Movie Review by Fr. Tom Condon, O.P.

Based on a best-selling young adult novel by R. J. Palacio, Wonder tells the story of a boy named Auggie (Jacob Tremblay) with disfigured facial features. His loving parents Isabel (Julia Roberts) and Nate (Owen Wilson) have home schooled Auggie through the fourth grade to protect him from the stares and taunts of other children, and adults too. Auggie often wears a helmet with a plastic shield over the face to keep people from seeing his face. As the movie opens, it’s the beginning of the school year, and Nate and Isabel decide it’s time to send Auggie to a regular school. A kind principal, Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin) greets Auggie and Isabel and arranges for three students to show him around the school the day before classes begin. The next day, Auggie, Nate, and Isabel, full of nerves and apprehensions, arrive for the first day of school.
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Movie Review by Fr. Tom Condon, O.P.

Coco, the new animated movie from Pixar and Disney, is certainly a treat for the eyes. It may well contain the most dazzling animation I’ve ever seen.

Coco tells the story of young Miguel, a Mexican boy who loves the guitar and music. His hero is the legendary actor/singer Ernesto de la Cruz, who is also Miguel’s great-grandfather. Miguel is told by his family that Ernesto deserted his family for fame and fortune in the movie and music industry. For this reason, music has been forbidden in Miguel’s family. Miguel is told that he must make a choice between music and family. He can’t have both. Miguel’s family makes shoes, and he is encouraged to join in the business and leave music behind.
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Movie Review by Fr. Tom Condon, O.P.

Mudbound is the first film I’ve reviewed that is currently being streamed on Netflix. Even though it’s also being shown in some theaters around the country, most of the people who see it will watch it on various electronic devices.
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Movie Review by Fr. Tom Condon, O.P.

Anyone who went to a Catholic high school will recognize many scenes from the new movie Lady Bird. Lady Bird tells the story of Christine McPherson’s 2002-2003 senior year in Catholic girls’ high school in Sacramento. It’s in close proximity to a Catholic boys’ high school, so that the boys and girls go to Mass together, and participate in extra-curricular activities, such as a drama club. Christine, well played by Saoirse Ronan, announces at every opportunity that she no longer wants to be called the name her parents gave her. Instead, she wishes to be called Lady Bird, a name she gives herself. Most of her teachers, friends, and family members oblige.
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Movie Review by Fr. Tom Condon, O.P.

Only the Brave tells the true story of a group of forest fire fighters in an Arizona town. They are a local group, who train and work hard to attain the elite status of Hotshots. Hotshots are akin to Navy Seals, who can be called into action anywhere they are needed. They name themselves the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
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