action-packed nail biter with Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. (R) L, N, V. 120 minutes. ★ ★ ★

“Trainwreck” — Comedy Central star Amy Schumer triumphs in Judd Apatow's warm, anarchic romantic comedy about a promiscuous New York journalist who disdains monogamy. With Bill Hader and Brie Larson. Reviewed by Ann Hornaday, Washington Post. (R) D, L, N, S. 125 minutes. ★ ★

“The Visit” — M. Night Shyamalan makes a modest comeback with a Hansel and Gretel horror comedy filtered through “The Blair Witch Project.” Siblings visit their never-seen grandparents on a farm. Weird stuff ensues. (PG-13) L, N, V. 94 minutes. ★ ★

“The Walk” — Chicago's own Robert Zemeckis directs a fact-based drama about a French wire walker (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who in 1974 does his illegal thing on a line stretched between New York City's Twin Towers. A slow start, but a bravura cinematic achievement during the final 40 minutes. Must be witnessed in 3-D IMAX, or at least 3-D! (PG) 123 minutes. ★ ★ ½

“A Walk in the Woods” — Sitcomy buddy road movie about two oldies (Robert Redford and Nick Nolte) tackling the Appalachian Trail. Based on the novel by travel writer Bill Bryson. (R) L. 98 minutes. ★ ★

Passables

“Everest” — Above-average survival tale based on the true story of eight climbers who died while descending from the top of the world's tallest mountain in 1996. More worthwhile in 3-D IMAX format. With Jason Clarke, John Hawkes, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emily Watson. (PG-13) for disturbing images. 122 minutes. ½

“The Intern” — Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway are charming in Nancy Meyers' way-too-long, treacle-dripping comedy about a perfect 70-year-old retiree saving a frazzled young woman's personal life as well as her fashion website upstart. Some good laughs in this quicksand of cloying sentiment and terminal cuteness. (PG-13) L. 121 minutes.

“Jurassic World” — Poorly written third sequel to Steven Spielberg's original “Jurassic Park.” When a genetically engineered predator dinosaur escapes on the theme park island, a raptor trainer (a stiff Chris Pratt) and an uptight executive in high heels (Bryce Dallas Howard) try to save her two young nephews from becoming snacks. If you've seen the original “Jurassic Park,” you've seen this one already. (PG-13) V. 123 minutes. ½

“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” — Guy Ritchie offers up a decent Cold War espionage drama, but fans of the 1960s spy series will sorely miss the TV show's charm and lighter tone. Definitely not your father's “U.N.C.L.E.” Starring Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. (PG-13) N, V. 116 minutes.

“Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” — In this sequel, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) leads the Gladers into the fried land of the Scorch to escape the insidious WCKD organization from harvesting them. Lots of action at the cost of characters and explanation. (PG-13) D, L, V. 129 minutes. ½

“Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation” — Stunt-stuffed action scenes dominate this overwritten, surprisingly cliched screenplay in which Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise in top physical form) goes rogue from the disbanded IMF to track down the leader of a ghost organization called (ready?) The Syndicate! (PG-13) N, V. 132 minutes. ½

“Mississippi Grind” — Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn star in a drama about a pair of professional gamblers on a soul-searching trip to the Big Game in New Orleans. With Sienna Miller. Reviewed by Ann Hornaday, Washington Post. At Chicago's Music Box. (R) L. 108 minutes. ½

“No Escape” — A cheesy, late-summer horror exploitation film disguised as a political thriller. An American (Owen Wilson) must protect his family in an unnamed third-world country when a coup erupts and Asian boogeymen start massacring all Westerners. Like “Swiss Family Robinson” meets “Hotel Rwanda.” Genuine thrills mixed with inept filmmaking. (R) L, V. 101 minutes. ½

“Southpaw” — Jake Gyllenhaal's performance as a down-and-out boxer is the highlight of Antoine Fuqua's cliche-filled sports drama of redemption. With Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker. (R) L, V. 124 minutes. ½

”Transylvania Hotel 2” — Under gross-out humor lurks surprisingly relevant messages about tolerance, acceptance and identity. An inoffensive Halloween treat. Reviewed by Sandie Angulo Chen, Washington Post. (PG) 89 minutes.

Pits

“Pixels” — Peter Dinklage's comic performance is the only attraction in this lame, retro fantasy in which characters from 1980s arcade games try to take over Earth. Only Adam Sandler and Josh Gad can stop them. Egad! (PG-13) L, S. 106 minutes. ½

“Shanghai” — Dismal snore of a historical drama/neo-noir tale about an American agent (a sleepwalking John Cusack) trying to find his buddy's killer in 1941 Shanghai. Made in 2010. Yes, it moves that slow. With Ken Watanabe, Yun-Fat Chow, Gong Li. At the Chatham Studio Grill, Chicago. (R) D, L, V. 100 minutes. ½

Unpreviewed

“A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story” — A doc on the woman who triumphed over a disfiguring genetic mutation that caused her to be the target of bullies. (PG-13) L, V. 68 minutes.

“Captive” — A meth addict (Kate Mara) diffuses a tense abduction situation by reading Rick Warren's inspirational book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” to her fugitive captor (David Oyelowo). (PG-13) D, V. 97 minutes.

“Green Inferno” — Do-gooder student activists travel to the Amazon to save the rain forest, but who will save them from a real-life “Cannibal Holocaust”? From horror meister Eli Roth. (R) D, L, N, S, V. 103 minutes.

“Hell and Back” — This animated comedy wasn't screened for local critics, but what a voice cast! Mila Kunis, Susan Sarandon, Bob Odenkirk, Danny McBride and Jennifer Coolidge supply voices to this horror/fantasy about two pals who travel to Hell to save their friend from being sacrificed to Satan. (R) D, L, S. 84 minutes.

“Jawani Phir Nahi Ani” — A single divorce attorney takes three married friends on a vacation to escape their wives. Allegedly a comedy. In Urdu with subtitles. (NR) 155 minutes.

“Katti Batti” — A romantic comedy in which a perfect couple's relationship is tested by a tricky turn of events. In Hindi. (NR) 135 minutes.

“Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon” — A man (Kapil Sharma) falls in love with four women. Will he be able to keep them secret from each other? In Hindi with subtitles. (NR) 142 minutes.

“Meet the Patels” — A romantic comedy about Ravi Patel, a nearly 30-year-old Indian-American stuck in a triangle between the woman of his dreams and his parents. (PG) 88 minutes.

“90 Minutes in Heaven” — A man (Hayden Christensen) is thought dead for 90 minutes, brought back to life and must endure hardships through his faith and family. With Kate Bosworth. Not screened for critics. (PG-13) V. 121 minutes.

“The Perfect Guy” — A lobbyist (Sanaa Lathan) jumps into a passionate relationship with a charming stranger (Michael Ealy). She soon regrets doing that. Not screened for critics. Caveat emptor. (PG-13) L, S, V. 100 minutes.

“Sleeping With Other People” — A couple (Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie) with romantic failures swear that their relationship will now remain strictly platonic after years of serial infidelity. Will it? With Adam Scott. (R) D, L, S. 95 minutes.

“Ungallo con Muchos Huevos” — A tiny chicken (voiced by Bruno Bichir) stands up against a villainous rancher in this animated Spanish-language comedy. (PG-13) S. 93 minutes.

“War Room” — Alex Kendrick directs a drama about a “perfect couple” (T.C. Stallings and Priscilla C. Shirer) whose marriage teeters on collapse. Can wise Miss Clara (Karen Abercrombie) help them? Will the husband be able to make amends for his transgressions? (PG) 120 minutes.

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