Now Playing (Thanksgiving Edition): Allied, Bad Santa 2, Moana and More

The following is broken up into two sections; one covers films opening in local theaters today, the other is movies opening Friday.

OPEN TODAY (WEDNESDAY)

Allied. In 1942 North Africa, intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) meets French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. They reunite in London, only to have their relationship threatened by the pressures of the war. Robert Zemeckis directs, Steven Knight wrote the script, and Lizzy Caplan, Matthew Goode and Jared Harris co-star. (Countywide)

Bad Santa 2. Willie Soke (Billy Bob Thornton), baddie Marcus (Tony Cox) and even chubby cherub Thurman (Brett Kelly) are back for the sequel to the Christmastime black comedy. Now out of the joint, Marcus tells Willie he has a master plan that will yield millions. The victim? A charity … to be hit on Christmas Eve. Kathy Bates and Christina Hendricks are along for the ride, as Mark Waters directs. (Countywide)

Dear Zindagi. Gauri Shinde’s Indian comedy about Kaira, a budding cinematographer in search of a perfect life. A chance encounter with Jug, an unconventional thinker, helps her gain new perspective about life. Alia Bhatt, Angad Bedi and Shah Rukh Khan star. (Edwards Long Beach)

Elle. Director Paul Verhoeven's debut in French cinema is a dramedy that first subverts, then transgresses the rape-revenge narrative. France is seeking Best Foreign Language Film consideration for Elle at the next Oscars. Don't be surprised if star Isabelle Huppert lands in the Best Actress category. Virginie Efira co-stars. (Edwards University, Irvine)

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man. A three-day run of this 2006 documentary about the recently passed Canadian singer-songwriter features director Lian Lunson interviewing Cohen about his rise in and retreat from the music business. U2, Nick Cave, Rufus Wainright and others take part in a musical tribute to Cohen at Australia's Sydney Opera House. (The Frida Cinema, Santa Ana)

Moana. This musical-fantasy/comedy-adventure film, the 56th Disney animated feature, introduces Auli'i Cravalho as the voice of Moana, a young princess and navigator in the South Pacific. She searches for a fabled island of mysterious secrets, meeting her hero and legendary demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) along the way. Ron Clements and John Musker direct a film that has already received some flack for island culture insensitivity. (Countywide)

Rules Don't Apply. Warren Beatty writes, directs, co-produces and stars in this rom-com about an aspiring actress (Lily Collins, a.k.a. Phil's daughter) and an ambitious young businessman (Alden Ehrenreich, soon to be Han Solo) falling for each other in 1958 while under the employ of Howard Hughes (Beatty), who prohibits any romantic or sexual interaction between his employees. Annette Bening, Matthew Broderick, Alec Baldwin, Haley Bennett, Candice Bergen, Dabney Coleman, Steve Coogan, Ed Harris, Megan Hilty, Oliver Platt, Martin Sheen and Paul Sorvino co-star. (Countywide)

OPENING FRIDAY

Gimme Danger: The Story of the Stooges. See Aimee Murillo’s recent story “Iggy Pop Finally Gets His Due in Jim Jarmusch’s Gimme Danger.” (Fri. thru Thurs., Dec. 1, at The Frida Cinema, Santa Ana; Fri.-Sun. at The Art Theatre, Long Beach)

Manchester By the Sea. Kenneth Lonergan wrote and directed this drama about a man (Casey Affleck) whose brother (Kyle Chandler) dies, leaving the younger sibling to care for the deceased one's son (Lucas Hedges). They return to the man's hometown, where he must deal with his estranged wife (Michelle Williams) and the community. Gretchen Mol also co-stars. (Edwards University, Irvine, and Regency Directors Cut Cinema at Rancho Niguel, Laguna Niguel. Opens Dec. 9 at Regency South Coast Village, Santa Ana)

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