Good ones to contemplate: Almodovar's deep 'Pain' and King's dark 'Sleep'

Just about the only thing the two most compelling movies opening in northeast Ohio today have in common is the passionate writing from two of the biggest names in their respective businesses.

The first is "Pain and Glory" from colorful Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar, who once again fashions one of the finest foreign language films of this or any other year. This time the ever-evolving writer/director, even at age 70, uses himself as the focus, barely hiding one more complex story with too many coincidences to let anyone actually think that it isn't a kind of serious autobiographical reflection.

Naturally, two of the most well-known names in his stable of players lend major contributions. In the midst of it all is Antonio Banderas, whose roles in three late-'80s Almodovar films ("Law of Desire," "Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," and "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!") helped make him an international star. Here, he plays Salvador Mallo, his director's likely alter ego, an aching, troubled filmmaker, dealing with age and everything that entails

Meanwhile, Penelope Cruz, who similarly grabbed everyone's '90s-era attention in "Live Flesh" and "All About My Mother," shows up in memorable flashback, occasionally in the haze of Salvador's pain-fueled heroin use, as the kind and beautiful mother of his youth.

Now both actor and (supporting) actress might earn awards mention for a strikingly personal film that will hold special significance for viewers trying to remain creative themselves while the passage of time keeps throwing obstacles in their way.

Though few could possibly relate to it all, Almodovar's smart, meaningful and moving sprinkling of observations and memories actually should leave at least a little something for anyone to embrace.

Rated "R": drug use, some graphic nudity and language; 1:53; $ $ $ $ and 1/2 out of $5

McGregor revisits "The Shining" in many more ways than one.

A recovery story of another haunting kind -- only in the horror realm -- also quickly becomes a  film that might have you thinking long and hard well after you walk out of the movie theater.

It's "Doctor Sleep," based on Stephen King's sequel novel to "The Shining," with a rather faithful -- and nicely creepy -- adaptation from writer/director Mike Flanagan (creator of the popular Netflix series, "The Haunting of Hill House").

Always reliable Ewan McGregor portrays the character that connects King's scary supernatural tales. That would be Danny Torrance, the kinda strange, Big Wheel-riding kid from "The Shining," now all grown up into a McGregor's alcoholic title character, dealing with demons both imagined and real.

The most unforgettable of the latter crowd is a seductress named "Rose the Hat," with the downright magnetic Rebecca Ferguson marvelously leading a gang of ghoulish misfits. Young newcomer Kyliegh Curran also offers a pretty terrific turn as Torrance's partner in the paranormal, while various new/old reminders of "The Shining" find their way into some other mostly welcome spots.

Not so entertaining is a very disturbing sequence involving a tortured youngster they call "Baseball Boy" (Jacob Tremblay from "Room"), but that's all you're getting from me. Oh yeah, just know that your heart might be recruited to pound right along with an effectively simple score from the Newton Brothers.

Rated "R": disturbing and violent content, some bloody images, language, nudity and drug use; 2:31; $ $ $ $ out of $5