The Jungle Book (2016)

The theater I was in wasn’t terribly full, so when a quartet of 9 or 10-year-old boys joined our row I sighed and told Gary we might need to move. Sure enough, throughout the trailers, they were talking loudly, climbing over each other and generally being annoying. Once the film started, however, I forgot all about them because they were paying attention. Quietly. As the credits rolled, two of the kids were applauding with their hands above their heads. And, no, not ironically

It looks great, the story is solid, and I can’t wait to have grandchildren so I can show this to them. I imagine that there were be lots of kids scraping up their knees and palms this summer after being inspired by Mowgli's sprints through the jungle. What a delight. 

B+

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)

The opening, pre-dying girl, portion felt extremely self-conscious. Greg takes us on a quick tour of the cliques that make up high school while positioning himself firmly outside of that nonsense. We also meet his filmmaking partner (they make parodies that could only fit in the Wes Anderson universe) and Greg's parents (dad carries around a cat, cooks creatively, and wears dashikis). It just felt so darn twee.

Then Greg is pressured into visiting diagnosed-with-leukemia Rachel. As he puts in the time, he really grows to care for her and, by golly, that's exactly what happened with me and this film. I got on its wavelength and I kind of fell in love with the characters. By the end I was bawling.

B

Marriage Italian Style (1964)

Domenico is a rich businessman who drops in and out of Filumena’s life for 23 years, beginning when she’s a 17-year-old prostitute. The movie starts near the end of the timeline with “Dummi” about to get married to a young shopgirl and Filumena on her deathbed, so most of the story takes place in flashback.

It took me close to two months to finish this movie. There was something ugly about it that made me less than eager to return to it: lots of manipulation and yelling. But it does lighten up a bit in the last half when Filumena’s three illegitimate children are revealed, humanizing Dummi somewhat.

C

Midnight Special (2016)

In the opening scenes of Midnight Special, we see two men on the run with a young -- but clearly not average -- boy. We also watch a nighttime gathering of what look to be Mormons of the sister-wife variety (long braids and prairie dresses) listening to a sermon based on texts that are definitely extra-biblical. It felt tense and fresh and I couldn't wait to learn what was happening and why.

Well, I wish they'd never told me what was going on. Better to wonder than to find out that it's basically -- "kid's from another world. yeah, it doesn't really make much sense seeing he's got parents in this one, but don't think about that. Just enjoy the special effects." At the very least, I wish I'd had a few scenes to get the feel of the commune and have a sense of investment in the decision to snatch the kid away from it.

C-

The Hunting Ground (2015)

I don't think there's any way this could be classified as "entertainment," but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be seen -- especially by every college-bound student. This is a sobering/important look at the culture of victim-blaming and perpetrator-protection surrounding the rampant sexual assault on college campuses.

B+