Selma

Finally, a film chronicling the life and times of Martin Luther King, Jr. has come to the big screen and it's a good one.  Much like 2012's "Lincoln," "Selma" chooses to focus only on the most pivotal months of its subject's life instead of being a full life story biopic and it's all the better for it.  Also like "Lincoln" the title character is portrayed by a Brit (David Oyelowo) who absolutely nails it.  From the look to the mannerisms to the fire of his speeches, Oyelowo embodies the man and turns in one of the best performances in years.  Director Ava Duvernay is pretty unflinching the majority of the time, showing the brutality of the events in and around Selma with gut-wrenching realism and heart.  Unfortunately, the film does fall into some TV movie-like melodrama at times and you can't help but feel like the events in the story are being portrayed through too much of a modern partisan lens.  Those complaints aside, this is the best film about the civil rights movement we've seen and it definitely gets our recommendation.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Imitation Game

Alan Turing was inarguably the most unsung contributor to the success of the allies in World War II, and this film does justice to what he accomplished.  Director Morten Tyldum knows how to put a good narrative on screen in this latest war-biopic "The Imitation Game."  It's a great story and one that's engaging throughout.  Benedict Cumberbatch is a revelation here, giving one of the best performances of the year.  He's fantastic and really captures Turing's awkward yet intriguing character.  The movie does a great job of capitalizing how frustrating it must have been to work with him and then transitioning to the realization of how much of a genius he really is.  The only misstep the plot takes is shoe-horning a social message concerning homosexuality at the end of the film.  Even though it's a good message, it doesn't quite fit with the rest of the film.  This is a very good film however and deserves to be seen by just about everyone.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Fault in Our Stars

On the surface, "The Fault in Our Stars" checks every box in the Nicholas Sparks list of tragic young romance conventions.  But novelist John Green and the film's director Josh Boone try their darndest to transcend those conventions with a deeper, more thoughtful take on young people falling in love amidst personal tragedy.  And while it doesn't quite escape the predictable trappings of the genre, the film does manage to be a good one.  The chemistry between the two leads (Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort) is very good and effectively conjures up some legitimate emotion despite some of the more contrived elements of their romance.  Nothing earth-shattering here, but definitely one of the better films in its category.

Bryce ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Guardians of the Galaxy

If you find yourself experiencing a little Marvel-fatigue in wake of the superhero tidal wave the studio has produced over the last several years, "Guardians of the Galaxy" is sure to win you back.  Likely, not since the original "Star Wars" has a space opera come along that has felt this fresh and fun.  Indie director James Gunn and his team of production and visual effects designers bring to life a universe with a unique visual mojo and a classic pop soundtrack to boot.  An extremely memorable cast of characters, highlighted by the hysterical Rocket Raccoon and his walking tree sidekick Groot, help compensate for a pretty conventional plot to make this the most fun you'll likely have at the movies this year.

Bryce ***
Chase ***1/2
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

The final chapter of Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" saga has arrived and it single-handedly makes the case that Tolkien's classic novel should have been adapted into two films instead of three (as was originally intended).  It's not that this is a bad film, it's that it frustratingly shows us bits and pieces of what should have been the climax of the second film instead of a filler-stuffed film all its own.  Some of the stylistic problems of the previous films are there, including the overuse of CGI, but it's the story and characters that really disappoint.  All of the major character arcs lack a fitting emotional conclusion because the narrative has been stretched well beyond its bounds.  It's still wildly imaginative from a visual standpoint and adequately entertaining in its own right, but we can't help but dwell on the fact that this is by far the weakest Middle-earth film Peter Jackson has produced.

Bryce **
Chase **1/2
Landon **1/2
Logan **

BANGERANG SCORE: **

Edge of Tomorrow

"Edge of Tomorrow" represents something inherently lacking in today's Hollywood blockbusters: genuine ingenuity.  There was a time when innovation was the name of the game in the sci-fi genre, but those days are long gone as studios have become more and more risk-averse.  This latest Tom Cruise vehicle is a fun take on the "Groundhog Day" concept.  It's set against the backdrop of an alien invasion sometime in the distant future when humanity fights back with soldiers in bulky mech suits and other advanced weaponry.  Director Doug Liman ("The Bourne Identity") knows how to deliver wall to wall action while keeping the story focused and the audience engaged.  The visual effects are creative and impressive and the premise never loses its novelty.  This isn't a great film by any stretch, but it is a solid and definitely worth-while sci-fi action adventure.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Giver

"The Giver" finally gets a big screen adaptation over 20 years after the release of the ground-breaking  young adult novel.  Was it worth the wait?  Yes and no.  Jeff Bridges was instrumental in getting this film made and he is fantastic as the title character - a role he originally intended for his father, the late Lloyd Bridges.  His performance really drives home the themes of the book.  The other performances are not as stellar unfortunately.  Brenton Thwaites is serviceable as Jonas, the protagonist of the film, but everyone else seems to be phoning it in a little bit.  Even Meryl Streep is underutilized here.  Director Phillip Noyce plays it safe in some of the film's darker moments that could've had a real impact had it been in the hands of a more daring filmmaker.  Not a bad attempt, but well short of what the novel demands and deserves.

Bryce **1/2
Chase **1/2
Landon **1/2
Logan **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2