The Birth of a Nation,
directed by Nate Parker
(R, 119 minutes)
Despite a self-serving script by Nate Parker and Jean McGianni Celestin, this unnerving, complex, powerfully emotional drama comes together to tell the story of Nat Turner (played by Parker, who also directed), a literate slave and vibrant preacher, whose owner Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer) decides to make some money by farming out Nat's preaching skills to help control unruly slaves owned by neighboring Virginia families.
An uprising, brought about by what Nat Turner and his fellow slaves observe and endure on this quest, leads to a violent revolt and horrifying consequences.
With Penelope Ann Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Aunjanue Ellis, Gabrielle Union.
Deepwater Horizon (PG-13, 1 hour, 39 minutes) Tense, exciting and rage-inducing, this is the story of the effects of one of the world's worst man-made disasters that took place on an oil drilling unit off the shore of Louisiana -- including its profound environmental aftermath and consequent bureaucratic nightmares -- in 2010. With Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, Kate Hudson, John Malkovich; directed by Peter Berg.
Kevin Hart: What Now (R, 1 hour, 36 minutes) The many fans of Kevin Hart's fast-paced humor will enjoy this sold-out performance filmed outdoors in front of an audience of 50,000 at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. Not a fan? This is not going to make you one. With Halle Berry, Ed Helms, Don Cheadle; directed by Leslie Small and Tim Story.
Max Steel (PG-13, 1 hour, 20 minutes) Based on a toy, this distressingly lame adventure comedy concerns Max McGrath (Ben Winchell), a 16-year-old whose energy-generating body attracts an extraterrestrial named Steel. Together they form a superhero with massive strength, which of course attracts the attention of troublemakers. With Maria Bello, Andy Garcia; directed by Stewart Hendler.
The Accountant (R, 2 hours, 8 minutes) Overly complicated and occasionally downright idiotic, this action thriller concerns a small-town CPA (Ben Affleck) with autism who ciphers for some of the world's most dangerous criminal organizations in addition to a legitimate client, whose accounting clerk (Anna Kendrick) notices some million-dollar discrepancies in the books. Trouble arrives soon after. With Jeffrey Tambor, Jon Bernthal, J.K. Simmons; directed by Gavin O'Connor.
The Triplets of Belleville (PG-13, 1 hour, 18 minutes) The Blu-ray release of this adored 2003 hand-drawn animated fantasy (best enjoyed by adults) concerns a Tour de France cyclist named Champion who is kidnapped and hauled off to the dicey urban bustle of Belleville, where he's exploited in an elaborate gambling scheme and befriended by a trio of exceptionally odd, aging jazz-era divas. With the voices of Beatrice Bonifassi, Lina Boudreau, Jean-Claude Donda; directed by Sylvain Chomet. Subtitled.
The 400 Blows (not rated, 1 hour, 39 minutes) The respected Criterion Collection is releasing a Blu-ray of this 1959 French classic that offers an unsentimental re-enactment of director Francois Truffaut's adolescence and its ever-transitioning joys and sorrows. Subtitled.
MovieStyle on 01/13/2017