Predestination

Hawke flies through time on violence-case broomstick, Folding the timeline into knots while Priming sneaky Snook for the face of her final …destination.  A clever, time-bender but too bad Hawke couldn’t leap back and accelerate the long first act or forward to foresee a complex timex climax that ultimately fizzles.

Transcendence

Pfister pounds a heavy-handed reverse Matrix out of No-lan’s Land.  Sludge slow pacing, artificially injected character arcs, and unsatisfying set-pieces fill the space between the unnecessary bookends like so much bland code in a self-destructive program.  Or perhaps it simply transcended human audiences and would be better enjoyed by machines.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Hawkeye’s housewife and Widow’s green envy only distract from endless avenging.  Spader’s voice and Bettany’s vision add solid sci-fi elements while Johnson and Olsen just wish dey had zese powers when ze Godzilla attacked.  Satisfies audience expectations of another fun fight fest but Ultron’s age proves to be… very young.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

The Perks of Being a Film Connoisseur enthusiastically embraces the indie vibe, with self-referential voiceover and occasion Wes Andermation.  Leading kids and supporting adults and clever writing make an otherwise heart (or hamster) crushing film resonant and enjoyable, if not entirely honest.  Could have used more Earl and less Me.

Love & Mercy

Masterfully presents the pitch perfect parallel performances of Dano and Cusack.  Integrates documentary, cinematic and surrealist styles with the flair and skill of Wilson armed with an animal army.  Banks certainly generates interest, but it’s Giamatti’s Eugene-ics that make for the most compelling and disturbing part of this Beach Boyopic.

Ted 2

McFarlane stuffs the same used plush formula with the same loveable live action Family jokes, but forgets the heartfelt story that made the first coming so accessible.  Amusing anecdotal episodes and silly celebrity cameos mesh horribly with the shoe-horned messages of the courtroom scenes and the bearly tolerable third act.