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Based on actual events, a group of mountain climbing expeditions on Mt. Everest in 1996 were met with tragic results in the midst of a massive snow storm; despite the deadly conditions, some lived to tell the tale, this is their story. An ensemble piece starring Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Keira Knightley, Robin Wright, Emily Watson, and Martin Henderson, this audio visual barrage and overload is Directed by Baltasar Kormákur shot with impossible and vertigo inducing camera work by Salvatore Totino. While not a traditional narrative story the film hits its stride as an experience and a transport to one of the harshest natural environments on the planet, a place where few will ever truly go. Somber in totality, there are moments of happiness and hope, but let’s not fool anyone, this is not the feel good hit of the year but rather a humbling look to nature’s power and our insignificance in the greater scheme of things. Worth seeing on IMAX 3D for the maximum effect, Everest is rated PG-13.

During the cold war political positioning between the Soviet Union and the United States was fought on many levels, one such level was intellect, or more specifically the game of chess. At the center of this particular battle, American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer (Tobey Maguire) and Russian chess master Boris Spassky (Liev Schreiber); veritable pawns for their respective countries. However, in the case of Fischer, his strongest opponent may have in fact been his own mind, battling for national pride and his own personal reasons, this is his story. Directed by Edward Zwick, this biopic character study piece seems to be a familiar story in light of last year’s The Theory of Everything, and A Beautiful Mind from 2001, the tale of a tortured genius. Sadly, this go round, while surface paranoid behavior and mania is apparent, true clarity as to what made Fischer tick never completely comes into focus. Performances from the ensemble all round are rich, including work from Peter Sarsgaard and Michael Stuhlbarg (Fischer’s handlers of sorts). Score by James Newton Howard hits a generally nice tone although, one or two cues do stand out a little sore, perhaps intentionally? Compelling and telling story, not so much, interesting character study, mostly, worthy of a matinee, okay. Pawn Sacrifice is rated PG-13.

Tensions between a mom (Kathryn Hahn) and her parents have kept precocious 15 year old Becca (Olivia DeJonge) and 13 year old Tyler (Ed Oxenbould) from getting to know their grandparents, Nana and Pop Pop (Deanna Dunagan and Peter McRobbie). But, when the opportunity to take a vacation and let the kids get to know their grandparents presents itself, perhaps old wounds can be healed? Trouble is, Nana and Pop Pop seem to be descending quickly, a week long stay might be seven days too long. What’s really in store for Becca and Tyler, life lessons? Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, askew perspective and careful re-framing set up for great misconception, well paced tension, appropriate comedic relief, and a fun dark ride. Scripting consistent with Shyamalan’s previous work, this film doesn’t exactly explore new thematic material; however, the carrier (the geriatric and frail) does come as new and rich territory to mine. Looking for a scare that feels truly plausible, this might just be the ticket, and, for Shyamalan, an ascension from the dreck he’s presented in his last few films. The Visit is rated PG-13.