Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009
Capsule reviews of films now playing in area theaters
RATINGS: : 4-Stars Excellent; : 3-Stars Good; : 2-Stars Fair; : 1-Star Poor
Gerard Butler in "Law Abiding Citizen."
"AMELIA" The role of pioneer aviatrix Amelia Earhart (1897-1937), who broke records, hearts and boundaries, fits Hilary Swank like a jumpsuit. Richard Gere co-stars in the evocative film from Mira Nair. 1 hr. 51 PG (discreet sensuality)
"ASTRO BOY" Slick, stylish CG-animated take on the vintage Japanese TV 'toon, but as robotic as its boy hero. With the voices of Nicolas Cage, Charlize Theron, Kristen Bell, and with Freddie Highmore as the kid with rockets in his feet.
1 hr. 34 PG (cartoon violence, kids and 'bots in jeopardy)
"COUPLES RETREAT" A tropical vacation turns out to be a relationship workshop for four couples. Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell and Faizon Love are part of a large cast in a skimpy comedy that is more adult than its rating indicates.
1 hr. 47. PG-13 (profanity, sexual content, rude humor).
"LAW ABIDING CITIZEN" Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler go toe-to-toe in this over-the-top and grisly Philadelphia-made criminal justice revenge thriller. A mashup of "Death Wish" vigilante vengeance with "Silence of the Lambs" mad-genius-behind-bars puppet-mastery.
1 hr. 48 R (violence, sexual violence, torture, profanity, adult themes)
"SAW VI" (Rating not available) Another October, another entry in the "Saw" franchise. Despite being killed off three movies ago, the serial killer Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) continues to rack up a sizable body count of not-so-innocent victims. Will there be any end to his murder spree? Depends on how the box-office grosses on this one go...
1 hr. 30 mins. R
"THE STEPFATHER" (Rating not available) Before he dazzled TV viewers with his complex portrayal of John Locke on the ABC series "Lost," Terry O'Quinn was best known for playing a deranged step-daddy in the '80s horror flick "The Stepfather." That movie launched a franchise that is now getting a reboot courtesy of this remake, which casts "Nip/Tuck" star Dylan Walsh in O'Quinn's role. Amber Heard and "Gossip Girl's" Penn Badgley co-star.
1 hr. 41 mins. PG-13
"THIS IS IT" (Rating not available) The King of Pop may be gone, but his star still shines brightly; Hollywood conceded last weekend to Michael Jackson, declining to program any other wide releases opposite this much-hyped documentary that takes viewers behind-the-scenes of what was supposed to be the Gloved One's comeback concert series. Director Kenny Ortega (the same guy who choreographed Jackson's show and helmed all three installments of the "High School Musical" franchise) assembled the film from hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage and studio sessions with Jackson and his massive crew. Currently set to be in theaters for only two weeks, "This Is It" will either be the capstone on MJ's career...or the kick-off of a whole new wave of posthumous tie-ins.
1 hr. 51 mins. PG
"WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE" Spike Jonze dares to adapt Maurice Sendak's sublime and scary children's book classic, and conjures up a satisfyingly moody, melancholy, madcap live-action romp. No masterpiece, but it's a brave undertaking, and an oft-times transcendent one.
1 hr. 40 PG (scary imagery, intense emotions, mayhem)