Mission Impossible: Fallout

Ethan Hunt is having bad dreams. We should be worried about him. He’s not the operative he used to be. As much as the filmmakers intend to entertain (and they succeed spectacularly) they also intend to open a window and explore Ethan Hunt’s psyche. But because Tom Cruise is such a… mysterious fellow, these explorations into his love life and motives leave us more confused than we already were. The supporting cast, including Rebecca Ferguson, are all top notch. But we’re not sure if Ethan really loves Ilsa. They’ve never even kissed! Sequences and stunts are, as always, incomparable. Twists are well-crafted. There is never any doubt that you’re getting your money’s worth, despite the fogginess of Ethan’s love life.

Sorry to Bother You

This bites off a lot. It’s a satire of whitewashing, American greed, income inequality, telemarketers, guerrilla artists, and office politics. It’s very funny at times, but as these sci-fi satires go, it culminates in chaos. Story-wise there’s really no other place to go. We’re headed to an ugly future. But kudos to the filmmakers for swinging for the fences.

Ant Man and the Wasp

Gravitas-less. Everything about this is light and little. The characters. The plot. The stakes. It’s almost like a kid’s movie – a Sid and Marty Krofft, Saturday morning adventure. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, et al have a really light, fun rapport with a quick and easy delivery. So it’s fine for what it is: featherweight fun. But these people don’t stand a chance against Thanos.

RBG

Good-natured doc about the Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. What stands out is her background facing the courts as an advocate for civil rights. It’s amazing to think about how many pivital cases she took to the court and how, in many ways, she transformed America by winning those arguments. But her body and mind seem frail and this movie makes you worry that she may not have very long to go.