February’s Top Movies

February 5

• The Girl in the Spider’s Web

  Next chapter of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” franchise, with Claire Foy taking on the role of Lisbeth Salander in the film adaptation of the fourth book of the acclaimed Millennium series. Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist find themselves caught in a web of spies, cybercriminals and corrupt government officials as they race to rescue a dangerous program capable of global destruction held by shadowy figures linked to Lisbeth’s past. Vitals: Director: Fede Álvarez. Stars: Claire Foy, Sverrir Gudnason, Lakeith Stanfield, Sylvia Hoeks, Stephen Merchan. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 117 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $14.828 million, Sony. Extras: Audio commentaries with director Fede Álvarez and screenwriter Jay Basu; four featurettes: “Claire Foy: Becoming Lisbeth,” “All About the Stunts,” “Secrets of the Salander Sisters” and “Creating the World: The Making Of”; eight deleted scenes.

• Widows

  A police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows — Veronica, Linda, Alice and Belle — have nothing in common except a debt left behind by their spouses’ criminal activities. Hoping to forge a future on their own terms, Veronica joins forces with the other three women to pull off a heist that her husband was planning. Vitals: Director: Steve McQueen. Stars: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Liam Neeson. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 129 min., Drama Thriller, Box office gross: $42.113 million, Fox. Blu-ray extras: “Widows Unmasked: A Chicago Story”: “Plotting The Heist: The Story,” “Assembling The Crew: Production,” “The Scene of the Crime: Locations”; gallery.

• A Private War

  In a world where journalism is under attack, Marie Colvin (Rosamund Pike) is one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time. Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontlines of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless, while constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado. After being hit by a grenade in Sri Lanka, she wears a distinctive eye patch and is still as comfortable sipping martinis with London’s elite as she is confronting dictators. Colvin sacrifices loving relationships, and over time, her personal life starts to unravel as the trauma she’s witnessed takes its toll. Yet, her mission to show the true cost of war leads her — along with renowned war photographer Paul Conroy (Jamie Dornan) — to embark on the most dangerous assignment of their lives in the besieged Syrian city of Homs. Vitals: Director: Matthew Heineman. Stars: Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dornan, Stanley Tucci, Faye Marsay, Tom Hollander, Greg Wise. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 106 min., Drama, Box office gross: $1.601 million, Universal. Extras: “Becoming Marie Colvin,” “Women in the World Summit Q&A,” “Requiem for A Private War.”

• The Sisters Brothers

  Based on Patrick deWitt’s acclaimed novel, the Western is set during the 1850’s gold rush and follows two brothers earning a living as hired guns as they hunt down a chemist who has stolen a valuable formula from their employer. Charlie Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix) is a violent drunkard with a penchant for the hard life he and his brother have grown into, while Eli Sisters (John C. Reilly) is torn between the desire for a simpler, more peaceful life and the guilt-ridden responsibility to stick by his brother’s side, despite the trouble it brings. While the two brothers pursue the chemist (Riz Ahmed) and his unlikely companion John Morris (Jake Gyllenhaal) across the Oregon Territory, director Jacques Audiard takes viewers on a cathartic exploration of what it means to be a man in a world contrasted by violence and opportunity. Vitals: Director: Jacques Audiard. Stars: John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed, Rebecca Root, Allison Tolman, Rutger Hauer, Carol Kane. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 121 min., Western, Box office gross: $3.141 million, Fox. Extras: “Striking Gold: Making a ‘Modern Day’ Western”; Q&A Panel; promotional featurettes: “Brothers Forever,” “Wanted Dead or Alive”; gallery; theatrical trailer.

• Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

  Based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday classic, “The Grinch” tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Vitals: Director: Scott Mosier, Yarrow Cheney. Stars: Voices of Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, Cameron Seely, Angela Lansbury, Pharrell Williams. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 86 min., Animated Family, Box office gross: $269.622 million, Universal. Extras: “Who’s Who in Who-ville” (interactive map); “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” lyric video; Grinch minimovie “Dog Days of Winter”; two Minions minimovies, “Yellow is the New Black” and “Santa’s Little Helpers”; “The Making of the Mini-Movies”; “From Green to Screen” behind-the-scenes featurette; “Illuminating The Grinch” production featurette; “My Earliest GRINCH Memories”; “Grinchy Gadgets”; “I Am The Grinch” lyric video; “Songs From His Little Heart”; “X-mas Around the World”; “Cindy-Lou’s Yule Log”; “Production Babies” celebration of the babies born to the filmmakers during the production; “Any Who Can Draw.”

 

February 12

• Bohemian Rhapsody

  An enthralling celebration of Queen, their music, and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek), who defied stereotypes and convention to become one of history’s most beloved entertainers. Following Queen’s meteoric rise, their revolutionary sound and Freddie’s solo career, the film also chronicles the band’s reunion and one of the greatest performances in rock history. Vitals: Director: Bryan Singer. Stars: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers.2018, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 135 min., Music, Box office gross: $210.670 million, Fox. Extras: The Complete Live Aid movie performance not seen in theaters. Blu-ray adds “Rami Malek: Becoming Freddie,” “The Look and Sound of Queen,” “Recreating Live Aid.”

• The Front Runner

  Director Jason Reitman captures the explosive tension between journalism and politics in this drama about the rise and fall of Gary Hart’s 1988 bid for the U.S. Presidency. Stars Hugh Jackman as Hart, whose campaign was derailed when he was caught in a scandalous love affair. Adapted from the book “All The Truth Is Out” by Matt Bai. Vitals: Director: Jason Reitman. Stars: Hugh Jackman, J.K. Simmons, Vera Farmiga, Alfred Molina, Sara Paxton, Ari Graynor, Kaitlyn Dever. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 113 min., Drama, Box office gross: $2.000 million, Sony. Extras: Filmmaker commentary, “The Unmaking of a Candidate” featurette, three deleted scenes.

 

February 19

• A Star Is Born

  Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer — until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. Third remake of the classic film. Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper makes his directorial debut, and also stars alongside multiple award-winning, Oscar-nominated music superstar Gaga in her first leading role in a major motion picture. Vitals: Director: Bradley Cooper. Stars: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, Rafi Gavron, Anthony Ramos, Dave Chappelle, Alec Baldwin, Marlon Williams, Brandi Carlile, Ron Rifkin.. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 136 min., Drama, Music, Box office gross: $197.300 million, Warner. Extras: Ten minutes of never-before-seen musical performances by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, including “Baby What You Want Me To Do,” “Midnight Special” and “Is That Alright”; “The Road to Stardom: Making A Star Is Born”; music videos for “Shallow,” “Always Remember Us This Way,” “Look What I Found” and “I’ll Never Love Again.”

• Can You Ever Forgive Me?

  Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) made her living in the 1970’s and 80’s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception — forging letters from famous celebrities and selling them on the collectibles market — abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant). An adaptation of the memoir “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” relays the true story of the best-selling celebrity biographer (and friend to cats). Vitals: Director: Marielle Heller. Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Ben Falcone, Jane Curtin, Stephen Spinella. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 106 min., Drama, Box office gross: $8.046 million, Fox. Extras: Deleted scenes with commentary by director Marielle Heller; four promotional featurettes; audio commentary by Marielle Heller and Melissa McCarthy; Lee Israel letter gallery; unit photography gallery.

• Overlord

  On the eve of D-Day, American paratroopers drop behind enemy lines to penetrate the walls of a fortified church and destroy a radio transmitter. As the soldiers approach their target, they soon begin to realize that there’s more going on in the Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation. Making their way to an underground lab, the outnumbered men stumble upon a sinister experiment that forces them into a vicious battle against an army of the undead. Vitals: Director: Julius Avery. Stars: Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell, Mathilde Ollivier, Pilou Asbæk, John Magaro, Bokeem Woodbine. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 110 min., Horror, Box office gross: $21.704 million, Paramount.” Extras: “The Horrors of War” six-part featurette: “Creation,” “Death Above,” “Death on the Ground,” “Death Below,” “Death No More,” “Brothers in Arms.”

• Robin Hood

  The Robin Hood saga brought to life for today’s audiences using stunning special effects, thrilling battle sequences, and mind-blowing fight choreography. Returning home from the Crusades, Robin of Loxley (Taron Egerton) finds his country oppressed by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn). With the help of Moorish warrior Little John (Jamie Foxx), Robin transforms into the heroic outlaw Robin Hood, taking up arms to fight the sheriff and win the heart of his love, Maid Marian (Eve Hewson). Vitals: Director: Otto Bathurst. Stars: Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Ben Mendelsohn, Eve Hewson, Jamie Dornan. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 116 min., Action Adventure, Box office gross: $30.824 million, Lionsgate. Extras: “Outlaws and Auteurs: Reshaping Robin Hood” (seven-part documentary), outtakes, deleted scenes.

 

February 26

• Ralph Breaks the Internet

  Taking place six years after saving the arcade from Turbo’s vengeance, the Sugar Rush arcade cabinet has broken, forcing Ralph and Vanellope to travel to the Internet via the newly-installed Wi-Fi router in Litwak’s Arcade to retrieve the piece capable of saving the game. Highspeed sequel to 2012’s Oscar-nominated “Wreck-It Ralph.” Vitals: Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore. Stars: Voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O’Neill. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: PG, 118 min., Animated Adventure, Box office gross: $195.904 million, Disney. Extras: “How We Broke the Internet” behind-the-scenes featurette, “Surfing for Easter Eggs,” “The Music of Ralph Breaks the Internet,” deleted scenes, “BuzzzTube Cats” (Many videos were created by the animators to fill the screens of the Internet world … and lots of them are of cats), music videos: “Zero” by Imagine Dragons and “In This Place” by Julia Michaels.

• The Possession of Hannah Grace

  A shocking exorcism spirals out of control, claiming the life of a young woman. Months later, Megan Reed (Shay Mitchell), a cop just out of rehab, is working the graveyard shift in the morgue when she takes delivery of a disfigured cadaver. Locked alone inside the basement corridors, Megan begins to experience horrifying visions and starts to suspect that the body may be possessed by a ruthless demonic force. Vitals: Director: Diederik Van Rooijen. Stars: Shay Mitchell, Grey Damon, Nick Thune, Kirby Johnson, Louis Herthum, Stana Katic. 2018, CC, MPAA rating: R, 86 min., Horror, Box office gross: $14.708 million, Sony. Extras: Two featurettes: “The Killer Cast” and “An Autopsy of Hannah”; Deleted Scene, “Megan’s Video Diary Night One,” “Megan’s Video Diary Night Two.”