Friday’s openings: Women warriors and David Bowie

Above : “The Woman King” head a full list of Friday movie openings. (Photo/Tristar Pictures)

Friday is set to kick off a big movie week. The Magic Lantern has announced the opening of four new films, and even more are likely to open at the area’s mainstream theaters.

One opening is “Pearl,” which I wrote about on Tuesday . The others are:

“The Woman King” : Viola Davis stars as the title character, the leader of a special group of African tribal shock troops – all of whom are women – that battles for their kingdom.

As Alexis Porter wrote in the Arizona Republic, “The film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (‘Love and Basketball’ and ‘The Secret Life of Bees’), is inspired by true events, but is mostly fictionalized. So, if you’re a stickler for historical accuracies, this film isn’t for you. But, if you’re a fan of action adventures full of badass women, keep reading.“

“Moonage Daydream” : Documentary filmmaker Brett Morgen explores the life, musical career and ultimate legacy of David Bowie.

As Robert Daniels wrote for RogerEbert.com , “At every turn, “Morgen’s film is a bombastic, overstimulating, poignant, life-affirming and risk-taking summation of the artist’s ethos and maturation as a person. In short, ‘Moonage Daydream’ is the film Bowie would’ve proudly made.”

“The Silent Twins” : Director Agnieszka Smoczynska tells the real-life story of identical twins June and Jennifer Gibbons, who as children refused to speak to anyone but each other – and as a consequence were committed to a mental hospital.

In The Guardian , Peter Bradshaw wrote, “This is an engrossing, well-acted story – disturbing but also tender and sad.”

“Confess, Fletch” : Jon Hamm stars in this new adaptation of the Gregory McDonald series of novels (previously portrayed by Chevy Chase) as a “retired” journalist who gets involved with art theft … and murder.

As John DeFore wrote for The Hollywood Reporter, “Skulking around yacht clubs and questioning self-styled lifestyle gurus … Fletch gets in a couple of jabs at one-percenter privilege without actually leaving his rented townhouse, with its Paul Klees and Robert Motherwells on the wall, and moving to a Motel 6.”

“God’s Country” : Thandie Newton stars as a college professor who is threatened by men who trespass on her remote property.

Critic Ty Burr wrote, “It’s a movie that keeps one eye on this local dustup and the other on a long, sorry sweep of American conquest and neglect.”

“Running the Bases” : A high school baseball coach must decide between his faith and his job.

For the Cinemaholic, Pratik Handore wrote, “(T)he movie explores the roles of religion and faith in sports and whether they have any place on the playing field.”

That’s it for the moment. So go, see a movie – any movie – and enjoy.