Tom Tangney

The "book" of this near-musical is too melodramatic for its own good but the musical performances make "A Star is Born" worth watching.

Telling the story of little-known country singer Blaze Foley, writer/director Ethan Hawke gives us an intriguing look at a would-be star that never quite made it.

"The House with a Clock in its Walls" is funny, scary, and interesting if you're 10 years old. That's the level it plays at. Adult audiences are not considered in this PG movie.

"White Boy Rick" has the integrity to not sell out, but it doesn't have the depth of character to make it a truly insightful drama either.

"Peppermint"'s real problem is that the non-stop violence is so relentless and unimaginative. Many violent films can be cinematically exciting - see Tarantino, Peckinpah, etc. - but not this one.

Even though 'The Happytime Murders' delivers on the raunch, it so shortchanges us on the comedy that the movie falls flat long before it's over.

"Crazy Rich Asians" may be a generic romantic comedy, but it's one that becomes a guilty pleasure. It will have you routing for this couple to make it through to the end.

It's clear in every frame of 'Blackkklansman' that Spike Lee is furious with the current state of affairs and making that even more explicit seems like overkill. But I take his point.

"Christopher Robin" is a fantastic family film. A live-action Disney movie starring Winnie the Pooh characters, it manages to capture the delicate tone and mood of the original A.A. Milne stories while creating an entirely new storyline.

The Mission: Impossible franchise long ago stole the best stunts mantle from the likes of James Bond and Jason Bourne.