Hostiles

Bale gets predictably Forgiven throughout this expansive episodic Eastward road-trip. Heartfelt performances and sweeping cinematography see the film safely through a plodding plotscape of genre clichés and redundant conceptual explorations. Small subplots carry more weight than overall arcs, but supporting players draw less emotional fire than the principal party members.

Don't Breathe

Wait until daylight plays with horror tropes, bringing the blindness of the lambs to the person under the stairs. Flash-forward lets audience see too much. Underwhelming protagonists are easily overpowered by well-conceived bad guy’s oddly empathetic agenda, not to mention the strength that Lang brings to his alarmingly well-envisioned basterd.

The Men Who Stare at Goats

Heslov pretends his last name is Coen and fills his film with witty dialogue, Clooney’s eyebrows, Jeff ‘Bridges’ Lebowski, and a scatter-brained plot. All works out for half-an-hour before lack of structure stops the film’s heart. Clooney delivers best performance as he tries to teach Obi-Wan to use the force.

Avatar

Visually orgasmic reformatting of old story into fantastical new world. If C.S. Lewis can do it to Jesus, why can’t Cameron do it Pocahontas? Pervasive political message tries and fails to detract from special effects extravaganza. Not for people who hate beauty, excitement, or Native Americans. That said, ‘unobtanium,’ really?