Bohemian Rhapsody PG-13
This paint-by-the-numbers biopic of Freddie Mercury, Queen’s flamboyant lead singer, fails to illuminate the man behind the image. Filled with half-truths and omissions, the film features Rami Malek’s stunning performance as he captures Mercury’s velvet-toned off-stage manner and spectacular on-stage performances. Central to Mercury’s inner life is learning he’s more attracted to men than women. While he expresses these difficulties through his music, we see little of Mercury’s work process. Though amiable enough, the film gives short shrift to certain Queen staples, choosing commercialism over peeking behind the curtain. (Lisa Miller)
City Swim Not Rated
Marquette University documentary filmmaker Joe Brown will premiere City Swim at the fourth-annual Great Lakes Environmental Film Festival (GLEFF). Brown’s project chronicles the Cream City Classic Milwaukee River Swim held this past August and hopes to break the misconception that the river’s water is too contaminated for activities. “What I like about this film is that it’s about a success story!” Brown said. “The water in the Milwaukee River is getting cleaner, but a lot of people don’t realize it.” Only a couple decades ago, it would have been ridiculous to propose swimming in the river. But, thanks to the work of many local nonprofits, it continues to become a cleaner environment. City Swim takes on a different view of water activities within an urban environment. Brown says there is something unique about watching swimmers pass by from riverside lofts and walkways. (Parker Thompson)
7 p.m., Nov. 7-8, at The Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. For more information on this free event, visit gleff.org.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms PG
At the annual holiday party thrown by her godfather, Drosselmeyer (Morgan Freeman), Clara (Mackenzie Foy) receives a key to a box left by her late mother. She and the key are whisked into a parallel world where she meets a soldier (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and regents who preside over three realms: Snowflakes, Flowers and Sweets. The key has disappeared into the “Fourth Realm” ruled by tyrannical Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren). Clara learns she must retrieve the key to stabilize these hidden worlds. Disney spared no expense reimagining The Nutcracker to make Clara a more proactive heroine—thus bringing this production totally in line with the company’s current girl-power agenda. (L.M.)
Nobody’s Fool R
Tyler Perry’s latest comedy places Tiffany Haddish front and center as rebellious Tanya. When Tanya decides to get her life in order, she looks to her straight-laced sister, Danica (Tika Sumpter) for guidance. By forcing opposite women into close proximity, writer-director Perry presumes to bring home the laughs and life lessons. And where’s Madea? Perry ought to know that although his own feisty granny schtick may be able to pull off vulgar bodily function jokes and creepy, graphic flirtations, he’s asked more than Haddish can do. (L.M.)
