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More than one person in the film makes the point that Calvin & Hobbes will probably be the last great comic strip. The “great” part of that is due to Watterson’s talent, but the “last” part of that has a lot to do with a changing society that has affected not only comics, but music, film, and books. Comics have been greatly affected by the disappearance of their most common delivery medium, the newspaper. From glorious full page spreads, comics were shrunk to fit into an increasingly small area, and now printed newspapers are endangered altogether.

If you’re of a certain age, you probably have fond vivid memories of Calvin & Hobbes, and it has continued to endure for future generations. Dear Mr. Watterson provides a nostalgic look back for both casual and super fans while also providing an appreciation for the art of comic strips in general.

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New releases for November 15th

Charlie Countryman: Shia LaBeouf plays Charlie Countryman, a young man distraught by the recent passing of his mother. When she appears to him in a vision and tells him to go to Bucharest, off he goes. There he meets Gabi, an attractive musician whom he immediately begins to fall in love with. Standing in his way is Gabi’s ex-husband, a menacing figure with ties to the mob. Charlie’s pursuit of Gabi leads him deeper into the world of the Romanian underground.
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The Great Beauty: Jep Gambardella (played by Toni Servillo) is a journalist who has traded on the success of his one and only novel. A fixture in Rome’s literary circle, he has used his celebrity to enjoy the party lifestyle of the city’s nightlife. On the occasion of his 65th birthday, Jep is confronted with his past and he must take stock of his squandered talent. The Great Beauty is Italy’s official entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Nebraska: Two-time Academy Award winning writer-director Alexander Payne returns with this black and white road movie about a crotchety old man (played by Bruce Dern, who won the Best Actor award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal) who is convinced that he has won a million dollar sweepstakes. His dubious estranged son (Will Forte) begrudgingly agrees to accompany him on the trip to Nebraska to collect the prize.

Sunlight Jr.: In a plot description that seems to suggest the idea of life sucks and then it gets worse, Naomi Watts plays Melissa, a woman who works as a convenience store clerk to support herself and her disabled boyfriend Richie (Matt Dillon). When Melissa learns that she is pregnant, the couple hopes for a happy future until Melissa loses her job and they get evicted and the couple is left with only each other.

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