For, Friday, April 24, 2015

A faith film and a pair of fantasies lead new movies in town this week.

“Little Boy” (PG-13) is a faith-based film set stateside during World War II. The title character is an 8-year-old (Jakob Salvati) who believes that if he has enough faith he can end the war to bring his father home. Co-stars include Kevin James, Emily Watson, Michael Rapaport, Ben Chaplin and Tom Wilkinson.

“The Age of Adaline” (PG-13). Romantic fantasy about a young woman (Blake Lively) who finds herself ageless, which may seem like a blessing instead of a curse until you start to think about everyone you care about dying over the decades while you stay young. That’s one of the conceits of this tale, which co-stars Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn and Kathy Baker.

“Ex Machina” (R) is an arty sci-fi thriller with Domhall Gleeson as an Internet employee who wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain retreat of his CEO (Oscar Isaac), where he is introduced to a beautiful female robot (Alicia Vikander). Then things get sinister.

“The Water Diviner” (R) stars Russell Crowe as an Australian man who travels to Turkey following the Battle of Gallipoli to try and find his three missing sons.

“Desert Dancer” (PG-13). True story of young Iranians forming an underground dance company since they live in a country where dancing is forbidden. They learn their moves from YouTube videos of Michael Jackson, Gene Kelly, Rudolf Nureyev, etc., and perform in the desert to elude police scrutiny.