Freeze Frame: "The Brink of War" (PG), "Don't Say Good Luck" (PG-13), "The Last House" (PG-13)

The intriguing historical drama "The Brink of War" focuses on the 1986 Reykjavik nuclear disarmament talks between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. Jeff Daniels and Jared Harris portray the Cold War leaders and J.K. Simmons plays Secretary of State George Schultz. First time filmmaker Michael Russell Gunn speculates about what the dialogue between these philosophical opponents may have been like. He reportedly interviewed Schultz and was granted access to some of the Secretary’s transcripts. While it isn't dramatically riveting, it’s well-acted and surprisingly timely. “The Brink of War” is a thoughtful and involving history lesson. Adam Sandler's daughter Sophie gets her chance in the spotlight in the Netflix comic drama, "Don't Say Good Luck." Sophie plays a sophomore who gets the lead in her high school’s production of the musical “Waitress.” Things get complicated as her mom, played by Melanie Lynskey, struggles with recurrent cancer. “Don’t Say Good Luck” is lightweight and a bit soapy, but the sincere performances and general good vibes make it a poignant and uplifting tale. The Netflix horror entry "The Last House" attempts a new twist on the alien invasion genre. Wagner Moura and Greta Lee play a married couple who gets trapped with their two kids when a strange rainfall seals them in their home. They struggle to survive while never quite understanding just what’s going on. There will undoubtedly be many moments when you will ask, "Hey, what about..?" The screenwriters don't cover their bases which undermines the proceedings. Director Louis Leterrier pumps up the action in the final scenes, but “The Last House” is still a slow-moving sci-fi thriller.