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Movies in Tampa Bay theaters: ‘Waves,’ ‘The Aeronauts’

‘Frankie,’ ‘Playmobil: The Movie’ and ‘Marriage Story’ also open, and the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival begins.
 
Alexa Demie, left, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in "Waves."
Alexa Demie, left, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in "Waves." [ Courtesy of A24 ]
Published Dec. 4, 2019

THURSDAY

PLAYMOBIL: THE MOVIE

A sister and brother join a British secret agent to help stop a global conspiracy in this computer-animated action comedy based on the kids’ toy line. With the voices of Daniel Radcliffe, Anya Taylor Joy, Meghan Trainor, Kenan Thompson, Adam Lambert, Jim Gaffigan. Written by Blaise Hemingway, Greg Erb, Jason Oremland; story by Lino DiSalvo. Directed by DiSalvo. (99 minutes, PG)

FRIDAY

FRANKIE

A terminally ill French actress and her family vacation together in a quaint town in Portugal. With Isabelle Huppert, Brendan Gleeson, Marisa Tomei, Greg Kinnear. Written by Ira Sachs, Mauricio Zacharias. Directed by Sachs. In English, French, Portuguese with English subtitles. (98 minutes, PG-13)

"Frankie" stars Isabelle Huppert. [ Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics ]

WAVES

A suburban South Florida family pulls together in the face of loss. With Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lucas Hedges, Taylor Russell, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sterling K. Brown. Written and directed by Trey Edward Shults. (145 minutes, R)

From left: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Sterling K. Brown and Renée Elise Goldsberry in "Waves." [ Courtesy of A24 ]

SUNDAY

THE AERONAUTS

Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) reunite as a daring balloon pilot and a meteorologist conducting high-altitude research in the 1860s. Runs through Dec. 12 at Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St. With Vincent Perez, Tom Courtenay. Written by Jack Thorne; story by Tom Harper, Thorne. Directed by Harper. (100 minutes, PG-13)

INDIE FEAST: TAMPA BAY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL

Now in its sixth year, the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival features more than 200 independent movies spanning a variety of genres from filmmakers you might not be familiar with. Educational panels, an awards ceremony and restaurant after-parties are also planned. The full schedule is up at tbuff.org. Runs through Sunday. $10, $15 day pass, $25 VIP. Britton 8, 3938 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa.

DIVORCE DRAMA: MARRIAGE STORY

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver star in this new comedy-drama about marriage, and what happens when a couple is faced with divorce. Catch Marriage Story at 4:30 or 7:45 p.m. Thursday, 4 or 7:15 p.m. Friday and 1:30, 4:45 or 8 p.m. Saturday at Tampa Theatre. But if you can’t make it, Netflix brings the flick to the streamingverse on Friday. 711 N Franklin St. (813) 274-8286. tampatheatre.org.

CRITICS’ PICKS

Ford v Ferrari: A barnburner of a motion picture that mainlines heart-in-mouth excitement and tug-at-the-heart emotion in a career-defining effort by director James Mangold, this glorious throwback combines a smart, modern sensibility with the best of traditional storytelling, plus sterling acting by Matt Damon and Christian Bale and a tiptop supporting cast.

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The Lighthouse: Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe give towering performances as a pair of feuding 19th century lightkeepers in this mad, magnificently crafted New England gothic from The Witch writer-director Robert Eggers.

The Irishman: Its possibly true story of the life and crimes of a Mafia hit man, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, is a revelation, as intoxicating a film as the year has seen, allowing director Martin Scorsese to use his expected mastery of all elements of filmmaking to ends we did not see coming.

UPCOMING RELEASES

All dates subject to change.

Dec. 13: Black Christmas; Jumanji: The Next Level; Richard Jewell

Dec. 20: Cats; Bombshell; Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; Superintelligence

Dec. 25: A Hidden Life; Little Women; Spies in Disguise

Times staff writer Meaghan Habuda and Times wires