"Nowhere Boy"

Although I'm a lifelong Beatles fan, I really didn't know anything about John Lennon's early life. This well-done biopic gives a great deal of insight into his formative years. It tells of his high school and early college days in Liverpool, where he was raised by his aunt. Unbeknownst to him, his mother actually lived a few blocks away. He eventually meets her and her other family and a somewhat strained relationship begins. The movie also covers his musical journey without the "And then they became famous and changed the world of music!" ending  I was expecting. Great acting and a nice vignette into late 50s Britain.
4 out of 5 stars

"Moonwalkers"

Just a fun little bit of cinematic escapism. The plot involves a CIA agent, brilliantly played by Ron Perlman, who's assigned to hire Stanley Kubrick to film a fake moon landing, just in case the real one fails. While in London, he meets a financially-troubled rock band manager who poses as Kubrick's agent. From here, things get crazy. It's a well done spoof on late 60s England, complete with an overdose of drug use, naked hippie girls, and a smattering of violence. I saw a few reviews comparing it to the Austin Powers films, which I guess is fair. But I enjoyed this silliness a bit more. Although it's just about as childish and mindless.
3 out of 5 stars

"The Danish Girl"

This is the true story of a married painting couple in 1920's Denmark. When the husband dresses up in his wife's clothes to pose for her, his feminine side is awoken. He slowly unleashes the woman locked up within him and is transformed into a full fledged woman. Eddie Redmayne's performance is absolutely riveting and his wife, played by Alicia Vikander, is equally great. It''s not surprising that she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role. At first she feels betrayed, but over time, becomes totally supportive of his plight. Not only is the story fascinating, but the cinematography is almost painterly. In truth, I was tempted to stop the film countless times and do a screen grab, to use in a painting later.
4.5 out of 5 stars