What To Watch This Weekend: 'Mary, Queen of Scots,' And More

If you're heading to the movies this weekend, get ready for the drama genre to take center stage. In the period piece "Mary, Queen of Scots," Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie play a couple of royal cousins in bitter rivalry.

"Vox Lux" stars Natalie Portman as an iconic pop star struggling to balance fame and motherhood in the face of tragedy.

Finally, "Ben Is Back" stars Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges as a mother-son duo dealing with the effects of addiction.

Here's what to see and what to skip this weekend:

Movies Out This Weekend

"Mary, Queen of Scots" — Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Gemma Chan, directed by Josie Rourke

Sisterhood turns thorny and tragic in Josie Rourke's feature debut, “Mary, Queen of Scots,” an eponymous film about the tumultuous life of one of the most fascinating and controversial monarchs of 16th century Europe.

Based on John Guy's book "Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart," the biopic stars Saoirse Ronan in the titular role of Mary Stuart, who, by her marriage to France’s King Francis II, becomes Queen of France at 16. In 1561, at the age of 18, Mary is widowed, and returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But it will be an uphill battle for the young queen as Protestants have gained control of her kingdom, resulting in civil unrest and hatred of women.

Meanwhile, Mary and her 25-year-old cousin, England's Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie), must settle their competing claims to the English throne. In a bold move, Mary offers an alliance with Elizabeth, but political tensions within their courts keep them apart.

Ultimately, the two ruling monarchs will have to pay the price of power. One survives, and the other succumbs.

See it. Ronan and Robbie only share the screen once, but this scene alone is worth your jaunt to go see the movie.

Watch the trailer:

"Vox Lux" — Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Raffey Cassidy, directed by Brady Corbet

Writer-director Brady Corbet's sophomore film chronicles the 18-year odyssey of a young woman from her tragic teenage years to her rise in pop super-stardom.

The film opens with a deadly school shooting in 1999, and 14-year-old high schooler Celeste (Raffey Cassidy) survives the massacre. To ease her pain and sorrow, she writes a heartfelt ballad which she later sings at a memorial service. Her profound performance goes viral and draws the attention of a passionate talent manager (Jude Law) who helps propel the teenager to stardom.

The story then leaps to 2017, and Celeste, now a 31-year-old, larger-than-life pop diva (Natalie Portman), finds herself struggling to navigate motherhood, fame and a scandal-ridden music career in the face of another tragedy.

See it. Portman exudes vitality and confidence, notwithstanding the film’s blurry second act. Plus, the soundtrack, original songs written by Sia, is infectious.

Watch the trailer:

"Ben Is Back" — Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, directed by Peter Hedges

Peter Hedges' latest film follows the story of a family that is plagued by the effects of addiction, as a mother's undying love for her afflicted son is tested.

In the movie, Lucas Hedges (the director’s real-life son) plays Ben Burns, a 19-year-old opioid addict. On Christmas Eve, the young man unexpectedly returns home from his 77-day stint in rehab, claiming that his sponsor has urged him to stay with them for the holidays. Naturally, the whole family is shocked to see Ben; after all, it was only a few months ago when he nearly died of a drug overdose.

Undeniably, his mother Holly (Julia Roberts) is cautiously thrilled that her son is back, while Ben's teenage sister, Ivy (Kathryn Newton), and stepfather, Neal (Courtney Vance), are more skeptical.

Over the next 24 hours, Holly will have to monitor her son's every move, and she will learn unsettling truths about his life as she tries to save the wayward teen.

See it. Roberts’s embodiment of a desperate, conflicted mother is brilliant, while Hedges’ portrayal of a self-loathing drug addict is palpable and compelling.

Watch the trailer:

Other entertainment news:

• Patch Living: Your December Entertainment Guide
• What's New On Netflix: December 2018
• Netflix's Best Christmas Movies To Binge
• Reviews of 'Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle,''Head Full Of Honey,' 'The Possession Of Hannah Grace,' And 'Anna And The Apocalypse'
• Reviews of 'Fantastic Beasts 2,' 'Widows,' 'Instant Family' And 'Green Book'

Top Photo: (L-R) Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan attend the New York premiere of “Mary Queen Of Scots” on December 4, 2018 in New York City. (Photo Credit: Charles Sykes/Shuterstock/Focus Features)