Feb. 16: At the Movies
A spy thriller (“Breach”), a youth story (“Bridge to Terabithia”), a family drama (“Daddy’s Little Girls”), a comic adaptation (“Ghost Rider”) and a romantic comedy (“Music and Lyrics”) are arriving in theaters for this Presidents’ Day weekend. For complete descriptions, critical evaluations of previewed films and explanations of the Motion Picture Association of America ratings in terms of violence, language and sexual content, please refer to the Movie Capsules.
The new films (with all dates subject to change) opening at a theater near you include:
“Breach,” with Oscar-winner Chris Cooper (“Adaptation”) and Ryan Phillippe (“Crash”) in a chilling fact-based drama about Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent who for 22 years sold secrets to the Russians, caused operatives from the United States to be compromised and cost our country millions of dollars. Cooper plays Hanssen in the PG-13 picture, and Phillippe portrays Eric O’Neill, the young agent-in-training selected by the FBI to help gather evidence against Hanssen by working as the nefarious spy’s assistant.
“Bridge to Terabithia,” with Josh Hutcherson (“RV”), AnnaSophia Robb (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) and Zooey Deschanel (“Elf”) in a PG-rated fantasy about a 14-year-old boy and girl who together create a magic kingdom that contains fantastic creatures, beautiful forests and dangerous villains. The touching tale, which contains a heart-breaking twist that may upset some children, is based on the Newbery Award-winning novel by Katherine Paterson.
“Daddy’s Little Girls,” with Gabrielle Union (“Bad Boys II”), Idris Elba (HBO’s “The Wire”) and Louis Gossett Jr. (“An Officer and a Gentleman”) in a PG-13 romantic drama about a single father who works as a garage mechanic in a poor neighborhood and struggles to raise three daughters on his own. When his drug-dealing ex-wife wins back custody, the dad hires a brilliant attorney to take his case and ends up romantically involved with the lawyer. Tyler Perry (“Madea’s Family Reunion”) wrote and directed.
“Ghost Rider,” with Nicolas Cage (“National Treasure”) in a PG-13 adaptation of the Marvel comic about a motorcycle stunt driver who sells his soul to the devil to save a loved one and then becomes an eerie superhero known for exploding into flames.
“The Italian,” with Soviet filmmaker Andrei Kravchuk directing an unrated family drama about an abandoned 5-year-old boy whose life changes when an Italian couple visit an orphanage in a small Russian town and adopt him.
“Music and Lyrics,” with Drew Barrymore (“50 First Dates”) and Hugh Grant (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) in a PG-13 romantic comedy about a fading singing star who approaches an eccentric young woman who possesses a way with words and asks her to help him write some pop songs. The mismatched couple soon find they were made for each other.
At the buck$ office
Eddie Murphy gave his fans what they wanted with “Norbit,” a broad PG-13 comedy that features the star in three different roles and opened with more than $33 million.
Following in the distance at the No. 2 spot was “Hannibal Rising,” the prequel to “The Silence of the Lambs.” The R-rated picture opened with more than $13 million.
According to the Associated Press, the top-10 movies last weekend were:
1. “Norbit” ($33.7 million)
2. “Hannibal Rising” ($13.35 million)
3. “Because I Said So” ($9 million)
4. “The Messengers” ($7.2 million)
5. “Night at the Museum” ($5.75 million)
6. “Epic Movie” ($4.45 million)
7. “Smokin’ Aces” ($3.8 million)
8. “Pan’s Labyrinth” ($3.55 million)
9. “Dreamgirls” ($3.1 million)
10. “The Queen” ($2.5 million)