‘The Divergent Series: Allegiant’ and ‘Midnight Special’ on Local Screens (Mon., 3/21/16)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G0C-vMHcQY

1) The Divergent Series: Allegiant – Say goodbye to those pangs of need, Summit Pictures is at last releasing the next installment in the “Divergent Series” Allegiant. What, you missed the first two, Divergent and Insurgent? Really, you’ve got to keep up. Based on a young adult sci-fi adventure trilogy by Veronica Roth, it’s the story of a dystopian future (is there any other kind?) in which people are classified into one of five categories based on their personalities—Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. (Already we see I wouldn’t fit into this world because there’s no Bitchy.) Well what do you know but our heroine Tris can’t be classified and so becomes of enemy of the state. And before you can say “Katniss Everdeen” she’s fallen in with a group of rebels hoping to destroy the power structure. (Hmm, I wonder if Bernie Sanders has gotten wind of this?) Hollywood’s taken the three novels, turned them into four movies and Allegiant is the penultimate. I’ve seen the other two but really don’t remember much—it’s all a bunch of cute young actors running around blowing up things. I seem to recall Kate Winslet in one of them playing a villain and getting killed. For this go ‘round—in addition to the series stars Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, and Theo James—Naomi Watts, Jeff Daniels, and Bill Skarsgård (of the Swedish Skarsgårds) show up for the fun. Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

2) Midnight Special – Jeff Nichols has, up until now, written and directed some fairly offbeat independent films, all of which starred Michael Shannon and most had to do with the relationship between fathers and sons. Continuing in that vein, although now he has a studio budget, Nichols returns with this—in film parlance—high concept film about a father (Shannon) who discovers that his son has mystical powers. Unfortunately the government, in the person of Adam Driver, and a religious sect leader play by Sam Shepard find out about it as well … and all of them want to get their hands on this little tyke. So Shannon, along with ex-wife (Kirsten Dunst) and buddy (Joel Edgerton) set off to hide the kid in a secret location while, at the same time, everyone else is trying to catch them. Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

3) It’s Global Mondays at Cappy’s Cafe in Shadyside with imported bottled beers for only $3. While there, team up an import with a bowl of their scrumptious chili. 5431 Walnut St.

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