DESPICABLE ME

In this animated feature, the villain is actually the hero, Gru: voiced by Steve Carell, who battles Vector: v. of Jason Segel to see who can first reduce and capture the Moon. Gru believes by adopting the three little girls who have entry to the lab of Vector to sell him sweets, he can accomplish his goal. Gru’s Mom: v.o. Julie Andrews knows only his good side which he develops further as he comes to love Margo, Edith and Agnes. Directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin and co-screenwriters Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul, from a story by Sergio Pablos, bring us a very different outer space animated feature for all ages. 3-D

EAT PRAY LOVE

Liz Gilbert: luminous Julia Roberts, thankfully, is on screen in almost every frame of this woman’s story of a writer, based on her book, who divorces husband, Stephen: Billy Crudup. She then has a relationship with a stage actor, David: James Franco, leaving him behind in NYC when she goes on a year long journey to find herself. In Rome, she finds the good food and makes friends easily as she learns the language and habits of the Italians. Liz is told of a sect with a female leader in India where she can learn to pray and journeys there. In Indonesia, she falls in love with Brazilian Felipe: Javier Bardem, a sympathetic soul. Director and co-screenwriter, Ryan Murphy (Glee) with Jennifer Salt, keep the action moving along with Liz’s travels, accompanied by the loving photography of Robert Richardson and are produced by Brad Pitt. Profanity, Sexual situations, Rear male nudity.

INCEPTION

Cobb: Leonardo di Caprio and his dream-invading crew (Arthur: Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Eames: Tom Hardy; Peter Browning: Tom Berenger; Ariadne, the newbie: Ellen Page) plus Marion Cottilard as Mal, Cobb’s late wife, Michael Caine as his father, and Robert Fischer: Cillian Murphy as the banker who is to have info implanted, unknowingly, in his brain while he’s in a dreamlike state. Pete Postlethwaite portrays the dying senior Maurice Fischer. The client is Tokyo businessman, Ken Watanabe. One of the thrills is when the next block in Paris is first upended, then becomes a roof to the block in which our characters are conversing, all the while the autos and pedestrians move along upside down! A sci-fi mystery action thriller, this is the best film, easily the most original, released so far this year! Expect it to be prominent in next year’s Oscar race. Director-writer Christopher Nolan deserves both awards. See it. Also in IMAX. Profanity, Violence.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Both gay parents of two siblings used the same sperm donor years ago. Now that Laser: Jeff Hutcherson is 15 and his sister Joni: Mia Wasikowska (the pouting Alice in Alice in Wonderland) is going on 18 and entering college in the fall. The teens want to meet him, but the ladies (doctor Nic: Annette Bening and garden landscaper Jules: Julianne Moore) objeczt. Affable Paul: Mark Ruffalo lives locally in L.A. and owns several businesses, including a restaurant and bar. Director and co-writer Lisa Cholodenko, with Stuart Blumberg, deliver the warm lesbian parents with profanity, lesbian relationship, topless female nudity, urinating on a dog, interracial sex, and teen drug and alcohol use. It is absolutely one of the best movies of this summer.

THE OTHER GUYS

Two mismatched NYC cops, Allen Gamble: Will Ferrell and Terry Hoitz: Mark Wahlberg report to Police Capt. Gene Mauch: Michael Keaton. The hot Dr. Sheila Gamble: Eva Mendes has the abilities to get home from work in time to prepare scrumptious Italian meals for her Allen. If his partner, Terry, comes for dinner, too, he is awed by Sheila’s presentation with nary a hair out of place. Terry’s lady love, Francine: Lindsay Sloane is not so talented. Look for walkthroughs by the diversely capable Derek Jeter, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Damon Wayons, Jr., Anne Heche, Brooke Shields, Tracy Morgan, and Rosie Perez. Steve Coogan: David Ershon, European financier is the main villain. This unique cops-and-robbers chase is a no-holds-barred comedy as directed and co-written by Adam McKay (with Chris Henchy). A fun time was had by all.

SALT

Evelyn Salt: Angelina Jolie, while interrogating a Soviet spy, Orlov: Daniel Olbrychski, is accused by him of being his chief U.S. contact and that she will try to assassinate the Soviet Premier present in NYC for the funeral of the U.S. Vice President. Evelyn’s boss Ted Winter: Liev Schreiber and fellow agent, Peabody: Chiwetel Ejiofor, attempt to save U.S. President Lewis: Hunt (ATWT) Block, who excels as the firm, determined leader, facing his worst nightmares come-to-life. Jolie may be the only actress who can handle this muscular a role and not look exhausted. Phillip Noyce directs with a flair for the intense nonstop action from Kurt Wimmer’s script. Action violence, profanity.

STEPUP 3D

A close group of NYC street dancers, including Luke: Rick Malambri and Natalie: Sharni Vinson, team up with newly arrived NYU engineering freshman Moose: Adam G. Sevani. His best high school friend, Camille: Alyson Stoner, has traveled to Greenwich Village with him. She supports his dance drive but knows how much his parents are relying on his becoming an engineer. The competing dance teams are extraordinarily creative and have the ambition to overcome all adversities. The music and routines are up-to-date in this dance drama directed by Jon Chu and written by Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer with characters written by Duane Adler. RealD 3-D. Profanity.

Sept. 2010

GET HIM TO THE GREEK

Record company intern Aaron Green: Jonah Hill is given three days to escort an outrageous British pop idol, Aldous Snow: Russell Brand from London to a NYC morning network TV interview and on to the Hollywood premiere of his latest film that evening. Aaron’s boss, Sergio Roma: Sean Combs has a Zero tolerance level for mistakes. Guest appearances include Christina Aguilera, Mario Lopez and Pink. This hilarious comedy is directed and dialog written by Nicholas Stoller, with characters by Jason Segal. Profanity, Violence, Female Nudity, Adult situations.

JONAS HEX

President Grant: Aiden Quinn has an enemy in terrorist Quentin Turnbull: John Malkovich, who manages to build a secret mighty weapon years ahead of the A-bomb. Jonas Hex: Josh Brolin has the hideous scars to prove Turnbull doesn’t like him, as well as the memories of his wife and son who were brutally murdered by Turnbull and his gang. When Jonas again meets up with Turnbull, it’s at a Texas military fort in the Wild West which Turnbull demolishes as the demo for his weapon before heading for Washington, D.C. Based on the DC comic books, there’s eye-candy in the form of Lilah: Megan Fox, stripped down to her bustier, but still handy with a bobby-pin and a pistol. Extreme Violence, Profanity, Female Nudity, Adult situations.

KNIGHT AND DAY

Clueless innocent June Havens: Cameron Diaz meets Roy Miller: Tom Cruise in the Wichita airport as she’s enroute to Boston for her sister’s wedding. June is in the privy aboard the small plane while Miller kills all the baddies aboard and then lands in a corn field. (Havens is not to be confused with the late beauteous blond musical star June Haver, whose career was also at 20th Century Fox, the releasing company.) Roy is hiding an energy source “powerful enough to sustain a city for years” yet small enough to fit into a chess piece; the inventor is nerdy Simon Feck: Paul Dano. The real villain, Fitzgerald: Peter Sarsgaard is a dirty FBI agent, who is supposed to work for FBI Director George: Viola Davis, but has loyalties to an arms dealer, Antonio: Jordi Mollà. Roy and June wind up on a Caribbean island he happens to own, then bounce to Seville for the race with the bulls, and, next stop, onto an Austrian train. This fast moving thriller is terrific! Never mind that June looks ten years older than Roy. Violence, Profanity, Adult situations.

THE KARATE KID

Dre Parker: Jaden Smith is very down when his mother, Sherry: Taraji Henson moves from Detroit to Beijing. He soon meets a lovely classmate Mei Ying: Wenwen Han and the class bully, Cheng: Zengwei Wang. Fortunately for Dre, his apartment manager, Mr. Han: Jackie Chan knows Kung Fu and agrees to teach him, opening a new world to Dre. Although long, the producers’ (Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) confidence in their son’s talent is rewarded. Violence, Profanity, Adult situations.

KILLERS

Computer tech Jenny Kornfeldt: Katherine Heigl and government assassin-for-hire Spencer Aimes: Ashton Kutcher meet cute at Cannes and despite the objections of her parents: Tom Selleck and Catherine O’Hara, are married soon thereafter. Spencer retires from his job. Switch to their third anniversary and every hitman and hitwoman on their block are out to kill them and collect the $Million-plus bounty. Too soon it becomes repetitive when they can’t trust anyone today whom they could yesterday. Violence, Profanity, Adult situations.

PRINCE OF PERSIA: The Sands of Time

Desert spectacle features buffed-up Jake Gyllenhaal as adult Dastan, a smart beggar selected by the King of Persia, Sharaman: Ronald Pickup, as his adopted son, vying with two real sons for the throne. The King’s brother, Nizam: Ben Kingsley wants to possess the magical Daggar of Time, which can make time run backwards so he can overrule Sharaman’s lineage to the throne. The guardian of the dagger, Princess Tamina of Baghdad: Gemma Arterton, after a dangerous pursuit in collapsing tunnels, stops barking at Dastan long enough for a fadeout kiss. Violence, Profanity, Sexual situations.

SEX AND THE CITY 2

The fearless foursome is back on the beat, Manhattan, that is. After a fairly dull first hour in NYC, things pick up with a cameo by Liza Minnelli. At the movie premiere of her ex-boy friend: Jerry “Smith” Jerrold: Jason Lewis, Samantha: Kim Cattrall is invited by a Moroccan potentate for an all-expenses-covered visit to Abu Dhabi, along with her “PR assistants”, Carrie: Sarah Jessica Parker, Charlotte: Kirsten Davis, and Miranda: Cynthia Nixon, who quickly prove to be the Ugly Americans, almost spoiling the foreign locales. Jerry is als o filming his second starring film in the sands nearby. Profanity, Sexual situations.

TOY STORY 3

This is the one film this month designed to please an audience of any age. There’s something for everyone! Woody the Sheriff: voice of Tom Hanks is the one toy Andy has selected to take to college with him, but the other toys are supposed to go to the attic. In a mix-up they almost go to the recycle dump or the Sunnyside Daycare center. Woody has to rescue Buzz Lightyear: v.o. Tim Allen; cowgirl Jessie: v.o. Joan Cusack; Mr. Potato Head: v.o. Don Rickles; the pig Hamm: v.o. John Ratzenberger; the dinosaur Rex: v.o. Wallace Shawn and others, before Andy leaves. Ken: v.o. Michael Keaton and Barbie: v.o. Jodi Benson, fall in love at first sight. The day care center is run like a prison by Lotso Bear: v.o. Ned Beatty. Disney-Pixar has outdone their past partnerships. The six-minute prelude cartoon, Day and Night, could easily have been paired with Knight and Day, and certainly shines as brightly. Animated, 3-D, IMAX.

July 2010

BABIES

Four babies are followed in this documentary as they grow from birth to their initial steps, in four areas of the world: Mongolia, Namibia (Africa), Tokyo and San Francisco. The differences and similarities are moving, sometimes amusing, sometimes fascinating. The rural families are usually in contrast to the city toddlers, e.g., when a goat walks up and drinks the bathwater beside the baby. Bathing, weighing, eating, and cutting hair are as unique as each approach to playmates, pets, flies, and toys. Nudity, Breast-feeding.

DATE NIGHT

While a hilarious ensemble film, screenwriter Josh Klausner and director Shawn Levy never lose sight of the very funny leads, Phil and Claire Foster: Steve Carell and Tiny Fey, a New Jersey couple on a Manhattan date. They heist a reservation at a fancy restaurant of a no-show couple (Taste: James Franco and Whippit: Mila Kunis). Bad idea! The interesting people populating their evening include hunky Holbrooke: Mark Wahlberg; their best friends who are divorcing, the Sullivans: Kristen Wiig and Mark Ruffalo; Det. Arroyo: Taraji P. Henson; dishonest cop Collins: Common, who delivers them to the mob boss: Ray Liotta, who thinks they have his hard drive; and DA Crenshaw: William Fichtner for whom they do a joint striptease! Phil drives a cab into the river amid massive pileups of cabs and police cars! Profanity, Adult situations, Sexual situations, Male nudity.

HARRY BROWN

Mild Brit senior citizen, ex-Marine, widower Harry Brown: Michael Caine meets his bud for an afternoon game of chess, until his pal is violently killed one night in their neighborhood by a teen drug gang that is taking over to grow their pot, shoot up, kill one another, rape a woman they have captured and chained her to a bed. The investigating detectives: D.I. Alice Frampton: Emily Mortimer and D.S. Terry Hicock: Charlie Creed-Miles, are sympathetic toward Harry, little realizing he’s turned vigilante and is going after the gang with a gun, dealing out his own justice. If the rest of this grim movie was on a par with the scene in the gang’s scummy shack perhaps it would have been more enjoyable. Director Daniel Barber and screenwriter Gary Young can share the blame for creating this underworld. Violence!, Profanity!, Adult situations. Won the U.K. Empire Award: Best British Film, 2010; nominated Best Actor: M. Caine, Best Thriller.

HOW TO TRAIN A DRAGON

This animated yarn will please anyone under 12 and many who are older. A Nordic youth, Hiccup: voice of Jay Baruchel, of the 1100’s can become a hero without developing a muscle. His father, the village leader, Stoik the Vast: v.o. Gerard Butler, is ashamed that his inventive son doesn’t want to kill dragons. In their village, it’s the manly thing to do; even some of the girls are tough enough. Astrid: v.o. America Ferrera qualifies for the dragon-slayer training. When Hiccup wounds a dragon so it can’t fly, he must repair the damage by building the missing tailpiece. He names it Toothless. While a friendship develops, both have a long road ahead before the villagers will accept that not all dragons only want to eat them and must be killed. 3-D. Violence.

IRON MAN 2

Marvel comics are back with a sequel that’s not quite as good as the original with Tony Stark: Robert Downey Jr. as the narcissistic billionaire industrialist-superhero with his fab Malibu lair. The bum start features Stark on international TV peeing in his suit and doesn’t rise too far above that as complications abound, even with the U.S. government wanting to use his armor suit as a military weapon. Good guy Nick Fury: Samuel L. Jackson assists Stark when he needs a new mechanical heart replacement. Thinking he’s dying, Stark promotes his assistant Pepper: Gwyneth Paltrow, to C.E.O. of Stark Industries, and in her old job, her assistant Natalie/Natasha: Scarlett Johanssen, who has one spectacular scene when she gets to show her stuff, defending Stark. In an armor suit, “Rhodey” Rhodes: Don Cheadle protects a weakened Stark in the showdown at the Stark Expo against Russian villain Ivan Vanko: Mickey Rourke and traitor industrialist Justin Hammer: Sam Rockwell (Daly City native). Vanko’s suit has special electrical whips that cut a car door in half with one flick! Director Jon Favreau also plays assistant Happy Hogan; Justin Theroux wrote the screenplay from Stan Lee’s comic book. Violence, Profanity, Adult situations.

JUST WRIGHT

Physical therapist Leslie Wright: Queen Latifah has just one problem: her best friend since childhood is a knockout. When Leslie’s client-superstar basketball player, Scott McKnight: Common sees trim Morgan: Paula Patton, it’s “Hello, Morgan.” “Goodbye, Leslie Who?” How long can Morgan be good and stop shooting arrows for the trophy wife seat? How much shopping with no limit can a girl take? This enjoyable romantic comedy written by Michael Elliott and directed by Sanaa Hamri sensibly brings in the parents: Lloyd and Janice Wright: James Pickens, Jr., Pam Grier; and Ella McKnight: Phylicia Rashad to spread the viewpoint. Suddenly, Morgan doesn’t look quite so appetizing and Leslie’s hefty qualities shine through. Adult situations.

MacGRUBER

MacGruber: Will Forte, star and co-writer with John Solomon, is summoned by Col. James Faith: Powers Boothe back into action when they learn industrialist Dieter Von Cunth: Val Kilmer has stolen a U.S. government nuclear warhead and has set his sights on Washington, D.C. MacGruber tries to round up his old team, but due to an explosion, he gets only Vicki St. Elmo: Kristen Wiig and recruit Lt. Dixon Piper: Ryan Philippe. MacG has an old score to settle with Cunth, who murdered his bride. Dir. Jorma Taccone keeps the SNL action moving while providing lots of laughs. Some crude humor depends on anal celery stalks, etc. Profanity! Sexual situations! Male nudity!

OCEANS

This fabulous French documentary was filmed all around the world for four years…and the results show! The whole family will enjoy this adventure and can discuss it afterwards. The cinematography is Oscar-worthy! Pierce Brosnan narrates this beautiful drama of the underwater battles of the wildlife for survival in the five oceans. Seals, walruses, dolphins and whales romp on camera, as do the rarely seen sheep fish and blue whales. Dozens of dolphins leap into the air. Feeding simultaneously on the same schools of fish are birds, whales, dolphins, and sharks! Hundreds of crabs battle each other on the ocean floor. Director Jacques Perrin deserves every award world-wide for this spectacular not-to-be-missed tightly edited 84 minutes that you will never forget!

ROBIN HOOD

This Robin Hood tale ends where others have started. There is more early background in gritty 1199. Robin: Russell Crowe, an archer fighting with King Richard the Lion Hearted: Danny Huston, must establish his rights in Nottingham. Robin’s first task ashore in London is to deliver Richard’s crown to his wife, Eleanor: Eileen Atkins. Robin’s acceptance by a blind elderly father, Sir Walter Loxley: Max von Sydow and his spunky daughter-in-law, Marian: Cate Blanchett occur concurrently with the ambience with his men: Friar Tuck: Mark Addy; Little John: Kevin Durand; and Will Scarlett: Scott Grimes. He has scarred Godfrey: Mark Strong and must make a stand with Chancellor William Marshall: William Hurt and Prince John: Oscar Isaac. The sword battles are pretty bloody and there is little to be merry about in this land of upheaval. Crowe and Blanchett make a believable couple. The final battle is a Ridley Scott spectacle! Violence, Profanity, Sexual situations, Nudity.

SHREK FOREVER AFTER

This series has about run its course when it has to steal its plot from It’s a Wonderful Life with a miserly grinch, deal-maker Rumpelstiltskin: voice of Walter Dohrn, who literally wants Shrek’s life. He gets a-bored-with-domesticity Shrek: v.o. Mike Myers to sign a contract without reading the fine print clause which allows him 24 hours before the hourglass run out. At the beginning of the day, he is remembered by none of his friends: Donkey: v.o. Eddie Murphy; nor Puss in Boots: v.o. Antonio Banderas (who gets the first spinoff due next year). King Harold: v.o. John Cleese and his Queen: v.o. Julie Andrews almost sign a contract with Rumpeletc. re their daughter Fiona: v.o. Cameron Diaz, wife of Shrek and mother of his triplets. The day of reckoning is the first birthday of the little darlings. The problem here is that the characters seem as tired as the script: dirty diapers, peeing on their father while changing diapers, etc.; they are ready to drop off into a deep sleep at any moment. They all forgot their energy pills resulting in an audience ready to sleep, too. Profanity.

June 2010

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Director Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk) depends upon CGI for his new 3-D remake of the 1981 Ray Harryhausen stop-motion trek. Born of a human mother and Zeus: Liam Neeson as his father, Perseus: Sam Worthington (fast becoming known as this year’s Victor Mature) learns he must destroy the Kraken, an underwater beast about 100 feet tall. Using his three T’s of acting: Terse, Tense and Tough, Perseus must rescue the damsel, Andromeda: Alexa Davalos, and her Greek city-state Argos from the son of Hades: Ralph Fiennes. Whenever the music increases in loudness, it’s time for another journey across land to be attacked by yet another bunch of beasts. Despite the small army that Perseus has gathered, their foes are formidable. There are scorpions 20 feet across for the heroes to battle. The woman who’s cursed to never age as she watches her loved ones die, Io: Gemma Arterton, protects Perseus and his men as best she can. The Medusa climax is well worth waiting for because then there is the Kraken to deal with. See it in 3-D: it’s more moving. Profanity, Violence, Adult situations, Sexual situations.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL

A man has died. The wrong body is delivered for the at-home funeral service. The survivors include sons: Norman: Martin Lawrence and Aaron: Chris Rock; widow Cynthia: Loretta Devine; and Uncle Russell in his wheelchair with his bowel problems: Danny Glover. There’s also Elaine: Zoe Saldana (fresh from Avatar) and her fiancé, Oscar, who’s high from a pill: James Marsden; Norman: Tracy Morgan; Duncan: Ron Glass and his stockbroker Derek: Luke Wilson (who is Elaine’s ex); and Michelle: Regina Hall. Throw in the deceased’s lover Frank: Peter Dinklage. Director Neil LaBute and writer Dean Craig should have been able to come up with a funnier ensemble film rather than waste this much talent. Profanity, Adult situations, Sexual situations, Male nudity.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE

Despite its crudity and guilty pleasures, this is a hilarious film! Three guys in their 40’s are transported via an electrical short in their hot tub back to their college days of 1986: Adam: John Cusack, Nick: Craig Robinson, and Lou: Rob Corddry, plus nephew Jacob: Clark Duke, a teen dork. Bellboy Phil: Crispin Glover is going to lose an arm before the evening is over. Jennie: Lyndsy Fonseca supplies the bikini allure. Chevy Chase does a funny cameo as the hot tub repairman. Violence, Profanity, Adult situations, Sexual situations, Male nudity.

THE JONESES

Steve: David Duchovny and Kate: Demi Moore are the perfect couple moving into a gated upper-class Atlanta neighborhood with their two teens: Mick: Ben Hollingsworth and Jenn: Amber Heard. Their next door neighbors, Larry: Gary Cole and Summer: Glynne Headly have difficulty trying to keep up with the Joneses. The Joneses’ dirty little secret is that they are selling products, from golf clubs to cars. They report to KC: Lauren Hutton and need to meet their quotas to keep the family together. Director/co-writer Derrick Borte keeps the audience guessing which direction the plot may next turn as family problems arise that complicate everything in their too posh world. Profanity, Adult situations.

KICK-ASS

A teenage comic-reading nerd, Dave Lizewski: Aaron Johnson, buys a superhero costume/Kick-Ass, only to learn he needs some knowledge of how to fight. He’s still no match for the bullies who take his lunch money. He is rescued by cartoonist Damon Macready/Big Daddy: Nicolas Cage with his weapon-laden arsenal and his 12-year old martial arts daughter, Mindy/Hit-Girl with her fuchsia hair: Chloe Grace Moretz. Dave still hangs out with Todd: Evan Peters and Marty: Clark Duke, trying to impress the girl of his dreams, Katie: Lyndsy Fonseca (Was this the same casting director as Hot Tub?). Dave doesn’t know that the rich kid in his class, Chris D’Amico/Red Mist: Christopher Mintz-Plasse, has a father who’s a gangster, Frank D’Amico: Mark Strong. Director/co-writer Matthew Vaughn will reveal that soon enough when Kick-Ass becomes a threat to Frank’s business. Very original, with no clichés here, this is a fun flick, even with a setup for a sequel! Violence, Profanity, Adult situations.

THE PERFECT GAME

Who would have thunk that Cheech Marin would wind up in Monterey, Mexico as a Catholic padre in this true tale of a rag tag bunch of 12-year old baseball amateurs whom Cesar: Clifton Collins, Jr. coaches to major Little League status in 1957? Once they cross the border into Texas they can’t lose. It helps that Frankie: Emilie de Ravin is a reporter assigned to cover their rise to glory. She also exposes the prejudices towards the Mexicans: separate restrooms; restaurants and hotels that refuse admittance. Cool Papa Bell: Louis Gossett Jr. is around for the finale. The ensemble players are a great bunch of kids! Written by W. William Winokur from his book and directed by William Dear with the occasional tip of the hat to Hollywood in this movie for the whole family. Mild profanity.

May 2010

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Filmmaker Tim Burton employs CGI for his new 3-D version of Lewis Carroll’s old tale. The Red Queen: Helena Bonham Carter (Burton’s wife) has a huge head and a waist one could reach around. She has a very bad temper: “Off with their heads!”. Tweedledee and Tweedledum also get the CGI plate look. When Alice: Mia Wasikowska at 19 falls down the Rabbit hole at her engagement party, she revisits her childhood playground. The Mad Hatter: Johnny Depp has orange hair and big green eyes. Alice learns it is her destiny to end the Red Queen’s Reign of Terror. The White Queen: Anne Hathaway has four layers too many of thick makeup. Voice-only characters include: Cheshire Cat: Stephen Fry, White Rabbit: Michael Sheen and Blue Caterpillar: Alan Rickman. Burton’s quirkiness makes the action his own as it moves right along. Profanity.

BROOKLYN’S FINEST

This current day indictment of Brooklyn’s police force has veterans that seem to be providing most of the trouble with the local gangs. There’s Eddie: Richard Gere in his final week before retiring whose girlfriend is a black prostitute. Undercover cop, Tango: Don Cheadle is mixed up with the gang leader Caz: Wesley Snipes he is supposed to be apprehending. Sal: Ethan Hawke is a narcotics cop using drug money to get his down payment for a house for his pregnant wife and two kids. Ronny Rosario: Brian F. O’Byrne and Lt. Bill Hobarts: Will Patton may be the only cops who are clean. Carlo: Vincent D’Onofrio could be the luckiest one of the bunch. Director Antoine Fuqua works with Michael C. Michaels’ brutal screenplay. Violence, Gore, Blood, Profanity, Adult situations.

GREEN ZONE

This Iraqi War action-thriller was released about three years after it was current news and, as such, is not as interesting as it would have been at that time. The activity is there, but it seems dated. Now, films like The Hurt Locker are stealing its thunder. Paul Greengrass successfully directs Matt Damon here as he has in several of the Bourne movies. Chief warrant officer Roy Miller: Damon provides a riveting performance as he seeks the truth! This telling of the blundering operation of the Coalition Provisional Authority in its first year in Baghdad attributes some of the failure to Clark Poundstone: Greg Kinnear. Reporters for major newspapers, Lawrie Dayne: Amy Ryan, and Martin Brown: Brendan Gleeson, are trying to get to the bottom of the facts amongst U.S. government cover-ups. Brian Helgeland has previously written the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Mystic River and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Violence, Gore, Profanity.

THE GHOST WRITER

The popular former prime minister of England, Adam Lang: Pierce Brosnan, has retired to a Cape Cod island with his wife, Ruth Lang: Olivia Williams and a full staff, including SEXretary Amelia Bly: Kim Cattrall. The timing is when Lang is pulled into the global implications of a human rights issue. The second ghost: Ewan MacGregor is brought in to polish the first draft started by the PM’s former assistant before he washed up on the beach…dead! The beach compound is a miniature fortress. Robert Harris adapted his novel for the screen. The mystery thriller was directed with élan by perfectionist Oscar-winning Roman Polanski, winner of the Silver Berlin Bear for this directing job. Most violence occurs off-screen. Not a moment goes by that actually prepares the viewer for the madness of the final ten minutes! One of the best new films this year! Profanity, Sexual situations.

A PROPHET (Un prophete)

Imagine the worst possible things that could go on in a French prison with competing national factions exposed by director/co-writer Jacques Audiard (with Thomas Bidegain). This Belgian film starts with the incarceration of 17-year old Malik El Djebena: Tajar Rahim, a street kid. The gang leader, Cesar Luciano: Niels Arestrup, soon has Malik under his thumb. His first assignment is to carry a double-edged razor blade between his teeth into another prisoner’s cell and slit his jugular. It pays to stay on Cesar’s good side. After three years, Malik advances to more dangerous assignments! Violence, Male nudity, Blood-letting, Profanity. (French with English subtitles) Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar!?!

REPO MEN

Miguel Sapochnik directs this sci-fi action thriller set in the near future starring Remy: Jude Law (with a barcode neck tattoo and new buzz cut) and Jake: Forest Whitaker as grade school friends who grow up to work for The Union, the company that repossesses body parts that aren’t being paid for. A hidden locator assists Remy and Jake to find the delinquent payers and remove the artificial organs on screen…surgically! Their boss, Frank: Liev Schreiber, is cool, ruthless, heartless. Remy’s wife, Carol: Carice van Houten, gives him an ultimatum that he gets out of the repossessing business and into sales…or else! When he finds he is locked out and can’t even see their son, Peter: Chandler Canterbury, Remy takes her seriously. A singer, Beth: Alice Braga, he once knew comes back into his life. Be prepared for the satirical humor! Violence, Gore, Bloooood!, Profanity.

April 2010

CRAZY HEART

Bad Blake: Jeff Bridges tours the Southwest, singing, drinking and plucking his guitar in bars. He is interviewed by Jean Craddock: Maggie Gyllenhaal and they become friends. She has a four-year old son, Buddy, whom a drunken Bad misplaces in a huge shopping mall. Jean is so furious that Bad goes to AA. Bad has some success at a stadium with his old pal, Tommy Sweet: Colin Farrell, who has a surprisingly good country western sound. He encourages Bad to write music for him. Bad connects with his old bar owner-buddy Wayne: Robert Duvall. Writer-director Scott Cooper based his tale on Thomas Cobb’s novel. Awards winner: Broadcast & Los Angeles Film Critics, Golden Globes, SAG Award: Best Actor, Bridges; Best Song: The Weary Kind; Las Vegas & Phoenix Film Critics, Satelitte Award: Best Song. Boston Film Critics: Best Use of Music in a Film. Awards nominee (8): British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA): incl. Best Film. Profanity, sexual situations, drunkenness.

CREATION

Within the confines of a small English village, world-renowned scientist Charles Darwin: Paul Bettany formulates his theories which are in conflict with the religious beliefs of his wife, Emma Darwin: Jennifer Connelly and Rev. Innes: Jeremy Northam, his pastor. Darwin’s ally Thomas Huxley: Toby Jones believes historical assumptions will be pierced with the publication of The Origin of the Species. Director Jon Amiel and writer John Collee never permit Darwin any piece of mind; he is in turmoil 24/7, even visited by the ghost of his daughter Annie: Martha West, who died at age 10. Adult situations.

THE LAST STATION

Concentrating on the final year of Tolstoy’s: Christopher Plummer life, he is torn by what is going to happen to his estate. His wife of 48 years, Sonya: Helen Mirren believes his copyright royalties should be divided within the family; the opposing view is championed by Vladimir Chertkov: Paul Giamatti, who wants the Tolstoy Movement to inherit the royalties. The arrival of the new secretary, Valentin: James McAvoy, sent by Chertkov, starts the commotion. Daughters Sasha: Anne-Marie Duff and Masha: Kerry Condon have their viewpoints, too. When Valentin and Masha start an affair, his loyalties are torn: Should he respect the wishes of Mrs. Tolstoy? Or, does his vote belong to Chertkov and the Movement? In the end, it’s the love story of the Tolstoys. Awards nominee (2): Academy Awards: Best Actress: Mirren; Best Sup. Actor: Plummer. Boring for those not in love.

PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF

Percy: Logan Lerman, a high school student, is the son of Sally Jackson: Catherine Keener and the god Poseidon: Kevin McKidd from one of his earthly visits. He has protectors, his best bud Grover: Brandon T. Jackson and his prof, Mr. Brunner/Chiron: Pierce Brosnan, and needs them when Zeus: Sean Bean believes he has stolen his lightning bolt. At a training camp for the demigods (offspring of gods), he meets and is attracted to Annabeth: Alexandra Daddario, daughter of Athena: Melina Kanakaredes and a friend of Luke: Jake Abel. Luke aids Percy, Grover and Annabeth in their quest across the U.S. for the lightning bolt to clear Percy of being the thief. Chris Columbus directs the fantasy adventure Craig Titley’s screenplay, which is based on Rick Riordan‘s novel. Profanity.

SHUTTER ISLAND

Perhaps director Martin Scorcese has gone too far, looking for a new direction, a different story; for years he stayed within the New York City boundaries, although covering many decades, i.e., The Gangs of New York, The Age of Innocence. The setting for this 1954 mystery thriller is an insane asylum on an island off the coast of Massachusetts where an escaped murderess is sought by the staff. When she disappears, Dr. Cawley: Ben Kingsley involves U.S. marshals, Teddy Daniels (who has emotional problems): Leonardo DiCaprio and passive Chuck Aule: Mark Ruffalo. Who better for a Nazi doctor than Max von Sydow? They become aware of the ominous danger of their sinister assignment as they go deeper and deeper into the claustrophobic, deadly asylum. Violence, horror, nudity, profanity.

A SINGLE MAN

Director Tom Ford bases his screenplay upon a Christopher Isherwood novel about one traumatic day in the life of a gay high school teacher, George: Colin Firth. His best friend and neighbor, Charley: Julianne Moore, comforts him when he is phoned by a relative of his lover of many years, Jim: Matthew Goode, that Jim died instantly when hit by a car and that the service will be “family only”. He tries hard to have a typical day. During the evening, George finds one of his high school students, Kenny: Nicholas Hoult, at his usual bar. They swim together nude in the Malibu surf then adjourn to George’s living room. Firth’s brilliant performance is garnering much recognition. Nudity, sexual situations. Awards winner: British AFTA,Venice Film Festival, Austin, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara & Vancouver Film Critics: Best Actor: Colin Firth. Awards nominee: Academy Awards: Best Actor: Colin Firth. BAFTA: Rising Star nominee: Nicolas Hoult.

THE WHITE RIBBON

Pre-WWI in a German village, the children start acting very strange, while the adults are in denial that there is anything out of the ordinary. An elder is thrown from his horse when it runs into a wire stretched between two trees; he spends months in the hospital with broken bones and injuries. A student takes a sythe to an entire vegetable crop, destroying it. A pet bird is found, not in its cage, but on a desk pierced by scissors. These incidents present the youth of pre-Nazi Germany as those who will grow up to become the ruling Nazis of WWII. The supposed innocence of the children is never questioned. Very little background music accompanies the strange happenings. The ensemble work is terrific, with no one to single out except perhaps the narrator. Violence, sexual situations, adult situations. Awards nominee: Academy Awards: Best Foreign Language Film.

THE WOLFMAN

Lawrence Talbot: Benicio Del Toro, originally a Brit left home when his mother died and has become an American actor, touring in England in classics. His brother’s fiancé, Gwen Conliffe: Emily Blunt, writes him that his brother has disappeared and invites him back to Blackmoor to join the search. He is reunited with his father, Sir John Talbot: Anthony Hopkins, and learns there is more he left behind than he cares to remember when he is bitten by a werewolf at a gypsy encampment. He learns villagers are being killed by something with incredible strength and a thirst for blood. A Scotland Yard detective, Abberline: Hugo Weaving, has been drawn to the hamlet to investigate. Graphic violence/gore.

March 2010

AVATAR

Writer-director James Cameron has already topped the No. 1 all-time money-making film Titanic with his new futuristic fantasy. It has action, love, incredible settings, war and human interest! Paraplegic marine Jake Sully: Sam Worthington is lured by the U.S. military on a mission to the planet Pandora to replace his twin who, after years of training, died just before the 5-year flight to Pandora. Gung-ho Col. Miles Quaritch: Stephen Lang will wipe out the Na’vi population and culture to mine a precious mineral for Parker: Giovanni Ribisi if the diplomatic path pursued by the avatars (surrogate humans of natives) of Dr. Grace Augustine: Sigourney Weaver and Jake don’t succeed. Jake, during Na’vi training, falls in love with the princess Neytiri: Zoe Saldana. IMAX 3-D. Awards winner: Golden Globes: Best Drama, Best Director. 15th Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: Best Action Movie, Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Editing, Visual Effects. Phoenix Film Critics: Best Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design & Visual Effects. Awards nominee (8): British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA): incl. Best Film.

DAYBREAKERS

This sci-fi thriller set in 2025 uses buckets of blood as bodies explode and vampires devour their victims live, rather than just drain their blood. As humans only make up 10% of the world population, hematologist researcher Edward Dalton: Ethan Hawke seeks a blood substitute for pharmaceutical titan Charles Bromley: Sam Neill as the blood supply diminishes to less than one month’s worth as the humans hide from the vamps. Lionel ‘Elvis’ Corman: Willem Dafoe is an underground leader of the humans. Edward hasn’t made the adjustment to living on blood, but his handsome younger brother sure has. Edward’s brother, Frankie: Michael Dorman is loyal to Bromley. The “daybreakers” are those who can’t stand to be vampires any longer and wait for the morning sun to set them afire and turn them to ashes. Michael and Peter Spierig direct and wrote the engrossing screenplay. Profanity, gore, violence.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

Director/co-writer Wes Anderson directs the stop-motion animation of the Roald Dahl novel. George Clooney provides the voice for Mr. Fox with Meryl Streep doing the same for Mrs. Felicity Fox. They have problems with three neighboring farmers who don’t like their chicken hatches being raided and threaten reprisals. Mr. Fox organizes the other animals (voices include Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe) to tunnel beneath the poultry houses and join him in a raid. Much of the deeper subject matter will probably not interest kids who will enjoy the simple story. Awards winner: New York Film Critics Circle Award*: two George Clooney films; Best Animated Film. Los Angeles & Las Vegas Film Critics: Best Animated Film + Best Family Film (L.V. only). National Board of Review: Special Achievement Award: Wes Anderson. Toronto Film Critics: Best Animated Film. San Francisco & San Diego Film Critics: Best Screenplay, Adapted. Awards nominee: Golden Globes & British AFTA: Best Animated Film.

INVICTUS

One of the best films now playing stars Morgan Freeman (also Exec. Prod.) as recently elected Nelson Mandela in 1995, who wants a World Cup soccer team to improve South Africa’s press image. Team captain Francois: Matt Damon meets with Mandela to help unite their racially divided country and then inspires his teammates to win. Director-producer Clint Eastwood delivers a clean story that entertains anyone over 12. Awards winner: National Board of Review(3): Best Actor, Freeman; Best Director, Eastwood; Freedom of Expression Award. Awards nominee: Critics’ Choice, SAG, Producer of Year Award.

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS

Director-writer Terry Gilliam‘s experience with Monty Python puts him several beats ahead for this fantasy adventure. The complication of Tony: Heath Ledger dying in mid-production was solved by having his character step through a magic looking glass and emerge in the fanciful imaginarium world as Johnny Deep, Jude Law or Colin Farrell. Dr. Parnassus: Christopher Plummer manages the caravan which travels from one town to the next. When Tony is rescued from hanging from a London bridge, he moves their venues into more profitable environs. Seems the good doctor entered into a contract with Mr. Nick: Tom Waits that he would deliver the soul of his daughter Valentina: Lily Cole on her 16th birthday and the day is arriving. Awards nominee (2): British AFTA: Best Production Design, Makeup and Hair.

IT’S COMPLICATED

Jane: Meryl Streep, a bakery owner begins an affair with Jake: Alex Baldwin, from whom she has been divorced for nine years (during which time he has married a younger woman, Agness: Lake Bell ). Their four offspring and Jane’s galpals are scandalized. Jane is also dating her architect, Adam: Steve Martin. Nancy Meyers wrote and directed this comedic love fest for women of all ages. Martin and Baldwin will co-host the March 7th Academy Awards. Language, partial nudity. National Board of Review: Best Ensemble Cast Award.

NINE

Italian director Guido Contini: Daniel Day-Lewis is at a breaking point as he starts a new film. His problem is too many women: his sometimes forgiving wife Luisa: Marion Cotillard; his suicidal mistress Carla: Penelope Cruz; his wardrobe designer Lilli: Judi Dench; Saraghina: Fergie lets the sand sift through her fingers as she lures 10-year old Guido and friends; reporter Stephanie: Kate Hudson; his film star muse Claudia: Nicole Kidman; and Mamma: Sophia Loren. This magical musical version by Oscar-winning director Rob Marshall (Chicago) of the Fellini film 8 1/2 gives each star her own musical number(s): Luisa gets the ballads; Carla has a sexy romp; Lilli exposes her Follies Bergere past in a bustierre; Stephanie (20 lbs. thinner than her other scenes filmed six mos. earlier) lets loose with a bombastic explosion; and Claudia has a romantic auto tour of Naples. Song highlights: Cinema Italiano and Take It All. Awards winner: Sattelite Awards: Best Motion Picture-Musical, Cinematography; Special Achievement Award: Best Ensemble- Motion Picture. Awards nominee: Golden Globes (5):incl. Best Musical Film.

PRECIOUS

An obese teenager, Precious Jones: Gabourey Sidibe is raped by her father and has two kids by him before she’s 15. Her abusive mother, Mary Jones : Mo’Nique throws objects like TVs at her. She’s kicked out of her junior high class because of the second pregnancy and told to go to a special school. There she finds fellowship and love from her teacher, Ms. Rain: Paula Patton, and classmates. Ms. Sidibe was actually 26 when she filmed the powerful role of Precious. The Jones’ case worker, Mrs. Weiss: Mariah Carey, underplays magnificently without makeup. This hard-hitting drama may be difficult for some to stomach.

Awards winner: Screen Actor Guild (SAG), Golden Globes & 15th Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique. Awards nominee: British AFTA (4): Best Picture, Actress: Sidibe, Best Sup. Actress: Mo’Nique & Adapted Screenplay.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Director Guy Ritchie presents a new take on Sherlock as a bromance between Sherlock: Robert Downey, Jr. and Dr. Watson: Jude Law, with jealousies arising as Watson becomes engaged to Mary: Kelly Reilly. Nemesis Lord Blackwood: Mark Strong heads a mysterious fraternal order that brings him back from the dead after his prison execution. Much of the entertaining film is spent chasing him about on the docks of Victorian London or pursuing the elusive Irene Adair: Rachel McAdams. Sherlock himself is less secretive and more interested in bare-knuckled fisticuffs with ruffians. Maybe it’s just an excuse for Sherlock to show his six-pack. There is one harrowing scene when Holmes, Watson and Adair must cut through handcuffs, lest they fall into a meatpacking chainsaw. Language, violence. Awards winner: Golden Globes: Best Actor, Comedy: Robert Downey, Jr.

UP IN THE AIR

Ryan Bingham: George Clooney, a corporate personnel firer-for-hire, has proudly racked up almost ten-million air miles. Ryan meets Alex Goran: Vera Farmiga, whose job also requires lots of flying so whenever their flight plans coincide, they meet for R&R. Enter an inexperienced overachiever Natalie Keener: Anna Kendrick who convinces their Omaha boss Craig Gregory: Jason Bateman, that the firings could be done with videoconferences. Nudity, violence, language. Awards winner: New York Film Critics Circle Award*: two George Clooney films. Golden Globes: Best Screenplay; 15th Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: Adapted Screenplay. National Board of Review, Dallas-Ft. Worth Film Critics, Florida F.C., Kansas City F.C., Southeastern F.C.,& Washington DC F.C.: Best Film, Actor, Screenplay–Adapted. Awards nominee: (6) British AFTA: Best Picture, 2 Sup. Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Editing.

ME AND ORSON WELLES

NYC high school senior Richard Samuels: Zac Efron in 1937 is cast by Orson Welles: Christian McKay in his Broadway production of Julius Caesar. Richard has his eye on Welles’ office worker Sonja Jones: Claire Danes. Welles plays Brutus to George Coulouris as Mark Antony: Ben Chaplin; Joseph Cotten as Publius: James Tupper; Muriel as Portia: Kelly Reilly.

A battle of wits between Richard and egomanical Welles for Sonja. The ‘30s personas become nervous as opening night arrives. Sexual situations, profanity. Awards nominee: British AFTA: Best Supporting Actor: Christian McKay.

February 2010

2012

Director/co-writer Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) has the Earth’s core overheating, due to sun activity, which brings on cracks, quakes, and tsunamis. The spectacular special effects overpower the story of various characters, such as earth scientist Adrian Helmsley: Chiwetel Ejiofor who brings the early signs in 2009 to the attention of White House science advisor Carl Anheuser: Oliver Platt who takes it to President Tom Wilson: Danny Glover. There’s science-fact author Jackson Curtis: John Cusack who picks up his kids from ex-wife Kate: Amanda Peet and live-in beau, Gordon: Tom McCarthy, to take them from SoCal to Yellowstone for a vacation (where he had his honeymoon). Curtis meets ham-radio broadcaster prophet Charlie Frost: Woody Harrelson who has set up shop atop a nearby mountain where he watches the government activity at Yellowstone, which is having seismic convulsions. The president’s daughter, Dr. Laura Wilson: Thandie Newton, is more interested in preserving the world’s art treasures. Do you believe a tsunami eight miles high that hits the Himalaya peaks? There are subplots involving most nationalities, some with humor. Well worth seeing!

ANTICHRIST

A couple has sex, showing all: male and female. The wife notices their toddler nearing the open window but can’t bring herself to stop what she’s doing. He falls to his death in the snow on the street below. That’s just in the first minute of this Danish film by director Lars von Trier that ignores the Hayes Office Hollywood Morals Code. Poor Charlotte Gainsborough, $0.00 budget for makeup and wardrobe, as she wanders around naked, most of the time in the woods or their cabin as husband-amateur psychologist Willlem Dafoe tries to help her with her grief. She repays the unconscious do-gooder by drilling a hole through his calf muscle (only an inch wide) and attaching a 4”x12” grinding wheel (about 60 lbs.) to his leg and throwing away the wrench so he can’t take it off. Talk about your ball-and-chain!! Then she has a masturbation scene. Enough already! If this kind of masochism is for you: go see it. Nudity, violence, language.

THE BLIND SIDE

Big Mike Oher: Quinton Aaron is practically a giant, ambling homeless through life in Memphis. Thanksgiving week, he’s invited in out of the rain to the mansion of spunky Leigh Anne Touhy: Sandra Bullock and husband, Sean: Tim McGraw, and their kids, S.J.: Jae Head and Collins: Lily Collins. He is brought to the attention of Coach Cotton: Ray McKinnon who can’t quite figure how to communicate with Mike. That is, until Leigh Anne shows him; from then on Mike is a whiz on the football field. But it takes the hiring of Miss Sue, a tutor: Kathy Bates to get his grades up to snuff as Mike becomes a member of the Touhy family. Meanwhile, all the college football coaches (playing themselves) who are sent film on Mike’s talents by amateur cameraman, S.J., arrive to woo the massive tackler. This true story is enriched by photos of the real Touhys with the real Mike during the end credits. Ms. Bullock is finally getting much deserved Oscar buzz for her role in this heart-warming holiday treasure. Writer-director John Lee Hancock has a winner in The Blind Side.

DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Director/writer Robert Zemeckis bases his script closely on Dickens’ novel. Jim Carrey voices Scrooge and the three Christmas ghosts, plus five others. Gary Oldham lends his voice to Bob Cratchit, Marley and Tiny Tim. Others include Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn and Bob Hoskins. The animation is excellent, especially as they swoop over Victorian London. When he awakens on Christmas morning, Scrooge has learned from his miserly ways and is able to change so he and all around him are decidedly happier. Minor language concerns. Images too frightening and macabre for children under ten. In IMAX 3-D.

THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS

One wonders whether the dialog pages were delivered daily to the cast and if they ever saw a complete script before filming began on this muddled mess. Oscar winners Lyn Cassady: George Clooney and Larry Hooper: Kevin Spacey do the best they can with what they are given. A reporter in Iraq, Bob Wilton: Ewan McGregor meets Lyn in a hotel restaurant and recognizes a story in the special forces agent of the U.S. Army First Earth Battalion who use secret paranormal powers in their missions. The unit was founded by Bill Django: Jeff Bridges, with a pigtail in a role that cries for Woody Harrelson. Hooper has distorted the mission to serve his own warped ends. Together, Lyn and Bob somehow find Django, Hooper and the goats in the middle of the African desert! Hold director Grant Heslov, screenwriter Peter Straughan, and novelist Jon Ronson equally guilty for this nonsense. Language, nudity.

NEW MOON: The Twilight Saga

The sequel to Twilight begins with Bella: Kristen Stewart running through a field of flowers to sullen Edward Cullen: Robert Pattinson. A very erotic romance with lots of bare chests but few kisses ensues. Her dad Charlie: Billy Burke is very protective. Bella starts to notice a change in her classmate, Jacob: Taylor Lautner, besides the fact that he’s been pumping up for his awesome shirtless scenes. (Some time would have been better spent improving his acting chops.) She thinks maybe it’s his pack of friends, not realizing he has become a werewolf. She and Edward’s sister, Alice Cullen: Ashley Greene, keep in touch via e-mail. Edward’s presence is seen and felt by Bella, even when he’s in Italy attending a high religious conference called by Aro: Michael Sheen (Frost in Frost/Nixon). Dakota Fanning pops up in the final ten minutes. Director Chris Weitz seems to know exactly what his teen female audience is pining for and doesn’t disappoint them, or anyone else, with more humor (like when Bella and Alice fly to Italy on Virgin Atlantic Airlines). It should be a big hit with Twilight fans.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

Katie and Micah are a young engaged couple living in San Diego who move in together in a new home. She is convinced a ghost has been following her for years. It tried to burn down her parents’ home when she was a child. Micah is a disbeliever and thinks the Ouija board will provide answers. He sets up infrared cameras with a timer counting down the seconds each night as they go to bed but wake up hearing noises, only to find the Ouija board marred or claw prints in the flour sprinkled on the hardwood floor. Terrified, they call in an expert to explain the unusual occurrences between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m. Even the police are baffled by what happens on the 21st night. Language.

December 2009

NOW AT THE MOVIES

by Don Lee Miller

COCO BEFORE CHANEL

The young woman Gabrielle, known as Coco: Audrey Tautou, has a sister, Adrienne: Marie Gillain and in the early 1900’s they entertain in music halls for coins tossed in their direction. She has yet to discover colors other than black, brown or gray. She sponges off Baron Balsan: Benoit Poelvoorde who has a country estate and welcomes her to live there, in exchange for visits to her boudoir at night. She learns to love racehorses as he does. To earn a living, she starts designing hats without the usual froufrou. Coco smokes a lot and rarely smiles. On a visit to the seashore, she’s inspired by the sailor’s attire. Though feisty, she’s really not especially interesting, nor does she give promise of soaring the fashion world into a new era. French with subtitles. Language, nudity.

AN EDUCATION

In pre-swinging London in 1961, Jenny: Carey Mulligan, a 16-year old private girls’ school student, is going on 25; she’s growing up much too rapidly, thanks to her affair with 30-something David: Peter Sarsgaard. He re-sells depressed property to black buyers. With his partner-in-crime, Danny: Dominic Cooper and Danny’s wife, Helen: Rosamund Pike, they “liberate” antique maps from homes in villages they “hastily” visit. They lead an enviable social life, which is very attractive to young Jenny, especially her trip to Paris. She starts turning her back on her teacher, Miss Stubbs: Olivia Williams and the Headmistress: Emma Thompson. Jenny doesn’t want advice from her parents, Jack: Alfred Molina or Majorie: Cara Seymour. Lone Scherfig directs Lynn Barber’s memoir/Nick Hornby’s screenplay. Mulligan is getting Oscar buzz for her complex performance; Williams and Molina are being lauded. Sarsgaard’s American accent is disturbing in a Brit. Well worth seeing! Sexual content, smoking.

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN

Gerard Butler seems to becoming synonymous with the most graphic horror tales to come from Hollywood. Here, after watching his wife and daughter brutally murdered, Clyde takes years before exacting his revenge. When he does so, it is so vile and violent that it’s unwatchable. The killer is rendered immobile but can feel everything, as his digits are removed one-by-one, then the et cetera, then the electric saw takes one limb at a time, finally the head is cut off. If one finds this entertaining to watch, this is your Halloween flick. When he uses a plastic spork to dispatch his prison cellmate, both are covered in dripping blood. Jamie Foxx plays Nick, the Philadelphia prosecuting attorney whose family is not spared by Clyde. Extreme violence and profanity!

PARIS

Cédric Klapisch directs/writes this patchwork quilt of Parisian stories lovingly photographed by Christope Beaucarme. There’s Pierre: Romain Duris, who dances at the Moulin Rouge, until his need for a heart transplant forces him to quit. His older sister, Élise: Juliette Binoche , a divorced social worker, moves in with her three kids to care for Pierre. Prof. Roland: Fabrice Luchini has a crush on a student, Laetitia: Mélanie Laurent, and texts her anonymously. The funniest scene is when he shakes his booty for her amusement. The market seller, Jean: Albert Dupontel still has feelings for his ex-wife, Caroline: Julie Farrier. Language, sexual situations.

A SERIOUS MAN

The Coen Brothers have directed and written a Jewish tale of a physics prof, Larry Gopnik: Michael Stuhlbarg, at a small Midwestern university whose life starts unraveling. There’s his inept brother, Arthur: Richard Kind, who sleeps on the couch. Larry’s wife wants to leave him for a more successful man. His daughter does nothing but wash her hair or have an appointment for same. His son, about to have his bar mitzvah, gets his radio confiscated in class with money in it and has run up a bill to a record club. A Korean student bribes him with big bills to change his ‘F’ to passing. Larry can’t get an appointment with the rabbi to discuss his problems. He may, or may not, get tenure on the job. One neighbor always carries a rifle. The stacked neighbor sunbathes nude. “Jake, the ceiling needs painting.” So, what’s a modern day Job to do? Language, nudity, sexual situations.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

This children’s film actually delivers more for adults, particularly those who still remember their childhood fondly. Maurice Sendak, the original author, produces the Spike Jones-directed (and co-written with Dave Eggers) offbeat fable with all embellishments approved. Young Max: Max Records plays a 9-year old who runs away from home one evening and sails to an island populated by strange critters that make him their king. Tempermental-lovable Carol: James Gandolfini; funny Judith: Catherine O’Hara; insecure Ira: Forest Whitaker; Alexander: Paul Dano; Douglas: Chris Cooper; and reasonable KW: Lauren Ambrose comprise the Wild Things. After a coupla days, Max does get back home to his loving mom, Catherine Keener.

WHIP IT

Why set a film in Austin and film it in Detroit? Drew Barrymore makes her directing debut with this dramedy centered around roller derby and the 17-year old newbie to it: Bliss Cavendar: Ellen Page (Juno). Bliss is a misfit in her small town of Bodeen, Texas where her mother, Brooke: Marcia Gay Harden, is a mail carrier, and her father, Earl: Daniel Stern, is a good ol’ boy beer drinker. Her boy friend, Oliver: Landon Pigg dabbles in avant garde music. Her friends on the team are sisterly Maggie Mayhem: Kristen Wiig and skanky Smashley Simpson: Barrymore herself. Iron Maven: Juliette Lewis, on the opposing team, makes life miserable for Bliss. The announcer is played by Jimmy Fallon. Page and Harden turn in involving, interesting performances. Violence, language, nudity, sexual situations.

November 2009

NOW AT THE MOVIES

9

This futuristic animated film features several famous voices for the burlap dolls with a large number on their back. There’s the hesitant elderly leader 1: Christopher Plummer; the sole surviving female 7: Jennifer Connelly; and the adventurous young 9: Elijah Wood, plus 2: Martin Landau, 5: John C. Reilly, and 6: Crispin Glover. They must fight the evil mechanical survivors of the apocalypse. While interesting, it becomes difficult to tell the dolls apart. Definitely too frightening for children under ten; teens and adults may enjoy it.

ALL ABOUT STEVE

This comedy stars Sacramento Herald crossword puzzle gal, Mary Horowitz: Sandra Bullock, falling in love with CNN field news cameraman, Steve: Bradley Cooper. His newsman, Hartman: Thomas Haden Church, encourages their “casual meetings” from Texas to Colorado at various tragedies from a mine cave-in to a hurricane. When Mary, a good-hearted ditz, becomes the center of a media news blitz, there is more than enough blame to go around for her being in harm’s way. Sexual innuendoes.

EXTRACT

Owner of an extract factory in Indiana, Joel: Jason Bateman is given bad advice by his hippie bartender buddy, Dean: Ben Affleck. Joel hires hunky Brad: Dustin Milligan to clean his swimming pool, also to tempt his wife, Suzie: Kristen Wiig, to put out with what’s lacking in their relationship. Pretty con artist Cindy: Mila Kunis comes to work at the factory to take everything that’s not nailed down. Joel’s foreman, Brian: J.K. Simmons (Juno), tries to help keep the plant running despite union organizers, employee injury suits, and corporate takeovers. Poor Joel has his hands more than full trying to repair his marriage and multiple problems with the vanilla bottlers. Bateman and Kunis’s performances dominate this screwball comedy. Language, sexual situations.

GAMER

Fans of video games may be able to accept this premise; for others RUN to another theater and see a film you’ll enjoy. Kable: Gerard Butler (300), the muscular convict who fights to the death for his “freedom” in the game called Slayers, eventually battles the chief executive of the video game empire, Ken Castle: Michael C. Hall (TV’s Dexter). The prison warden, Gina: Kyra Sedgwick, controls her convicts for the money it brings her. Kable’s wife, Angie: Amber Valetta, has to resort to the world’s oldest profession to survive and appears in numerous wigs and costumes for her “role-playing”. Extreme violence and gore, profanity, sexual situations.

THE INFORMANT!

Mark Whitacre: Matt Damon plus 30 lbs. to look the cherubic part approaches FBI Special Agents Brian Shepard: Scott Bacula and Bob Herndon: Joel McHale with evidence of price fixing. His company AMR has been trying to control the world market on Lycine and other pharmaceuticals. Mark’s a corporate executive happily married to Ginger: Melanie Lynskey with two sons. Director Steven Soderberg entertains with surprises: 1) Screenwriter Scott Z. Burns provides Mark with a running narrative that, at times, is hilarious! 2) The Smothers Brothers appear in acting parts. 3) Marvin Hamlisch furnishes a serviceable score. 4) I defy anyone to guess the direction the plot goes in the last 30 minutes. Profanity.

JENNIFER’S BODY

Jennifer Check: Megan Fox does have a great body but hasn’t evvver seen the inside of an acting class; her black eyelashes flutter, the blood of her male classmate victims runs down her chin. Oh, did I forget to mention she’s a cheerleader with vampire tendencies? Jennifer is unhappy that a rock band, led by Nickolai Wolf: Adam Brody (The O.C.), into Satanic rites wanted her body and to cut her up afterwards. Her best friend, nerd ‘Needy’ Lesnicky: actress Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) has an ongoing lesbian relationship with Jennifer and puts up with her until she finds Jennifer’s interested in her male bed partner, Chip: Johnny Simmons. Writer Diablo Cody and director Karyn Kusama can share the blame for this mess. Violence, bloooood, profanity.

PANDORUM

Lt. Payton: Dennis Quaid awakens in a hyper-sleep chamber aboard a spaceship the size of a city and finds and Cpl. Bower: Ben Foster. Initially, they don’t recall their mission or their identities. Both believe they are the only crewmembers to survive but that they are surrounded by fast-moving mutant cannibals with spikes on their spines. Disoriented in the darkness, as Bower ventures forth armed with a walkie-talkie connection to Payton, they learn of the imminent danger they are in. This very intense thriller posts a number of surprises. The space ship sets are incredible. Language, horror violence.

WHITEOUT

Set in Antarctica a few days before six months of darkness and storms are due to start (but actually filmed in Manitoba and Quebec), Carrie: Kate Beckinsale has had an easy two-year post when a serial killer changes that. One of the men around her is not to be trusted, but which one? Is it Robert: Gabriel Macht, Dr. John Fry: Tom Skeritt, her pilot Delfy: Columbus Short, or Russell: Alex O’Laughlin (TV’s Moonlight)? As the storms move in and the base is being evacuated, the whiteness becomes blinding and to walk outside means to cling to a rope guideline and hope for the best, not only against the elements, but also that scythe-wielding psycho on the loose. Language, gore, violence.

October 2009

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER
The countdown begins the day that Summer: Zooey Deschanel starts work at the same greeting card company as Tom: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who instantly falls for her. Director Marc Webb and screenwriters Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber hop around the 500 days every 80 seconds. During this time, the viewer gets to know the couple and their idiosyncrasies. Not the typical Hollywood romantic comedy, the rules were meant to be broken. His friends Paul: Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds since 2005) and McKenzie: Geoffrey Arend, who drinks too much, aren’t so sure she’s in love with Tom. Their observation is pretty astute. Excellent performances and clever dialog make this comedy worth seeing. Profanity.

CHERI
French courtesan Madame Peloux: Kathy Bates enlists the aid of her friend and fellow professional, now retired, Lea de Lonval: Michelle Pfeiffer to get her son, circa 20, Cheri: Rupert Friend, out of his doldrums. Lea succeeds so well that seven years later they are still living together! Peloux decides it is time for Cheri to marry; the young woman she has in mind is Edmee: Felicity Jones, daughter of another pro, Rose: Frances Tomelty. Only Peloux doesn’t expect so much resistance from Lea and Cheri. The filming in Paris and Cologne enrich Christopher Hampton’s screenplay, based on Colette novels, and is directed with an eye for the rich texture by Stephen Frears, who earlier paired with Pfeiffer for Dangerous Liaisons. Sexy situations.

COLD SOULS
Paul Giamatti, playing himself, becomes dour and angst-ridden while trying to portray Uncle Vanya on a N.Y. stage, in order to cope with his frustration, he stores his soul in the cold storage facility run by Dr. Flintstein: David Strathairn. Giamatti learns a blond mule, Nina: Dina Korzun has sold his chick-pea-like soul to an untalented, but ambitious soap-ope ra actress in St. Petersberg. He must retrieve his soul before it is resold and untraceable; he must also tell his wife, Claire: Emily Watson why he must go to Russia. Who would have thunk they would have a black market for the soul trade? Originally written by impish director Sophie Barthes for Woody Allen, one wonders if he would have added more zip to this already humorous fantasy-take on the storage of souls. Profanity.

DISTRICT 9
This sci-fi action adventure, set in Johannesburg, South Africa, really about racial intolerance, is
supposedly about aliens that landed there some 20 years ago with the mother ship hovering above, unable to fly away. The alien refugees were confined to District 9, where they live in the slums. Writer-director Neill Blomkamp balances the human condition and the social commentary. His leading actor, Sharlto Copley: Wikus Van De Merwe, excels as the experiment gone awry with a claw on one arm. He is able to use the alien weapons humans had previously failed to figure out. The scientists have their ideas and Wikus has his, culminating in his becoming a fug itive. His wife, Tania wants to know what happened to him, but her industrial father fails to be straight with her. The alien creatures who befriend Wikus are truly clever, unique and well done.

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA
Once upon a time, Duke: Channing Tatum had a romance with Ana: Sienna Miller in Europe. This sci-fi action-thriller wastes no time in establishing its leadership in the special FX field. When the viewer sees Ana’s brother, Rex: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, at a formal dinner party, look quickly because he undergoes such a transformation that soon he’s unrecognizable. The story picks up four years later, Ana is now a Baroness and Duke is a member of20an elite military group, the G.I. Joes, led by Gen. Hawk: Dennis Quaid. The redhead, Scarlett O’Hara: Rachel Nichols, in the Joes becomes Duke’s new love interest. Zartan: Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy movies) and McCulllen/Destro: Christopher Eccleston lead the Cobra bad guys. Dir. Stephen Sommers keeps the nonstop action moving fast to the detriment of20plot, characterization or keeping up. Much of the story takes place in Paris, Washington, D.C., the Arctic and outer space, but primarily it’s a fun fantasy to accompany popcorn at the movies. Action violence-mayhem.

THE HURT LOCKER
Staff Sgt. William James: Jeremy Renner in the field in Iraq takes over a position as the dude who disarms live bombs that could explode any second. He is aided by Sgt. JT Sanborn: Anthony Mackie and Specialist Owen Eldridge: Brian  Geraghty. Guest appeara nces abound with Sgt. Matt Thompson: Guy Pearce, Contractor Team Leader: Ralph Fiennes, Col. Reed: David Morse, Mrs. Connie James: Evangeline Lilly, and Col. John Cambridge: Christian Camargo. Director Kathryn Bigelow and Writer Mark Boal present a much more realistic war in Iraq than we are used to seeing. Profanity, war violence.

IN THE LOOP
Two State Dept. heads, Karen Clark: Mimi Kennedy and Linton Barwick: David Rasche, have opposing views on rushing to war; Karen wants to slow it down and Linton wants to speed it up. Their aides, Chad: Zach Woods and Liza: Anna Chlumsky (My Girl), leap into bed with each other while maintaining their bosses’ Point of View.  The doves, Karen and Gen. Miller: James Gandolfini, are no more innocent than the hawks. They suck in U.K. Min ister of Intl. Development: Simon Foster: Tom Hollander, who has a way with words of putting his foot in his mouth. Director-writer Armando Iannucci permits everyone to betray everyone else as he presents the funniest satire in years as the back-stabbing crosses the Atlantic. The hand-held camerawork resembles TV news programs. Although it’s a drama, there is a 60 Minutes feel to it. Profanity, war violence.

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
Writer-director Quentin Tarantino may have topped himself with his latest, permitting the Jews to get back at Hitler for the Holocaust. He puts eight young assassins under the tutelage of a Kentucky Army sergeant, Aldo Raine: Brad Pitt, who wants Nazi scalps and they oblige—on camera! Presented in five chapters over 150 minutes, a young Jewess, Shoshanna: Melanie Laurent escapes the killing of her family by Col. Hans Landa: Christoph Landa, who brilliantly plays cat–and-mouse with people. Don’t be surprised in February if he walks off with the Supporting Actor Oscar: he’s th at duplicitous! Raine occasionally permits a captive to live but cuts a 4-inch swastika into each forehead so even after they take off the Nazi uniform, everyone will know who they really are. German actress Bridget von H.: Diane Kruger, really an Allied agent, attracts the love of the foremost marksman of Germany, Daniel Bruhl: Frederick Zoller. Her team and Raine’s have plans for the premiere of Bruhl’s film bio at the theatre now owned in Paris by Shoshanna.

JULIE & JULIA
In 2002, blogger Julie Powell: Amy Adams decides to cook in one year all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Two stories run concurrently throughout, the other being the problems that Child: Meryl Streep, perfectly hilarious as a chef learning in the 1950’s at the Cordon Bleu cooking school, has been trying to get a publisher for her first cookbook, before she ever heard of PBS. Her romant ic marriage to U.S. diplomat in France, Paul: Stanley Tucci is paralleled with Julie and her handsome hubby, Eric: Chris Messina. Writer-director Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail) presents Child’s passion for food, cooking, and living with joie de vivre. What a pity she couldn’t do the same for Julie Powell.

September 2009

EASY VIRTUE

About 1920, American racecar driver Larita: Jessica Biel wins the Grand Prix at Monte Carlo for about a minute, until the title is bestowed upon a male. But, during that minute her eyes meet those of hunky Brit, John Whitaker: Ben (Prince Caspian) Barnes. When the newlyweds arrive at the family manse in the Nottingham countryside, cold mumsy Veronica: Kristen Scott Thomas; beatendown hubby : Colin Firth with beard; and two repressed sisters: Marion: Katherine Parkinson and Hilda: Kimberley Nixon, plus butler Furber: Kris Marshall greet them. The war of the American vs. the Brits begins with a major battle being the loss of Poppy, the puppy on the sofa under where Larita sits down. Mahvelous! cast based upon a witty play by Noel Coward, —tunes by Cole Porter and Coward.

FOOD, INC.

This documentary looks at the American food industry with a sharp critical eye and exposes a lot of facts the viewer may not want to know. Chickens with large breasts are grown in huge dark barnlike buildings in 49 days; many dying every day from the chemicals they are fed. The slaughtering of beef, pork (32,000 per day) and chickens causes workers fingernails to drop off; there are no unions protecting the laborers, mostly illegals from Mexico. Fifteen workers are turned over to immigration each day on a rotating basis. The industry is growing by 20% each year. Robert Kenner directs.

THE HANGOVER

Three L.A. professionals (Phil: Bradley Cooper; dentist Stu: Ed Helms; and brother-of-the-bride Alan: Zach Galifianakis) take their best bud, Doug: Justin Bartha, who’s getting married, to Vegas for his bachelor party. They remember going to the roof of their high-rise hotel but nothing that happened during the rest of the night! Stu sees he’s missing a front tooth and has married a lovely stripper, Jade: Heather Graham. Stay for the end credits when the camera photos of their wild night is finally seen for its only showing. Director Todd (Old School) Phillips Language, sex, nudity, drug use.

HE PROPOSAL

Publishing exec Margaret Tate: Sandra Bullock finds her Canadian green card about to expire and presumes her assistant Andrew Paxton: Ryan Reynolds will step in and rescue her. First, they must venture to Alaska to convince his parents, Joe: Craig T. Nelson and Grace: Mary Steenburgen, plus almost-90 year old grandmother Annie: Betty White. If only the vehicle were as strong as its stars; they shine despite their weak material. Lots of yuks. Nudity, language.

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3

Updates of the ‘70s flick which starred Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. Dispatcher, Walter Garber: Denzel Washington, deals with the audacious Ryder: John Travolta’s gang, including Phil Ramos: Luis Guzman and Bashkim: Victor Gojcaj, asking ransom of $10-million for 17 passengers. Authorities bring in negotiating expert, Camonetti: John Turturro, he’s nixed by Ryder. As the NYC Mayor, James Gandolfini does the best he can in an impossible situation. It’s overkill for screenwriter Brian (Mystic River, L.A. Confidential) Helgeland to throw in a “Motherf…..!” in every other sentence. If the victims don’t die immediately from their gunshot wounds they bleed to death on screen. Violence, profanity.

TERMINATOR SALVATION

Dr. Serena Kogan: Helena Bonham Carter in 2003 saves convict Marcus Wright: Sam Worthington from death by lethal injection. John Connor: Christian Bale leads a Resistance attack in 2018 against a Skynet base, discovering human prisoners and, horrors! the plans for developing new Terminators with some living tissue. Marcus is saved from a Terminator by Kyle Reese: Anton Yelchin, who is Number One on the Skynet “kill list,” followed by Connor. This noisy, befuddled mess could have benefited from more story, less rampant terminators. Sci-fi, violence, sex content.

UP

Widower, Carl Fredricksen, voice of Ed Asner, a grumpy 78-year old man with nothing going on in life, recalls the astronaut Charles Muntz, who was the hero of his youth: voice of Christopher Plummer. Carl attaches thousands of balloons to his home and sets off for South America where he locates an extinct colorful bird. As a surprise, he finds the pesky neighborhood Explorer Scout, Russell: voice of Jordan Nagai, clinging to his front porch. Their relationship develops into a form of friendship. Pete Docter directs with Bob Peterson and both are credited with the clever screenplay.

July/August 2009

ANGELS & DEMONS

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is called to aid the Vatican, whose very existence is being threatened, along with Dr. Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer), an Israeli actress (Munich, Vantage Point), here an Italian bioentanglement physics scientist. Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (Ewan McGregor), Swiss Guard Commander Richter (Stellan Skarsgård), and Cardinal Strauss (Armin Mueller-Stahl) are the key Vatican figures, yet the conflict posed by the Vatican’s rules/protocol/procedures often thwart Langdon’s efforts to unravel the mystery. Four cardinals have been kidnapped and are to be killed an hour apart if Langdon, Vetra and Richter can not solve the puzzle presented by the kidnappers. All this happens after the death of the pope and during the meetings to elect his successor. Ron Howard’s direction keeps a fast pace in this sequel to The da Vinci Code, also based on a Dan Brown novel with screenplay by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman. They keep the viewer guessing until the last minute who is on the divine side. Violence, disturbing images of gruesome deaths.

EARTH

Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, co-directors/co-writers, follow the migratory paths of four animal families. Spectacular photography over one year abounds in this world-encompassing documentary with voice-over narration by Patrick Stewart, the perfect choice for the job. Viewers will be empathetic for the endangered polar bears. After sharing a watering hole, multiple lions attack a slow elephant and his fate is doomed. Cranes fly over the Himalayas, barely attaining the necessary heights. A great deal is learned about the tropic rainforests. Winner: Bogey Award: 2008, Germany.

THE SOLOIST

Director Joe Wright brings life to Susannah Grant’s screenplay, which is based on Steve Lopez’ book. Los Angeles Times columnist Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) recognizes a good story when he sees one, and that of Julliard-trained violinist, Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), almost unrecognizable with his strange hair and bizarre appearance playing in unorthodox street venues, certainly qualifies. Schizophrenic Ayers is homeless and friendless, living on L.A.’s Skid Row. Lopez’s ex-wife and boss Mary Weston (Catherine Keener) questions his motivation for his deep involvement with Ayers’ plight, even bringing it to the attention of the LA Mayor. The concert master at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Graham Claydon (Tom Hollander) tries to open doors for the paranoid Ayers. Both leads are opposite sides of the same coin, each achieving extraordinary depths in their characterizations. Violence, profanity.

STAR TREK

The Narada, captained by Nero( Eric Bana) attacks the USS Kelvin in 2233; the commanding officer George Kirk sends his crew and passengers, including his pregnant wife, to safety in space pods. As he flies the Kelvin into the Narada, he hears the birth cries of his newborn son whom they have named James T. Jim grows up in Iowa on his grandparents’ farm while on Vulcan, young Spock learns temper control from his father, Sarek (Ben Cross). Years later, Spock (Zachary Quinto) consults his human mother, Amanda (Winona Ryder), before taking the Vulcan ritual which will purge all his emotions. Capt. Pike (Bruce Greenwood) rescues Jim (Chris Pine) from a bar fight and challenges him to join Starfleet and beat his father’s legacy. McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoë Saldana), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekov (Anton Yelchin) enter the story and the early lives of the next Starfleet commences. Their future will encounter Nero and even the Golden Gate Bridge. The character development and interplays are well done with a time-warp relationship between young Spock and the elder Spock (Leonard Nimoy) a highlight. J.J. Abrams directs with an all encompassing knowledge of what the audience already knows and the entertainment of the new. Sci-fi action and violence, brief sexual content. 126m. Paramount, Spyglass.

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

The backstory starts in 1845 and follows the brothers, Logan and Victor, as they grow to men/soldiers fighting together in the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War. In the present, Logan/Wolverine: Hugh Jackman lives in the Canadian wilderness with his girlfriend. When Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) kills her, Logan vows vengeance and accepts the offer of Major William Stryker (Danny Huston) to have superhuman strengths. John Wraith (Will i Am), another member of the team of elite mutants, joins Wolverine to go to New Orleans to track Victor. Wolverine learns all the activity is centered on Three Mile Island and takes his fight for his life and others there. This sci-fi thriller is directed by Gavin Hood with screenplay by David Benioff and Skip Woods.

June 2009

APPALOOSA

Ed Harris: Virgil Cole (hired as marshal of a New Mexico hamlet by townsman Timothy Spaal to end the reign of cold-blooded killer, rancher Randall Bragg: Jeremy Irons) also directs with a touch of humor, co-produces and co-writes this western, even sings a song during the end credits. His deputy, Everett Hitch: Viggo Mortensen, travels with him everywhere. Allison, a genteel lady (Renee Zellweger) arrives in town and plays folk tunes on piano at the local saloon. There is every reason to believe Virgil swings both ways. Too much time is spent waiting for something to happen; the occasional shootout enlivens activities. Language, violence. New Line 114 min.

BLINDNESS

A sudden outbreak of white blindness spreads across a U.S. city, attacking Duncan (Mark Ruffalo) but not his wife, (Julianne Moore). All the blind are thrown into detention centers. The Man with the Black Eye Patch (Danny Glover) and others must protect themselves from the evil King of Ward 3 (Gael Garcia Bernal) who has seized all the food and ransoms it first for valuables then for sex. It isn’t long before the blind display filthy and vicious, selfish and violent behavior; viewers cannot help but react to the repellant and very disturbing environment. Director Fernando Meirelles filmed in Canada, Brazil and Uruguay. Language, action violence. DreamWorks/Miramax 120 min.

BODY OF LIES

Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) plays an undercover C.I.A. agent in the Middle East trying to find who’s behind the deadly bombs exploding around the world. Ed Hoffman, a chubby suburban dad (Russell Crowe) working at home in the D.C. burbs via a hands-free cellphone while attending his kid’s soccer game, casually makes life-and-death/torture decisions re his worldwide field operatives. Some answers come from Hani (Mark Strong), the head of Jordanian intelligence, but there’s too much of a muddle with frequently flashed geographic names to identify the locales with single vehicles stirring up dust clouds on desert roads. Ferris and Hoffman actually have three face-to-face meetings during this meandering. Directed/co-produced by Ridley Scott and written without much conviction by William Monahan. Syriana was more compelling. Language, graphic violence. Warner Bros. 126 min.

EAGLE EYE

Shia LeBeouf and Michelle Monaghan both receive mysterious foreboding calls on their cell phones. The female voice gives them seconds to make decisions that will involve explosions, car crashes, the fate of loved ones. Thrown together to save their own lives, they try to outwit the unseen all-knowing technology-assisted protags. Their appointments keep them on the go in fast action sequences throughout the Eastern U.S. in this brilliantly edited techno-thriller. Language, action violence. DreamWorks/ Columbia 108 min.

MAX PAYNE

Mark Wahlberg in the title role is a DEA agent whose family was killed. He joins with Mona: Mila Kunis, a vengeful sister, to bring down those in NYC responsible for the drug enhancing Valkyr. His wife’s boss, Jason: Chris O’Donnell, is forced to reveal what he knows. The Aesir Pharmaceuticals execs, B.B.: Beau Bridges and Nicole: Kate Burton, are more involved than they want to admit. Based on a video game, directed with flair by John Moore and written by Beau Thorne. Some sexuality, drug use, extreme violence. 20th Century Fox 99 min.

MIRACLE OF ST. ANNA

Director Spike Lee, convinced that Blacks haven’t been receiving enough screen-time in recent war films, has concentrated his James McBride (novel and screenplay) tale in Tuscany with a black battalion misplacing four of its soldiers behind enemy lines in 1944. The foursome are portrayed by Derek Luke: 2nd Staff Sgt. Aubrey; Michael Ealy: Sgt. Bishop; Laz Alonso: Corp. Hector; and Pvt. 1st Class Sam: Omar Benson Miller. As they befriend the townspeople who hide and feed them, everyone gets acquainted. There’s the wrap-around story of a shooting in a post office with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as reporter Tim Boyle and John Leguizamo as Enrico. Touchstone 160 min.

NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST

Nick (Michael Cera: Juno) compiles CDs of music specially for his love, Tris (Alexis Dziena), who has little interest in him until her bgf Norah (Kat Dennings: The House Bunny) realizes she and Nick have the same music tastes. Director Peter Sollett presents one night with New Jersey teenagers falling in and out of love in Manhattan. Lots of laughs. Teen drinking, sexuality, language, crude behavior. Columbia 90 min.

RELIGULOUS

The title is a combination of the words ‘religious’ and ‘ridiculous’. Religulous is directed by Larry (Borat, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld ) Charles, and written by Bill Maher who takes short, quick stabs at all religions, moving on too fast. Maher interviews a broad range of religious leaders and followers around the globe, visiting Scientologists, Protestants in the U.S. Bible Belt, Mormons in Salt Lake City, and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, plus other locations. He attacks Christianity but is softer on Islam. A garrulous rabbi who won’t let Maher get a word in steals the show. Some sexuality, drug use. Lionsgate/Thousand Words 101 min.

W.

Geo. W. Bush (Josh Brolin) meets Laura (Elizabeth Banks) at a barbeque. Barbara Bush (Ellen Burstyn) tries to keep hubby, Geo. H.W. Bush/Poppy (James Cromwell) under control. Barbara to W.: “You’re loud and you’ve got a short fuse.” The inner circle members include Dick Cheney (Richard Dreyfuss) , Karl Rove (Toby [infamous as Capote] Jones), Condoleeza (Thandie Newton), Rumsfeld (Scott Glenn), and Colin Powell (Jeffrey Wright), plus there’s Tony Blair (Ioan Gruffudd). Born again religious leader, Earle Hudd: Stacy Keach influences W. The performances that especially deserve Oscar nods are Brolin, Cromwell and Wright. Directed by Oliver Stone and written by Stanley Weiser, they present a hard-drinking, foul-mouthed Bush who can’t hold a job, warts and all so viewers will probably have their earlier opinion reinforced. Language, alcohol abuse, smoking, war images. Lionsgate 129 min.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED

Movie studio politics for two weeks in the life of veteran producer, Ben: Robert DeNiro include battles with the tough studio chief, Lou: Catherine Keener and actor’s agent Dick: John Turturro. Sean Penn stars in Fiercely, the film Ben is showing at Cannes. Ben’s most recent ex-wife, Kelly: Robin Wright Penn, still has a burning torch despite an affair with Scott: Stanley Tucci. If he’ll shave off a four-month bushy beard, Bruce Willis will star in Ben’s next feature. DeNiro is at the top of his form in this ensemble Hollywood slice-of-life well directed by Barry Levinson and written by Art Linson. Some sexuality, drug use. magnolia 110 min.

November 08

BURN AFTER READING

Joel and Ethan Coen’s latest film is not on a par with their award-winning classics. Linda: Frances McDormand and Chad: Brad Pitt work for Ted: Richard Jenkins at Hardbodies gym. Linda wants a body lift that costs $50K that she doesn’t have. When they get hold of an incriminating disc belonging to ex-CIA agent, Osborne: John Malkovich, they set up a blackmail effort. Mrs. Katie Osborne: Tilda Swinton is having an affair with Harry: George Clooney; if it walks, he’s bedding it. JK Simmons, (Juno‘s father) runs the CIA. The audience did laugh three times so I don’t think this qualifies as a comedy. Crude humor, language, violence. Focus 91 min.

THE HOUSE BUNNY

For laughs, don’t miss Anna Faris as Shelley, The House Bunny. She’s fabulous!! This is a part Marilyn Monroe would have loved to play. She’s outlived her youth at Hugh Hefner’s mansion and is kicked out. What’s a doll to do? She becomes house mother for a sorority—not just any sorority but the loser one on campus. She teaches the gals (Emma Stone, Kat Denning, Katharine McPhee, and Rumer Willis who are about to lose their house) her make-up tricks and soon they are the most popular on the quad. There has to be a villainess to stir up trouble from a rival frat house, whose mother, Mrs. Hagstrom (Beverly D’Angelo), happens to be on the board of the college. Dean Simmons (Christopher McDonald) has his hands full with her. Columbia 97 min.

LAKEVIEW TERRACE

For the fans of Crash, here’s another excellent multi-ethnic racial clash pic. Set in an upper class canyon neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley during the Santa Clarita fires, cop Able Turner (Samuel L. Jackson) runs roughshod at work in the hood. When an interracial couple moves next door, he makes life hell for Chris: Patrick Wilson (The Phantom of the Opera) and Lisa: Kerry Washington (Della in Ray). From slashed tires to a floodlight shining into their bedroom, the harassment continues. Able’s kids are nice enough, but afraid of their dad. His fellow cops seem to keep Able at arm’s length. Then there’s the cop party at 3 a.m. with strippers at Able’s! TV’s Justin Chambers (Grey’s Anatomy) and Eva La Rue (CSI: Miami) have minor parts. Violence, language. Sony 125 min.

MY BEST FRIEND’S GIRL

Tank (Dane Cook) makes a living by taking girls out on a date (paid for by their unappreciated boy friends) and showing them the worst time they have EVER had. His best friend, Dustin (Jason Biggs) doesn’t feel he’s able to get Alexis (Kate Hudson) to commit. He doesn’t expect Alexis and Tank to feel so strongly about each other. Prof. Turner (Alec Baldwin), Tank’s dad, is as much of a skirt-chasing heel as his son. Lots of laughs. Language, bedroom antics. Lionsgate 101 min.

RIGHTEOUSE KILL Turk (Robert DeNiro) and Rooster (Al Pacino), partners in the NYPD Homicide Division with 30 years of experience, are determined to get a serial killer who goes after criminals who have gotten away with rape and murder. The killer leaves a poem on each body, shot at close range. Spider’s (50-Cent [Chris Jackson]) hot nightclub seems to be the center of illegal activity. Karen (Carla Gugino), a CSI who likes her sex rough, is Turk’s girl. When Lt. Hingis (Brian Dennehy) wants detective partners Perez (John Leguizamo) and Riley (Donnie Wahlberg) to bring in the serial killer, they tangle with Turk and Rooster. Jon Avnet directs in lack luster style. Language, action violence, some sexuality, drug use. Overture 100 min.

TRAITOR

Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) is in charge of the FBI task force to link Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), devout American Muslim and ex-U.S. Army explosives expert, to bombings around the world. Every four minutes, they’re in a different city across the globe. Clayton questions Horn in Yemen when he arrested with terrorists. When they escape, they take Horn, too. Max (Neal McDonough) connects Horn to explosions in Nice and London. Clayton must find Horn before more lives are lost at his hands in this international conspiracy. Jeff Daniels appears briefly as a CIA agent. Language, violence. Overture Films 113min.

THE WOMEN

Mary (Meg Ryan/Norma Shearer in the 1939 George Cukor classic) learns from a manicurist (Debi Mazur) that Crystal (Eva Mendes/Joan Crawford) is stealing her husband. Mary’s hair is enough to scare off most men! Mary’s bgf, Sophia (Annette Bening/Rosalind Russell), a women’s magazine editor, fears for her job and being replaced by someone younger. Their gal pal, Edie (Debra Messing) is busy having kids. Jada Pinkett Smith as lesbian Alex is there for all the key scenes. The over-50 set is well represented by Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher and Cloris Leachman. Despite all of Diane English’s effort and colorful fashions, she can’t capture the razor wit of the original and having NYC sidewalk scenes with only women is ludicrous. The DVD of the black-and-white comedy is worth the rental/purchase. Language. Picturehouse 114 min.

October 2008

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