Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worth your time (and money)? Check out this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Sacramento.
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.)
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.
This chronicle of a Sacramento-raised climber (and graduate of Mira Loma High School) boasts stellar reviews, with a critical approval rating of 98 percent and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
According to the site's overview, "'Free Solo' depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason -- and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal."
You can catch it at The Tower Theatre (2508 Land Park Drive) through Friday, Dec. 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
The Favourite
In 18th century England, the close relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill is threatened by the arrival of Sarah's cousin, Abigail Hill, resulting in a bitter rivalry between the two cousins to be the Queen's favourite.
Set to be released on Friday, December 14, "The Favourite" already has a critical approval rating of 94 percent and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's critical consensus has it that "'The Favourite' sees Yorgos Lanthimos balancing a period setting against rich, timely subtext - and getting roundly stellar performances from his well-chosen stars."
All three of the main actresses, the screenplay, and the film itself are Golden Globe nominees. It's screening at The Tower Theatre (2508 Land Park Drive) through Wednesday, Dec. 19. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Green Book
Tony Lip, a bouncer in 1962, is hired to drive pianist Don Shirley on a tour through the Deep South in the days when African Americans, forced to find alternate accommodations and services due to segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line, relied on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book.
With an 83 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Green Book" has racked up generally positive reviews since its release on November 16, with a consensus that the film "takes audiences on a surprisingly smooth ride through potentially bumpy subject matter, fueled by Peter Farrelly's deft touch and a pair of well-matched leads."
It too has been the recipient of plenty of awards buzz, in the form of five Golden Globe nods. Interested? It's playing at Regal Delta Shores 14 & IMAX (8136 Delta Shores Circle South) through Saturday, Dec. 15. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
At Eternity's Gate
Famed but tormented artist Vincent van Gogh spends his final years in Arles, France, painting masterworks of the natural world that surrounds him.
With an 82 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 52 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "At Eternity's Gate" has proven a solid option since its release on November 16. Per the site's summary of critic reviews, "Led by mesmerizing work from Willem Dafoe in the central role, 'At Eternity's Gate' intriguingly imagines Vincent Van Gogh's troubled final days."
Watch the artist at work at The Tower Theatre (2508 Land Park Drive) through Wednesday, Dec. 19. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Boy Erased
Jared, the son of a Baptist pastor in a small American town, is outed to his parents at age 19. Jared is faced with an ultimatum: attend a gay conversion therapy program – or be permanently exiled and shunned by his family, friends and faith.
With an 80 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Boy Erased" is well worth a watch.
According to the site's overview of critic reviews, "Anchored in empathy by writer-director-star Joel Edgerton, 'Boy Erased' proves the road to complex, powerfully performed drama can also be paved with good intentions."
Lucas Hedges received a Golden Globe nominee for Best Actor for his performance. You can catch the film at The Tower Theatre (2508 Land Park Drive) through Friday, Dec. 14. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
