Award-winning photo journalist Spencer Platt (c), a 1989 Staples High School graduate, gets together tonight with his father, Bernerd, and brother Alexander, a music director and conductor who is concert series coordinator at the Westport Arts Center (WAC), at the opening reception of the WAC exhibit “Fractured: Photographs by Spencer Platt.” The first solo exhibition of his works curated by art critic Kenneth Baker runs through March 2. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Among those helping celebrate the opening tonight of the Westport Arts Center’s “Fractured: Photos by Spencer Platt,” were the mothers of two fellow Westport award-winning photo journalists, Camille Addario (l) (mother of Lynsey Addario) and Julie Hicks (mother of Tyler Hicks). Lynsey Addario and Tytler Hicks were captured in 2011 by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and later released.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Award-winning photo journalist Spencer Platt, a 1989 Staples High School graduate, stopped by the Westport Arts Center today to preview an exhibit of his works opening Friday, “Fractured: Photographs by Spencer Platt.” The first solo exhibition of his works is curated by art critic Kenneth Baker and debuts with a 6 to 8 p.m. reception open to the public. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Susan Granger

As the “Transformers” war between the good-guy Autobots and the evil Decepticons for the planet Cybertron continues, the origin story “Bumblebee,” set in the late 1980s, reveals how Bumblebee came to Earth and befriended a troubled teenage girl.

Still mourning the death of her mechanic father, feisty 18-year-old Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), who loves repairing automobiles, yearns for a car of her own.

Spying a faded yellow, 1967 Volkswagen Beetle in a San Francisco Bay-area junkyard, Charlie brings it home, determined to restore it.

While she’s tinkering, the Beetle suddenly morphs into an enormous alien robot. Terrified at first, “gear head “Charlie soon realizes she has a new, badass buddy and, together, they enthusiastically indulge in merry mischief.

By Susan Granger

Covering all genres, my choices are in alphabetical order, not preference.

FEATURE FILM:

“A Star Is Born”

“Black KKKlansman” 

“Black Panther”

“Crazy Rich Asians”

“Green Book”

“Leave No Trace”

“Mary Poppins Returns”

“Mission Impossible: Fallout”

“The Rider”

“Roma”

An updated look at progress on the Westport Library’s Transformation Project. The timetable for the completion is on target, according to library officials, with a dedication ceremony in the summer. Among the prominent features in the main floor Great Room is a two-direction grandstand and seven conference rooms. According to Scott Marlow, construction superintendent, a next step in January is the installation of a raised floor on the Great Room (main) level. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com