May 4: Movie Capsules
The following capsule reviews, listed alphabetically, will give you an idea of the caliber of films unreeling locally. Please refer to the movie schedule for theaters and show times. The films are graded as follows: Very Good, (A); Good, (B); Fair, (C); Poor, (D); Turkey (F). Those with (NP) have not been previewed. (To locate a Web site, go to www.google.com and type in the film’s title.)
AFTER THE WEDDING:(B) During this import, a benevolent Danish man, Jacob Petersen (Mads Mikkelsen of “Casino Royale”), devotes himself to running an orphanage and helping poor street children in India. When the orphanage faces closure due to a lack of funds, a mysterious businessman offers a donation of $4 million under the condition that Petersen returns to his homeland to attend a wedding. At that ceremony, some uncomfortable truths are revealed. Susanne Bier (“Open Hearts”) directed the picture, which received a 2006 Oscar nomination as best-foreign-language film. (120 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, sexual elements. (R)
AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE COLON MOVIE FILM FOR THEATERS: (B) Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis, who co-created the animated favorite for the Cartoon Network’s late-night series Adult Swim, wrote and directed this perversely humorous big-screen adventure that should entertain the show’s fans. The story examines the mysterious circumstances that brought Meatwad, Frylock and Master Shake – three fast-food products who consider themselves crime-fighting heroes – together. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (87 minutes) Crude humor, sexual images, harsh four-letter profanity, violent images. (R)
ARE WE DONE YET?: (B-) Rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube and Nia Long return in this silly follow-up to “Are We There Yet?” In the slapstick sequel, Cube and Long marry and move with their two children to the suburbs. Soon after, the head of the household tangles with a meddlesome neighbor who keeps destroying the couple’s plans to renovate their new home and battles wild animals that make his life miserable. The plot is a rewrite of the vintage comedy favorite “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” (1948) with Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (92 minutes) Innuendo, brief language. (PG)
BAMAKO: (B+) Screen favorite Danny Glover (“Lethal Weapon”) served as executive producer and makes a cameo appearance in this acclaimed political drama about people in Africa who blame international financial institutions for their country’s monetary problems. It is being presented in French and Bambara with subtitles. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (118 minutes) (Unrated)
BLACK BOOK: (B+) Paul Verhoeven (“Basic Instinct”) directed this intense World War II historical drama about a Jewish woman (Carice van Houten) who survives a murder attempt, joins the resistance movement in Holland and becomes intrigued by a seemingly sympathetic Nazi officer (Sebastian Koch). The picture reflects how greed brought out the absolute worst in so many people during the war. The import is being presented in Dutch, German and Hebrew with subtitles. (145 minutes) Strong violence, sex, nudity, harsh four-letter profanity, adult themes. (R)
BLADES OF GLORY: (B-) Moms and dads who sensitive to the content of the movies seen by their children will quickly realize that they’re skating on thin ice in terms of being responsible parents if they take their youngsters to this crude figure-skating spoof. The gross moments include a scene of incest, a recreation of Marilyn Monroe’s suicide and a fondling of a young woman. Will Ferrell (“Old School”), Jon Heder (“Napoleon Dynamite”), Jenny Fischer (TV’s “The Office”), Amy Poehler (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”) and Will Arnett (TV’s “Arrested Development”) star in the outlandish comedy about two battling figure skaters. After being dropped from the professional skating league due to fighting with each other during a competition, the singles skaters find a loophole that allows them back into competition if the two men skate as doubles. Plenty of gross gags follow. (95 minutes) Strong sexual elements, harsh four-letter profanity, drug references, brief violent image. (PG-13)
BREACH: (B) TV-movie production values slightly damage this chilling fact-based drama about Robert Hanssen (Oscar-winner Chris Cooper of “Adaptation”), 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 billions. Ryan Phillippe (“Crash”) co-stars as 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. The degree to which Hanssen was able to manipulate his superiors at the FBI proves absolutely shocking. (110 minutes) Violence, sexual content, harsh four-letter profanity. (PG-13)
THE CONDEMNED: (NP) Athletes-turned-actors “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones (“Lock, Stock and Two-Smoking Barrels”) team in this bloody tale about a television producer who creates a reality show by marooning 10 convicted killers on a desert island. He then films their fights to the death until only one man is left standing. (113 minutes) Non-stop brutal violence, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
DISTURBIA: (B-) Shia LaBeouf (“Holes”) and Carrie-Anne Moss (“The Matrix”) star in this diverting teen thriller inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.” In the story, an emotionally unstable 17-year-old guy blames himself for an automobile accident that claimed the life of his beloved father. After a violent incident at school, the voyeuristic young man is sentenced to house arrest, and during the boring hours at home, he uses binoculars to spy on his those nearby – including a cute girl (Sarah Roemer of “The Grudge 2”) who moves next door – and comes to believe that a hulking neighbor (David Morse of “16 Blocks”) is a serial killer. Talented D.J. Caruso, whose credits include the haunting drama “The Salton Sea,” directed. (104 minutes) Scenes of terror, violent images, drug reference, sensual elements. (PG-13)
FIREHOUSE DOG: (B-) During this canine comedy with Josh Hutcherson (“Bridge to Terabithia”) and Bruce Greenwood, a four-legged Hollywood star gets lost far from Tinsel Town. The animal eventually ends up in a town and is adopted by firefighters who are then inspired by the very-smart shaggy dog. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (111 minutes) Scenes of action peril, mile crude humor and language. (PG)
THE FLYING SCOTSMAN: (C+) British actor Jonny Lee Miller (“Mindhunters”) stars in this fact-based story about Graeme Obree, a champion cyclist who suffered from mental-health problems and constructed his bicycle from the parts of old washing machines. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (96 minutes) Mature elements, language. (PG-13)
FRACTURE: (C) During this lifeless thriller, a wealthy old millionaire (Anthony Hopkins of “The Silence of the Lambs”) is arrested for murdering his much-younger wife (Embeth Davidtz of “Schindler’s List”), a crime to which he readily confesses. He soon matches wits with a blindly ambitious twentysomething prosecutor (Ryan Gosling of “Half Nelson”) and makes it clear that he might have committed the perfect crime. Hopkins and Gosling seem ready to rumble, but their characters never really get an opportunity to go toe to toe and generate some dramatic sparks. David Strathairn (“Good Night, And Good Luck”) co-stars. (115 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, violence, sexual elements, adult themes. (R)
GHOST RIDER: (C) Nicolas Cage (“National Treasure”) has the title role in this 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. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (114 minutes) Horror violence, disturbing images. (PG-13)
GRBAVICA: THE LAND OF MY DREAMS: (B) Jasmila Zbanic is making her directing debut with this anti-war picture about the physical and emotional turmoil shared by a mother and her 12-year-old daughter during the Yugoslav wars of the last decade. Zbanic also wrote the script. The unrated film is being presented in Bosnian with subtitles. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (107 minutes) (Unrated)
GRINDHOUSE: (B+) Filmmaking buddies Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, who previously teamed on “Sin City,” each directed an exploitation picture and then put them together as an old-fashioned double-feature. Tarantino’s title, “Death Proof,” stars Kurt Russell (“The Thing”) as a madman who uses his car to kill victims, and Rodriguez’s “Planet Terror” has Rose McGowan (TV’s “Charmed”) leading the fight against a zombie army attacking a small town. Fans of exploitation films should find this production a blast from the past, while others may consider watching it more painful than a kick in the head. (185 minutes) Strong graphic violence and gore, non-stop harsh four-letter profanity, some sex, nudity, drug use. (R)
THE HOAX: (B) If this story wasn’t true, it’s doubtful that anyone would ever believe it. Richard Gere (“Chicago”) stars in a fascinating tale of Clifford Irving, the author who convinces a major publishing house that he is co-writing a book with the reclusive Howard Hughes and then receives a $1 million advance. (115 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, adult themes. (R)
THE HOST: (B+) This inspired creature-feature import, starring Kang-ho Song, ranks as South Korea’s highest-grossing movie of all time. In the picture, directed by the very talented Joon-ho Bong, the U.S. military dumps some toxic chemicals into Seoul’s Han River. A couple of years later, a flesh-eating monster, which is about the size of a Hummer and faster than a Porsche, comes out of the depths and hits the shore looking for food. It’s simultaneously funny, scary and touching. It will be presented in Korean with subtitles. (119 minutes) Violence, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
HOT FUZZ: (B) British performers Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, who previously teamed for “Shaun of the Dead,” star in this action-film spoof about a tough London cop who’s transferred to an out-of-the-way quiet town by superiors jealous of his arrest record. Once in the remote location, the driven officer begins to suspect that some of the residents are being murdered. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (121 minutes) Hard-edged violence, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
IN THE LAND OF WOMEN: (C+) In this romantic comedy, starring Adam Brody (TV’s “The O.C.”) and Meg Ryan (“Sleepless in Seattle”), a television writer goes into a depression after being dumped by his actress-girlfriend. He becomes emotionally renewed when he visits his grandmother in Detroit and is befriended by the interesting ladies living in the neighborhood. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (97 minutes) Sex, adult themes, harsh four-letter profanity. (PG-13)
INTO GREAT SILENCE: (B) Filmmaker Philip Groning directed this documentary about the meditative and spiritual lives of the monks of the Carthusian Order in the French Alps. It is being presented in French and Latin with subtitles. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (169 minutes) (Unrated)
THE INVISIBLE: (NP) During this chiller, starring Justin Chatwin (“War of the Worlds”) and Marcia Gay Harden (“Pollock”), a teenager is beaten nearly to death by a troubled person. He then becomes caught between the world of the living and the dead as he is trapped in a ghostly position and must solve the mystery behind the real reason for the violent attack. It’s a remake of a Swedish film of the same name. The distributor declined to screen the film for reviewers. (97 minutes) Violence, sensual elements, and harsh language – all involving teens. (PG-13)
I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE: (B-) Comic actor Chris Rock (“Head of State”) is joined by Kerry Washington (“Little Man”), Gina Torres (“Serenity”) and Steve Buscemi (“Con Air”) in this dark romantic comedy about a married guy bored with his wife. He starts having fantasies about other women after an old girlfriend enters his life and reminds him of his carefree, sex-filled days as a bachelor. Rock also wrote and directed the picture, which is a loose remake of director Eric Rohmer’s French favorite, “Chloe in the Afternoon” (1972). Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (98 minutes) Sexual content, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
KICKIN IT OLD SKOOL: (NP) Comic-actor Jamie Kennedy (“Scream”) stars in this comedy about a guy who spends 20 years in a coma due to a break-dancing accident. He wakes up with plans to continue his quest to be the world’s best break dancer. The distributor declined to screen the film for reviewers. (107 minutes) Crude and sexual humor, harsh four-letter profanity. (PG-13)
THE LIVES OF OTHERS: (A-) This involving political drama, which is set before the fall of the Soviet empire, reveals the surveillance methods used by the East German government to spy on citizens. The import follows a party loyalist who begins to question his allegiance after being ordered to infiltrate the life of a playwright and his actress/girlfriend and report on them. It won an Oscar as best-foreign-language film. (137 minutes) Sex, nudity. (R)
THE LOOKOUT: (B+) Talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Brick”) stars in this intense suspense tale about a high school golden boy whose reckless behavior leads to a car accident that claims some lives and leaves him with damaged motor functions and gaps in his short-term memory. A few years later, he works as a maintenance man in a bank, and a local hood uses the easily manipulated employee to help him get into the vault. Jeff Daniels (“Gettysburg”), Carla Gugino (“Sin City”) and Isla Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”) co-star in this tightly knit thriller, which marks the directing debut of scriptwriter Scott Frank, who previously adapted two Elmore Leonard novels, “Out of Sight” and “Get Shorty,” into screenplays. (99 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, violence, sexual content. (R)
LUCKY YOU: (C) During this strained relationship picture starring Eric Bana (“Munich”) and Drew Barrymore (“50 First Dates”), a slick poker player tries to win a Las Vegas tournament. At the same time, he’s attempting to impress his seemingly indifferent father (Robert Duvall of “Open Range”), a former poker champion who left his family many years ago. Director Curtis Hanson (“In Her Shoes”) should have added more poker- playing scenes and fewer dysfunctional-family themes. (122 minutes) Sexual humor, harsh four-letter profanity. (PG-13)
MEET THE ROBINSONS: (B-) The voices of Angela Bassett (“What’s Love Got to Do With It”), Tom Selleck (“Three Men and a Baby”) and Adam West (TV’s “Batman”) are featured in this computer-animated tale about a 12-year-old orphan who has a genius IQ and is adopted by a family from the future. The picture is based on the book “A Day with Wilbur Robinson” by William Joyce. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (102 minutes) (G)
MUSIC AND LYRICS: (C) Highly appealing stars Drew Barrymore (“50 First Dates”) and Hugh Grant (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) work hard to generate some good vibrations in this featherweight 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 a pop song. The mismatched couple soon find they were made for each other in the mildly intriguing tale. (96 minutes) Some sexual content. (PG-13)
THE NAMESAKE: (B+) In this touching multi-generational melodrama, the members of an Indian-American family move from Calcutta to New York and then try to come to terms with living in a foreign land while maintaining their traditions. Mira Nair (“Monsoon Wedding”) directed the import, which is based on the novel of the same name by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. Kal Penn (TV’s “24”) stars. (122 minutes) Sex, nudity, drug use, some disturbing images, profanity. (PG-13)
NEXT: (NP) Nicolas Cage (“Ghost Rider”), Julianne Moore (“Children of Men”) and Jessica Biel (“The Illusionist”) star in this sci-fi thriller about a man with the ability to see a few minutes into the future. He changes his identity and takes a job as a magician in a remote Las Vegas lounge to prevent the government from finding him and doing experiments to find the source of his gift. He must decide whether to surface after a terrorist group threatens to detonate a nuclear device and his psychic powers may be able to help government agents locate the weapon of mass destruction. (91 minutes) Intense sequences of violent action, harsh four-letter profanity. (PG-13)
NORBIT: (C) Comic actor Eddie Murphy (“Dreamgirls”) uses state-of-the-art shape-shifting imagery to play numerous roles in a broadly staged, vulgar comedy about a sad-sack guy who vows to get out of his unhappy marriage to a tyrannical wife (also portrayed by Murphy) and marry the girl (Thandie Newton of “Mission: Impossible II”) of his dreams. Brian Robbins (“Varsity Blues”) directed. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (90 minutes) Crude and sexual humor, some nudity, language. (PG-13)
NOTES ON A SCANDAL: (B) In this intense melodrama, a married teacher (Cate Blanchett of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy) begins an affair with one of her teenage boy students. She is then blackmailed by an older instructor (Judi Dench of “Casino Royale”), a closeted lesbian with her own possessive agenda. Bill Nighy (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”) co-stars as the husband who can’t understand how his wife could do such a thing to her spouse and their children. The film, which features flawless performances from the two British actresses, is based on the 2003 novel “What Was She Thinking?: Notes on a Scandal” by Zoe Heller. (92 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, strong sexual content involving a minor, adult themes. (R)
OFFSIDE: (B) Filmmaker Jafar Panahi directed this imported drama about some Iranian girls who dress as boys and attempt to enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium – a place where only males are allowed – to watch a soccer match. Some are recognized and then face charges for their act of defiance. (88 minutes) Adult themes. (PG)
PATHFINDER: (C-) Karl Urban (the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy), Moon Bloodgood (“Eight Below”), Russell Means (“The Last of the Mohicans”) and Clancy Brown (“Highlander”) star in this lackluster action tale. In the story, a Viking boy is left behind after Viking warriors retreat following a battle with an Indian tribe. The tribe members then raise the boy, who helps them fight the sadistic Vikings when they return years later to get revenge and locate the child they left behind. Marcus Nispel, who helmed “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” remake, directed. (78 minutes) Brutal violence throughout. (R)
PERFECT STRANGER: (C) The star power of Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”) and Bruce Willis (“The Sixth Sense”) fuels this cable-level thriller about a reporter investigating the murder of an old friend. She concludes that the prime suspect is a powerful businessman known for his roving eye and brutal ways. Giovanni Ribisi (“Saving Private Ryan”) co-stars, and James Foley (“Glengarry Glen Ross”) directed the by-the-numbers revenge picture. (109 minutes) Sexual content, nudity, violence, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
PREMONITION: (C) During this flimsy psychological thriller, a wife (Sandra Bullock of “The Lake House”) is told by police that her husband (Julian McMahon of TV’s “Nip/Tuck”) died in a car crash. Upon awakening the next morning, she finds him still alive, realizes she has had a premonition and then struggles to change the future by keeping him safe. Nia Long (“Are We There Yet?”) co-stars, and German filmmaker Mennan Yapo makes his directing debut with the disappointing suspense tale that seems like a combination of a soap opera, “Twilight Zone” episode and Dr. Phil marriage-encounter seminar. (110 minutes) Violence, disturbing images, adult themes, profanity. (PG-13)
PRIDE: (B) Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow”) and Bernie Mac (“Ocean’s Eleven”) star in this uplifting, fact-based sports tale about Jim Ellis, an educator/coach who founded Philadelphia’s first African-American swim team. In the picture, the caring teacher must convince administrators and politicians that the program is worthwhile after the pool is scheduled for demolition. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (106 minutes) Adult themes, racial epithets, brief violence. (PG)
THE REAPING: (B-) Oscar-winner Hilary Swank (“Million Dollar Baby”), David Morrissey (“Basic Instinct 2”) and AnnaSophia Robb (“Bridge to Terabithia”) star in this supernatural thriller about a young Christian missionary who loses her belief in God following an incident in which her family members die tragically. She regains her faith after going to a small Louisiana town and helping the residents to battle Biblical plagues. Stephen Hopkins (“Predator 2”) directed. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (96 minutes) Violence, disturbing images, some sexual elements. (R)
REIGN OVER ME: (C) Comic-actor Adam Sandler (“Click”) struggles as he takes a dramatic turn in this picture about a man who has been emotionally withdrawn since losing his wife and three daughters on Sept. 11, 2001. The gifted Don Cheadle (“Hotel Rwanda”) co-stars as the man’s former college roommate who tries to help him learn to handle his grief. Writer-director Mike Binder (“The Upside of Anger”) means well, but the story lacks depth and Sandler doesn’t possess the acting skills to create a totally believable character. The project is also damaged by some disturbingly sexist material. Jada Pinkett Smith (“Collateral”) and Liv Tyler (the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy) appear in supporting roles. (130 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, sexual elements, adult themes. (R)
SHOOTER: (B-) If John Rambo used his survival skills to help solve an X-Files mystery, the result might resemble this politically driven action picture with a military protagonist and more conspiracy theories than the JFK assassination. In the story, a former Marine sniper (Mark Wahlberg of “The Departed”) is framed for an assassination attempt on the president and then must use his deadly skills to stay alive and prove his innocence. Danny Glover (“Lethal Weapon”) and Ned Beatty (“Deliverance”) co-star in the uneven picture, which slows down due to director Antoine Fuqua’s habit of weighing down the story with heavy-handed references to subjects ranging from non-existent weapons of mass destruction to the late Anna Nicole Smith. (120 minutes) Violence, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
SPIDER-MAN 3: (B+) Talk about a superhero assuming biblical proportions. In the emotionally uplifting second installment, Peter Parker’s web-slinger (Tobey Maguire) is a Christ figure willing to sacrifice himself for the sins of others. In this dramatically compelling third entry, the Marvel comic character transforms into a satanic figure fighting his dark side as he faces three supervillains, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church of “Sideways”), New Goblin (James Franco of “Annapolis”) and Venom (Topher Grace of TV’s “That ’70s Show”). Kirsten Dunst returns as Mary Jane Watson, and Bryce Dallas Howard (“The Village”) joins the cast as Gwen Stacy in this physically imposing, emotionally intriguing $270 million superhero epic. Sam Raimi directs for the third time and once again offers a multi-layered work with flashy action supported by important themes about guilt, vanity, compassion, sacrifice, vengeance, corruption, redemption and – most importantly – forgiveness. (156 minutes) Sequences of intense action violence. (PG-13)
THE TV SET: (B-) In this satire, featuring David Duchovny (“The X-Files: Fight the Future”), Sigourney Weaver (“Alien”) and Ioan Gruffudd (“Fantastic Four”), friction develops between an idealistic writer and a profit-driven network executive who clash as the artist attempts to create a television pilot. Jake Kasdan (“Orange County”) directed. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (87 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (TMNT): (B-) Director-screenwriter Kevin Munroe brings back the karate-kicking turtles Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael via computer animation. In the action adventure, the heroes use their hand-to-hand combat skills to stop an evil industrialist from unleashing an army of monsters capable of taking over the world. Quality rating based on Web and wire-service reports. (93 minutes) Cartoon violence, scary images. (PG)
300: (A-) Blood, sweat and spears dominate the screen in this epic adaptation of Frank Miller’s popular graphic novel abut the battle of Thermopylae in which just 300 Spartan warriors held off the army of Persia, killing thousands of the invaders and changing the course of history. Zack Snyder (“Dawn of the Dead” remake) directed the visually impressive, heavily stylized picture, which was created via state-of-the-art, computer-enhanced imagery. The actors playing the Spartan soldiers, including Gerald Butler (“The Phantom of the Opera”), spent six hours a day – two devoted to sword-fighting moves and four to body-building techniques – over a six-week rehearsal period preparing for the highly intense action scenes in the strikingly original cinematic achievement that ranks as a work of pop art. (116 minutes) Graphic battle sequences, some sexual elements and nudity. (R)
VACANCY: (C) During this contrived, scare-challenged chiller, a couple (Luke Wilson of “Old School” and Kate Beckinsale of “Underworld”), who have endured a personal tragedy and are about to be divorced, become stranded in a remote area. They find a motel and soon realize that it’s the spot where snuff films featuring previous customers have been filmed. The couple then learn that they’re being set up as the next victims to die in front of the camera. (85 minutes) Brutal violence, scenes of terror, brief nudity, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
WILD HOGS: (C) A strong ensemble – John Travolta (“Pulp Fiction”), Martin Lawrence (“Big Momma’s House”), Tim Allen (“The Santa Clause”) and William H. Macy (“The Cooler”) – can’t save this boring mid-life-crisis comedy from crashing and burning. Like the far superior “City Slickers,” the strained comedy follows four good buddies after they decide to rejuvenate their boring lives by traveling together on a motorcycle road trip. The journey, which is more mild than wild, comes to a quick halt when they run into outlaw motorcycle gang members who hassle the middle-class guys. (99 minutes) Crude humor, sexual content, gay-bashing jokes, some broad violence. (PG-13)
THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY: (B+) Talented Cillian Murphy (“Red Eye”) stars in this downbeat and upsetting import about the brave volunteers who challenge the brutal English militia that was ordered to crush Ireland’s war of independence in the 1920s. They ultimately end up turning on each other due to the manipulation of Her Majesty’s government. British filmmaker Ken Loach (“My Name Is Joe”) directed. (127 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity, sexual innuendo, strong violence, adult themes. (Unrated)
YEAR OF THE DOG: (B+) “Saturday Night Live” veteran Molly Shannon shines in this offbeat tale about a single middle-aged woman who works as a secretary in a faceless office building and spends most of her time off with her beloved dog, Pencil. When the canine dies from accidental poisoning, she goes through an emotional meltdown that alters her relationships, causes her to confront her personal situation and changes the path of her life. Laura Dern (“Blue Velvet”), John C. Reilly (“Talladega Nights”) and Peter Sarsgaard (“Kinsey”) co-star. (97 minutes) Adult themes. (PG-13)
ZODIAC: (B) Director David Fincher (“Fight Club”) takes almost three hours to tell the story of the elusive serial killer who terrorized residents in the San Francisco area in the late 1960s and early 1970s and how his ugly crimes impacted the detectives who investigated the case and the journalists who covered it. Jake Gyllenhaal (“Brokeback Mountain”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang”), Anthony Edwards (TV’s “ER”) and Mark Ruffalo (“Collateral”) star in the intense, detailed picture, which proves ultimately unnerving and truly gets under a viewer’s skin. (156 minutes) Strong violence, harsh four-letter profanity, brief sexual images, drug material. (R)
The Associated Press contributed to this report.