Kicking off this week’s new releases are Hidden Figures and Lion, two very different films that each feature a shared message about the indomitable strength of the human spirit when it comes to overcoming obstacles. Also on deck are a monstrously entertaining family film, a darkly comedic cop caper, a WWII drama, and much more. Take a look!
Based on the nonfiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly, this engaging drama relays the true–if seldom told–story of a group of African American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA in the early 1960s. The film follows three of the ladies (Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe) as they fight against the racial prejudice of the day and prove themselves to be instrumental and invaluable at a crucial point in the U.S. space program’s infancy. With Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, and Kevin Costner.
In the mid-’80s, cruel fate led impoverished Indian 5-year-old Saroo (Sunny Pawar) to fall asleep in a parked passenger train…and wake up almost a thousand miles from home and family, with no idea how to get back. His ordeal led to his adoption and rearing by a kindly Australian couple (Nicole Kidman, David Wenham)…and, haunted by dim childhood memories, the adult Saroo (Dev Patel) leaned upon online resources for an incredible trek in search of his past. Memorable adaptation of Saroo Brierly’s memoir co-stars Rooney Mara, Divian Ladwa.
Set in Hungary during the final months of World War ll, a young man sets out to find his displaced family by stealing a Nazi uniform to pose as an officer. Filled with suspense and danger, he undertakes extraordinary measures to reroute his family and other Jews to safety by disrupting the activities of the German occupiers. Jonas Armstrong, Ben Kingsley star.
All motorhead high schooler Tripp Coley (Lucas Till) wanted was to experience life beyond his dead-end refinery town. He’d get his wish after overdrilling drove a gelatinous subterranean monster to the surface…and the creature decided to inhabit–and animate–his half-finished junker truck! “Creech” provides plenty of mileage, as well as action and laughs, in this throwback live-action/CGI family adventure co-starring Amy Ryan, Jane Levy, Barry Pepper, Rob Lowe, and Danny Glover.
Mute midwife Liz (Dakota Fanning) thought she had settled into a quiet life with her husband, daughter and stepson in their remote frontier community. However, the town’s charismatic new preacher (Guy Pearce) has a less than holy secret–he’s been stalking her for years–and when his determination becomes violent, she knows that the time’s come to stand her ground. Remarkable, Netherlands-shot sagebrush suspenser co-stars Kit Harington, Carice van Houten, Emilia Jones, Carla Juri.
Pitch-black cop comedy focuses on a pair of corrupt Albuquerque police officers (Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Peña) with a booming blackmail business. The boys may have met their match, however, when they try to wrangle a million bucks out of a sleazy British crook (Theo James) who’s actually more despicable than they are. Tessa Thompson, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephanie Sigman, and Paul Reiser also star.