Trumbo

Brian Cranston is outstanding in this early 50,s drama of when congress blacklisted  many Hollywood types who had communist leanings. Cranston  is Dayton Trumbo a noted movie writer who finds that he can not get any work under his own name, thus he reverts to writing under aliases for shabby movie production companies. True story of how a brilliant writer wins two Oscars and many awards unknown by his true name. 3 1/2 bananas

Scepter

James Bond is back chasing an international cartel that wants to be in control of a worldwide intelligence gathering operation. I think the Bond series is finally wearing down, not up to the past movies. 1 1/2 bananas

Truth

True story of how the George W. Bush scandal of being aol from the national guard is turned from that to one of discrediting the journalists who dug deep for the story. Mary Mapes a 60 Minutes TV producer, her reporting team and Dan Rather develop what appears to be solid evidence that Bush had been given special priviledges to avoid the Vietnam War only to have some very powerful lobbies turn the tables on them to discreet their reporting. Probably not going to be in the theaters long. 3 bananas

Bridge of Spies

Tom Hanks, a real estate lawyer, is recruited by the Federal government to  first , represent a Russian spy in court and later to help negotiate his swap between the Russian for Francis Gary Powers,, the pilot of the super secret U.S. spy plane that is shot down by a Russian rocket. Everything seems to go off the rails when the East Germans become involved. Well done re-enactment of a very dark time during the cold war. 4 bananas

99 Homes

Very dark drama of how mortgage foreclosures were gamed by real estate agents. Story depicks a young single dad being evicted from his house and then joining forces with the real estate agent who had him evicted. As the money flows in the young dad sees himself in the evictees and has to face the consequences. Hard to watch at times as you know that this is happening all around us, but a good under view of the misery of foreclosure. 3 bananas

The Martian

Matt Damon is terrific in this drama/comedy as an astronaut stranded on Mars. With little hope of being rescued Damon puts his botanist training to work in order to survive. Eventually Damon is able to McGiver transmissions to earth and the race is on to save him. Best movie of the year to date with Damon giving a great performance; a great supporting cast makes  for a fun, entertaining 2+ hours. 4 bananas

Sicario

Intense drama of the fight to stop the flow of drugs from Mexico. A U.S. drug task force is put together with no boundries or laws attached to it to seek out and kill the king pins of the Mexican drug operations. Emily Blunt is assigned to the force from the FBI but she wants to do everything legally which immediately puts her at odds with all the rest. Right on the money for telling it like it is. Sicario means hitman in Spanish , so take it from there. Wish the movie had been 3 hours as the 2 hours  flew by. 3 1/2 bananas

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

The continuing sage(3 so far) of a group of young people who have been held prisoners and then have escaped into a world that has been totally destroyed. Why they were being held and how they manage their way in a devastated world with their captors in hot pursuit is what makes things intertesting. 2 bananas

Black Mass

Johnny Depp portrays the rise and fall of Boston mobster James Whitey Bulger in this very dark drama of murder, corruption and mayhem.. Bulger is able to avoid the arm of the law by getting into bed with the local FBI who believe he is a valuable informant only to find many years later that they have been played. The cruel and heartless Bulger is played to perfection by Depp. 3 1/2 bananas

Walk in the Woods

Nick Nolte is hilarious in this comedy also starring Robert Redford as the two join forces after 40 years of being apart to walk the Appalachian Trail. Along the way they rehash memories of times spent growing up in Iowa as well the true reason Nolte shows unexpectedly up to join Redford . Emma Thompson never looked better as Redfords wife in a supporting role. Delightful from beginning to the end. 3 1/2 bananas

No Escape

Owen Wilson stars in this intense drama of a family who has just arrived in a 3rd world country at the same time the government is being over thrown by ruthless rebels. As the family tries to escape the rebels always seem to be one step behind, slaughtering all that get in the way. Pierce Brosnan in a supporting role as a mysterious do gooder helps the family in their attempt to flee the country. 2 bananas

Ricki and the Flash

Meryl Streep plays a bankrupt rock and roll singer who is called back to her grown family and remarried husband to help her daughter get over being dumped by the future husband. Once arriving Streep is confronted with all sorts of family secrets, none of which is was aware as she had left years before. Another great performance by Streep and the music and her singing are quit good as well. 3 bananas

Hitman: Agent 47

In an experimental government program humans(agents) were programed with special powers to become killing machines. The program was shut down but not before a few of the agents escaped. Now a very powerful syndicate wants to find the head of the defunct program and startup again. This non-stop action movie is not going to win any awards but it sure is a fun 2 hours as Agent 47 does battle with just about everyone. For entertainment I'm giving this movie,  3 bananas

The Gift

A couple move from Chicago to LA to start a new life only to find  a person from the couples dark past show up at their door carrying a secret that  makes this psycho drama a very good movie to see. Movie starts off slow but don't give up as many twists and turns keeps you at the edge of your seat. And what really is the gift???  2 1/2 bananas

Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Pretty good update to the old TV show. Now we have the CIA and the KGB joining forces,sometimes, to track down a stolen nuclear bomb. Much mischief and mayhem make this comedy drama a fun 2 hours. 2 1/2 bananas

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Tom Cruise and his Mission Impossible team are being disbanded by congress while trying to track down a super secret group of people called the Syndicate who are trying to kill the worlds leaders. More impossible acts by Cruise make this movie like all the other MI movies fun, fun, fun. Don't miss the opening sequence. 3 bananas

100 Year Old Man Climbs out of a window and Disappears

  100 year old man about to celebrate his birthday decides to leave his nursing home and sets out on  funny, wacky comedy. At a defunct train station he encounters a biker gang member who entrusts him with a suitcase as the biker goes to the bathroom. Unkown to the 100 year old as he wanders away with the suitcase is that it holds $50 million dollars of a underworld money. As the 100 year old man goes from crisis to crisis, picking up new friends and thinking back to hysterical events in his life this movie should become a classic. May be hard to find, only in an Art Theater but worth the trouble.  4 bananas

Jurassic World

Updated version of the original Jurassic Park. A new amusement park has replaced the old one, and to bring in a new generation of people a genetically improved species of dino is developed. Well what could possibly go wrong? Just about everything including sinister elements running amoke. Great special effects make up for a stale plot and bad acting. 2 bananas

Entourage

Comedy spinoff of an HBO TV series has a movie star and his 3 buddies involved in making a movie but running over the budget of 100 million; thus requiring going back to the money well with some unpredictable results., Some very funny parts sprinkled with a lot of sex, make this a movie not to be missed. Try to keep tabs on all the cameos through out the movie.  3 bananas

Spy

Hilarious spoof on the James Bond movies. Melissa McCarthy stars as a CIA office worker who goes undercover to seek out a nuclear device that is up for sale. Along her way, she out does Bond in some of the funniest action scenes in a long time. Very raw language only makes for more fun. 3 1/2 bananas

San Andreas

The Rock stars in this action packed disaster movie. California is once again being ravaged by multiple 9+ earthquakes but the Rock is able to pilot helicopters, planes and boats into the teeth of a crumbling California to save his wife and daughter; what about every one else? Great visual effects make this a fun movie to watch but the plot is so bad that this drama should be called a comedy. 2 bananas

Tomorrowland

Disney Sci-Fi drama starring George Clooney and two very cute young girls who together are able to transport themselves to a world free of all that is  bad in today's world; however all is not as rosey as it should be in Tomorrowland either. Not at all as to  what I was expecting in this movie as the mysterious plot is more geared to adults with a very strong message. 3 bananas

Mad Max, Fury Road

Tom Hardy stars as Mad Max a loner who is held prisoner because he is a universal blood donor and is used as a blood bank for a group suffering from post nuclear destruction. Escaping his captors he pairs up with Charlize Theron, one bad babe, who is smuggling out   5 women who are being held   to produce babies and milk.. This all takes place in the first 10 minutes; the balance of the two hours are spent racing across barren dessert fending off multiple bizzaro groups bent on their destruction. Non-stop action makes for fun watching but Mel Gibson and the Original Mad Max still rules!! 2 1/2 bananas

Woman In Gold

True story of a woman, portrayed by Helen Mirren, who decides to try an recover a famous painting from the Austrian Government. The painting is of her mother and was stolen by the Nazis during WW2 and since has been a national treasure of the Austrian Government, which did want to acknowledge its ownership. Mirren comes through as usual with great acting. 3 1/2 bananas

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Tony Stark and the Avengers are out to destroy an AI robot that is equipped with stolen technology from Stark Industries and wants to destroy mankind. 2+ hours of non stop carnage introduces a couple of new members to the Avengers as the group battles to save earth.  The Avengers series is getting a little long in the tooth but still enjoyable with more on the way.  2 1/2 bananas

Ex Machina

High tech visionary developes Artifical Intelligence(AI) being who seems to be human. To test whether the AI can simulate a really person in thought and deeds a computer nerd is brought in to run a series of thought provoking tests on the AI. Much to everyones surprise the AI may be the more intelligent person. Interesting concept in that this is not to far down the road. 2 1/2 bananas

Child 44

Mystery drama takes place right after World War 2. Russia has a child serial killer on the loose and the facts are being covered up by military high ups. A lone military officer decides to take matters into his own hands only to be shipped off to something akin to Siberia. Well done but very dark 2+ hours. 3 bananas

Run All Night

Starring Liam Nessan as an ex mob hitman who is forced to kill his ex bosses son. Needless to say his boss is not a happy camper and puts hit out on on Nessan's son. Rest of the movie is centered around how many people die due to revenge seeking. 1 1/2 bananas

Furious 7

Vin Diesels group assembles again with fast cars,and unbelieveable stunts to help the CIA retrieve a computer program. Along the way, Jason Statham shows up to revenge his brothers shooting by Vin. Mass mayhem ensues in this wacky, stupid but exciting two hours of thrills. 2 1/2 bananas

Chappie

Not at all what I expected. A robot is developed with AI and seeks to have a conscious, along the way the robot is stolen by a couple of thugs and is taught the ways of the hood, becoming an offensive force when stealing. Entertaining up until the end when it goes off the rails. 2 1/2 bananas

Kingsman

Action comedy parody of the James Bond movies. Kingsman is a ultra secret British secret service that only recruits new members when one of its own dies. Colin Firth sends a new recruit through training while battling Samuel Jackson's plot to turn the world against it self through a very clever scheme. Both Firth and Jackson are terrific in their good guy bad guy roles. A fun two hours. 3  bananas.

The Wedding Ringer

Kevin Hart is hilarious in this comedy about a guy who is getting married and has no friends to ask to be in the wedding. Hart runs a service that supplies best man and others as needed. A bit raunchy but you'll be entertained throughout. Very, very funny!! 3 bananas

Taken 3

This time Liam Nesson's wife is killed which puts him on the hunt for the who and why. If you liked the first two this is more of the same, high octane kick ass mayhem dispensed by Liam, when someone gets in his way. Enjoyable no brainer for a rainy afternoon! 2 bananas

Black Sea

Submarine drama staring Jude Law as an unemployed submarine construction worker who with a group of Russian and British sub technicans purchase a decommisoned Russian sub to search for a WW2  German sub that was sunk with a fortune in gold in it. Fun  plot but many holes in the story. 2 bananas

American Sniper

True story of a US Navy Seal sniper's years spent killing the Iraqi bad guys while trying to adjust to his home life when on leave. After serving 4 tours of duty he comes home with PDST  and finds a way to deal with it only to end in a tragic circumstance. Chris Kyle's life is portrayed by a beefed up Bradley Cooper who gives a terrific portrayal of the sins of war. Apparently a bit  of the book has been altered for the movie, but nothing that takes away from the gruesomeness of war. A bit long but doesn't take long to get engrossed in. 3 1/2 bananas

Inherent Vice

Joaquin Phoenix is a stoned out private detective who is recruited to find his girl friends boss; she disappears and the story just  keeps getting crazier in this psychedelic drama/comedy. Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson and Reece Witherspoon add to the mayhem in this 1970 hippy pot smoking mystery. Totally out there man!! Fun if you can stay with it. 2 1/2 bananas

Gambler

Mark Wahlberg stars as a college professor with a gambling problem. Teaching 101 English during the day and playing poker at night; never knowing when to fold em, Wahlberg finds himself deep in debt to various very bad people, with few options. 2 1/2 bananas