Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worth your time (and money)? Read on for this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Los Angeles.
Here are the highest rated films to catch, based on critical scores sourced from review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. (Movie descriptions courtesy The Movie Database; showtimes via Fandango.)
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
When bestselling celebrity biographer Lee Israel is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack.
Boasting a critical approval rating of 98 percent and an audience score of 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" has gotten stellar reviews since its release on Oct. 19. Per the site's critical consensus, "Deftly directed and laced with dark wit, 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' proves a compelling showcase for deeply affecting work from Richard E. Grant and Melissa McCarthy."
You can catch it at Pacific Sherman Oaks 5 (14424 Milbank St.) through Thursday, Dec. 6, and AMC Sunset 5 (8000 W. Sunset Blvd.) through Friday, Dec. 7. Click here for showtimes and tickets.Free Solo
Follow Alex Honnold as he becomes the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3, 000 foot high El Capitan wall. With no ropes or safety gear, he completed arguably the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
With a 97 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Free Solo" has been a must-watch since its release on Sept. 28. The site's critical consensus indicates that "'Free Solo' depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason - and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas Pacific Palisades (1035 N. Swarthmore Ave.) through Wednesday, Dec. 12. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Hate U Give
Raised in a poverty-stricken slum, a 16-year-old girl named Starr now attends a suburban prep school. After she witnesses a police officer shoot her unarmed best friend, she's torn between her two very different worlds as she tries to speak her truth.
With a 97 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Hate U Give" has been a must-watch since its release on Oct. 19. The site's critical consensus indicates that "Led by a breakout turn from Amandla Stenberg, the hard-hitting 'The Hate U Give' emphatically proves the YA genre has room for much more than magic and romance."
It's screening at Regency Valley Plaza 6 (6355 Bellingham Ave.) through Friday, Dec. 7, and Cinemark 18 & XD (6081 Center Drive) on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Incredibles 2
Elastigirl springs into action to save the day, while Mr. Incredible faces his greatest challenge yet – taking care of the problems of his three children.
With a 94 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 87 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Incredibles 2" has become a favorite since its release on June 15, with a consensus that "'Incredibles 2' reunites Pixar's family crimefighting team for a long-awaited follow-up that may not quite live up to the original, but comes close enough to earn its name."
You can catch it at Regency Valley Plaza 6 (6355 Bellingham Ave.) through Friday, Dec. 7. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
It's a Wonderful Life
A holiday favorite for generations: George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.
With a critical approval rating of 93 percent and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this old-school film comes highly recommended. The site's critical consensus has it that "The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, 'It's a Wonderful Life' is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing."
You can catch it at Regency Granada Hills 9 (16830 Devonshire St.) and ArcLight Hollywood (6360 Sunset Blvd.) on Wednesday, Dec. 12. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
