'Downton Abbey’ and ‘Ad Astra’ offer grown-up entertainment

<p>Two films designed for grown-ups hit theaters this weekend.</p><p><a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-08-30/ad-astra-review-brad-pitt-tommy-lee-jones" target="_blank">“Ad Astra,”</a> a space thriller starring Brad Pitt, takes a moody, meditative approach to science fiction.</p><p>Director James Gray invests in character development and emotion, and the film is that rare fusion of blockbuster spectacle and thoughtful sensibility, says the Times’ Justin Chang (<a href="https://twitter.com/justincchang" target="_blank">@JustinCChang</a>).</p><p>Chang also tells host Mark Olsen (<a href="https://twitter.com/indiefocus" target="_blank">@IndieFocus</a>) that the plot of “Ad Astra” is “kind of preposterous,” but that’s why he likes it.</p><p>Pitt delivers a memorable performance, holding long close-ups as the camera gazes deeply into his eyes — the kind of scrutiny not many actors can pull off.</p><p><a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-09-17/downton-abbey-maggie-smith-review" target="_blank">“Downton Abbey”</a> picks up where the beloved television series left off, with 20 of the regular characters showing up in the theatrical release.</p><p>There’s an optimistic, uplifting spirit to the film, and the Times’ Kenneth Turan (<a href="https://twitter.com/kennethturan" target="_blank">@KennethTuran</a>) tells Olsen that “Downton Abbey” offers an escape from the unrelenting news days of 2019. It’s a comforting, far-away world in which problems are solved and everything works out.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>