Opening Friday, Nov. 20
By the Sea **½ —Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (who also wrote and directed) play a married couple who start to drift apart as they travel the French countryside in the 1970s. Rated R. 132 minutes.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2***— Civil war finally breaks out, with grim consequences, in the final chapter of the film series based on Suzanne Collins’ novels. Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta (Josh Hutchinson) and Gale (Liam Hemsworth) lead the charge against the villainous President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Rated PG-13. 137 minutes.
The Night Before — Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anthony Mackie are three longtime friends who celebrate Christmas Eve every year by heading out on a rampage of R-rated debauchery. Rated R. 101 minutes. Not reviewed.
Room — After five-year-old Jack and his mother escape from the enclosed surroundings that Jack has known his entire life, the boy makes a thrilling discovery: the outside world. Rated R. 118 minutes. Not Reviewed.
Secret in Their Eyes — Billy Ray (“Shattered Glass,” “Breach”) directs this Hollywood remake of the Oscar-winning Argentine drama about a pair of FBI agents (Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts) who reopen an old unsolved murder case with the help of a lawyer (Nicole Kidman). Rated PG-13. 111 minutes. Not reviewed.
Spotlight ****—Mark Ruffalo, Elizabeth McAdams, Michael Keaton and Liev Schreiber star as some of the Boston Globe reporters and editors who successfully investigated the Catholic Church’s conspiracy to cover up serial sexual abuse. Rated R. 128 minutes.
Victoria—A young Spanish woman who has newly moved to Berlin finds her flirtation with a local guy turn potentially deadly as their night out with his friends reveals a dangerous secret. 138 minutes. Not reviewed.
Opening Wednesday, Nov. 25
Brooklyn ***½— Impeccably directed by John Crowley, feelingly adapted by Nick Hornby from Colm Toibin’s fine novel and blessed with heart-stopping work from star Saoirse Ronan and the rest of the cast, “Brooklyn” is about love and heartache, loneliness and intimacy, what home means and how we achieve it. PG-13. 111 minutes.
Freeheld — New Jersey police lieutenant, Laurel Hester, (Julianne Moore) and her registered domestic partner, Stacie Andree, (Ellen Page) both battle to secure Hester’s pension benefits when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer. PG-13. 103 minutes. Not reviewed.
Creed— “Fruitvale Station” star Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler team with Sylvester Stallone in this sequel in which Apollo Creed’s son asks his late father’s former rival, Rocky Balboa, to return to boxing as his trainer. Based on characters from the “Rocky” series written by Stallone. Rated PG-13. 132 minutes.
The Good Dinosaur — An apatosaurus makes a human friend in a world where dinosaurs did not go extinct in Pixar’s latest animated film. With the voices of Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Steve Zahn, Anna Paquin and Sam Elliott. Directed by Peter Sohn. Walt Disney Pictures Rated PG-13. 100 minutes.
Rosenwald—Aviva Kempner’s documentary about how Chicago philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, the son of an immigrant peddler who rose to head Sears, partnered with Booker T. Washington to build 5,400 Southern schools in African American communities in the early 1900s during the Jim Crow era among other contributions. Not rated. 100 minutes. Not reviewed.
Trumbo***½ — In the 1940s, screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s successful career comes crashing down as he and other Hollywood figures are blacklisted for their political beliefs. With Bryan Cranston, Elle Fanning and Diane Lane. Directed by Jay Roach. Review on Page 12.
Victor Frankenstein — James McAvoy stars, with Daniel Radcliffe as Igor, in this revamp of Mary Shelley’s classic tale, in which the doctor’s cutting-edge research into immortality goes too far, resulting in terrifying consequences. Written by Max Landis. Directed by Paul McGuigan. 20th Century Fox. PG-13. 109 minutes. Not reviewed.
Continuing Friday
Some movies may have changed since press time
The 33—Patricia Riggen (“Under the Same Moon”) directs this drama recounting the harrowing experiences of a group of 33 men who were trapped underground after the collapse of a Chilean mine. Rated PG-13.
43 — Documentary by Charlie Minn examines the mass kidnapping of 43 innocent students from Guerrero, Mexico. Not rated. 82 minutes.
Ant-Man **—T he Marvel Comics movie universe expands with the introduction of this vintage hero (played by Paul Rudd) with the ability to shrink to the size of an ant while retaining super-strength. Michael Douglas co-stars as his mentor. Rated PG-13. 124 minutes.
The Assassin***—An assassin accepts a dangerous mission to kill a political leader in 7th century China. Not Rated. 105 minutes.
Black Mass—The Oscar buzz has begun for Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Whitey Bulger, the violent South Boston gangster who became an FBI informant to bring down a rival Mafia family. Rated R. 122 minutes.
Bridge of Spies *** — Steven Spielberg directs Tom Hanks in this thriller (co-written by Joel and Ethan Coen) about a Brooklyn lawyer assigned by the CIA to negotiate the release of a pilot being held captive by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. PG-13. 142 minutes.
Everest ** ½ — A fact-based drama about two rival expeditions to the top of Mount Everest that were struck by a massive blizzard in 1996. With Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin and John Hawkes. Written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy. Directed by Baltasar Kormakur. In Imax and 3-D. Rated PG-13. 121 minutes.
Goosebumps —Jack Black plays author R.L. Stine in this scary-funny adaptation of his popular children’s horror novels. Rated PG. 103 minutes.
Hotel Transylvania 2 — Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez and Kevin James return as the voices of the creatures and humans at the monsters-only resort. Rated PG. 89 minutes.
Inside Out ***½ — Pixar Animation Studios has been getting some of its best reviews to date with this imaginative animated fantasy from director Pete Docter (“Up,” “Monsters, Inc.”) about the emotions inside a little girl’s head, all of which speak in the voices of famous people (Amy Pohler, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling and others). Rated PG. 94 minutes.
The Intern — Robert De Niro stars as a bored 70-year-old retiree who decides to get back in the game by interning at an online fashion site run by Anne Hathaway. Rated PG-13. 121 minutes.
Jurassic World **— Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard try to become the latest dinosaur attack survivors when the critters at a theme park run loose in the fourth installment of the popular franchise. Rated PG-13. 124 minutes.
Labyrinth of Lies — A young prosecutor in post-war West Germany investigates a massive conspiracy to cover up the Nazi pasts of prominent public figures in this provocative and compelling drama. Rated R. 124 minutes.
The Last Witch Hunter — Vin Diesel stars as mankind’s last defense against a tribe of evil witches. No, seriously. Rated PG-13. 106 minutes.
Love the Coopers—Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Diane Keaton, Anthony Mackie and Amanda Seyfried are among the members of four generations of a family who reunite to celebrate Christmas. Adorable hijinks and heartwarming melodrama ensue. Rated PG-13. 107 minutes.
The Martian *** ½ — Matt Damon is an astronaut stranded on Mars, and Kristen Wiig, Jessica Chastain and Chiwetel Ejiofor are among the NASA employees trying to get him home safely in director Ridley Scott’s thrilling adaptation of Andy Weir’s best-selling novel. Rated PG-13. 141 minutes.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials — After escaping the maze in the first film, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers must negotiate a dangerous barren landscape in this second installment of the series based on James Dashner’s young adult novels. Rated PG-13. 131 minutes.
Minions**½—In this spin-off from the worldwide smash franchise “Despicable Me,” the personable yellow servants of evil fall into a deep depression after all the world’s mega-villains have retired, leaving them nothing to do. Rated PG. 91 minutes.
Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation ** ½ — Tom Cruise continues to perform most of his dangerous stunts as the intrepid Ethan Hunt. PG-13. 131 minutes.
My All American — A University of Texas football star (Finn Wittrock) relies on the help of his coach (Aaron Eckhart) to confront an unexpected dilemma. Rated PG. 118 minutes.
Pan **— Levi Miller is Peter Pan, Hugh Jackman is Blackbeard, Garrett Hedlund is Captain Hook and Rooney Mara is Tiger Lily in this big-budget fantasy that reveals the story leading up to the events in J. M. Barrie’s classic novel. Rated PG. 111 minutes.
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension—AKA “The Horror Film Franchise That Wouldn’t Go Away.” A family uses a spirit-seeing camera to protect their daughter. Rated R. 88 minutes.
The Peanuts Movie ***— Snoopy embarks on his greatest mission as he and his friends take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while Charlie Brown begins his own quest. Rated G. 93 minutes.
The Perfect Guy—After breaking up with her commitment-phobic boyfriend (Morris Chestnut), a lobbyist (Sanaa Latham) meets a charming, all-around-nice guy (Michael Ealy) who may not be as harmless as he appears. Rated PG-13. 100 minutes.
Sicario **** — Director Denis (“Prisoners”) Villeneuve’s provocative look at the moral consequences of the war on drugs centers on an FBI agent (Emily Blunt) assigned to assist a CIA operative (Josh Brolin) and his lawyer consultant (Benicio Del Toro) in a raid against a powerful crime lord based in Juarez, Mexico. Rated R. 121 minutes.
Spectre** ½ — Daniel Craig returns as James Bond, and he’s bringing his “Skyfall” director Sam Mendes with him in the latest (and, at two and a half hours, longest) 007 installment. Rated PG-13. 148 minutes.
Steve Jobs—Michael Fassbender plays the controversial genius who founded Apple in this drama adapted from Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography by screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network”) and director Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”). Rated R. 121 minutes.
Suffragette *** — In early 20th century Britain, a working wife and mother joins the fight to win women the right to vote. With Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson and Meryl Streep. Written by Abi Morgan. Directed by Sarah Gavron. Rated PG-13. 107 minutes.
The Visit — Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan returns to his thriller roots with this story about a brother and sister who spend a week at the farm of their exceedingly odd grandparents. 94 minutes. Rated PG-13.
A Walk in the Woods — After spending two decades overseas, an American (Robert Redford) returns to the U.S. and asks one of his oldest friends (Nick Nolte) to hike the Appalachian Trail with him. Based on Bill Bryson’s best seller. Rated R. 104 minutes.
