OPENED WEDNESDAY

‘The Big Short’ ****

Angered by the greed of corporations and anticipating the housing bubble, Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt set out to make the big banks pay. With Finn Whitrock, Marisa Tomei, Karen Gillan and Melissa Leo. Written by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, based upon the book by Michael Lewis. Directed by McKay. (R, 2:10)

OPENING FRIDAY

‘Carol’ ****

Cate Blanchett stars as a married woman who falls in love with young shopgirl Rooney Mara in 1950s New York, where their relationship is tested by societal conventions. With Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler and Jake Lacy. Written by Phyllis Nagy, based on the novel “The Price of Salt” by Patricia Highsmith. Directed by Todd Haynes. (R, 1:58) At Kahala 8

‘Concussion’ **1/2

Will Smith stars as a forensic neuropathologist who discovers the first case of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, and challenges the NFL in his battle to reveal the truth. With Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Morse and Albert Brooks. Written and directed by Peter Landesman, based on the GQ article “Game Brain” by Jeanne Marie Laskas. (PG-13, 2:03)

‘Daddy’s Home’ ***

The world of milquetoast stepdad Will Ferrell is upended when the children’s anarchic biological father, played by Mark Wahlberg, pays a visit. With Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church and Hannibal Buress. Written by Brian Burns and Sean Anders & John Morris. Directed by Anders. (PG-13, 1:36)

‘Danish Girl’ **

Eddie Redmayne stars as an artist who discovers his identity as a woman and becomes a transgender pioneer with the help of his wife and fellow artist in 1920s Copenhagen. With Alicia Vikander, Ben Whishaw, Sebastian Koch, Amber Heard and Matthias Schoenaerts. Written by Lucinda Coxon, based on the book by David Ebershoff. Directed by Tom Hooper. (R, 2:00) At Kahala 8

‘Joy’ **

Writer-director David O. Russell reunites with stars Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro in this intergenerational story of a young woman who founds a business dynasty based on a cleaning product. With Edgar Ramirez, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen and Isabella Rossellini. Story by Annie Mumolo and Russell. (PG-13, 2:04)

‘Point Break’

(Not reviewed)

Inspired by the 1991 surfer crime movie about an FBI agent infiltrating a gang of extreme athletes who use their feats to pull off elaborate capers. With Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Delroy Lindo and Ray Winstone. Written by Kurt Wimmer, story by Rick King & W. Peter Iliff and Wimmer, based on the 1991 film. Directed by Ericson Core. (PG-13, 1:53)

NOW PLAYING

‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip’ *

Alvin, Simon and Theodore must get to Miami in three days to stop Dave from proposing to his new girlfriend. (PG, 1:26)

‘Bajirao Mastani’

(Not reviewed)

Historial romance about Bajirao I (Ranveer Singh) of the Maratha Empire and his second wife, Mastani (Deepika Padukone). With Priyanka Chopra and Mahesh Manjrekar. In Hindi with English subtitles. (NR, 2:38) At Dole Cannery Stadium 18

‘Brooklyn’ ****

A young Irish immigrant (Saoirse Ronan) making her way through 1950s Brooklyn is torn between her new home and the pull of her past. With Domhnall Gleeson and Emory Cohen. Written by Nick Hornby. Directed by John Crowley. (PG-13, 1:51) At Kahala 8

‘Creed’ ***1/2

“Fruitvale Station” star Michael B. Jordan portrays Apollo Creed’s son, who asks his late father’s former rival, Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, to return to boxing as his trainer. With Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad and Anthony Bellew. Directed by Ryan Coogler; written by Coogler and Aaron Covington, based on characters from the “Rocky” series written by Stallone. (PG-13, 2:12)

‘Dilwale’

(Not reviewed)

Bollywood film about the relationship between Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and Meera (Kajol). With Vinod Khanna, Kabir Bedi, Johnny Lever, Boman Irani, Sanjay Mishra and Varun Sharma. (NR, 2:30) At Dole Cannery Stadium 18

‘The Good Dinosaur’ **1/2

An apatosaurus makes a human friend in a world where dinosaurs did not go extinct in Pixar’s latest animated film. With the voices of Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Steve Zahn, Anna Paquin and Sam Elliott. Directed by Peter Sohn. (PG, 1:40)

‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2’ ***

Jennifer Lawrence is back for the fourth and final film in the young adult franchise, which pits Katniss and friends against President Snow as they attempt to liberate the citizens of Panem. With Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Donald Sutherland. Written by Peter Craig and Danny Strong; adaptation by Suzanne Collins, based on her novel “Mockingjay.” Directed by Francis Lawrence. (PG-13, 2:17)

‘In the Heart of the Sea’ **

Ron Howard directed this epic about the 1820 battle between the whaling ship Essex and a mammoth whale off the coast of New England that inspired “Moby-Dick.” With Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw and Brendan Gleeson. Written by Charles Leavitt, story by Leavitt, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, based on the book “In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex,” by Nathaniel Philbrick. (PG-13, 2:01) At Dole Cannery Stadium 18

‘Krampus’

(Not reviewed)

A family’s lack of Christmas spirit triggers the onslaught of a dark force and his minions. With Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner and Conchata Ferrell. Co-written by Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields and Todd Casey. Directed by Dougherty. (PG-13, 1:38) At Ward Stadium 16

‘Mojin: The Lost Legend’

(Not reviewed)

An offer from a mysterious stranger returns a trio of grave robbers to the world of high-stakes tomb-raiding. With Shu Qi, Chen Kun, Angelababy, Huang Bo, Xia Yu. Directed by Wuershan. In Chinese with English subtitles. (NR, 2:07) At Pearlridge West

‘Sisters’ **

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler star as out-of-touch siblings who return to clean out their childhood home when their parents decide to sell. They decide to throw one last party for old times’ sake. With Maya Rudolph, John Leguizamo, Dianne Wiest and James Brolin. Written by Paula Pell. Directed by Jason Moore. (R, 1:58)

‘Spectre’ **1/2

A cryptic message from his past sends secret agent James Bond on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. With Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz and Lea Seydoux. Written by John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Directed by Sam Mendes. (PG-13, 2:28) At Dole Cannery Stadium 18

‘Spotlight’ ****

A fact-based drama about the Boston Globe’s monthslong investigation of a cover-up of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. With Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and Mark Ruffalo. Written by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer. Directed by McCarthy. (R, 2:08) At Kahala 8

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ ***1/2

Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher return for the latest installment of the space saga as it kicks off another trilogy set in a galaxy far, far away. With Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Written by J.J. Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan. Directed by Abrams. (PG-13, 2:16)

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Bolshoi Ballet: ‘The Lady of the Camellias’

7 p.m. Tuesday at Kahala 8, $20

John Neumeier’s tragic masterpiece about a young bourgeois who will do anything to win the heart of a gorgeous courtesan. (PG, 3:05)

ARTHOUSE

DORIS DUKE THEATRE

Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St. (532-8768, honolulumuseum.org); $10, $8 members

THE A-LIST

Festival runs through Jan. 1. Curator Abbie Algar selects the best films released in theaters and festivals throughout the year.

>> ‘My Love, Don’t Cross That River’

1 p.m. Sunday

This box office record-breaker in Korea last year is about an elderly couple, married for 76 years, who face the question of how one will survive when the other dies. In Korean with English subtitles. (2014, S. Korea, 1:26)

>> ‘The Assassin’

4 p.m. Sunday

Legendary Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Cannes Film Festival award winner takes place in ninth-century China, when a young woman who was abducted as a child is raised by a nun who trains her in martial arts. After living in exile for 13 years, she returns to her birthplace as an assassin who is ordered to kill her husband-to-be. In Mandarin with English subtitles. (2015, Taiwan/China/Hong Kong/France, 1:47)

>> ‘Theeb’

7:30 p.m. Sunday

Naji Abu Nowar’s directorial debut, set in the land of Lawrence of Arabia in 1916, is about a boy who must live up to his father’s name in order to survive while a war rages on in the Ottoman Empire. In Arabic with English subtitles. (2014, United Arab Emirates/Qatar/Jordan/U.K., 1:40)

>> ‘The Look of Silence’

1 p.m. Tuesday

Joshua Oppenheimer’s follow-up to the Oscar-nominated “The Act of Killing” documents the perpetrators of the Indonesian genocide, as parents learn how their son was slain and the identity of the killers. In Indonesian with English subtitles. (2014, Denmark/Indonesia/Finland/Norway/U.K./Israel/France/U.S./Germany/Netherlands, 1:43)

>> ‘Ayanda’

7:30 p.m. Tuesday

Coming-of-age tale about a 21-year-old artist who endures a journey of self-discovery while struggling to save her father’s car repair shop and refusing to allow her femininity to define or hinder her. In Zulu, Sesotho and English with English subtitles. (2015, S. Africa, 1:58)

>> ‘Breathe’ (‘Respire’)

1 p.m. Wednesday

The depth of female friendships and teenage infatuations is explored in Melanie Laurent’s adaptation of the French young-adult novel. When Charlie meets transfer student Sarah, they instantly form a connection, and their relationship goes beyond unspoken intimacy — but in turn, jealousy and unrealistic expectations develop. In French with English subtitles. (2014, France, 1:31)

>> ‘The Second Mother’ (‘Que Horas Ela Volta?’)

7:30 p.m. Wednesday

Relationship dynamics change and loyalties are tested when the estranged daughter of a hardworking, devoted live-in housekeeper to a wealthy family unexpectedly shows up. In Portuguese with English subtitles. (2015, Brazil, 1:52)

>> ‘Johnny To’s Office’

1 p.m. Thursday

Movie musical about high-level corporate intrigue, filmed entirely on a three-story, $6.3 million set. When a feared and respected CEO plans to take her billion-dollar company public following the 2008 global financial crisis, her chairman and former mentor-turned-lover learns of her backroom dealings through an audit. In Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles. (2015, China/Hong Kong, 1:57)

MOVIE MUSEUM

3566 Harding Ave. (735-8771); $5, $4 members

‘Pawn Sacrifice’

11 a.m. and 2:45 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday; 1, 5 and 9 p.m. Sunday

In 1972, while the U.S. was in the middle of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal and the Cold War with the USSR, all eyes were focused on child prodigy Bobby Fischer and his legendary chess match with Russian master Boris Spassky. With Tobey Maguire, Liev Schreiber and Peter Sarsgaard. Rated PG-13. (2014, 1:55)

‘Ciao Bella’

1, 4:45 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday; noon, 3:45 and 7:30 p.m. Monday

A nerdy Swedish teen of Iranian descent befriends a member of an Italian soccer team who teaches him the art of Italian seduction, but things get serious when lovely Linnea falls for his charming ways and believes the sexy Italian act. In Swedish with English subtitles. (2007, Sweden, 1:26)

‘De Marathon’

11 a.m., and 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday

After learning the owner of their auto repair shop owes over 40,000 euros in taxes, three car mechanics — all of whom are fat, out-of-shape smokers — decide to raise money by running in the Rotterdam Marathon, but their sponsor imposes a stipulation that they must reach the finish line to get paid. For ages 15 and older. In Dutch with English subtitles. (2012, Netherlands, 1:47)

‘You’re the One’

1:45, 5:30 and 9 p.m. Monday

A depressed writer returns to her childhood home in Asturias, where village life reinvigorates her; she returns the favor by sharing her talent with the community. Filmed in black and white. For ages 10 and older. In Spanish with English subtitles. (2000, Spain, 1:48)

FRESH CAFE DOWNTOWN

Monday Dinner Theatre, 7 p.m. Monday, 1111 Nuuanu Ave. (436-4326); $5 at the door

‘Le Chef’

A famous chef at a renowned restaurant fights to save his failing career after a young hotshot who specializes in chemically enhanced cuisine threatens his top position. (2012, France, 1:24)