Freeze Frame: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (R), “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” (PG), “Suspiria” (R), “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” (R), “Nobody’s Fool” (R)

This is what “Bohemian Rhapsody” is NOT: The definitive biopic about Freddie Mercury of Queen. This is what it IS: A very entertaining overview of the British rock band that features a powerhouse performance by Rami Malek. It skims the surface, but in an engaging way.

Disney’s gargantuan reworking of the famous fairytale and ballet, “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” takes a lot of liberties with the original story. There’s plenty of spectacle and dazzle, but very little dance or movie magic.

The remake of the cult classic 1977 Italian horror film “Susperia” is a pretentious and tedious experience. Director Luca Guadagnino probably thinks his hollow and grisly horror flick is high art. It ain’t. Even the presence of Tilda Swinton in multiple roles can’t save it.

Tiffany Haddish is hilarious as a recent parolee who makes life difficult for her uptight corporate-climbing sister in Tyler Perry’s first foray into R-rated comedy, “Nobody’s Fool.” This outrageous movie is often funny, but Haddish mostly disappears in the movie’s final 20 minutes and the mirth comes to a screeching halt.

Melissa McCarthy takes an unusual dramatic turn in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” the true story of Lee Israel, a noted biographer who, when down on her luck, took to forging letters by famous writers to make ends meet. Israel was a somewhat successful forger because of her uncanny ability to mimic the wit and style of well-known authors. “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” is a low-key comic drama, boosted by the strong work of McCarthy and Richard E. Grant as her flamboyant partner in crime.

Also opening this week, “The Happy Prince” is a biopic about writer Oscar Wilde. Rupert Everett stars. Susan Sarandon stars in “Viper Club” the story of a woman’s effort to free her journalist son being held in the Middle East.


Share This Episode