This week at the movies, we’ve got misunderstood monsters (The Boxtrolls, featuring voice performances from Elle Fanning and Ben Kingsley) and an enigmatic vigilante (The Equalizer, starring Denzel Washington and Chloë Grace Moretz). What do the critics have to say?
Witty, original, and darker than your average family fare, Coraline and ParaNorman proved that Laika was a force to be reckoned with in the animation world. Critics say the studio’s latest effort, The Boxtrolls, offers a less compelling story than those films, but it’s meticulously crafted and often delightfully weird. The titular creatures are kindly, goofy monsters that have raised a little boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright) as one of their own. But the nefarious Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley) wants to wipe out the Boxtrolls for personal gain, so it’s up to Eggs and his new friend Winnie (Elle Fanning) to stop him. The pundits say The Boxtrolls is visually striking, but it lacks the charm and narrative pull of previous Laika features.(Check out our video interviews with Kingsley and Fanning.)
The last time Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua teamed up, the result was Training Day, a searing portrait of a crooked cop that earned Washington an Oscar. They’re back together for The Equalizer, but critics say the results are mixed this time; Washington is his usual compelling self, but the script often succumbs to thriller cliches. Washington stars as McCall, a man with a mysterious past who’s trying to keep a low profile. However, when he stumbles upon Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz) a troubled young woman under the thumb of heartless mobsters, McCall decides to take matters into his own hands. The pundits say The Equalizer is stylish and gritty, but the formulaic plot doesn’t always make the best use of Washington’s fine central performance. (Watch our video Q&A with Fuqua, as well as Washington’s best-reviewed films.)
Expanding upon the Batman universe, Gotham (90 percent), which stars Ben Mckenzie and Jada Pinkett Smith, delves into the history of the key players of the Dark Knight saga. The critics say Gotham features high production values, a talented cast, and an appealingly stylized approach to the Batman mythos.
black-ish (86 percent) stars Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishburne in a comedy series about a father who’s concerned that raising his his kids in the suburbs will force them to lose touch with their African American roots. The critics say black-ish is smart, ingratiating, and often very funny.
Viola Davis is an exceptional talent, and critics say she’s the best reason to watch How to Get Away With Murder (84 percent). The pundits say this legal thriller is slick and exciting, which helps it to overcome its sometimes shaky plotting.
Hellaware, a comedy about an art photographer who exploits his relationship with a rap/rock band to further his sagging career, is at 100 percent.
Pride, starring Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton in a dramedy about a group of striking miners whose efforts are aided by a group of gay and lesbian activists, is Certified Fresh at 96 percent.
Advanced Style, a documentary about fashion-forward senior citizens in New York City, is at 91 percent.
Lilting, starring Ben Whishaw in a drama about a man who befriends the mother of his late partner, is at 82 percent.
The Two Faces of January, starring Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst in a period thriller about married Americans abroad who run into trouble after meeting a mysterious stranger, is Certified Fresh at 81 percent.
Jimi: All Is by My Side, starring André Benjamin and Imogen Poots in a biopic that covers a pivotal year in the life of the legendary guitarist, is at 71 percent.
Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart, an animated period fantasy about a boy with a mechanical heart, is at 57 percent.
Two Night Stand, starring Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton in a romantic comedy about two people who are trapped in an apartment after a one night stand, is at 21 percent.
Good People, starring James Franco and Kate Hudson in a drama about a couple that gets into serious trouble after wildly spending a stash of cash they discovered in a dead neighbor’s apartment, is at 17 percent.
Plastic, a thriller about a group of high-rolling British con artists who attempt to pull off the perfect heist, is at 11 percent.
Days and Nights, starring Katie Holmes and Allison Janney in an adaptation of Chekov’s The Seagull set in the 1980s, is at zero percent.
