At the Movies
Fantasy, legal thriller, sports comedy head list of new releases
An offbeat fantasy (“Limitless”), a legal thriller (“The Lincoln Lawyer”), a stage favorite (“Lord of the Dance 3-D”),” an alien spoof (“Paul”) and a sports comedy (“Win Win”) are among the releases arriving on this first weekend of spring.
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 in Friday’s ToDo section.
The films scheduled for this weekend are:
“Happythankyoumoreplease,” with Josh Radnor (TV’s “How I Met Your Mother”) and Malin Akerman (“Couples Retreat”) in an R-rated comedy about a few twentysomethings in New York trying to get their personal and professional lives in order as they mature. Radnor also wrote and made his directing debut.
“Kaboom,” with Haley Bennett (“Marley & Me”) and Thomas Dekker (TV’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) in an unrated contemporary comedy following the sexual awakening of some college students. Gregg Araki (“The Doom Generation”) directed.
“Limitless,” with Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover”), Robert De Niro (“Little Fockers”), Abbie Cornish (“Bright Star”) and Anna Friel (“You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger”) in a PG-13 fantasy thriller about a writer who learns that a top-secret drug gives humans superhuman brain power.
He samples it and then discovers that a clandestine group is following his every move. Neil Burger (“The Illusionist”) directed.
“The Lincoln Lawyer,” with Matthew McConaughey (“Tropic Thunder”), Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler”), Ryan Phillippe (“Crash”), John Leguizamo (“Carlito’s Way”), William H. Macy (“Fargo”) and Josh Lucas (“Stealth”) in a thriller about a manipulative Beverly Hills lawyer who operates out of a Lincoln Town Car and agrees to defend a wealthy man accused of beating a prostitute. The seemingly easy-to-win case soon grows dangerously complicated. The R-rated picture is based on the novel by Michael Connelly and directed by Brad Furman (“The Take”).
“Lord of the Dance 3-D,” with Chicago dancer-choreographer Michael Flatley playing the title character and offering a pop-off-the-screen version of his G-rated dance show, which will play in theaters for just one week. The production borrows themes from Irish folklore and features energetic dance moves during a story about the eternal battle between good and evil. Flatley came to fame in the original production of “Riverdance,” and “Lord of the Dance,” which had its stage premiere in 1996, has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide. (Opens Thursday)
“Of Gods and Men,” with Lambert Wilson (“The Matrix Reloaded”) in the PG-13 Cannes Film Festival favorite about some French Trappist monks who are living in a poor Algerian community and must decide whether to remain or flee when some fundamentalist terrorists arrive in the area. Xavier Beauvois (“To Mathieu”) directed.
“Paul,” with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, who previously teamed in the cult favorite “Shaun of the Dead” (2004), co-starring in an R-rated comedy about two UFO buffs who meet an extraterrestrial and embark on a road trip with the space visitor. Sigourney Weaver (“Avatar”) co-stars, and Seth Rogen (“The Green Hornet”) provides the voice of the alien. Greg Mottola (“Superbad”) directed.
“Win Win,” with Paul Giamatti (HBO’s “John Adams”) and Amy Ryan (TV’s “The Office”) in an R-rated slice-of-life tale about a struggling attorney who volunteers as a high school wrestling coach and secretly takes on the guardianship of an elderly client in an attempt to keep his finances afloat. Tom McCarthy (“The Visitor”) directed.
A ‘Driver’ celebration
AMC Theatres will celebrate the 35th anniversary of Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” on March 19 and 22, with screenings of the film both days at 8 p.m.
The theater chain will be showing a digitally restored version of the R-rated picture, starring Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle. For theaters, prices, tickets and other information, go to amctheatres.-com/taxidriver.
At the Buck$ Office
Movie fans were ready for action last weekend as “Battle: Los Angeles” easily took the top spot at the box office.
The PG-13 picture, which stars Aaron Eckhart and deals with brave Marines battling space invaders, opened with an impressive $36 million.
“Battle: Los Angeles” was followed by the computer-animated “Rango.”
The PG-rated picture, which features the voice of Johnny Depp, grossed $23 million in its second week of release for a 14-day total of $68.6 million.
The modernized fairy tale “Red Riding Hood” attracted a midsize audience.
The PG-13 picture grossed $14.1 million.
According to Box Office Mojo, the top-10 films last weekend were:
1. “Battle: Los Angeles” ($36 million)
2. “Rango” ($23 million)
3. “Red Riding Hood” ($14.1 million)
4. “The Adjustment Bureau” ($11.4 million)
5. “Mars Needs Moms” ($6.8 million)
6. “Hall Pass” ($5.1 million)
7. “Beastly” ($5 million)
8. “Just Go With It” ($4 million)
9. “The King’s Speech” ($3.6 million)
10. “Gnomeo and Juliet” ($3.5 million)
Gaul on the Web
My film reviews, features and columns can be read under entertainment on our website www.timesonline.com.
Lou Gaul can be reached at 609-871-8055 or lgaul@phillyBurbs.com.