Movie & Television Reviews

The sober drama “It Ends With Us” (Columbia) takes on the grim problem of spousal abuse. While the film has its lighter moments, it also has defects that lessen its impact and moves toward a conclusion that requires careful assessment from a Catholic perspective.

Kevin Costner directed, co-wrote and stars in the epic Western, “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” (New Line). The first installment of a proposed tetralogy, the sprawling film is visually pleasing but its narrative feels unwieldy.

Capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.

As is well-known, illiteracy was widespread during the Middle Ages. To judge by the characters who populate the limited-series television comedy “The Decameron,” however, so too was rank stupidity.

With lush visuals and an intelligent script co-written by director Lee Tamahori and Shane Danielsen, the religiously themed historical drama “The Convert” (Magnolia) has a lot going for it.

Capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.

While moviegoers need not take shelter from this long-distance follow-up — which is only loosely connected to its predecessor — neither will it transport them over the rainbow.