[ By DAN DEMING ]
[ ENTERTAINMENT CONTRIBUTOR ]
"Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker" should be another big after Christmas movie for B&B Theatre goers in Hutchinson, along with fans of "Jumanji," "Frozen II," "Cats," "Black Christmas" and something new this weekend: "Spies In Disguise," an action animated comedy staring, among others, Will Smith.
Don't underestimate the movie directing ability of 89 year old Clint Eastwood, who may be tanking at the box office with his latest film, "Richard Jewell." However, he has produced one of the finest, if not the best movie of 2019. "Richard Jewell" tells a story of the man that was originally pegged as a hero in the warning of the l996 Centennial Olympics Atlanta bombing, quickly became the FBI's prime suspect, a leak of information by overly aggressive reporting and the eventual destruction of Jewell's life. It is a fascinating while disturbing account, told with a near perfect script by writer, Billy Ray, and exceptional acting by Paul Walter Hauser (his first significant role); Kathy Bates as his mother and Sam Rockwell as his attorney, one of the few who believed in Jewell's innocence.
The movie has drawn criticism from some journalists for portraying Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter, Kathy Scruggs as sleeping her way to getting an FBI agent to leak Jewell's name. The paper says that never happened and neither Scruggs or Jewell are still alive to verify or deny the truth. How this movie was written, acted and shot is fantastic. It is one of Eastwood's best films despite only seven million in ticket sales the first two weekends. Four stars and a strong recommendation to see the story Eastwood and others have been longing to tell ever since a l997 Vanity Fair article, and a more recent book titled "The Suspect." It's playing in Wichita and may not come to Hutchinson until the Fox Theater picks it up for a late run.
Opening nationwide, but not in Hutchinson, last weekend was "Bombshell," which puts the screws, big time, to Fox News ownership and management for sexual harassment that eventually cost the network $50 million to settle lawsuits by women reporters and anchors while paying out $65 million in severance and contracts to the principal violators: Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly. Getting rave reviews for possible best actress and supporting actress are Charlize Theron, who plays Megyn Kelly and looks strikingly the same as the former Fox star, along with Nicole Kidman, who plays Gretchen Carlson, who first filed suit against Ailes, eventually getting Kelly's confirmation followed by a parade of others. Ailes is superbly played by veteran actor, John Lithgow, while all the other Fox names, from Geraldo Rivera to Chris Wallace, are shown at least in some degree.
If you are a Fox News hater, your suspicions will be confirmed by this movie while if you praise Fox for being "fair and balanced," your eyes may be opened or, more likely, you'll proclaim more fake news. I thought the overall production was lacking but, the R-rated "Bombshell" is interesting and worthy of seeing along with giving it 2.5 stars. Megyn Kelly said it brought back deep emotions, but has several "inaccuracies." You'll have to visit Warren or AMC Theaters in Wichita for "Bombshell." which opened just ahead of "Richard Jewell" in ticket sales.
“Movie news you can use” is a weekly feature submitted by Dan Deming. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of Hutch Post or its affiliates.