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DVD case for Detroit
DVD case for Detroit

Detroit,

directed by Kathryn Bigelow

(R, 2 hours, 23 minutes)

There's no doubt that Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty) is a director of vision and power. She creates relevant, important films that observe the American landscape as it shifts and cracks.

But chronicling the dysfunction and chaos is incredibly gloomy. That's why it's curious that her latest, Detroit, was released in theaters on Aug. 4, in the midst of bouncy, goofy and mindless summer popcorn munchers.

Whatever. Detroit is a tautly focused, graphically violent examination of the police brutality that raged in the streets of that city during five days of rioting in 1967. It all started on July 23 when police raided an unlicensed social club, where black celebrants were heralding the return of soldiers from Vietnam. Pushback resulted.

That prompted calling in state troopers, the National Guard, and two airborne divisions. Arrests were made -- 7,000 or so --and when it ended, 43 people were dead.

It's horrific. It's disturbing. It really happened. And it's very hard to watch. With John Boyega, Algee Smith, Anthony Mackey, John Krasinski.

Home Again (PG-13, 1 hour, 37 minutes) Reese Witherspoon makes plenty of terrific films. This comedy isn't one of them. Here she plays Alice Kinney, who's moving to her hometown of Los Angeles after separating from her husband (Michael Sheen). There she meets with wannabe filmmakers who need a place to live. They wind up in her guesthouse. Attempts at hilarity ensue. Not all are successful. With Nat Wolff, Lake Bell, Jon Rudnitsky; directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer.

Wolf Warrior II (not rated, 2 hours, 6 minutes) This amazingly active and expertly choreographed sequel to 2015's Wolf Warrior concerns a Chinese Special Forces operative whose career has disintegrated. His quiet life evaporates when he encounters ruthless mercenaries whose terroristic behavior must be neutralized. With Jing Wu (who also directs), Nan Yu, Gang Wu, Celina Jade.

All Saints (PG, 1 hour, 48 minutes) Based on a true story, this inspiring if uneven community-focused drama describes events in the life of the Rev. Michael Spurlock (John Corbett), a pastor who risks everything to make life better for refugees from Southeast Asia. With Cara Buono, Nelson Lee, Barry Corbin, Gregory Alan Williams; directed by Steve Gomer.

The Trip to Spain (not rated, 1 hour, 48 minutes) Another witty, wandering culinary road trip with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. After traversing northern England and Italy, the pair head to Spain for wisecracky banter, discussions of the meaning of growing older, interactions with the locals, and to-die-for Spanish dishes. With Claire Keelan, Marta Barrio, Tim Leach; directed by Michael Winterbottom.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (R, 2 hours, 21 minutes) It's not on the level of James Bond, but this farcical, violent, self-centered and overly lengthy intelligence-agency caper (a sequel to 2015's Kingsman: The Secret Service) will have to do until the next 007 comes along in 2019 (featuring the return of Daniel Craig). The story brings on a new muddled mess when the world is being held hostage and our well-dressed heroes must join with a U.S. agency called Statesman to take care of business. With Colin Firth, Jeff Bridges, Mark Strong, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Taron Egerton, Elton John; directed by Matthew Vaughn.

MovieStyle on 12/15/2017

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