Patch Weekend Movie Guide: What to See and What to Skip

We have the verdict on "Arrival," "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," "Shut In," and "Almost Christmas." Plus, two home video offerings "Captain Fantastic" and "USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage."

Find out what to see and what to skip, plus check out the trailers.

Opening This Weekend

"Arrival" — Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, directed by Denis Villeneuve

Director Denis Villeneuve ("Prisoners" and "Sicario") puts his dramatic storytelling talents to work in the sci-fi genre with "Arrival." When extraterrestrials land on earth, the mystery surrounding the reason for their arrival causes mass confusion. Adams plays a linguist whose skills could be the secret to saving humanity when mankind endangers itself in the face of first contact.

The verdict: See it. This a rare sure bet with its trifecta of director, cast and material.

"Shut In" — Naomi Watts, Jacob Tremblay, Oliver Platt, directed by Farren Blackburn

If you caught me before Halloween, I might have recommended this home thriller/horror flick. But seasons have shifted. This story of a mother trying to protect herself and her son against possible supernatural forces is buoyed by the great Naomi Watts and the very talented child actor Jacob Tremblay ("Room"). But there's not enough here to be excited about.

The verdict: Skip it. Watch "The Babadook" on Netflix instead if you're craving something eerie this weekend.

"Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk" — Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Vin Diesel, directed by Ang Lee

Based on the novel written by Ben Fountain, "Billy Lynn" adds to the list of book adaptations opening this month. "Lynn" is the story of a young Iraq veteran reliving his time in combat. His vivid wartime flashbacks are framed by a present-day Dallas Cowboys' halftime victory procession. Director Ang Lee's criminally underrated last film, "Life of Pi," made it worthwhile to don those clunky 3-D glasses. Lee pushes the boundaries of visual effects again with"Lynn," so catch a 3-D showing if you can.

The verdict: See it. War films can be a dicey gamble, but this one is more accessible than most.

"Almost Christmas" — Gabrielle Union, Danny Glover, Omar Epps, John Michael Higgins, directed by David E. Talbert

I generally welcome a solid holiday flick. But here comes another setup we've seen time and again: Adult children of patriarch (Danny Glover) find their personalities colliding under one roof for the holidays. Hijinks ensue. "Almost Christmas" is a good-natured offering if you need one, but its harmlessness is due to its reliance on a played-out formula.

The verdict: Skip it. Wait for better holiday fare coming in a few weeks.

Quick Cuts

"Captain Fantastic" (Home Video/OnDemand) — Viggo Mortensen, Samantha Isler, Steve Zahn

See it: Viggo Mortensen stars in this quirky comedy-drama about a Pacific Northwest father reintegrating his brood into society after living "off the grid" in the wilderness.

"USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage" (Limited/Home Video) — Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane

Skip it: Don't trouble yourself with this overlong, poorly crafted retelling of the doomed WWII warship (you may recall it mentioned in "Jaws") that lost three-fourths of its crew to the elements and shark attacks after sinking.

Coming up next week: "Fantastic Beasts," "Manchester by the Sea" and more. Until then, save me a seat, folks!

Watch the trailer for "Arrival"

Watch the trailer for "Billy Lynn's Long Half Time Walk"

Photo credit: EntertainmentAccess via YouTube