In Theaters: October 16, 2015

There are four wide releases this weekend.

Bridge of Spies

Steven Spielberg's first movie since about this time in 2012.  Bridge of Spies tells the true story of a prisoner exchange between the United States and the USSR.  Tom Hanks plays a lawyer that negotiated the exchange, and the title refers to a bridge in Berlin where the exchange took place.

Early reviews say that it has the thrills, but maybe pretends to have more depth of story than is actually there.

Bridge of Spies is rated PG-13 for some violence and brief strong language.

P.S. Alan Alda is in this one.  It's always good to see him back on the screen.

Crimson Peak

Guillermo Del Toro's first film since Pacific Rim in the summer of 2013.  Crimson Peak is more in keeping with Guillermo's trippier efforts - like Pan's Labyrinth.

I guess it's about a creepy house with creepy people.  To be honest, this movie looks really weird to me.  And I don't mean in the horror sense of the word, just in the I-don't-get-it sense of the word.

Crimson Peak is rated R for bloody violence, some sexual content and brief strong language.

Goosebumps

My guess is R. L. Stine's wife told him to get off his butt and go make some money again.  This film is aimed right at the one draw it could possibly have - nostalgia.

I will say this, if anyone can save it it's probably Jack Black.

Goosebumps is about a couple kids and the author himself who end up fighting off the monsters from the books.

Goosebumps is rated PG for scary and intense creature action and images, and for some rude humor.

Woodlawn

This is one of those Christian faith-based movies that kinda snuck up on me.  For better or worse they don't get a whole lot of mention in the news except the fact that they are definitely on the rise in the last two years or so.

Just from watching the trailer I can tell you the cinematography in this one is miles beyond recent faith-based movies.

The story centers around a black high school football player in Alabama in the 1970's.  Think of it as Remember the Titans with more focus on one player and thematically centered on Christian faith.

Woodlawn is rated PG for thematic elements including some racial tension/violence.

      Big Shot Critic