In the age of streaming entertainment, it can be hard to leave the couch. But movie theaters still offer a special experience for those willing to get out of the house. Want to see what's out there? Read on for this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Elgin.
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.)
Schindler's List
The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.
With a 97 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1993 release boasts plenty of accolades. The site's critical consensus has it that "'Schindler's List' blends the abject horror of the Holocaust with Steven Spielberg's signature tender humanism to create the director's dramatic masterpiece."
It's screening at Marcus Elgin Cinema (111 S. Randall Road) through Thursday, Dec. 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Green Book
Set in 1962, Tony Lip, a Bronx bouncer, is hired to drive pianist Dr. Don Shirley on a tour through the Deep South. In the Jim Crow era, African Americans were forced to find alternate accommodations due to segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line and relied on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book.
You still have time to catch this Golden Globe-nominated film starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. With a critical approval rating of 82 percent and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Green Book" has been getting attention since its release on November 16. The site's critical consensus indicates that "'Green Book' 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."
Want to see for yourself? It's playing at Marcus Elgin Cinema (111 S. Randall Road) through Thursday, Dec. 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
It's Christmas time, and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration. But things never run smoothly for Clark and his wife, Ellen, and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests. But he manages to keep going, knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.
With a critical approval rating of 64 percent and an audience score of 86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1989 release and holiday classic deserves a watch, with a consensus that "While 'Christmas Vacation' may not be the most disciplined comedy, it's got enough laughs and good cheer to make for a solid seasonal treat."
Get a piece of the action at Marcus Elgin Cinema (111 S. Randall Road) through Thursday, Dec. 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Bohemian Rhapsody
In 1970, singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and bass guitarist John Deacon take the music world by storm when they form the rock 'n' roll band Queen. Hit songs become instant classics. When Mercury's increasingly wild lifestyle starts to spiral out of control, Queen soon faces its greatest challenge yet — finding a way to keep the band together amid the success and excess.
With a critical approval rating of 62 percent and an audience score of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is well worth a watch. The site's critical consensus indicates that "'Bohemian Rhapsody' hits a handful of high notes, but as an in-depth look at a beloved band, it offers more of a medley than a true greatest hits collection."
Get a piece of the action at Marcus Elgin Cinema (111 S. Randall Road) through Thursday, Dec. 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
