Tue, Nov 10 2009
|
Published June 17, 2009 05:17 pm - Reviews of films in theaters Capsule reviews of feature films By Carrie Rickey and Steven Rea - Philadelphia Inquirer ADORATION 3 stars. Adam Egoyan’s puzzle-box of a psychological mystery centers on a troubled teen (Devin Bostick), his morose uncle (Scott Speedman) and an overinvolved teacher (Arsinee Khanjian) who encourages him to speculate on the death of his parents. 1 hr. 40 R (language, mature content) — Carrie Rickey
ALIEN TRESPASS 2 1/2 stars. A parody tribute to the vintage sci-fi tales of malevolent Martians and zombie E.T.s that invaded Earth (and the local moviehouse) in the days of Ike. But re-creating the camp and kitsch of a bygone era has its limits; you’re probably better off watching the real “It Came From Outer Space” than this mildly amusing replica. 1 hr. 30 PG (comic violence, mayhem, adult themes) — Steven Rea AMERICAN VIOLET 3 stars. A single mother (Nicole Beharie) arrested on a drug charge turns down a plea bargain and risks her freedom to prove her innocence. Also starring Alfre Woodard. 1 hr. 42 PG-13 (racial epithets, profanity, violence, adult themes) — “S.R. ANGELS & DEMONS 2 1/2 stars. Ron Howard’s trimmer followup to his bulky “The Da Vinci Code” is a ticking-bomb thriller tightly wrapped in a papal plot and cinched in the ribbons of religion and science. With Tom Hanks as the symbologist teamed with a fetching physicist (Ayelet Zurer) to save the Vatican. 2 hrs. 18 PG-13 (graphic, bloodcurdling and gutwrenching murders) — Carrie Rickey ANVIL! THE STORY OF AVIL 3 1/2 stars. Sacha Gervasi’s absurd and affecting rockumentary follows stalwart Canadian heavy metal demi-gods Anvil as they struggle and strive to go on headbanging into their ’50s. A deeply moving portrait of artists who remain stubbornly, illogically committed to their music, even when it seems that no one is listening. 1 hr. 30 No MPAA rating (Profanity, brief nudity, sex toys used for musical purposes) — Dan DeLuca THE BROTHERS BLOOM 2 stars. This retro-modern curiosity starring Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody as two grifter siblings is a scam wrapped in a sham — attractive looking, but hollow. 1 hr. 53 PG-13 (violence, profanity, discreet sexuality) — Carrie Rickey THE CLASS 3 1/2 stars. Sobering, funny and finally enlightening portrait of the education tango as danced in one middle-school classroom in Paris’ melting-pot 20th arrondisement. In French with English subitles. 2 hrs. 09 PG-13 (profanity) — Carrie Rickey DANCE FLICK 2 1/2 stars. The Wayans siblings pass the whoopee cushion to their spawn in this spoof of teen musicals that might be called “Step Up to Get Served at the Save the Last Dance High School Musical Roll Bounce.” 1 hr. 23 PG-13 (crude humor, sexual content) — Carrie Rickey DRAG ME TO HELL 3 stars. Sam Raimi returns to the low-budget gore and gleefully twisted comedy of his “Evil Dead” days, with Alison Lohman starring as a loan officer who gets a curse put on her by an old hag late with her house payments. Finally, a horror movie about the mortgage crisis! 1 hr. 39 PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, adult themes) — Steven Rea DUPLICITY 2 1/2 stars. Clive Owen and Julia Roberts are corporate spies with money and romance on their minds in this riffy, overly intricate caper, from “Michael Clayton” writer/director Tony Gilroy. Swanky locales — from Dubai to Zurich — but little suspense. 2 hrs. 08 PG-13 (profanity, adult themes) — Steven Rea EASY VIRTUE 2 stars. A close-to-insufferable souffle based on the 1925 Noel Coward play, with Jessica Biel as a glamorous and adventurous American meeting her stuffy new in-laws in the English countryside. With Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth and Ben Barnes. 1 hr. 33 PG-13 (nudity, profanity, adult themes) — Steven Rea ENLIGHTEN UP! 2 1/2 stars. Breezy documentary tasting the 31 flavors of yoga practice. Essentially “Yoga for Dummies” with a brief flash of spiritual light. 1 hr. 22 No MPAA rating (spiritual themes, casual sexual reference) — Carrie Rickey EVERLASTING MOMENTS 4 stars. A portrait, incandescent and inspiring, of an accidental portraitist, a humble working-class woman named Maria Larsson who understood the transforming powers of photography. The film from Jan Troell takes place in Malmo, Sweden, at the turn of the 20th century and chronicles the life of the photographer who exalts what she sees, however humble. 2 hrs. 11 No MPAA rating (spousal abuse, sexual candor) — Carrie Rickey EVERY LITTLE STEP 3 stars. Exuberant documentary revisits the genesis of “A Chorus Line,” the landmark show about the gestation and delivery of a Broadway musical, intercutting footage from the original production with the saga of some 3,000 dancers who auditioned for 19 spots in the 2006 revival. 1 hr. 35 PG-13 (profanity, sexual references) — Carrie Rickey FAST & FURIOUS 2 1/2 stars. Vin Diesel returns for the fourth installment of the street racing franchise. The supercharged action film brings back the rest of the original cast: Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez. Vroom, vroom. 1 hr. 40 PG-13 (violence, profanity, sex, drugs) — David Hiltbrand 
More from the WEEKENDER / Entertainment section
Krause nicely unbalanced in ‘Civic Duty’ ‘Blithe Spirit’ works for Halloween season |
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
© 2009, Ashtabula Star Beacon
P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula OH 44005-2100 (440) 998-2323, Send news tips and feedback 
|
Popular Business directory links - Ashtabula Apartments | Ashtabula Attorneys | Ashtabula Auto Dealers | Ashtabula Auto Parts | Ashtabula Auto Repair | Ashtabula Beauty Salons | Ashtabula Car Rental | Ashtabula Dentists | Ashtabula Doctors | Ashtabula Flowers | Ashtabula Hotels | Ashtabula Insurance | Ashtabula Loans | Ashtabula Mortgages | Ashtabula Movers | Ashtabula Pizza | Ashtabula Realtors | Ashtabula Restaurants | Ashtabula Storage | Ashtabula Tax Preparation | Ashtabula Travel | Ashtabula Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
