'Aeronauts' soars; fine if dark 'Marriage,' 'Waters,' 'Waves' take us down

Four paragraphs on an equal number of competitive year-end movies, each with a couple of terrific performances and at least three featuring more gut-wrenching moments than some may care to watch:

Redmayne holds tight to daredevil Jones.

So, let's start with the one that literally takes us up, up and away from it all. That would be "The Aeronauts," an entertaining lark that reunites Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne from "The Theory of Everything," puts them in a Victorian-era balloon (and an apparently truth-based story), and let's them fly. Jones is especially impressive in a wild and wacky early lift-off segment before we find out that she's a remarkable widow, while Redmayne is a hard-working weatherman, trying to achieve new heights and everything that entails. Director Tom Harper's occasionally breathtaking film opens today for what may be a brief theatrical run before floating onto Amazon Prime Dec. 20. Similar to other films in streaming mode, this one should be seen on a big screen for truly glorious effect.

Rated "PG-13": some peril and thematic elements; 1:41; $ $ $ $ out of $5

Speaking of streaming, "Marriage Story," now at one local theater, tussles its way onto Netflix Friday with Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as a theatrical couple in the midst of a memorably miserable divorce. As written and directed by Noah Baumbach, the actor-driven film includes numerous he-said, she-said moments, a trio of lawyers (Laura Dern, Alan Alda and Ray Liotta) mostly giving and taking in all the wrong places, and a young son named Henry (Azhy Robertson) in the middle of the turmoil. Those of us old enough to remember certainly have seen much of this movie before, complete with a child whose real last name was Henry. It was in a 40-year-old little ditty called "Kramer vs. Kramer," which went on to win a Best Picture Oscar, among many other awards. Some claim "Marriage Story" might do the same, even though it says here that its East and West Coast sensibilities won't resonate with everyone. We shall see.

Rated "R": language throughout and sexual references; 2:16; $ $ $ and 1/2 out of $5

In "Dark Waters," always credible Mark Ruffalo offers up a nicely measured performance as a low-key Cincinnati attorney whose allegiance to his West Virginia hometown helps open up a decades-long battle over poisonous chemicals that ultimately may affect us all. As based on a New York Times article, "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare," this aptly titled courtroom thriller -- surprisingly from the generally more colorful director Todd Haynes -- makes us feel the pain of a wronged farmer (the marvelous Bill Camp), and shows why this bombshell of an environmental case turns into an obsession for Ruffalo's heroic Robert Billott. By the way, some nifty location shots of Cincinnati and Columbus, where much of the courtroom drama actually took place, might help Ohioans get through what seems like a facts-heavy final half-hour.

Rated "PG-13": thematic content, some disturbing images, and strong language; 2:06; $ $ $ and 1/2 out of $5

Harrison suffers with Brown and more in "Waves."

Finally, the engrossing "Waves" becomes another potential weeper when a nice kid (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) attempts to avoid going seriously off the rails in juggling a painful wrestling injury, an overbearing father (Sterling K. Brown), and his girlfriend's pregnancy. Now, at times, the tendencies of writer/director Trey Edward Shults to orchestra his audience with cameras, colors, and score (from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) intrude a bit too often for their own good. Oddly, though, his same tricks play much more quietly -- and effectively -- in a second half that boasts a captivating portrayal from newcomer Taylor Russell, as the younger sister in a suffering family. Talk about healing influences.

Rated "R": language, drug and alcohol use, sexual content and brief violence, all involving teens; 2:15; $ $ $ and 1/2 out of $5