Ralph Breaks the Internet

Arcade world explodes outward, but moral message narrows for a cautionary tale about over-controlling friendships, in sharp contrast to the out of control online universe. Brilliant allusions to reality, a perfect peppering of product placements and an exemplary exploitation of Disney’s dynasty effectively fix up a wreck of a plot.

Hidden Figures

Candy-coated historical fairytale about the time we solved racism. True story is fascinating and worth telling but it struggles to reach orbit while bearing the weight of trying to be so universally likeable. Everyone gets what they want and everyone learns a math lesson: Inhumanly flawless people = adversity overcome.

Top Five

Rock channels Woody making One Day in New York one of the top five Allen films not made by Allen.  Amusing jokes and characteristic racial quips pepper an otherwise aimless story of career dissatisfaction that certainly seems a tad auto-biographical.  Great set pieces fall short, dropping ones instead of hundreds.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Fincher uses a gimmick to make slow-moving mundane story enjoyable to watch, and the result is exquisitely beautiful, both visually and emotionally. Blanchett and Pitt both shine through not quite satisfactory makeup and visual effects. Hurt slightly by occasional moments of excessive screen-writer cleverness and by similarities to Forrest Gump.