Movies, big and small, playing in Connecticut this week

By Susan Dunne | Hartford Courant

PUBLISHED: December 11, 2018 at 7:40 a.m. | UPDATED: February 21, 2019 at 2:19 p.m.

OPENING FRIDAY

Anna and the Apocalypse: Christmas horror musical about zombies in a small town. Limited release. R.

The Favourite: Emma Stone comedy about women competing for the favor of the queen. Limited release. R.

Mortal Engines: Hugo Weaving fantasy about a giant predator city on wheels. Wide release. PG-13.

The Mule: Clint Eastwood crime drama about a 90-year-old drug runner. Wide release. R.

Once Upon a Deadpool: Re-release of “Deadpool,” edited down for family viewing. Wide release. PG-13.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Animated Spider-Man action adventure. Wide release. PG.

Vox Lux: Drama about two girls who write a song to deal with personal tragedy. Limited release. R.

OPENING WEDNESDAY

Mary Poppins Returns: Emily Blunt stars in updating of classic story. Wide release. PG.

Joseph Mazzello, Rami Malek, Gwilym Lee, and Ben Hardy in “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

STILL SHOWING

At Eternity’s Gate: Biopic. Willem Dafoe portrays Vincent Van Gogh in Julian Schnabel’s film, one of the best ever made about the artist.

Bohemian Rhapsody: Biopic, PG-13. Rami Malek portrays Freddie Mercury in a film that is flashy but doesn’t delve into the character much.

Boy Erased: Drama, R. Lucas Hedges story of a teen forced into gay conversion therapy is well-meaning, well-acted but lacking in surprise.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Biopic, R. Melissa McCarthy is brilliant in this fact-based drama about a forger.

Colette: Biopic, R. Keira Knightley is excellent in the life story of French author Colette. Dec. 13 to 15 at Cienstudio.

Creed II: Sport, PG-13. The latest “Rocky” movie rides on the charm of its stars, Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald: Fantasy, PG-13. The second “Fantastic Beasts” story based on J.K. Rowling’s books is unfortunately tedious.

Green Book: Drama, PG-13. Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen drama about a black musician in the segregated South. The history is inaccurate, but it’s a crowd-pleaser.

The Grinch: Animation, PG. Benedict Cumberbatch voices the Grinch in this film that touches on the horrors of capitalism but is still quite shallow.

Instant Family: Comedy, PG-13. Rose Byrne-Mark Wahlberg story of a couple that adopts three children hits the right balance of hilarious and heartwarming.

The Possession of Hannah Grace: Horror, R. Thriller about an evil entity haunting corpses in a morgue is a tedious exorcism story.

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Animation, PG. Sequel to “Wreck It Ralph” is weirder and more interesting than that movie.

Robin Hood: Adventure, PG-13. Taron Egerton plays Robin Hood in this sleek, modern updating of the legendary tale.

Shoplifters: Drama, R. Japanese-language drama about a gang of thieves and a lost child is slow but captivating.

A Star is Born: Musical, R. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga story of a singing couple is a heartfelt melodrama from an old template.

Widows: Thriller, R. Viola Davis crime drama about three widows of criminals is pulp fiction of the highest order, and brilliantly acted.

Alba August and Marius Damslev in “Becoming Astrid.”

SHORT RUNS

2.0: Bollywood sci-fi, a sequel to “Enthiran,” about an android created to defend the Earth against a threatening presence. Tamil with subtitles. Cinemark Buckland and North Haven.

Antony & Cleopatra: National Theatre Live production of the Shakespeare play starring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo. Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.

Astronaut: Short film about an astronaut. Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. at Glastonbury Planetarium.

Becoming Astrid: Biopic. Life story of “Pippi Longstocking” creator Astrid Lindgren. Closes Thursday at Real Art Ways.

Canelo vs. Rocky: Prizefight between Canelo Alvarez and Rocky Fielding. Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. Venues: fathomevents.com.

Donnée: Short film set in Connecticut’s DIY music scene, directed by RJ LaRussa. Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. at The State House, 310 State St. in New Haven. Followed by a concert.

Hushaaru: Bollywood friendship drama about four people who want to carve their own paths in life. Telugu with subtitles. Cinemark Buckland.

La Traviata: Live performances by New York’s Metropolitan Opera of Verdi’s story of a doomed woman and her lover, starring Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez. Dec. 15 at 12:55 p.m. (live) and Dec. 19 at 1 and 6:30 p.m. (recorded). Venues: fathomevents.com. Also Dec. 15 at 12:55 p.m. (live) and Dec. 18 at 12:55 p.m. (recorded) at Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.

Maria by Callas: Documentary about opera diva Maria Callas. Closes Thursday at Real Art Ways.

The Merry Widow: Dresden Semperoper filmed production of Franz Lehar’s operetta. Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at Cinestudio.

Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki: Documentary about the legendary film animator. Dec. 13 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. Venues: fathomevents.com.

Odiyan: Bollywood fantasy thriller about a sorcerer who controls the darkness. Malayalam with subtitles. Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. at Parkade Cinemas in Manchester.

They Shall Not Grow Old: Documentary featuring colorized footage of soldiers during World War I. Dec. 17 at 4 and 7 p.m. Venues: fathomevents.com.

The Upside: English-language remake of the French comic hit “The Intouchables,” starring Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston. Director Neil Burger will be present. Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at Avon Theatre in Stamford.

A Very Nutty Christmas: Theatrical premiere of Lifetime holiday movie starring Melissa Joan Hart and Barry Watson, with filmmakers present. Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. at Garde Arts Center, 325 State St. in New London. Also Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. at Mystic Luxury Cinema. $18.

Chevy Chase stars in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

SEE IT AGAIN

A Christmas Story: Christmas classic from 1983 about a boy who wants a BB gun. Dec. 15 and 16 at 11:30 a.m. at Criterion Cinemas in New Haven. PG.

Die Hard and Gremlins: Double feature of classic films popular during the holidays. Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at Strand Theater, 165 Main St. in Seymour. Die Hard R, Gremlins PG.

Jim Henson’s Holiday Special: Double feature of “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” and “The Bells of Fraggle Rock.” Dec. 16 at 1 and 4 p.m. Venues: fathomevents.com.

L’Atalante: Jean Vigo 1934 drama about a newlywed couple living on a boat. Dec. 16 to 19 at 7:30 p.m., with a 4:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, at Cinestudio in Hartford.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Chevy Chase 1989 comedy about a hapless family’s disastrous Christmas. Dec. 14 and 15 at 11:30 p.m. at Criterion Cinemas in New Haven. PG-13.

Fred Rogers in “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

SEE IT FREE

This week’s featured free library movie is Won’t You Be My Neighbor? This documentary tells the life story of kid-TV legend Fred Rogers. It will be shown Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Tolland library. It is rated PG-13.

For more free movies, check your local library website.