“A Quiet Place” (Horror/Thriller: 1 hour, 30 minutes)

Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe

Director: John Krasinski

Rated: PG-13 (Violence, terror and bloody imagery)

Movie Review: Real-life husband and wife John Krasinski and Emily Blunt play a married couple in this engaging thriller with a setting in a near future. 

Actor Krasinski’s directorial attributes here cement him as a prime director now. “A Quiet Place” is a family-survival piece showcasing plenty of thrills to make it worthwhile despite a major unanswered question.

The setting takes place in about 2020, 89 days into what appears to be an alien invasion. Evelyn and Lee Abbott (Blunt and Krasinski) and their children, Regan (Simmonds), Marcus (Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward), try to stay alive after monstrous-like beings stalk humans and animals. 

The monsters stalk their prey via sounds. Therefore, people stay alive by not making sounds as much as possible, a difficult task for a planet filled with sound. The Abbotts are looking for a quiet place to remain safe.

At its beginning, the movie appears to be about an alien invasion. Humans appear an endangered species. The aliens sense other life forms by sound. Otherwise, they appear blind, yet they maneuver quite nicely through dense forest and buildings. The aliens appear as extraterrestrial hunting dogs, so the initial premise these entities could overtake humanity is difficult to imagine.

That dubious observation aside, “A Quiet Place” is a riveting movie. Blunt, Krasinski, Simmonds and Jupe are impressive. They provide convincing dramatic roles that are effective in the mist of numerous action scenes. They are a happy, caring family, and it is easy to want to see them survive.

Besides nice turns from the cast, suspenseful scenes are plentiful. Most scenes agreeably create anxiety through silence. It is displayed by the characters and transfers to audiences. Krasinski direction, and credit as a co-writer, keeps the screenplay on track, focusing on the lives of family and their fears. The efforts of Krasinski (“The Hollars,” 2016), the cast and the production team work well for a survival photoplay similar to M. Night Shyamalan’s “Signs” (2002).

Grade: B (A worthy place of silence)

“Chappaquiddick” (Historical Drama: 1 hour, 41 minutes)

Starring: Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Ed Helms and Bruce Dern

Director: John Curran

Rated: PG-13 (Thematic material, disturbing images, brief violence and profanity)

Movie Review: Often, historical events can be some of the better movies. This is especially valid when considering the movie is about an American political staple, The Kennedys. 

“Chappaquiddick” is an all-encompassing drama based on actual events. It presents the events at Chappaquiddick in a manner that pleases and raises multiple questions about what really happened at that ill-fated bridge.

On Friday, July 18, 1969, a young Sen. Edward “Ted” Moore Kennedy (Clarke) inadvertently drives his car off a bridge on Massachusetts’ Chappaquiddick Island. His passenger dies. She is Mary Jo Kopechne (Mara), a 28-year-old campaign strategist who worked for Bobby Kennedy. 

Fearing the end of the political career and downed hopes for a pending presidential bid, Kennedy, his cousin, Joe Gargan (Helms), United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Paul Markham (Jim Gaffigan) and a group of men assembled by his father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (Dern), assemble to decide how to best spin the accident and its ongoing investigation.

John Curran (“Down Rusty Down,” 1997) and writers Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen create riveting drama around the political dynasty that is the Kennedys. Although adapted from actual events, they offer plenty mental floss about the Chappaquiddick event. 

Curran and the writers provide information that mainly shows how the Kennedys and their allies try to spin the accident, but they also show some serious incidents that makes one think a possibility exists this was not entirely an accident.

The acting by the cast is notable. Clarke and Helms are Oscar-worthy and offer superior acting. Their scenes together are engaging, often their characters use each other as a springboard for ideas. The association is dynamic and influential.

The movie also provides motives for these characters. Ted Kennedy lived in the spotlight of his deceased brothers. Clarke’s Ted Kennedy says arguing with his father that Joe was the favorite one, Jack was the charming one, and Bobby, who was assassinated in 1968, was the smart one. Ted continues noting he could be those things, too.

Ted Kennedy’s view of his place in the Kennedy clan is pivotal. The photoplay uses that to drive the motive for the senator’s behavior and dedication to his goals now and in the future. This works as a driving force behind the screenplay.

A fine drama is the presentation, although some scenes deviate. A small number of scenes appear whimsical. They distract from the serious dramatic scenes. The script also fails to show some characters one would think should be present in this movie, such as Ted’s mother, Rose Kennedy. 

Otherwise, “Chappaquiddick” is a bold view of the 1969 event. It has good production design, nicely using historical footage and well-acted characters to produce a solid movie. It is thought-provoking material worth seeing.

Grade: B+ (An intriguingly mysterious place.)

“The Leisure Seeker” (Drama/Adventure: 1 hour, 52 minutes)

Starring: Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland, Janel Moloney and Christian McKay

Director: Paolo Virzì

Rated: R (Profanity, violence and sexual content)

Movie Review: Michael Zadoorian’s novel serves as the basis for “The Leisure Seeker,” which is Stephen Amidon’s debut script. The biggest problem is that this adventure does not know if it wants to be a drama or a comedy. It is too serious to be a comedy and too whimsical to be a solid, affecting drama.

Ella and John Spencer (Mirren and Sutherland) are a longtime married couple, both suffering from severe medical conditions. Against their children’s wishes, the senior couple decides to travel from Massachusetts to Key West, Fla., via a 1975 RV called The Leisure Seeker. 

Their plan is to see the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum. Their trek from the North to South is an adventure filled with multiple incidents. 

Mirren and Sutherland are a talented duo. They do their best here as a cantankerous couple, but skills are lackluster because the producers of the photoplay did not know what they wanted to create. The comedy gets in the way of the elements dealing with terminal diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer.

This is a shame considering this movie is a worthy adventure. It boasts nice, different turns for Mirren and Sutherland, and the comical bits, especially one involving the late comedian Dick Gregory are engaging. Still, the movie is not quite convincing despite some good attributes and talented cast. 

Grade: C+ (See it only if you are a leisure seeker.)

*Playing in larger cities

“Blockers” (Comedy: 1 hour, 42 minutes)

Starring: Leslie Mann, John Cena, Ramona Young and Ike Barinholtz

Director: Kay Cannon

Rated: R (Profanity, drug usage, violence, sexual content and nudity)

Movie Review:

“Blockers” provides smart humor regardless of multiple adolescent comedic scenes. During the “#MeToo” movement, this adult comedy nicely explores sexist views of sexuality for young women versus young men. The message is the better part, if one can sit through some elementary comedy.

Lisa (Mann), Mitchell (Cena) and Hunter (Barinholtz) have known each other since their daughters met in kindergarten. That was several years ago. The girls are now young women about to attend the senior prom. Prom night brings a big surprise for Lisa, Mitchell and Hunter. They learn their daughters formed a sex pact; they plan to lose their virginity prom night. The three parents set out block their offspring from sex.

The actors playing the teenagers act like young people sometimes do occasionally, irresponsibly. No explanation exists as to why the adult roles are more reckless. The parents attempt to stop their teens are over the top.

Childish antics are plentiful, yet a good message lies within this comedy. The last few minutes are touching. The story changes to children becoming adults and parents accepting that reality. 

The bonds between parent and child sever but the emotional ties remain strong. This is where the movie scores points and reaches intelligent, significant features.

Grade: C+ (If you can block out the immature antics, see it.)

“The Miracle Season” (Drama/Sport: 1 hour, 41 minutes)

Starring: Helen Hunt, Erin Moriarty, Danika Yarosh and William Hurt

Director: Sean McNamara

Rated: PG (Thematic elements)

Movie Review: Based on a true story, “Miracle Season” provides plenty of emotive elements. The story is touching, but the movie really becomes an in memoriam for Caroline “Line” Found, played by Danika Yarosh. 

Scenes progress quickly, detailing the former volleyball captain’s story and her Iowan West School team trek to becoming state champions again.

After the unfortunate death of skilled volleyball player Caroline Found, the volleyball team which she belonged becomes discouraged. Their depression leads them away from the volleyball court, but the guidance of their tough coach,     Kathy Bresnahan (Hunt), the team aspires to win back to back championships. 

A chronological biography is what audiences can expect from this tale about women finding strength again to play what they do best – volleyball. The movie is good for inspiration, yet its pace is one that just tells the story in tear-jerker form. It often leaves out key moments that make seeing a winning sports drama gratifying. It just relays a nice story with the intent to stir emotions while not allowing its characters to go beyond conventional.

Similarly to Sean McNamara’s “Soul Surfer” (2011), which starred Helen Hunt, “Miracle Season” takes a good story and pours in stereotypical Hollywood themes.

Grade: C (Inspirationally emotional, it is not a miracle movie.)

“The Death of Stalin” (Comedy: 1 hour, 47 minutes)

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Jeffrey Tambor

Director: Armando Iannucci

Rated: R (Profanity, sexual innuendo and violence)

Movie Review: Characters are people from the Soviet Union’s past based on “La mort de Staline” by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin. It is a cleverly done comedy, and the lines are intelligently delivered. Plus, the cast delivers some good performances. 

The result is a movie about communism, double-crossing men, music and politics.

In 1953, dictator Joseph Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin), general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party the Soviet Union, dies. The remaining Central Committee members begin vying for power. 

The main contenders to replace Stalin are a part of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union. They are the socially inept Chairman Georgy Malenkov (Tambor), a cunning Nikita Khrushchev (Buscemi) and the chief of secret police apparatus and First Deputy Chairman Lavrenti Beria (Beale). Stalin’s death leaves a vacuum, but several leaders are eager to replace him. 

The style of “Death of Stalin” is evocative of the movies of yesteryear. The comedy is a refined design. The clever placement of humor inspires laughter. The satirical jabs at how the heads of the Soviet government handle the death of their strong-willed leader are engaging because of strong portrayals by the cast, especially Buscemi, Tambor and Beale. 

Armando Iannucci is no stranger to political satire. His last such movie was “In the Loop” (2009). He achieves goodness with Soviet politics. The amusing account works although the array of characters are plentiful, and the movie staggers for a moment, as audiences must adapt to an array of lively actors and their roles.

“The Death of Stalin” has superior acting, and the political humor is astute. Together, they make this one of the best moments of cinema.

Grade: B+ (An authoritarian’s demise leads to good entertainment.)

*Playing in larger cities