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Director Noah Baumback (“The Squid & the Whale,” “Marriage Story”) brings us a squeaky clean, crisp tale which follows celebrated movie star Jay Kelly, played by George Clooney, as he faces the decisions of his past and present. What a stretch it was seeing George Clooney play an overly tanned movie star in a fitted Armani suit, where everyone in public falls all over him. We have seen this man play this same role 15 times before, and it has become nauseating. Like usual, you know you are watching George Clooney, never trying to mask his appearance like other better character actors do.

How is every boy’s teenage crush in 1995 Alicia Silverstone (“Clueless,” “Batman & Robin”), 49 years old today? Well, it happens to all of us, if we are lucky enough.

Based on the wildly successful worldwide New York Times Bestseller book by Ruth Ware, “The Woman in Cabin 10” follows a big city journalist who gets a prestigious invite aboard a luxury cruise ship of elite rich folks. It is aboard this vessel where the writer encounters dark, hidden secrets that she was not meant to see.

“Die My Love”

Stop! Before reading any further, please go read my colleague Margaret Roarty’s “In Frame” column from August entitled ‘The Wizard of Oz’ turns 86. Like Margaret, I’m an Oz-head for life. She got to this topic a few months before me, but if any film deserves to be featured twice, it’s “The Wizard of Oz.”

REVIEW

This true story follows everyday man Jeffrey Manchester, played by the delightful Channing Tatum (“White House Down”), who also just happens to be a part-time criminal. Eh, who’s to judge? So, what if he robs banks and breaks into fast food restaurants across nine states by drilling holes through the walls and roofs? Jeffrey Manchester, who was also a former U.S. Army paratrooper means well, isn’t that all that counts?

It’s about time we talk about Norman Reilly Raine, the quiet member of the Luzerne County Oscar winners’ club. Unlike Jack Palance and the Mankiewicz brothers, you don’t hear much conversation about Mr. Raine, who won his Oscar for best adapted screenplay for 1937’s “The Life of Emile Zola” — which also won best picture.

Let me preface this week’s review by stating just how much I dislike the title of this movie. Like, who on earth could not come up with a better title than “The Smashing Machine?” Like seriously, with a corny title such as this, it’s no wonder it bombed opening weekend with only $6 million worldwide! And it should be noted that it had a $40 million budget — yikes! Of course it did open up next to Taylor Swift’s new album preview film, not that the target audiences cross paths at all.