Fast & Furious 7: Shrewd, Silly, Joyous Fare

Shrewdly manipulative, but very well-directed, “Furious 7,” the latest (final?) chapter of the hit franchise that began some fifteen years ago, is diverting enough to overcome its silly tale, thematic shortcomings, and one-dimensional characters.

Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine–Gibney’s Docu of Apple Genius

Gibney spent nearly three years on the project, which was financed by CNN Films, and interviewed 50 people who knew Jobs–but Apple didn’t participate.

Cinderella: Remaking Disney’s Classic Fairy Tale

A live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, Disney’s “Cinderella” brings to life the beloved characters and timeless images from the studio’s 1950 animated masterpiece in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a new generation.

Maps to the Stars: Dark Hollywood Satire, One of Cronenberg’s Weakest Films

Cronenbrg’s darkly humorous tale of contempo Hollywood unfolds as a horror flick rather than witty satire, lagging behind the zeitgeist by at least a decade!

McFarland, USA: Old-fashioned, Predictable Inspirational Sports Drama

McFarland, USA is an old-fashioned, utterly predictable inspirational sports drama about a Mexican-American cross-country team from rural California.