The following films open today. Where the film is opening is indicated in parenthesis, and if the movie is in four or more local theaters it is noted with “Countywide.” Check your favorite source for theater addresses, movie times and ticket prices.
Doctor Strange. This Disney/Marvel movie has generated tons of social-media interest for weeks, ranking right up there in buzz with the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them from the Harry Potter brand. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Dr. Stephen Strange, the world's top neurosurgeon, who, after being injured in a career-ending car accident, sets off on a journey of healing in which he encounters the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton, in the role of a Celtic mystic originally dreamed up for a man). Scott Derrickson directs, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams and Mads Mikkelsen co-star. (Countywide)
Gimme Danger. Now I wanna be your Ghost Dog! One of two Jim Jarmusch movies that played at the last Cannes and that opens this fall is his documentary on The Stooges, which the filmmaker refers to onscreen as the greatest rock 'n' roll band ever. Emerging from Ann Arbor, Michigan, during the hippie-fied late 1960s, The Stooges threw down a loud blend of rock, blues, R&B and free jazz that often has them labeled these days as proto-punkers. Viewers will learn that does not sit well with The Stooges' fearless leader, comically identified in the picture as “Jim Osterberg as Iggy Pop.” (Rancho Niguel, Laguna Niguel, and South Coast Village, Santa Ana. Opens Nov. 26 at Art Theatre, Long Beach)
Hacksaw Ridge. When this Australian-American biographical war film had its world premiere at the 73rd Venice Film Festival in September, it received a 10-minute standing ovation. Not bad when you consider it was directed by former Hollywood pariah Mel Gibson. The film is based on the true story of U.S. Army medic Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), a conscientious objector who refused to bear arms but was awarded the Medal of Honor for single-handedly saving the lives of more than 75 comrades during the World War II Battle of Okinawa. Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey and Hugo Weaving co-star. (Countywide)
The Handmaiden. The latest from Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy) is set in the 1930s, when country girl Sook-Hee (Tae Ri Kim) is hired as a handmaiden to Japanese heiress Lady Hideko (Min-hee Kim), who lives a secluded life with her uncle (Jin-woong Jo). Sook-Hee is actually working for a conman, who is posing as a Japanese count (Jung-woo Ha) and wants the maid to help him seduce Lady Hideko, rob her of her riches and have her put away. But then Sook-Hee falls under Lady Hideko's spell … (Edwards University, Irvine)
Manual de principiantes para set presidente (A Beginner's Guide to the Presidency). See “Rock the Vote.” (AMC Orange, Edwards Irvine Spectrum, Regal Cinemas Garden Grove)
Moonlight. Director Barry Jenkins' drama follows a young black gay from childhood to adulthood in a rough Miami neighborhood. There are no big stars and a micro budget but critics love it and Variety deemed it poised to be the break out indie hit of the year. Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, André Holland and Janelle Monáe star. (Edwards University, Irvine)
The Pickle Recipe. John Dore is a very funny standup so fingers crossed that transfers over to Michael Manasseri's comedy. Dore plays a cash-strapped party emcee who agrees to go along with a scheme hatched by his conniving uncle (David Paymer) to steal a famous dill-pickle recipe that belongs to his grandmother (Lynn Cohen). But Grammy doesn't want to share the secret with anyone. (Edwards Westpark 8, Irvine)
Trolls. This 3D computer-animated musical comedy, which is based on the dolls of the same name, has two of them trying to save their village from destruction by the Bergens, creatures who devour trolls. Directed by Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, the flick features the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Russell Brand, James Corden and Anaheim's own Gwen Stefani. She, Timberlake and Ariana Grande also contribute songs to the movie based on those little plastic dolls with freaky hair and Olsen twin stares. (Countywide)
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.