Illinois Entertainer November 2016 | Page 47

Continued from page 14 Alwyn), along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle is captured on camera. Billy and his squad are brought home temporarily for a victory tour by the Department of Defense. Over the course of one day, we learn through flashbacks what really happened to the squad, contrasting the realities of war with Americans’ perceptions of what they think they know. Everything culminates during a spectacular halftime show at a Thanksgiving Day football game as Billy struggles to reconnect with his family, come to grips with the loss of his platoon mate, and disconnect the realities of the war at home and the war overseas. Based on the novel by Ben Fountain. Also starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Steve Martin, Vin Diesel and Garrett Hedlund. ening to expose the Wizarding community to a faction of “No-Majs” (American for Muggles) trying to eradicate them. Unaware Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked to find that Joe named him as legal guardian of his teenage son, Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Taking leave of his job as a janitor in Boston, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea, the fishing village where his working-class family has lived for generations to deal with Nocturnal Animals November 18 Jake Gyllenhall in Nocturnal Animals Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Directed by David Yates Rated: PG-13 JK Rowling wrote the screenplay based on her best-selling novel of the same name, a spin-off of her Harry Potter series that is basically a resource guide to magical monsters and mystical creatures. Eddie Redmayne stars as writer Newt Scamander, a member of a secret community of New York-based witches and wizards. Set in 1926, the drama begins as something mysterious begins leaving a path of destruction in the streets, threat- sands of miles from his family. He survives many challenges alone before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham). Twenty-five years later a determined Saroo (Dev Patel), armed with only a handful of memories and a revolutionary new technology known as Google Earth, sets out to find his long-lost family in India. Based on Saroo Brierley’s book, A Long Way Home. of the rising tension, Scamander arrive in the city as part of his journey to research and rescue magical creatures. The cast includes Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Zoe Kravitz, Ron Perlman, John Voight, Samantha Morton and Katherine Waterston. his nephew, his estranged wife (Michelle Williams), and the North Shore community he left behind. This film is definitely one to watch in all categories this awards season. Manchester by the Sea Lion Written & Directed by Kenneth Lonergan Rated R Following the unexpected death of his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler), Lee Directed By Garth Davis Not Yet Rated Saroo (Sunny Pawar), a five-year-old Indian boy gets lost in Calcutta and ends up on the wrong train, which takes him thou- November 25 Written & Directed by Tom Ford Rated R This film is a story within a story told in two parts. Art gallery owner Susan’s (Amy Adams) idyllic life is affected by the constant traveling of her current husband. While he’s away she receives a manuscript from her first husband, who she hasn’t seen in years, asking for her opinion. The manuscript tells the story of a teacher on holiday with his family whose trip turns into a nightmare. She is haunted by her ex-husband’s novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a veiled threat and a symbolic revenge tale. The second part of the story follows the actual manuscript, called "Nocturnal Animals," which revolves around a man whose family vacation turns violent and deadly. As she reads, Susan finds herself recalling her first marriage and confronting some dark truths about herself. Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron TaylorJohnson, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Laura Linney and Micheal Sheen are also in the cast of this stylish thriller. Follow Us on Twitter november 2016 illinoisentertainer.com 47