The movies they’re making

NEESON. Portrays down-on-his-luck dad in latest actioner.

Viewers generally enjoyed the film version of the hit musical, “Into the Woods,” but some griped that its depiction of Cinderella was not as ideally lovely as traditionally expected. Well, the new film version of “Cinderella,” opening in town this week, should make up for that slack, because its version of the poor and oppressed Ella is “traditionally” beautiful. Depicted by Lily James, she’s lovely both without and within, radiating goodness and innocence, and a spirit that simply refuses to be broken.

Taking his cue from James’ shimmering beauty, director Kenneth Branagh has opted to keep his version of the well-loved fairy tale of Cinderella light and magical. But, he makes it a point to underscore her innate strength, which charms her Prince and makes him fall in love with her—making her the Princess she was fated to be!

For his part, in “Run All Night,” Liam Neeson portrays a down-on-his-luck dad who is forced to refocus his life and energy so he can save the son he abandoned from being killed by his worst enemy. The star-making role of Neeson’s son is being played by Joel Kinnaman.

Another thrilling actioner, “Kidnapping Freddy Heineken,” is based on true events, and dramatizes the abduction of a Dutch billionaire brewery magnate (Anthony Hopkins) and his driver, Ab Doderer. They were kidnapped in 1983 and held for the largest ransom for an individual at the time—the equivalent of $50 million today!

JAMES. Cast as a poor and oppressed beauty in “Cinderella.”

“Unfinished Business” is the tale of three hardworking guys (Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson and Dave Franco) who rediscover a love for life on a trip to Germany, where everything that can go wrong does—with hilarious results!

One of the current film quarter’s hits, “SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” shows what happens when the top-secret recipe for Krabby Patties is stolen, forcing adversaries SpongeBob and Plankton to join forces. They travel through time and space to harness their internal superpowers and battle the fiendish pirate, Burger Beard!

Currently on view is “Chappie,” about a robot reject who is rebooted to become the first ‘bot to be able to think and feel for itself. Unexpectedly, this gets him into trouble with a lot of nasty people!

“Crimson Peak” is Guillermo del Toro’s latest gothic horror flick, in which an aspiring author is torn between her love for her childhood friend and the temptations of a mysterious stranger. The film topbills Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Charlie Hunnam.

Finally, from Dreamworks Animation, “Home” is an “intergalactic family comedy” in which an alien race known as Boov transports itself to Earth, and uses the planet to hide from a longtime enemy. Lead characters are voice-acted by Jim Parsons, Jennifer Lopez, Steve Martin and Rihanna.