In the mood to get real? Check out this week's lineup of dramas showing on the big screen in and around Los Angeles.
Here are the best drama films to catch in theaters, 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 best-selling 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 98 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" has been a must-watch since its release on October 19. The site's critical consensus has it that "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."
It's screening at Pacific Sherman Oaks 5 (14424 Milbank St.) through Sunday, Dec. 9; AMC Sunset 5 (8000 W. Sunset Blvd.) through Friday, Dec. 7; and ArcLight Hollywood (6360 Sunset Blvd.) 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 critical approval rating of 96 percent and an audience score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Hate U Give" has gotten stellar reviews since its release on October 19. The site's critical consensus has it 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."
You can catch it at Regency Valley Plaza 6 (6355 Bellingham Ave.) through Thursday, Dec. 13. 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 93 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this vintage film has garnered plenty of praise. The site's critical consensus indicates 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."
It's playing at Regency Granada Hills 9 (16830 Devonshire St.) on Wednesday, Dec. 12 and ArcLight Hollywood (6360 Sunset Blvd.) on Wednesday, Dec. 12. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Auntie Mame
Ten-year-old orphan Patrick Dennis has come to live with his nearest relative and in the high times ahead, he's not going to believe his luck. Nor will you, because Patrick's relation is played by one of Hollywood's grandest dames. Reprising her Broadway triumph, Rosalind Russell won her fourth Oscar nomination and third Golden Globe Award as the marvelous madcap who lives life to the hilt. With wit, style and a seasoned cast to dish humor and heart with gusto, Auntie Mame is a full-course meal of entertainment magic.
With a 93 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this old-school film has garnered plenty of praise.
Get a piece of the action at Egyptian Theatre - Hollywood (6712 Hollywood Blvd.) on Thursday, Dec. 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
Malcolm X
A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.
With a critical approval rating of 88 percent and an audience score of 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this '90s flick has a strong following. The site's critical consensus has it that "Anchored by a powerful performance from Denzel Washington, Spike Lee's biopic of the legendary civil rights leader brings his autobiography to life with an epic sweep and a nuanced message."
You can catch it at Egyptian Theatre - Hollywood (6712 Hollywood Blvd.) on Sunday, Dec. 9. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
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