Playing at local movie theaters
February 16th, 2008, 5:52 am Hobbies Ideas
NEW FILMS FRIDAY
IN BRUGES *** Those who can withstand this darkly comic thriller’s verbal assault on their sensibilities will be rewarded. Colin Farrell stars. Complete review on Page W3, running time: 101 minutes, R (profanity, violence, gore, drugs, vulgarity, slurs, brief sex, nude art)
ME %26 YOU, US, FOREVER Independently produced and released drama about a soon-to-be-divorced man recalling the romances of his youth. Running time: 104 minutes, PG (adult themes)
MIDNIGHT MOVIE
A HARD DAY’S NIGHT **** Director Richard Lester’s frenetic but hilarious 1964 “day-in-the-life” musical comedy stars the Beatles. The remastered soundtrack features several of their biggest hits (including the title track). Black and white, running time: 87 minutes, G (slapstick violence) (Tonight and Saturday: Tower)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
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BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL Short films on rock climbing, base jumping, kayaking and white water rafting as well as skiing and snowboarding. (Saturday, 7 p.m.: Peerys Egyptian Theater, Ogden)
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD *** Veteran director Sidney Lumet’s latest is one of the most gut-wrenching thrillers in recent memory. Philip Seymour Hoffman stars. Running time: 116 minutes, R (profanity, violence, nudity, sex, drugs, vulgarity, brief gore, slurs) (Tonight and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday 6 p.m.: Park City Library)
THE MARK OF ZORRO Douglas Fairbanks plays the legendary swashbuckler in this exciting 1920 adventure. Live musical accompaniment, black and white, running time: 107 minutes, made before ratings, probable PG (violence) (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: Organ Loft)
OPEN MIC NIGHT Short works by local filmmakers. This program is not rated. (Wednesday, 9 p.m.: Tower)
PRAY FOR ME: JASON JESSEE The 2008 X-Dance Film Festival hit documentary looks at the life of Jessee, a former professional skateboarder. (Sunday, 9 p.m.: Brewvies, must be 21 or older)
SALT LAKE CITY FILM CENTER SCREENINGS This week’s movies are “A Glory From the God,” “James Carroll’s Constantine’s Sword” and “Not One Less.” A schedule is available at www.slcfilmcenter.org. (Saturday, 3 p.m.: Salt Lake City Library; Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Gore Concert Hall, Westminster College; Thursday, 7 p.m.: Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah)
SPIRIT OF THE MARATHON Sports documentary spotlights six competitors in the Chicago Marathon. (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: Century Sandy, Century South Salt Lake, Jordan Landing)
VEXILLE Made-for-television animated feature. Japanese with subtitles, running time: 109 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity) (Friday, 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m.: Wynnsong, Provo)
LARGE-FORMAT FILMS
DEEP SEA 3-D *** This entertaining documentary is an up-close look at various forms of aquatic life. Running time: 40 minutes, G (animal violence)
DINOSAURS 3-D: GIANTS OF PATAGONIA *** The makers of this IMAX science film get us about as close as we’d ever want to be to these enormous creatures. Running time: 48 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence) Jeff Strickler, Star-Tribune (Minneapolis)
DINOSAURS ALIVE! Large-screen documentary featuring computerized re-creations of Jurassic-era carnivores and other creatures. Running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence)
THE HUMAN BODY The 2001 documentary short looks at digestive processes and other functions of humans. Large-screen format, running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (vulgarity)
SEA MONSTERS: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE *** What makes this IMAX minifeature stand out from the pack is its eye-popping visuals. Running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence) John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
SPACE STATION 3-D Tom Cruise narrates this documentary short about the International Space Station crew. Running time: 47 minutes, not rated, probable G (nothing offensive)
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES IMAX The new fantasy-adventure film, shown in the large-screen format. (Jordan Commons)
U2 3D *** 1/2 The concert film showing the Irish rock band on its worldwide “Vertigo” tour is the next best thing to being at one of the concerts in person. Running time: 85 minutes, G (nude artwork)
CONTINUING FILMS
27 DRESSES ** A safe starring vehicle for “Grey’s Anatomy” actress Katherine Heigl, though it feels like an overlong sitcom. Running time: 112 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief sex)
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS ** Not as eye-gougingly awful as you might expect, this live-action version is simply mediocre and immediately forgettable. Running time: 92 minutes, PG (vulgarity, violence, mild profanity)
ATONEMENT *** A reasonably engaging period piece that suggests Keira Knightley is at her best in “costume dramas.” Nominated for seven Academy Awards. Running time: 128 minutes, R (profanity, violence, sex, vulgarity, gore, partial nudity, drugs)
AUGUST RUSH ** A revisionist version of “Oliver Twist” that’s so ridiculous and sappy it defies the best efforts of a pretty good cast. Running time: 114 minutes, PG (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief drugs)
AWAKE * 1/2 Good scenes and clever bits of dialogue mixed in with lots of Screenwriting 101 blunders. Running time: 78 minutes, R (profanity, brief drugs) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
BEE MOVIE *** In many respects, this animated comedy starring Jerry Seinfeld is more educational and more exciting than it is laugh-out-loud funny. Running time: 90 minutes, PG (vulgarity, violence, brief drugs
THE BUCKET LIST ** Stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman can’t save this predictable, “Grumpy Old Dying Men” comedy. Running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, drugs, vulgarity)
CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR *** A mostly amusing film that features smart performances and even-smarter dialogue. Tom Hanks stars. Running time: 97 minutes, R (profanity, violence, nudity, drugs, vulgarity, brief sex, slurs, brief gore)
CLOVERFIELD *** No mere “Blair Monster Project,” this sci-fi/thriller is a lean, mean, monster movie. Running time: 84 minutes, PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity)
DAN IN REAL LIFE *** A pretty warm, genuine comedy that succeeds, at least in part, because of some gutsy casting choices. Steve Carell stars. Running time: 95 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, mild profanity, violence, brief partial nudity)
DEFINITELY, MAYBE *** This “mystery love story” does have considerable appeal including Ryan Reynolds’ performance. Reviewed Thursday, running time: 111 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief drugs, slurs, brief sex)
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY **** A challenging but very worthwhile drama based on Elle magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby’s memoirs. French with subtitles, running time: 116 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, nudity, vulgarity, brief drugs, sex, violence)
ENCHANTED *** Amy Adams enchants as a fairy-tale princess trapped in the real world in this cheeky romantic comedy/fantasy. Running time: 95 minutes, PG (violence, mild vulgarity, mild profanity, nude art)
THE EYE * 1/2 The real stiff in this horror remake is Jessica Alba, who gives a flat, utterly unaffecting performance. Running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (violence) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
FOOL’S GOLD * 1/2 A charmless romantic comedy-adventure that’s dumber even than the recent “National Treasure” sequel. Running time: 110 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief sex, brief partial nudity)
THE GAME PLAN ** This attempt to make Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson “cute and cuddly” is not horrible. But it is overly familiar and too long. Running time: 110 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs)
THE GOLDEN COMPASS ** A muddled, confusing fantasy that adds up to little more than the “Yawn-icles of Narnia.” Running time: 113 minutes, PG-13 (violence)
HANNAH MONTANA/MILEY CYRUS: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT ** A concert film that’s for fans of the 15-year-old pop phenom only. Shown in the 3-D format. Running time: 75 minutes, G (nothing offensive) Eleanor O’Sullivan, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press
I AM LEGEND *** More of an improved “Omega Man” remake than a faithful adaptation of Richard Matheson’s story. Will Smith stars. Running time: 100 minutes, PG-13 (violence, gore, drugs, profanity)
IN THE NAME OF THE KING: A DUNGEON SIEGE TALE * 1/2 This video-game adaptation is an awkward “Lord of the Rings” knockoff. Running time: 130 minutes, PG-13 (violence) Laura Kern, New York Times News Service
INTO THE WILD **** Sean Penn’s adaptation of the best-selling book is touching, thoughtful, sad, funny, sweet and ultimately redemptive all at once. Running time: 149 minutes, R (violence, profanity, nudity, gore, brief sex, vulgarity, brief drugs)
JUMPER ** A science-fiction adventure film doesn’t do anything with its cool premise. It also has a wooden lead, Hayden Christensen. Reviewed Thursday, running time: 88 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief sex)
JUNO **** A teen-pregnancy comedy filled with witty dialogue and genuine emotion and occasional crudeness. Nominated for four Academy Awards. Running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, brief drugs, brief gore, slurs)
MEET THE SPARTANS * These cut-and-paste comedies are so worn out that they have devolved to simple pop-culture riffs. Running time: 84 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, sex, profanity, violence) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
MICHAEL CLAYTON *** Taut, well-written and directed thriller that provides a quality vehicle for Oscar nominee George Clooney. Running time: 119 minutes, R (profanity, drugs, violence, vulgarity)
MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM *** It starts to lose some of its magic about midway through, but this family-friendly comic fantasy has some charms. Running time: 94 minutes, G (slapstick violence, mild vulgarity)
NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS ** Not without a few goofy thrills, but we’ve seen most if not all of this done better before. Running time: 124 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity)
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN *** 1/2 A well-acted and tense thriller, the Coen brothers’ most assured and accomplished movie in years. Nominated for eight Academy Awards. Running time: 117 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, vulgarity, slurs)
OVER HER DEAD BODY * 1/2 A charmless, mediocre romantic comedy with supernatural overtones. Eva Longoria Parker stars. Running time: 96 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief sex, brief nudity, brief drugs)
P.S. I LOVE YOU ** Hilary Swank seems out of sorts in this two-hour sitcom. Running time: 126 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, brief partial nudity, slapstick violence, slurs, brief drugs)
PERSEPOLIS *** 1/2 The Academy Award-nominated, animated feature works as a history lesson, as a primer on Middle Eastern politics and as an artist biography. With subtitles, running time: 95 minutes, PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, brief drugs)
THE PIRATES WHO DON’T DO ANYTHING: A VEGGIETALES MOVIE *** The latest theatrical “VeggieTale” has plenty of kid-level humor, a decent story and a positive message. Running time: 85 minutes, G (nothing offensive) Bill Goodykoontz, Gannett News Service
RAMBO ** This “Rambo” redux at least recognizes that something subtler than the clamor of its predecessors is needed. Running time: 93 minutes, R (violence, rape, profanity) Gene Seymour, Newsday
THE SAVAGES *** Best Actress Oscar nominee Laura Linney is the best part of the well-acted, dysfunctional family piece. Running time: 113 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, sex, drugs)
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES *** It’s too creepy for little ones, but this is also the best fantasy movie to come along in a while. Reviewed Thursday, running time: 97 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, slurs)
STEP UP 2 THE STREETS ** The same movie as the 2006 step-dancing hit, at least in terms of story arc. Complete review on Page W4, running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
STEPHEN KING’S THE MIST ** “The Green Mile” filmmaker Frank Darabont stumbles with this messy version of the Stephen King tale. Running time: 125 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, drugs)
STRANGE WILDERNESS * A painful, supposed comedy from the Adam Sandler camp that defies any and all efforts to laugh at it. Running time: 86 minutes, R (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, violence, nudity, sex, gore, slurs)
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET *** 1/2 Tim Burton’s sometimes-gory adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical is bloody good fun. Oscar nominee Johnny Depp stars. Running time: 116 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, nude art)
THERE WILL BE BLOOD *** P.T. Anderson’s multiple-Oscar-nominated oil drama is pretty riveting stuff despite the rushed and ridiculous finale. Daniel Day-Lewis stars. Running time: 158 minutes, R (violence, profanity, vulgarity, gore)
UNTRACEABLE * 1/2 The latest “torture-porn” thriller should have been titled “Unwatchable.” Diane Lane stars. Running time: 100 minutes, R (torture, violence, gore, profanity, drugs)
VINCE VAUGHN’S WILD WEST COMEDY SHOW ** 1/2 A better documentary than a comedy concert film, though it does contain some extremely R-rated language. Running time: 100 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, drugs, slurs)
THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP *** The boy-and-his-creature fantasy has some genuine appeal, much of it being the talented European cast. Running time: 108 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity)
WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS * An alternately gooey and annoying comedy in which Martin Lawrence tries to play straight man. Running time: 114 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, sex, racial epithets, brief drugs)
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