The Snowman

The Snowman (2017)

Starring Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Toby Jones, Val Kilmer, Chloë Sevigny, and J.K. Simmons

Directed by Tomas Alfredson

Written by Peter Straughn, Hossein Amini, and Søren Sveistrup

***This film is currently streaming via HBO***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  Norwegian detective Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender) and his fellow detective (Rebecca Ferguson) investigate the disappearances and subsequent murders of several women in their jurisdiction by an apparent serial killer who leaves a snowman as his calling card.

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The RyMickey Rating: C

The Tale

The Tale (2018)

Starring Laura Dern, Isabelle Nélisse, Elizabeth Debicki, Jason Ritter, Frances Conroy, John Heard, Common, and Ellen Burstyn

Directed by Jennifer Fox

Written by Jennifer Fox

Summary (in 500 words or less):  Based on a true story from writer-director Jennifer Fox's childhood, The Tale examines how memory is a fluid and fickle entity as adult Jennifer (Laura Dern) begins to question the boundaries of a relationship she had when she was thirteen (played by Isabelle Nélisse) with both her equestrian instructor (Elizabeth Debicki) and her track coach (Jason Ritter).

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The RyMickey Rating: B

The Belko Experiment

The Belko Experiment (2017)

Starring John Gallagher, Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjona, John C. McGinley, Melonie Diaz, Owain Yeoman, Sean Gunn, Brent Sexton, Josh Brener, David Dastmalchian, David Del Rio, Gregg Henry, and Michael Rooker

Directed by Greg McLean

Written by James Gunn

***This film is currently streaming via HBO***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  When they are locked inside the Belko Corporation's high-rise building, the trapped workers are forced to take part in a horrible social experiment where they must kill each other in order to survive.

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The RyMickey Rating: C

Table 19

Table 19 (2017)

Starring Anna Kendrick, Craig Robinson, June Squibb, Lisa Kudrow, Stephen Merchant, Tony Revolori, and Wyatt Russell

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz

Written by Jeffrey Blitz

***This film is currently streaming via HBO***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  A group of unwanted guests find themselves seated at a table at the back of a wedding reception where they bond over their various foibles and idiosyncrasies.

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The RyMickey Rating: D+

All the Money in the World

All the Money in the World (2017)

Starring Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Charlie Plummer, and Romain Durais

Directed by Ridley Scott

Written by David Scarpa

Summary (in 500 words or less):  Sixteen year-old John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) is the grandson of the richest man in the world.  When he is kidnapped by members of an Italian crime ring,  his captors demand a ransom of $17 million which his mother Gail (Michelle Williams) assumes will be paid by her former father-in-law (Christopher Plummer).  However, John Paul Getty refuses to part with any of his money, leading to a family face-off.

Undoubtedly an intriguing story anchored by a strong, emotional performance by Michelle Williams, <em>All the Money in the World</em> doesn't quite work in large part because of some pacing issues that hamper it.  

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The RyMickey Rating: C+ 

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

Directed by Morgan Neville

Summary (in 500 words or less):  A documentary detailing Fred Rogers and the importance of his PBS children's television show "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood."

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The RyMickey Rating:  B+

What Happened to Monday

What Happened to Monday (2017)

Starring Noomi Rapace, Marwan Kenzari, Christian Rubeck, Pål Sverre Hagen, Clara Reed, Willem Dafoe, and Glenn Close

Directed by Tommy Wirkola

Written by Max Botkin and Kerry Williamson

***This film is currently streaming via Netflix***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  In the relatively near future, Earth is hugely overpopulated.  In order to rectify the situation, the Child Allocation Bureau headed by Nicolette Cayman (Glenn Close) has been formed in order to limit the number of children to one per mother.  Somehow in the midst of this police state where electric bracelets pinpoint human locations, a grandfather (Willem Dafoe) has kept hidden a group of septuplets, naming them after every day of the week.  As they grow, each of the septuplets leaves the grandfather's apartment on the day of the week that matches their name.  Decades go by and now as adults, the sisters (played by Noomi Rapace) have taken on the persona of Karen Settman, an investment banker, but when Monday doesn't come home after her day out, the remaining sisters set out on an investigation to discover what happened to her.

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The RyMickey Rating: C+

Detroit

Detroit (2017)

Starring John Boyega, Will Poulter, Algee Smith, Jacob Latimore, Anthony Mackie, Jason Mitchell, Hannah Murray, Kaitlyn Dever, Jack Reynor, Ben O'Toole, Nathan Davis, Jr.,  and John Krasinski

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Written by Mark Boal

***This film is currently streaming via Hulu***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  Riots in 1960s inner city Detroit create great tension between the police and the African American residents in the community.  One evening, three Detroit police officers invade the Algiers Motel after a supposed sniper attack and create a brutal night from hell for a group of innocent young men and women.

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The RyMickey Rating:  B-

Ocean's 8

Ocean's 8 (2018)

Starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, and James Corden

Directed by Gary Ross

Written by Gary Ross and Olivia Milch

Summary (in 500 words or less):  A group of female criminals team up to steal a $150 million necklace during the annual Met Gala fashion event.

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The RyMickey Rating:  C+

I, Tonya

I, Tonya (2017)

Starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Paul Walter Hauser, McKenna Grace, and Bobby Cannavale

Directed by Craig Gillespie

Written by Steven Rogers

***This film is currently streaming via Hulu***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  The story of Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) and her involvement in the attack on fellow figure skater Nancy Kerrigan told in a mock-documentary-style.

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The RyMickey Rating:  C

Victoria & Abdul

Victoria & Abdul (2017)

Starring Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Tim Pigott-Smith, Adeel Akhtar, Olivia Williams, Paul Higgins, and Eddie Izzard

Directed by Stephen Frears

Written by Lee Hall

Summary (in 500 words or less): The real-life story of the elderly seventy-something Queen Elizabeth (Judi Dench) and her friendship with an Indian servant Abdul (Ali Fazal) whose presence causes quite a stir amongst the Queen's family and her loyal British servants.

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The RyMickey Rating: B+

The Girl with All the Gifts

The Girl with All the Gifts (2017)

Starring Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, Sennia Nanua, and Glenn Close

Directed by Colm McCarthy

Written by Mike Carey

***This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  A fungus has turned the masses into zombies and some of the remaining British human population are attempting to figure out a cure via a small group of children who have been infected, but still retain many human characteristics including the ability to speak, learn, and empathize.  One girl in particular, Melanie (Sennia Nanua), holds the most potential, but her teacher Mrs. Justineau (Gemma Arterton) and scientist Dr. Caldwell (Glenn Close) hold very different opinions on how to deal with the young subject.

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The RyMickey Rating: B

Free Fire

Free Fire (2017)

Starring Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor, Babou Ceesay, Enzo Cilenti, Sam Riley, Michael Smiley, and Noah Taylor

Directed by Ben Wheatley

Written by Amy Jump and Ben Wheatley

***This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  A group of criminals meets up with weapons salesmen at an empty warehouse when chaos erupts and bullets start flying everywhere.

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The RyMickey Rating:  C-

Super Dark Times

Super Dark Times (2017)

Starring Owen Campbell, Charlie Than, Elizabeth Cappuccino, Max Talisman, Sawyer Barth, and Amy Hargreaves

Directed by Kevin Phillips

Written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski

***This film is currently streaming via Netflix***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  Best friends Zach (Owen Campbell) and Josh (Charlie Than) are typical 1990s teens, spending their free time playing video games, watching tv, and talking about girls.  However, one afternoon when they're hanging out with fellow classmates Daryl (Max Talisman) and Charlie (Sawyer Barth), a horrible accident occurs and what these teens do after the incident leads them down a dark and treacherous path.

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The RyMickey Rating:  C+

To the Bone

To the Bone (2017)

Starring Lily Collins, Keanu Reeves, Carrie Preston, Lili Taylor, Alex Sharp, Leslie Bibb, and Liana Liberato

Directed by Marti Noxon

Written by Marti Noxon

***This film is currently streaming via Netflix***

Summary (in 500 words or less):  Artist Ellen (Lily Collins) enters an experimental treatment facility for eating disorders run by a doctor (Keanu Reeves) whose unique methodology proves difficult with which for Ellen to oblige.

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The RyMickey Rating:  B-

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Tip 'T.I.' Harris, Abby Ryder Forston, Randall Park, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Douglas

Directed by Peyton Reed

Written by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari

Summary (in 500 words or less):  Back in the 1980s, Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) becomes trapped in the microscopic quantum realm by shrinking herself too small as she successfully disabled a Russian nuclear missile.  Back in the present day, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is on house arrest being monitored by the FBI after assisting Captain America a few years prior with the events of "Captain America: Civil War."  One evening, Scott has a wild dream wherein he sees himself as Janet van Dyne.  Utterly confused, he calls Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) who have all but excommunicated him after the events of the prior Ant-Man film and Civil War.  Upon hearing Scott's dream, however, they determine that Scott's visit to the quantum realm in the first Ant-Man film has somehow connected him to Janet and they hope that Scott can help reunite them with their wife and mother.  

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The RyMickey Rating:  B-