Movie capusles A-Z
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: excellent/very good (A); good (B); fair (C); poor (D); turkey (F). Those with (NP) have not been previewed. (To locate a website, go to www.google.com and type in the film’s title.)
OPENING THIS WEEKEND
DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX: (B) Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, Ed Helms and Betty White lend their voices to this colorful adaptation of the children’s ecological book about a boy who wishes to see a real tree and can’t find one in a world where everything is plastic. The computer-animated picture is also being shown in RealD 3-D and IMAX 3-D. Chris Renaud (“Despicable Me”) and Kyla Balda, who makes his filmmaking debut, co-directed. (95 minutes) Brief mild language. (PG)
IN DARKNESS: (B+) This import is based on a true story about a sewer worker/petty thief who toils in Lvov, a Nazi-occupied city in Poland. One day, he encounters a group of Jews trying to escape being executed by the Germans. The cynical man initially hides them for money, discovers that he has a conscience, and helps the people survive for 14 months in the sewers despite ever-increasing danger. It is being shown with subtitles. Agnieszka Holland (“The Secret Garden”) directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (145 minutes) Violence, disturbing images, sexuality, nudity, language. (R)
PROJECT X: (NP) During this cautionary tale, starring Thomas Mann, three high school seniors throw a party for themselves. They put out the information via social media and then find things all around them being destroyed as word of the bash spreads and attracts out-of-control young adults. Nima Nourizadeh makes his directing debut. (88 minutes) Crude sexual content throughout, nudity, drugs, drinking, pervasive language and reckless behavior, all involving teens. (R)
TIM & ERIC’S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE: (NP) Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim star in this farce about two guys given a billion dollars to make a movie. They squander the funds and then find that their lives are in jeopardy unless they find a way to pay back the money. Heidecker and Wareheim (creators of Adult Swim’s “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!”) co-directed. (91 minutes) Strong crude and sexual content, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language. (R)
UNDEFEATED: (A-) O.C. Brown and Montrail “Money” Brown are featured in this documentary about the Memphis Manassas Tigers and the way the players and their coach, Bill Courtney, bond together in hopes of having the underdog football team enjoy a championship season. It won an Oscar for best documentary. Daniel Lindsay (“On the Rocks”) and T.J. Martin (“Last Cup: Road to the World Series of Beer Pong”) co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (113 minutes) Language. (PG-13)
RETURNING FILMS
ACT OF VALOR: (B) This military tale that uses real Navy SEALs (all unidentified for security reasons) in a hard-hitting combat picture about a team that rescues a kidnapped CIA agent and then learns of an attack plot designed to kill millions. Filmmakers Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh made their directing debut. (101 minutes) Bloody violence, torture, language. (R)
ALBERT NOBBS: (B) Glenn Close delivers a strong performance during this drama about a woman who is forced to live as a man in order to survive in 19th-century Ireland. She successfully pretends to be a male for three decades, and then seeks to break out of the personal prison she has created. Mia Wasikowska, Brendan Gleeson and Janet McTeer co-star. It’s adapted from a short story by Irish author George Moore. Rodrigo Garcia (“Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her”) directed. (113 minutes) Sexuality, brief topless nudity. (R)
THE ARTIST: (A-) In this black-and-white picture, starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman and Malcolm McDowell, a silent-era star refuses to embrace sound and watches an attractive extra’s career blossom in the new talkie era. Michel Hazanavicius (“OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies”) directed the delightful silent movie. It won numerous Oscars, including best picture, director and actor. (100 minutes) Disturbing image, a crude gesture. (PG-13)
CHICO & RITA: (B) Eman Xor Ona and Limara Meneses provide the voices of the title characters in this lively animated import about a Cuban songwriter and a singer. They chase each other across the globe in 1948 while on a quest for music-world success. Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (94 minutes) (Unrated)
CHRONICLE: (B) During this sci-fi thriller, starring Michael B. Jordan and Anna Wood, three high school friends discover a powerful item that transforms them into superheroes. They soon learn that their new powers are drawing them to dark psychological places. Max Landis, the son of filmmaker John Landis (“An American Werewolf in London”), wrote the story and script. Josh Trank made his directing debut. (83 minutes) Intense action/violence, adult themes, sexual content, teen drinking. (PG-13)
THE CONQUEST: (B-) Denis Podalydes stars in this European biopic about President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was the first French chief executive to divorce and remarry while in office. Xavier Durringer directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (105 minutes) (Unrated)
CORIOLANUS: (B+) Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox and Jessica Chastain star in this modern-dress drama based on the Shakespeare play about a traitorous Roman general whose toxic actions could lead to the downfall of Rome. The British import marks Fiennes’ big-screen directing debut. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (122 minutes) Bloody violence. (R)
THE DESCENDANTS: (A-) In this darkly humorous drama, George Clooney plays a wealthy man who has long ignored his family and becomes responsible for his two daughters after his wife goes into a coma following a boating accident. He then must come to terms with secrets and be honest about the problems in their troubled marriage. Alexander Payne (“Sideways”) directed. The film won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. (115 minutes) Language, sexual elements, adult themes. (R)
EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE: (B-) Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock star in an adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel about a 9-year-old boy (Thomas Horn) who searches for a lock that matches a key left behind by his father, who died in the Sept. 11 attacks. Horn, whose character seeks closure in the film, won the best young actor/actress award at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. Stephen Daldry (“The Reader”) directed. (129 minutes) adult themes, some disturbing images, language. (PG-13)
GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE: (C) Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Violante Placido and Ciaran Hinds star in this comic-book sequel about an anti-hero superhero who can burst into flames and accepts the hellish challenge of stopping the devil from taking the form of a human. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who created the high-intensity favorites “Crank” and “Crank: High Voltage,” co-directed. (95 minutes) Action violence, disturbing images, language. (PG-13)
GONE: (NP) In this chiller, starring Amanda Seyfried, a young woman finds her worst fears realized when the stalker who kidnapped her 24 months ago returns and abducts the former victim’s sister. Heitor Dhalia (“Adrift”) directed. (94 minutes) Violence and terror, some sexual material, brief language. (PG-13)
GOOD DEEDS: (B) Tyler Perry, Gabrielle Union and Thandie Newton star in this comedy-drama-romance about a highly successful and engaged businessman. He finds himself drawn to a single mother who works on the cleaning crew at his office. Perry also wrote and directed. (111 minutes) Sexual content, some violence, adult themes. (PG-13)
THE GRAY: (B) Liam Neeson and Dermot Mulroney star in this brutal survival tale about members of an Alaskan drilling team who are stranded in a remote frozen area after their airplane crashes. The few survivors, who at times deliver philosophical thoughts on the indifferent universe, try to make their way to safety but find that elusive when a pack of snarling wolves descends upon them. Be warned: Some viewers will hate the abrupt ending, which seems more like a whimper than a shout. Joe Carnahan (“Narc”) directed. (117 minutes) Violence, bloody images, disturbing content, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
HUGO: (A-) The voices of Chloe Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law and Christopher Lee are featured in this beautifully photographed family drama/mystery set in Paris during the 1930s. The $170 million fable follows a 12-year-old orphan who lives in a train station and seeks to solve the mystery surrounding the death of his late father. Be sure to see it in 3-D. Thanks to the sure hand of director Martin Scorsese (“The Departed”), the film features the best 3-D since “Avatar.” Martin Scorsese (“The Departed”) directed. The film won Oscars for best art direction, cinematography, visual effects, sound mixing and sound editing. (127 minutes) Mild thematic material, some action and peril, smoking. (PG)
THE IRON LADY: (B) Meryl Streep, who strongly resembles the title character, earned a best-actress Oscar for her performance as Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of England who had to fight sexist politicians to achieve her position. Phyllida Lloyd (“Mamma Mia!: The Movie”) directed the biopic, which co-stars Jim Broadbent as Thatcher’s devoted husband, Denis. (105 minutes) Violent images, brief nudity. (PG-13)
JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND: (B) This family adventure, with Dwayne Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis, Michael Caine and Josh Hutcherson, is based on Jules Verne’s “The Mysterious Island.” (The PG-rated picture is a sequel to 2008’s “A Journey to the Center of the Earth,” also starring Hutcherson and based on a Verne novel.) In the film, Hutcherson travels with his mother’s boyfriend to find his adventurer grandfather, who is lost in a faraway place. It is being presented in 3-D. Brad Peyton (“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore”) directed. (94 minutes) Some intense moments for younger children. (PG)
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN: (A-) Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh star in this absorbing biopic about the fiery on-set relationship between Marilyn Monroe, a Method actress, and Laurence Olivier, a traditional performer, during the making of 1957’s “The Prince and the Showgirl” in England. Much of the fact-based story follows Monroe as she convinces a lowly, star-struck production assistant to take her on a multi-day drive, which totally interrupts the filming schedule. Simon Curtis (TV’s “David Copperfield”) directed. (99 minutes) Language. (R)
RAMPART: (B) Woody Harrelson delivers an unnervingly intense performance in a crime drama that unfolds in 1999 and follows a veteran policeman. The on-the-edge officer works in Los Angeles’ notorious Rampart division and is filmed beating a suspect. Famed crime author James Ellroy (“L.A. Confidential”) co-wrote the script with Oren Moverman (“The Messenger”), who directed. (95 minutes) Sexual content, some violence, pervasive language. (R)
RED TAILS: (B+) Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard star in this insightful military drama about the African-American flyers who became the Tuskegee Airmen and served as pilots battling our enemies during World War II. Producer George Lucas believed in the project so much that he wrote a $58 million check to cover the production cost. Anthony Hemingway directed. (125 minutes) War violence. (PG-13)
SAFE HOUSE: (B) In this thriller, starring Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Robert Patrick, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard and Ruben Blades, a rookie CIA agent must protect a resourceful prisoner after his secret location is discovered by his enemies. Daniel Espinosa (“Easy Money”) directed. (115 minutes) Strong violence throughout. (R)
THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY: (A-) The voices of Carol Burnett, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett and Bridget Mendler are employed in this animated Japanese import about a family that has members just 4 inches tall and lives near humans without interacting with them. That changes when the 14-year-old daughter, Arrietty, is discovered. Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Gary Rydstrom co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. Nothing offensive. (G)
A SEPARATION: (A) Leila Hatami and Peyman Moadi play an Iranian couple going through a divorce and facing emotional complications due to a young daughter who doesn’t want her parents to split and a paternal father, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Some unexpected complications drive both parents to an emotional breaking point. Asghar Farhadi directed the import, which won an Oscar for best-foreign-language film. (123 minutes) Adult themes. (PG-13)
STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 – THE PHANTOM MENACE 3-D: (C) Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson star in this disappointing pop-off-the-screen version of the favorite (1999). George Lucas directed. (136 minutes) violence. (PG)
THIN ICE: (B) In this neo-noir thriller, starring Greg Kinnear, Lea Thompson, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup, a struggling insurance agent plans to escape from the frigid winters in Wisconsin and fill his bank account by pulling a scam on a lonely retired farmer. The seemingly simple crime soon spirals out of control. Jill Sprecher (“Thirteen Conversations About One Thing”) directed. (114 minutes) Brief violent and sexual content, language. (R)
THIS MEANS WAR: (B-) The appealing ensemble of Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy saves this romantic comedy that walks a fine line between cute and creepy. Pine and Hardy play two top-level spies who fall for the same smart and attractive woman and then, without her knowledge, observe her during some intimate moments. They believe the modern military devices at their disposal will help them to win her heart. The supporting cast includes Chelsea Handler, Angela Bassett and Rosemary Harris. McG (“Terminator Salvation”) directed. (98 minutes) Some sexual content. (PG-13)
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: (B) The gifted Gary Oldman stars as John Le Carre’s spy, George Smiley, in this old-school thriller about the search for a foreign agent who has infiltrated Britain’s highest echelon. The strong supporting cast includes Colin Firth, John Hurt, Tom Hardy, Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds. Tomas Alfredson (“Let the Right One In”) directed. (127 minutes) Violence, some sexuality/nudity and language. (R)
UNDERWORLD AWAKENING: (B-) A leather-clad Kate Beckinsale returns to this franchise in this new installment that has vampire and werewolf clans teaming after they learn that humans plan to destroy both species. Fans of the series should be excited by the non-stop battles. It will also be shown in 3-D. Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein co-directed. (88 minutes) Strong violence and gore, some language. (R)
THE VOW: (B) Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum team in this sweet romantic drama about a wife who goes into a coma during a car accident, awakens some time later, and doesn’t remember her husband, who must woo her all over again. Sam Neill, Scott Speedman and Jessica Lange co-star. Michael Sucsy (TV’s “Grey Gardens”) directed. (104 minutes) Accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity, language. (PG-13)
WANDERLUST: (B) Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Malin Akerman, Justin Theroux and Lauren Ambrose star in this old-school comedy about a Manhattan couple who lose their jobs. They then decide to make a drastic change in their lives by moving into a hippielike commune with free love and clothing-optional living. David Wain (“Role Models”) directed. (98 minutes) Sexual content, graphic nudity, language, drug use. (R)
WAR HORSE: (B) In this emotionally charged, beautifully photographed battlefield drama, starring David Thewlis and Emily Watson, a young man (Jeremy Irvine) learns that his beloved steed has been sold to the cavalry during World War I. He then travels to the battlegrounds of Europe to rescue the animal. Steven Spielberg (“Schindler’s List”) directed. (146 minutes) Intense war violence. (PG-13)
W.E.: (C+) This factual drama, with Abbie Cornish, James D’Arcy and Andrea Riseborough, surrounds King Edward VIII. He gives up the throne to be with the love of his life, Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American woman. (The younger brother who accepted the crown is profiled in “The King’s Speech,” which won an Academy Award last year for best picture.) A parallel story set in the late 1990s involves a contemporary woman who becomes obsessed by the actions of the royal couple and is inspired to seek romantic fulfillment. Madonna (“Filth and Wisdom”) directed. (119 minutes) Strong domestic violence, nudity, language, adult themes. (R)
THE WOMAN IN BLACK: (B) “Harry Potter” favorite Daniel Radcliffe attempts to broaden his appeal with this ghost story about a young lawyer who travels to a remote village and discovers that a vengeful ghost is terrorizing the residents. The $17 million picture is a production of England’s famed Hammer Films studio, which created classics such as “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957) with Peter Cushing and “The Horror of Dracula” (1958) with Christopher Lee. James Watkins (“Eden Lake”) directed. (95 minutes) Adult themes, violence, disturbing images. (PG-13)
The Associated Press and websites contributed to this story.
Lou Gaul: 609-871-8055; email: lgaul@phillyBurbs.com.
March 2: Movie Capsules A-Z
By LOU GAUL
Calkins Media Film Critic
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: excellent/very good (A); good (B); fair (C); poor (D); turkey (F). Those with (NP) have not been previewed. (To locate a website, go to www.google.com and type in the film’s title.)
OPENING THIS WEEKEND
DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX: (B) Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, Ed Helms and Betty White lend their voices to this colorful adaptation of the children’s ecological book about a boy who wishes to see a real tree and can’t find one in a world where everything is plastic. The computer-animated picture is also being shown in RealD 3-D and IMAX 3-D. Chris Renaud (“Despicable Me”) and Kyla Balda, who makes his filmmaking debut, co-directed. (95 minutes) Brief mild language. (PG)
IN DARKNESS: (B+) This import is based on a true story about a sewer worker/petty thief who toils in Lvov, a Nazi-occupied city in Poland. One day, he encounters a group of Jews trying to escape being executed by the Germans. The cynical man initially hides them for money, discovers that he has a conscience, and helps the people survive for 14 months in the sewers despite ever-increasing danger. It is being shown with subtitles. Agnieszka Holland (“The Secret Garden”) directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (145 minutes) Violence, disturbing images, sexuality, nudity, language. (R)
PROJECT X: (NP) During this cautionary tale, starring Thomas Mann, three high school seniors throw a party for themselves. They put out the information via social media and then find things all around them being destroyed as word of the bash spreads and attracts out-of-control young adults. Nima Nourizadeh makes his directing debut. (88 minutes) Crude sexual content throughout, nudity, drugs, drinking, pervasive language and reckless behavior, all involving teens. (R)
TIM & ERIC’S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE: (NP) Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim star in this farce about two guys given a billion dollars to make a movie. They squander the funds and then find that their lives are in jeopardy unless they find a way to pay back the money. Heidecker and Wareheim (creators of Adult Swim’s “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!”) co-directed. (91 minutes) Strong crude and sexual content, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language. (R)
UNDEFEATED: (A-) O.C. Brown and Montrail “Money” Brown are featured in this documentary about the Memphis Manassas Tigers and the way the players and their coach, Bill Courtney, bond together in hopes of having the underdog football team enjoy a championship season. It won an Oscar for best documentary. Daniel Lindsay (“On the Rocks”) and T.J. Martin (“Last Cup: Road to the World Series of Beer Pong”) co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (113 minutes) Language. (PG-13)
RETURNING FILMS
ACT OF VALOR: (B) This military tale that uses real Navy SEALs (all unidentified for security reasons) in a hard-hitting combat picture about a team that rescues a kidnapped CIA agent and then learns of an attack plot designed to kill millions. Filmmakers Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh made their directing debut. (101 minutes) Bloody violence, torture, language. (R)
ALBERT NOBBS: (B) Glenn Close delivers a strong performance during this drama about a woman who is forced to live as a man in order to survive in 19th-century Ireland. She successfully pretends to be a male for three decades, and then seeks to break out of the personal prison she has created. Mia Wasikowska, Brendan Gleeson and Janet McTeer co-star. It’s adapted from a short story by Irish author George Moore. Rodrigo Garcia (“Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her”) directed. (113 minutes) Sexuality, brief topless nudity. (R)
THE ARTIST: (A-) In this black-and-white picture, starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman and Malcolm McDowell, a silent-era star refuses to embrace sound and watches an attractive extra’s career blossom in the new talkie era. Michel Hazanavicius (“OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies”) directed the delightful silent movie. It won numerous Oscars, including best picture, director and actor. (100 minutes) Disturbing image, a crude gesture. (PG-13)
CHICO & RITA: (B) Eman Xor Ona and Limara Meneses provide the voices of the title characters in this lively animated import about a Cuban songwriter and a singer. They chase each other across the globe in 1948 while on a quest for music-world success. Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (94 minutes) (Unrated)
CHRONICLE: (B) During this sci-fi thriller, starring Michael B. Jordan and Anna Wood, three high school friends discover a powerful item that transforms them into superheroes. They soon learn that their new powers are drawing them to dark psychological places. Max Landis, the son of filmmaker John Landis (“An American Werewolf in London”), wrote the story and script. Josh Trank made his directing debut. (83 minutes) Intense action/violence, adult themes, sexual content, teen drinking. (PG-13)
THE CONQUEST: (B-) Denis Podalydes stars in this European biopic about President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was the first French chief executive to divorce and remarry while in office. Xavier Durringer directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (105 minutes) (Unrated)
CORIOLANUS: (B+) Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox and Jessica Chastain star in this modern-dress drama based on the Shakespeare play about a traitorous Roman general whose toxic actions could lead to the downfall of Rome. The British import marks Fiennes’ big-screen directing debut. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (122 minutes) Bloody violence. (R)
THE DESCENDANTS: (A-) In this darkly humorous drama, George Clooney plays a wealthy man who has long ignored his family and becomes responsible for his two daughters after his wife goes into a coma following a boating accident. He then must come to terms with secrets and be honest about the problems in their troubled marriage. Alexander Payne (“Sideways”) directed. The film won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. (115 minutes) Language, sexual elements, adult themes. (R)
EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE: (B-) Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock star in an adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel about a 9-year-old boy (Thomas Horn) who searches for a lock that matches a key left behind by his father, who died in the Sept. 11 attacks. Horn, whose character seeks closure in the film, won the best young actor/actress award at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. Stephen Daldry (“The Reader”) directed. (129 minutes) adult themes, some disturbing images, language. (PG-13)
GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE: (C) Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Violante Placido and Ciaran Hinds star in this comic-book sequel about an anti-hero superhero who can burst into flames and accepts the hellish challenge of stopping the devil from taking the form of a human. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who created the high-intensity favorites “Crank” and “Crank: High Voltage,” co-directed. (95 minutes) Action violence, disturbing images, language. (PG-13)
GONE: (NP) In this chiller, starring Amanda Seyfried, a young woman finds her worst fears realized when the stalker who kidnapped her 24 months ago returns and abducts the former victim’s sister. Heitor Dhalia (“Adrift”) directed. (94 minutes) Violence and terror, some sexual material, brief language. (PG-13)
GOOD DEEDS: (B) Tyler Perry, Gabrielle Union and Thandie Newton star in this comedy-drama-romance about a highly successful and engaged businessman. He finds himself drawn to a single mother who works on the cleaning crew at his office. Perry also wrote and directed. (111 minutes) Sexual content, some violence, adult themes. (PG-13)
THE GRAY: (B) Liam Neeson and Dermot Mulroney star in this brutal survival tale about members of an Alaskan drilling team who are stranded in a remote frozen area after their airplane crashes. The few survivors, who at times deliver philosophical thoughts on the indifferent universe, try to make their way to safety but find that elusive when a pack of snarling wolves descends upon them. Be warned: Some viewers will hate the abrupt ending, which seems more like a whimper than a shout. Joe Carnahan (“Narc”) directed. (117 minutes) Violence, bloody images, disturbing content, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
HUGO: (A-) The voices of Chloe Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law and Christopher Lee are featured in this beautifully photographed family drama/mystery set in Paris during the 1930s. The $170 million fable follows a 12-year-old orphan who lives in a train station and seeks to solve the mystery surrounding the death of his late father. Be sure to see it in 3-D. Thanks to the sure hand of director Martin Scorsese (“The Departed”), the film features the best 3-D since “Avatar.” Martin Scorsese (“The Departed”) directed. The film won Oscars for best art direction, cinematography, visual effects, sound mixing and sound editing. (127 minutes) Mild thematic material, some action and peril, smoking. (PG)
THE IRON LADY: (B) Meryl Streep, who strongly resembles the title character, earned a best-actress Oscar for her performance as Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of England who had to fight sexist politicians to achieve her position. Phyllida Lloyd (“Mamma Mia!: The Movie”) directed the biopic, which co-stars Jim Broadbent as Thatcher’s devoted husband, Denis. (105 minutes) Violent images, brief nudity. (PG-13)
JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND: (B) This family adventure, with Dwayne Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis, Michael Caine and Josh Hutcherson, is based on Jules Verne’s “The Mysterious Island.” (The PG-rated picture is a sequel to 2008’s “A Journey to the Center of the Earth,” also starring Hutcherson and based on a Verne novel.) In the film, Hutcherson travels with his mother’s boyfriend to find his adventurer grandfather, who is lost in a faraway place. It is being presented in 3-D. Brad Peyton (“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore”) directed. (94 minutes) Some intense moments for younger children. (PG)
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN: (A-) Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh star in this absorbing biopic about the fiery on-set relationship between Marilyn Monroe, a Method actress, and Laurence Olivier, a traditional performer, during the making of 1957’s “The Prince and the Showgirl” in England. Much of the fact-based story follows Monroe as she convinces a lowly, star-struck production assistant to take her on a multi-day drive, which totally interrupts the filming schedule. Simon Curtis (TV’s “David Copperfield”) directed. (99 minutes) Language. (R)
RAMPART: (B) Woody Harrelson delivers an unnervingly intense performance in a crime drama that unfolds in 1999 and follows a veteran policeman. The on-the-edge officer works in Los Angeles’ notorious Rampart division and is filmed beating a suspect. Famed crime author James Ellroy (“L.A. Confidential”) co-wrote the script with Oren Moverman (“The Messenger”), who directed. (95 minutes) Sexual content, some violence, pervasive language. (R)
RED TAILS: (B+) Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard star in this insightful military drama about the African-American flyers who became the Tuskegee Airmen and served as pilots battling our enemies during World War II. Producer George Lucas believed in the project so much that he wrote a $58 million check to cover the production cost. Anthony Hemingway directed. (125 minutes) War violence. (PG-13)
SAFE HOUSE: (B) In this thriller, starring Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Robert Patrick, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard and Ruben Blades, a rookie CIA agent must protect a resourceful prisoner after his secret location is discovered by his enemies. Daniel Espinosa (“Easy Money”) directed. (115 minutes) Strong violence throughout. (R)
THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY: (A-) The voices of Carol Burnett, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett and Bridget Mendler are employed in this animated Japanese import about a family that has members just 4 inches tall and lives near humans without interacting with them. That changes when the 14-year-old daughter, Arrietty, is discovered. Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Gary Rydstrom co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. Nothing offensive. (G)
A SEPARATION: (A) Leila Hatami and Peyman Moadi play an Iranian couple going through a divorce and facing emotional complications due to a young daughter who doesn’t want her parents to split and a paternal father, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Some unexpected complications drive both parents to an emotional breaking point. Asghar Farhadi directed the import, which won an Oscar for best-foreign-language film. (123 minutes) Adult themes. (PG-13)
STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 – THE PHANTOM MENACE 3-D: (C) Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson star in this disappointing pop-off-the-screen version of the favorite (1999). George Lucas directed. (136 minutes) violence. (PG)
THIN ICE: (B) In this neo-noir thriller, starring Greg Kinnear, Lea Thompson, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup, a struggling insurance agent plans to escape from the frigid winters in Wisconsin and fill his bank account by pulling a scam on a lonely retired farmer. The seemingly simple crime soon spirals out of control. Jill Sprecher (“Thirteen Conversations About One Thing”) directed. (114 minutes) Brief violent and sexual content, language. (R)
THIS MEANS WAR: (B-) The appealing ensemble of Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy saves this romantic comedy that walks a fine line between cute and creepy. Pine and Hardy play two top-level spies who fall for the same smart and attractive woman and then, without her knowledge, observe her during some intimate moments. They believe the modern military devices at their disposal will help them to win her heart. The supporting cast includes Chelsea Handler, Angela Bassett and Rosemary Harris. McG (“Terminator Salvation”) directed. (98 minutes) Some sexual content. (PG-13)
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: (B) The gifted Gary Oldman stars as John Le Carre’s spy, George Smiley, in this old-school thriller about the search for a foreign agent who has infiltrated Britain’s highest echelon. The strong supporting cast includes Colin Firth, John Hurt, Tom Hardy, Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds. Tomas Alfredson (“Let the Right One In”) directed. (127 minutes) Violence, some sexuality/nudity and language. (R)
UNDERWORLD AWAKENING: (B-) A leather-clad Kate Beckinsale returns to this franchise in this new installment that has vampire and werewolf clans teaming after they learn that humans plan to destroy both species. Fans of the series should be excited by the non-stop battles. It will also be shown in 3-D. Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein co-directed. (88 minutes) Strong violence and gore, some language. (R)
THE VOW: (B) Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum team in this sweet romantic drama about a wife who goes into a coma during a car accident, awakens some time later, and doesn’t remember her husband, who must woo her all over again. Sam Neill, Scott Speedman and Jessica Lange co-star. Michael Sucsy (TV’s “Grey Gardens”) directed. (104 minutes) Accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity, language. (PG-13)
WANDERLUST: (B) Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Malin Akerman, Justin Theroux and Lauren Ambrose star in this old-school comedy about a Manhattan couple who lose their jobs. They then decide to make a drastic change in their lives by moving into a hippielike commune with free love and clothing-optional living. David Wain (“Role Models”) directed. (98 minutes) Sexual content, graphic nudity, language, drug use. (R)
WAR HORSE: (B) In this emotionally charged, beautifully photographed battlefield drama, starring David Thewlis and Emily Watson, a young man (Jeremy Irvine) learns that his beloved steed has been sold to the cavalry during World War I. He then travels to the battlegrounds of Europe to rescue the animal. Steven Spielberg (“Schindler’s List”) directed. (146 minutes) Intense war violence. (PG-13)
W.E.: (C+) This factual drama, with Abbie Cornish, James D’Arcy and Andrea Riseborough, surrounds King Edward VIII. He gives up the throne to be with the love of his life, Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American woman. (The younger brother who accepted the crown is profiled in “The King’s Speech,” which won an Academy Award last year for best picture.) A parallel story set in the late 1990s involves a contemporary woman who becomes obsessed by the actions of the royal couple and is inspired to seek romantic fulfillment. Madonna (“Filth and Wisdom”) directed. (119 minutes) Strong domestic violence, nudity, language, adult themes. (R)
THE WOMAN IN BLACK: (B) “Harry Potter” favorite Daniel Radcliffe attempts to broaden his appeal with this ghost story about a young lawyer who travels to a remote village and discovers that a vengeful ghost is terrorizing the residents. The $17 million picture is a production of England’s famed Hammer Films studio, which created classics such as “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957) with Peter Cushing and “The Horror of Dracula” (1958) with Christopher Lee. James Watkins (“Eden Lake”) directed. (95 minutes) Adult themes, violence, disturbing images. (PG-13)
The Associated Press and websites contributed to this story.
Lou Gaul: 609-871-8055; email: lgaul@phillyBurbs.com.
March 2: Movie Capsules A-Z
By LOU GAUL
Calkins Media Film Critic
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: excellent/very good (A); good (B); fair (C); poor (D); turkey (F). Those with (NP) have not been previewed. (To locate a website, go to www.google.com and type in the film’s title.)
OPENING THIS WEEKEND
DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX: (B) Danny DeVito, Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, Ed Helms and Betty White lend their voices to this colorful adaptation of the children’s ecological book about a boy who wishes to see a real tree and can’t find one in a world where everything is plastic. The computer-animated picture is also being shown in RealD 3-D and IMAX 3-D. Chris Renaud (“Despicable Me”) and Kyla Balda, who makes his filmmaking debut, co-directed. (95 minutes) Brief mild language. (PG)
IN DARKNESS: (B+) This import is based on a true story about a sewer worker/petty thief who toils in Lvov, a Nazi-occupied city in Poland. One day, he encounters a group of Jews trying to escape being executed by the Germans. The cynical man initially hides them for money, discovers that he has a conscience, and helps the people survive for 14 months in the sewers despite ever-increasing danger. It is being shown with subtitles. Agnieszka Holland (“The Secret Garden”) directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (145 minutes) Violence, disturbing images, sexuality, nudity, language. (R)
PROJECT X: (NP) During this cautionary tale, starring Thomas Mann, three high school seniors throw a party for themselves. They put out the information via social media and then find things all around them being destroyed as word of the bash spreads and attracts out-of-control young adults. Nima Nourizadeh makes his directing debut. (88 minutes) Crude sexual content throughout, nudity, drugs, drinking, pervasive language and reckless behavior, all involving teens. (R)
TIM & ERIC’S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE: (NP) Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim star in this farce about two guys given a billion dollars to make a movie. They squander the funds and then find that their lives are in jeopardy unless they find a way to pay back the money. Heidecker and Wareheim (creators of Adult Swim’s “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!”) co-directed. (91 minutes) Strong crude and sexual content, brief graphic nudity, pervasive language. (R)
UNDEFEATED: (A-) O.C. Brown and Montrail “Money” Brown are featured in this documentary about the Memphis Manassas Tigers and the way the players and their coach, Bill Courtney, bond together in hopes of having the underdog football team enjoy a championship season. It won an Oscar for best documentary. Daniel Lindsay (“On the Rocks”) and T.J. Martin (“Last Cup: Road to the World Series of Beer Pong”) co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (113 minutes) Language. (PG-13)
RETURNING FILMS
ACT OF VALOR: (B) This military tale that uses real Navy SEALs (all unidentified for security reasons) in a hard-hitting combat picture about a team that rescues a kidnapped CIA agent and then learns of an attack plot designed to kill millions. Filmmakers Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh made their directing debut. (101 minutes) Bloody violence, torture, language. (R)
ALBERT NOBBS: (B) Glenn Close delivers a strong performance during this drama about a woman who is forced to live as a man in order to survive in 19th-century Ireland. She successfully pretends to be a male for three decades, and then seeks to break out of the personal prison she has created. Mia Wasikowska, Brendan Gleeson and Janet McTeer co-star. It’s adapted from a short story by Irish author George Moore. Rodrigo Garcia (“Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her”) directed. (113 minutes) Sexuality, brief topless nudity. (R)
THE ARTIST: (A-) In this black-and-white picture, starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, John Goodman and Malcolm McDowell, a silent-era star refuses to embrace sound and watches an attractive extra’s career blossom in the new talkie era. Michel Hazanavicius (“OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies”) directed the delightful silent movie. It won numerous Oscars, including best picture, director and actor. (100 minutes) Disturbing image, a crude gesture. (PG-13)
CHICO & RITA: (B) Eman Xor Ona and Limara Meneses provide the voices of the title characters in this lively animated import about a Cuban songwriter and a singer. They chase each other across the globe in 1948 while on a quest for music-world success. Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (94 minutes) (Unrated)
CHRONICLE: (B) During this sci-fi thriller, starring Michael B. Jordan and Anna Wood, three high school friends discover a powerful item that transforms them into superheroes. They soon learn that their new powers are drawing them to dark psychological places. Max Landis, the son of filmmaker John Landis (“An American Werewolf in London”), wrote the story and script. Josh Trank made his directing debut. (83 minutes) Intense action/violence, adult themes, sexual content, teen drinking. (PG-13)
THE CONQUEST: (B-) Denis Podalydes stars in this European biopic about President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was the first French chief executive to divorce and remarry while in office. Xavier Durringer directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (105 minutes) (Unrated)
CORIOLANUS: (B+) Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox and Jessica Chastain star in this modern-dress drama based on the Shakespeare play about a traitorous Roman general whose toxic actions could lead to the downfall of Rome. The British import marks Fiennes’ big-screen directing debut. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (122 minutes) Bloody violence. (R)
THE DESCENDANTS: (A-) In this darkly humorous drama, George Clooney plays a wealthy man who has long ignored his family and becomes responsible for his two daughters after his wife goes into a coma following a boating accident. He then must come to terms with secrets and be honest about the problems in their troubled marriage. Alexander Payne (“Sideways”) directed. The film won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. (115 minutes) Language, sexual elements, adult themes. (R)
EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE: (B-) Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock star in an adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel about a 9-year-old boy (Thomas Horn) who searches for a lock that matches a key left behind by his father, who died in the Sept. 11 attacks. Horn, whose character seeks closure in the film, won the best young actor/actress award at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. Stephen Daldry (“The Reader”) directed. (129 minutes) adult themes, some disturbing images, language. (PG-13)
GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE: (C) Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Violante Placido and Ciaran Hinds star in this comic-book sequel about an anti-hero superhero who can burst into flames and accepts the hellish challenge of stopping the devil from taking the form of a human. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who created the high-intensity favorites “Crank” and “Crank: High Voltage,” co-directed. (95 minutes) Action violence, disturbing images, language. (PG-13)
GONE: (NP) In this chiller, starring Amanda Seyfried, a young woman finds her worst fears realized when the stalker who kidnapped her 24 months ago returns and abducts the former victim’s sister. Heitor Dhalia (“Adrift”) directed. (94 minutes) Violence and terror, some sexual material, brief language. (PG-13)
GOOD DEEDS: (B) Tyler Perry, Gabrielle Union and Thandie Newton star in this comedy-drama-romance about a highly successful and engaged businessman. He finds himself drawn to a single mother who works on the cleaning crew at his office. Perry also wrote and directed. (111 minutes) Sexual content, some violence, adult themes. (PG-13)
THE GRAY: (B) Liam Neeson and Dermot Mulroney star in this brutal survival tale about members of an Alaskan drilling team who are stranded in a remote frozen area after their airplane crashes. The few survivors, who at times deliver philosophical thoughts on the indifferent universe, try to make their way to safety but find that elusive when a pack of snarling wolves descends upon them. Be warned: Some viewers will hate the abrupt ending, which seems more like a whimper than a shout. Joe Carnahan (“Narc”) directed. (117 minutes) Violence, bloody images, disturbing content, harsh four-letter profanity. (R)
HUGO: (A-) The voices of Chloe Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law and Christopher Lee are featured in this beautifully photographed family drama/mystery set in Paris during the 1930s. The $170 million fable follows a 12-year-old orphan who lives in a train station and seeks to solve the mystery surrounding the death of his late father. Be sure to see it in 3-D. Thanks to the sure hand of director Martin Scorsese (“The Departed”), the film features the best 3-D since “Avatar.” Martin Scorsese (“The Departed”) directed. The film won Oscars for best art direction, cinematography, visual effects, sound mixing and sound editing. (127 minutes) Mild thematic material, some action and peril, smoking. (PG)
THE IRON LADY: (B) Meryl Streep, who strongly resembles the title character, earned a best-actress Oscar for her performance as Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of England who had to fight sexist politicians to achieve her position. Phyllida Lloyd (“Mamma Mia!: The Movie”) directed the biopic, which co-stars Jim Broadbent as Thatcher’s devoted husband, Denis. (105 minutes) Violent images, brief nudity. (PG-13)
JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND: (B) This family adventure, with Dwayne Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, Kristin Davis, Michael Caine and Josh Hutcherson, is based on Jules Verne’s “The Mysterious Island.” (The PG-rated picture is a sequel to 2008’s “A Journey to the Center of the Earth,” also starring Hutcherson and based on a Verne novel.) In the film, Hutcherson travels with his mother’s boyfriend to find his adventurer grandfather, who is lost in a faraway place. It is being presented in 3-D. Brad Peyton (“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore”) directed. (94 minutes) Some intense moments for younger children. (PG)
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN: (A-) Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh star in this absorbing biopic about the fiery on-set relationship between Marilyn Monroe, a Method actress, and Laurence Olivier, a traditional performer, during the making of 1957’s “The Prince and the Showgirl” in England. Much of the fact-based story follows Monroe as she convinces a lowly, star-struck production assistant to take her on a multi-day drive, which totally interrupts the filming schedule. Simon Curtis (TV’s “David Copperfield”) directed. (99 minutes) Language. (R)
RAMPART: (B) Woody Harrelson delivers an unnervingly intense performance in a crime drama that unfolds in 1999 and follows a veteran policeman. The on-the-edge officer works in Los Angeles’ notorious Rampart division and is filmed beating a suspect. Famed crime author James Ellroy (“L.A. Confidential”) co-wrote the script with Oren Moverman (“The Messenger”), who directed. (95 minutes) Sexual content, some violence, pervasive language. (R)
RED TAILS: (B+) Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard star in this insightful military drama about the African-American flyers who became the Tuskegee Airmen and served as pilots battling our enemies during World War II. Producer George Lucas believed in the project so much that he wrote a $58 million check to cover the production cost. Anthony Hemingway directed. (125 minutes) War violence. (PG-13)
SAFE HOUSE: (B) In this thriller, starring Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Robert Patrick, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard and Ruben Blades, a rookie CIA agent must protect a resourceful prisoner after his secret location is discovered by his enemies. Daniel Espinosa (“Easy Money”) directed. (115 minutes) Strong violence throughout. (R)
THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY: (A-) The voices of Carol Burnett, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett and Bridget Mendler are employed in this animated Japanese import about a family that has members just 4 inches tall and lives near humans without interacting with them. That changes when the 14-year-old daughter, Arrietty, is discovered. Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Gary Rydstrom co-directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. Nothing offensive. (G)
A SEPARATION: (A) Leila Hatami and Peyman Moadi play an Iranian couple going through a divorce and facing emotional complications due to a young daughter who doesn’t want her parents to split and a paternal father, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Some unexpected complications drive both parents to an emotional breaking point. Asghar Farhadi directed the import, which won an Oscar for best-foreign-language film. (123 minutes) Adult themes. (PG-13)
STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 – THE PHANTOM MENACE 3-D: (C) Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson star in this disappointing pop-off-the-screen version of the favorite (1999). George Lucas directed. (136 minutes) violence. (PG)
THIN ICE: (B) In this neo-noir thriller, starring Greg Kinnear, Lea Thompson, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup, a struggling insurance agent plans to escape from the frigid winters in Wisconsin and fill his bank account by pulling a scam on a lonely retired farmer. The seemingly simple crime soon spirals out of control. Jill Sprecher (“Thirteen Conversations About One Thing”) directed. (114 minutes) Brief violent and sexual content, language. (R)
THIS MEANS WAR: (B-) The appealing ensemble of Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy saves this romantic comedy that walks a fine line between cute and creepy. Pine and Hardy play two top-level spies who fall for the same smart and attractive woman and then, without her knowledge, observe her during some intimate moments. They believe the modern military devices at their disposal will help them to win her heart. The supporting cast includes Chelsea Handler, Angela Bassett and Rosemary Harris. McG (“Terminator Salvation”) directed. (98 minutes) Some sexual content. (PG-13)
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: (B) The gifted Gary Oldman stars as John Le Carre’s spy, George Smiley, in this old-school thriller about the search for a foreign agent who has infiltrated Britain’s highest echelon. The strong supporting cast includes Colin Firth, John Hurt, Tom Hardy, Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds. Tomas Alfredson (“Let the Right One In”) directed. (127 minutes) Violence, some sexuality/nudity and language. (R)
UNDERWORLD AWAKENING: (B-) A leather-clad Kate Beckinsale returns to this franchise in this new installment that has vampire and werewolf clans teaming after they learn that humans plan to destroy both species. Fans of the series should be excited by the non-stop battles. It will also be shown in 3-D. Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein co-directed. (88 minutes) Strong violence and gore, some language. (R)
THE VOW: (B) Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum team in this sweet romantic drama about a wife who goes into a coma during a car accident, awakens some time later, and doesn’t remember her husband, who must woo her all over again. Sam Neill, Scott Speedman and Jessica Lange co-star. Michael Sucsy (TV’s “Grey Gardens”) directed. (104 minutes) Accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity, language. (PG-13)
WANDERLUST: (B) Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Malin Akerman, Justin Theroux and Lauren Ambrose star in this old-school comedy about a Manhattan couple who lose their jobs. They then decide to make a drastic change in their lives by moving into a hippielike commune with free love and clothing-optional living. David Wain (“Role Models”) directed. (98 minutes) Sexual content, graphic nudity, language, drug use. (R)
WAR HORSE: (B) In this emotionally charged, beautifully photographed battlefield drama, starring David Thewlis and Emily Watson, a young man (Jeremy Irvine) learns that his beloved steed has been sold to the cavalry during World War I. He then travels to the battlegrounds of Europe to rescue the animal. Steven Spielberg (“Schindler’s List”) directed. (146 minutes) Intense war violence. (PG-13)
W.E.: (C+) This factual drama, with Abbie Cornish, James D’Arcy and Andrea Riseborough, surrounds King Edward VIII. He gives up the throne to be with the love of his life, Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American woman. (The younger brother who accepted the crown is profiled in “The King’s Speech,” which won an Academy Award last year for best picture.) A parallel story set in the late 1990s involves a contemporary woman who becomes obsessed by the actions of the royal couple and is inspired to seek romantic fulfillment. Madonna (“Filth and Wisdom”) directed. (119 minutes) Strong domestic violence, nudity, language, adult themes. (R)
THE WOMAN IN BLACK: (B) “Harry Potter” favorite Daniel Radcliffe attempts to broaden his appeal with this ghost story about a young lawyer who travels to a remote village and discovers that a vengeful ghost is terrorizing the residents. The $17 million picture is a production of England’s famed Hammer Films studio, which created classics such as “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957) with Peter Cushing and “The Horror of Dracula” (1958) with Christopher Lee. James Watkins (“Eden Lake”) directed. (95 minutes) Adult themes, violence, disturbing images. (PG-13)
The Associated Press and websites contributed to this story.
Lou Gaul can be reached by email at lgaul@phillyBurbs.com.