Just Mercy: Heck of a biopic on the incredible Bryan Stevenson. Michael B. Jordan is always a great performance, and because he’s a star now you don’t get to see those performances as much. If a movie is supposed to make you feel, then this movie won – high highs, low lows, and one of the best “in conclusion…” montages I’ve ever seen. ****3/4
The Way Back: This might be a basketball version of Manchester by the Sea with Ben Affleck instead of Casey but it still hits. There’s no big Michelle Williams moment, but there is Ben Affleck inspiring a bunch of kids through the power of basketball and alcoholism. ***3/4
The Gentleman: Guy Ritchie by the numbers… nothing new or all that good here, even if the cast is inspired. It reads more guys having fun with a formula than anything interesting or entertaining. **1/2
Olympic Dreams: This has the hook of being actually filmed inside the Olympic Village, and it also has the hook of Nick Kroll playing it completely straight in a romantic comedy. The former is more interesting than the latter, but it sure has a hook. **3/4
Bad Education: A wild story told in a straightforward but entertaining way. Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney act their asses off, and Janney makes a case for being the only human alive who should play Carole Baskin. ***1/2
