Playing at local movie theaters
January 31st, 2008, 2:14 am Hobbies Ideas
NEW FILMS FRIDAY
HOW SHE MOVE ** A laughably overfamiliar melodrama about stepping. The energy of the cast does keep it on its feet. Complete review on Page W5, running time: 91 minutes, PG-13 (drugs, vulgarity, profanity) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
MEET THE SPARTANS The “Epic Movie” folks spoof “300″ and other historical epics. To be reviewed next week, running time: 84 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, sex, profanity, violence)
RAMBO ** This “Rambo” redux at least recognizes that something subtler than the clamor of its predecessors is needed. Complete review on Page W6, running time: 93 minutes, R (violence, rape, profanity) Gene Seymour, Newsday
UNTRACEABLE * 1/2 The latest “torture-porn” thriller should have been titled “Unwatchable.” Diane Lane stars. Complete review on Page W4, running time: 100 minutes, R (torture, violence, gore, profanity, drugs)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
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THE PARK CITY FILM MUSIC FESTIVAL The Sundance alternative features weekend screenings of feature-length movies and shorts and movies with a music theme. A schedule is available at www.parkcityfilmmusicfestival.com. (Through Sunday: Main Street Mall, Park City)
THE QUIET MAN *** 1/2 John Wayne gives one of his best performances as a disgraced American boxer in John Ford’s 1952 love letter to Ireland. Running time: 129 minutes, made before ratings, probable PG (violence) (Tonight, 7 p.m.: Lee Library, BYU, Provo)
SALT LAKE CITY FILM CENTER SCREENINGS This week’s movies are “Ever Again,” “Live and Become” and “A Walk to Beautiful.” (Monday, 7 p.m.: Salt Lake City Library; Wednesday, 6 p.m.: Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah; Thursday, 7 p.m.: Gore Hall, Westminster College)
THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT The little-seen, 1921 Swedish fantasy-horror film. Live musical accompaniment, black and white, running time: 93 minutes, made before ratings, probable G (nothing offensive) (Tonight, 7:30 p.m.: Organ Loft)
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL ‘08 The “Cannes of the West” wraps up its 30th edition this weekend with screenings of independent features, documentaries and short works in a variety of Salt Lake City and Park City venues. An online film guide is available at www.sundance.org/festival; catalogs are also available at theaters. (Through Saturday: Broadway, Tower; through Sunday: Rose Wagner Center)
SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2008 The grandfather of all Sundance alternative festivals concludes this weekend with awards-night programming in Park City. (Today: Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City)
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)
I AM LEGEND IMAX The new science-fiction thriller, shown in the large-screen format. (Jordan Commons)
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)
U2 3D *** 1/2 The concert film the Irish rock band on its worldwide “Vertigo” tour is the next best thing to being at one of the concerts in person. Reviewed Wednesday, 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)
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE ** The Beatles song covers are the highlight of this muddled, overlong musical fantasy/romance. Running time: 134 minutes, PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, drugs, nudity, brief sex, slurs, brief gore)
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)
AMERICAN GANGSTER ** 1/2 Denzel Washington’s performance is terrific, but this crime thriller takes too long trying to find the center of its story. Running time: 157 minutes, R (violence, drugs, profanity, gore, nudity, sex, slurs, torture)
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)
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)
BEOWULF ** All the digital bells and whistles in the world can’t conceal how hollow this animated adventure is at its core. Running time: 114 minutes, PG-13 (violence, gore, nudity, vulgarity, profanity, brief sex)
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)
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)
FALLING ** Richard Dutcher’s R-rated thriller goes so far over the top that it almost turns into an unintentional comedy. Running time: 84 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, brief sex, brief nudity, slurs)
FIRST SUNDAY * 1/2 A misguided attempt at comedy that needs to go last on anyone’s list of movie options. Running time: 98 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, brief drugs, violence) Claudia Puig, USA Today
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)
GONE BABY GONE *** 1/2 This well-acted thriller based on the best-selling novel is an assured and confident directorial debut for Ben Affleck. Running time: 114 minutes, R (profanity, drugs, violence, vulgarity, slurs, brief gore)
THE GREAT DEBATERS ** 1/2 This fact-based drama directed by and starring Denzel Washington settles for being merely watchable. Running time: 123 minutes, PG-13 (violence, slurs, profanity, brief sex, vulgarity)
HITMAN ** A dopey action-thriller based on a video game, which tells you everything you need to know about the film. Running time: 100 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, nudity, torture, drugs, vulgarity, brief sex)
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 “The 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)
THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB ** The big-screen adaptation of the “chick-lit” best seller is predictable and too talky. Running time: 105 minutes, PG-13 (sex, vulgarity, profanity, drugs)
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)
THE KITE RUNNER ** A cinematic CliffsNotes version of Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling book. With subtitles, running time: 122 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, rape, slurs, vulgarity, brief gore)
MAD MONEY ** A cutesy-poo caper comedy of the overfamiliar variety. Diane Keaton stars. Running time: 98 minutes, PG-13 (sex, vulgarity, profanity, brief drugs) 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 accomplished movie in years. Nominated for eight Academy Awards. Running time: 117 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, vulgarity, slurs)
ONE MISSED CALL * 1/2 This mysterious, “Can you hear me now?” thriller is spoiled by too many answers to too many questions. Running time: 87 minutes, PG-13 (violence, sex) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
THE ORPHANAGE ** The Spanish-Mexican co-production features a few decent chills and has a distinctive tone and look. Spanish with subtitles, running time: 105 minutes, R (violence, brief gore, 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)
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
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)
THIS CHRISTMAS ** A warmed-over collection of holiday-movie cliches packaged in a movie about a large extended black family. Running time: 120 minutes, PG-13 (sex, vulgarity, violence) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY ** 1/2 There are some laugh-out-loud moments in this musical biography spoof, but it’s very R-rated. Running time: 95 minutes, R (vulgarity, drugs, nudity, profanity, violence, sex, slurs, brief gore)
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)
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