By Liz Lopez

Rating: B-

Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones co-star in the new film ‘The Aeronauts’ from Tom Harper (‘Wild Rose’), who directs based on a story co - created with Jack Thorne (‘Wonder’). The story is set in London based on a true story of a mission designed to observe and research the weather in 1862 via a hot air balloon. Redmayne portrays real-life scientist James Glaisher, and the story created by these filmmakers switches out the other real (male) aeronaut and adds a fictional aeronaut. Amelia Wren (Jones), is a wealthy widow who has the funds to go on the adventure rather than do what is expected of her during that era, much to the disapproval of her sister Antonia (Phoebe Fox). She still grieves her late husband, Pierre Rennes (Vincent Perez, ‘At Eternity's Gate’) and Glaisher looks to the future with the study of meteorology. While the performances of the two stars are excellent, this does not elevate the script sufficiently to make it a perfect film, but it is interesting. Fans of air balloons will most definitely enjoy the film’s cinematography by George Steel that enhances the CGI sky in the background as the balloon glides along higher and higher.

Source: 20th Century Fox

TVR is giving away passes (good for four people) to an advance screening of this movie in Austin, TX, scheduled for Saturday, December 14 at 10:00 a.m.  NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY. Must be 18 or older to enter. See this movie early and free of charge before it opens in theaters!

By Mark Saldana

Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars)

Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, this phenomenal movie is not only my favorite film of this year's AFF, it is definitely one of the top films of the year. I went into this film preparing myself for a thoroughly heart wrenching, sorrowful affair, but was wonderfully surprised at how much humor the movie actually has. I have to hand it to the writing and direction Noah Baumbach who delivers a slightly comedic take on divorce, but still leaves enough room for the drama to do some veritable heart-breaking.

By Mark Saldana

Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars)

This year's Fantastic Fest closed with a delightfully smart, mystery thriller which would possibly impress Agatha Christie herself. Writer/director Rian Johnson has taken the classic "whodunnit" and offers an engrossing and entertaining twist on the genre. With a talented ensemble cast, intelligent writing and superb direction, Johnson's Knives Out is one of those movies which, in the wrong hands, would have been just another transparent knock-off. However, given Johnson's skills as a storyteller and his obvious love for the genre, his film stands out from others that have weakly attempted the same feat in vain.