Want to see a movie, but not sure what's worthwhile? Take a look at this week's lineup of acclaimed movies showing on the big screen in and around Phoenix.
Read on for 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.)
Bathtubs Over Broadway
When he started as a comedy writer for the Late Show with David Letterman, Steve Young had few interests and not many friends outside of his day job. But while gathering material for a segment on the show, Steve stumbled onto a few vintage record albums that would change his life forever. Bizarre cast recordings - marked “internal use only” - revealed full-throated Broadway-style musical shows about some of the most recognizable corporations in America: General Electric, McDonald’s, Ford, DuPont and Xerox. Bathtubs Over Broadway follows Steve Young on his quest to find all he can about this hidden world. While tracking down rare albums, unseen footage, composers and performers, Steve forms unlikely friendships and discovers that this discarded musical genre starring tractors and bathtubs was bigger than Broadway.
Boasting a critical approval rating of 100 percent and an audience score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Bathtubs Over Broadway" has proven to be a critical darling since its release on Nov. 30. The site's critical consensus notes that "'Bathtubs Over Broadway' pulls back the curtains on a delightfully entertaining -- and surprisingly affecting -- glimpse into a largely forgotten corner of pop culture."
It's screening at FilmBar (815 N. Second St.) through Wednesday, Feb. 13. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
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. It is a story of two difficult, socially inept, people somehow becoming partners-in-crime in forgeries: one creating and the other selling it.
Boasting a critical approval rating of 98 percent and an audience score of 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" has been a must-watch since its release on Oct. 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."
The film scored three Oscar nominations, including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.
You can catch it at AMC Deer Valley 30 (3033 W. Agua Fria Freeway) through Tuesday, Feb. 12.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Miles Morales is juggling his life between being a high school student and being a spider-man. When Wilson "Kingpin" Fisk uses a super collider, others from across the Spider-Verse are transported to this dimension.
With a 97 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" has proven to be a critical darling since its release on Dec. 14. According to the site's summary of critic reviews, "'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' matches bold storytelling with striking animation for a purely enjoyable adventure with heart, humor, and plenty of superhero action."
You can catch it at AMC Arizona Center 24 (565 N. Third St. through Tuesday, Feb. 12, AMC Dine-In Esplanade 14 (2515 E. Camelback Road) through Wednesday, Feb. 13, Harkins MetroCenter 12 (9615-A Metro Parkway West) through Tuesday, Feb. 12, and Harkins Christown 14 (1620 W. Montebello) through Tuesday, Feb. 12. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
BlacKkKlansman
Colorado Springs, late 1970s. Ron Stallworth, an African American police officer, and Flip Zimmerman, his Jewish colleague, run an undercover operation to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.
With a critical approval rating of 95 percent and an audience score of 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "BlacKkKlansman" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on Aug. 10. The site's critical consensus notes that "'BlacKkKlansman' uses history to offer bitingly trenchant commentary on current events -- and brings out some of Spike Lee's hardest-hitting work in decades along the way."
The film scored six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Get a piece of the action at AMC Arizona Center 24 (565 N. Third St.) through Thursday, Feb. 7. 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.
With a 94 percent critical approval rating and an audience score of 62 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Favourite" has garnered plenty of praise since its release on Dec. 14. According to the site's summary of critic reviews, "'The Favourite' sees Yorgos Lanthimos balancing a period setting against rich, timely subtext - and getting roundly stellar performances from his well-chosen stars."
It's one of two films leading with 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress.
You can catch it at AMC Arizona Center 24 (565 N. Third St.) through Tuesday, Feb. 12, AMC Dine-In Esplanade 14 (2515 E. Camelback Road) through Tuesday, Feb. 12, and Harkins North Valley 16 (3420 E. Bell Road) through Tuesday, Feb. 12. Click here for showtimes and tickets.
