Movie capsules from 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
CRAZY HORSE: (B) Frederick Wiseman directed this documentary about Paris’ Crazy Horse, a cabaret that was founded in 1951 by Alain Bernardin and houses the world’s most famous nude dance show. The filmmaker looks at the grueling schedule of the dancers. They perform in two shows a night and three on Saturdays seven days a week. He also captures rehearsals for “Desir,” a new show created by European choreographer Philippe Decoufle. It will be shown in French with subtitles. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (134 minutes) (Unrated)
FOOTNOTE: (B+) Joseph Cedar wrote and directed this drama about a father and son who have dedicated their lives to Talmudic studies. Their relationship weakens due to personal jealousy. The Israeli import, which received an Oscar nomination as best foreign-language film, will be shown with subtitles. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (105 minutes) Thematic elements, brief nudity, language, smoking. (PG)
GOON: (B-) “American Pie” favorite Seann William Scott stars in this rough and raunchy sports comedy about a slacker who decides to use his brawling skills on the ice by joining a minor league hockey team in need of a hard-hitting player. Liev Schreiber and Jay Baruchel co-star in the “Slap Shot”-inspired romp, and Michael Dowse (“It’s All Gone Pete Tong”) wrote and directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (92 minutes) Brutal violence, nonstop language, some strong sexual content and drugs. (R)
MIRROR MIRROR: (B) Superstar Julia Roberts goes the villainous route in this fantasy that retells the fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In this energized version, the wicked queen takes control of a kingdom and then battles Snow White (Lily Collins) and her seven loyal helpers. Armie Hammer co-stars as Prince Alcott. Tarsem Singh (“Immortals”) directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (95 minutes) Some fantasy action, mild rude humor. (PG)
WRATH OF THE TITANS: (NP) Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes as Perseus, Zeus and Hades, respectively, return in this sequel to the hit “Clash of the Titans.” In this follow-up, the half-human/half-god Perseus must save his father, Zeus, and prevent the ancient Titans from being unleashed on the world. It will also be available in 3-D. Jonathan Liebesman (“Battle Los Angeles”) directed. (99 minutes) Intense sequences of fantasy violence and action. (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)
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)
THE BALLAD OF GENESIS & LADY JAYE: (B-) This documentary follows musician Genesis P-Orridge, who underwent a series of sex reassignment surgeries in order to resemble his love, Lady Jaye. She remained his wife and artistic partner for nearly 15 years. Marie Losier directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (81 minutes) (Unrated)
BEING FLYNN: (B-) Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore and Paul Dano star in this family drama about an adult son who finds his long-lost father in a Boston homeless shelter and then tries to reach out to the delusional man, who considers himself a great writer. De Niro fans will applaud the celebrated actor’s intense performance. Paul Weitz (“Little Fockers”) directed. (102 minutes) Harsh four-letter profanity throughout, some sexual content, drug use, brief nudity. (R)
CASA DE MI PADRE: (B) Will Ferrell, Gael Garcia and Diego Luna star in this outrageous Spanish-language (yes, there are subtitles) frontier tale from south of the border. In the spoof of Mexican Westerns from the early 1970s, Ferrell’s clumsy character is pitted against a drug dealer seeking to take over the family’s ranch through violent means. Matt Piedmont (TV’s “Funny or Die Presents…”) made his big-screen directing debut. (85 minutes) Bloody violence, language, some sexual content, drug use. (R)
DELICACY: (C+) French favorite Audrey Tautou and Francois Damiens team in this comedy-drama-romance about a happy wife who is suddenly widowed after three years of a perfect marriage. Following a period of mourning, she’s attracted to an office subordinate, and their relationship upsets longtime co-workers, who consider it inappropriate. David and Stephane Foenkinos co-directed and made their filmmaking debuts. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (108 minutes) Some strong language. (PG-13)
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)
FRIENDS WITH KIDS: (B+) Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Megan Fox, Adam Scott, Edward Burns, Maya Rudolph and Chris O’Dowd form the gifted ensemble in this warm-and-winning friends-without-benefits comedy. The plot follows the jealousies, joys, rivalries and bad feelings that surface once couples start having children and turn to very traditional relationships. Jennifer Westfeldt, who penned “Kissing Jessica Stein,” wrote the script, has a role in the film, and made her directing debut. (107 minutes) Adult language and situations. (R)
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 HUNGER GAMES: (B) Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson star in this awaited adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ wildly popular fantasy novel about wealthy citizens who turn a survival game into blood sport for their entertainment as they watch poor people die during competitions. The title is the first in a three-part series. Gary Ross (“Seabiscuit”) directed. (135 minutes) Violence, adult themes. (PG-13)
JEFF, WHO LIVES AT HOME: (B) Jason Segel, Susan Sarandon and Ed Helms star in this smart and eccentric comedy about a 30-year-old guy who’s addicted to the film “Signs” and lives in the basement of his mother’s home. He agrees to help his suspicious brother investigate some personal information about a family member, and finds that their snooping results in some unexpected events and teaches everyone about the importance of family, even a dysfunctional one. Jay and Mark Duplass, who previously teamed on “Cyrus,” co-directed. (84 minutes) Language, including sexual references; some drug use. (R)
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI: (A-) Jiro Ono, 85, is the subject of this documentary that chronicles the life of the most famous sushi chef, who prepares meals in a kitchen in the Tokyo subway system. The film looks at the passion required to run and maintain a legendary sushi restaurant, which seats only 10 diners and features a menu in which everything is meticulously prepared. The film is presented with subtitles. David Gelb (“A Vision of Blindness” TV documentary) directed. Quality rating based on website and wire-service reports. (81 minutes) Mild themes, smoking. (PG)
JOHN CARTER: (C+) In this $250 million sci-fi epic, starring Taylor Kitsch, Samantha Morton, Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church, Mark Strong and Dominic West, a Civil War veteran is transplanted to Mars. He then battles 12-foot-tall barbarians and helps a princess in this ponderous fantasy largely based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ book “A Princess of Mars.” Pixar talent Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo”) made his live-action directing debut. (132 minutes) Intense sequences of violence and action. (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)
PROJECT X: (B) 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)
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)
SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN: (B) Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas star in this feel-good comedy about a rich sheik with a seemingly impossible dream. He plans to spend whatever is necessary to introduce the sport of salmon fishing into a desert area by bringing in millions of dollars worth of water. Swedish filmmaker Lasse Hallstrom (“The Cider House Rules”) directed. (107 minutes) Sexual content and violence, brief language. (PG-13)
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)
A THOUSAND WORDS: (C) Eddie Murphy, Kerry Washington and Allison Janney star in this bland comedy about a quick-talking literary agent whose habit of stretching the truth results in a curse that will allow him to speak only a certain number of words. Brian Roberts (“Norbit”) directed. The distributor declined to screen the film in advance for reviewers. (84 minutes) Sexual situations, language, drug-related humor. (PG-13)
21 JUMP STREET: (B+) Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube star in this wild action comedy about two bumbling cops – one smart, the other tough – assigned to go undercover in their old high school and stop the distribution of a synthetic drug. The reboot is loosely based on the TV series (1987-90) with Johnny Depp as Tom Hanson. With its wild parties, reefer gags, beer blasts, sexual references and casual shootouts, the reboot plays more like an “Animal House” installment than a “Die Hard” title. Chris Miller and Phil Lord, who previously teamed on the children’s computer-animated tale “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” co-directed. (109 minutes) Drugs, sex gags, outrageous violence, harsh-four-letter profanity. (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)
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN: (B) Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly and Ezra Miller star in this unnerving drama about a caring mother who fears that her child was born bad due to a behavior pattern that includes psychologically torturing his loving parent. He eventually participates in a tragedy, an act that destroys the life of his mother and many others. Lynne Ramsay (“Ratcatcher”) directed. (112 minutes) Disturbing violence and behavior, some sexuality, language. (R)
The Associated Press and websites contributed to this story.