Movie Review Page

The following movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The reviews can be heard by calling 1-800-311-4CCC. The movie review line is updated each Friday and includes information about recent theater releases and a Family Video of the Week.

Movies in Wide Release

The Fall -- Exceedingly strange but fitfully affecting tale set in a Los Angeles hospital circa 1915 about the unlikely relationship between two patients: a spunky 5-year-old girl (adorable Catinca Untaru with, alas, an often impenetrable accent), and an embittered movie stuntman (Lee Pace) who keeps her enthralled with a story of bandits mirroring his devastating real-life breakup with his girlfriend. Director Tarsem's film -- imaginative in many ways -- goes on far too long and its elaborate fantasy sequences (alternately sophomoric and serious) are more wearying than illuminating, while the redemptive ending fails to compensate for a pervasively heavy and lachrymose tone. Action violence with bloodshed, a suicide attempt, and a couple of instances of profanity. A-III -- adults. (R) 2008
Speed Racer -- Overly long and only so-so live-action adventure yarn -- based on the 1960s Japanese animated TV series -- about a young race car driver (Emile Hirsch) who, with the loving support of his parents (John Goodman and Susan Sarandon) and girlfriend (Christina Ricci), stands up to the corrupt race sponsor (Roger Allam) and other baddies to compete in the race that killed his big brother. The Wachowski brothers, co-writers and directors, employ colorful animated backgrounds, and the positive family values and nice performances are added pluses, but the alternately chaotic and sentimental plotline will be of most interest to diehard fans of the cartoon, while some of the violence and language are a tad strong for those youngest viewers who might appreciate it most. Imax and conventional. Some intense, but not graphic, action violence, some crass language and expressions, and mild profanity. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) 2008
What Happens in Vegas -- An inebriated couple -- a commodities trader (Cameron Diaz), dumped by her longtime boyfriend, and a womanizing slacker (Ashton Kutcher), fired from his closet-building job -- get married in Las Vegas, much to their later regret, and must live with the consequences when they return to New York and a judge orders them to try to make the marriage work for six months, if they are to decide who keeps the $3 million jackpot they won at the slots. Director Tom Vaughan's romantic comedy is lame, tasteless and unfunny, despite a premise that could work in better hands, while the warm-if-predictable ending fails to erase the sophomoric ineptitude of what has come before it. Pervasive vulgar humor, implied premarital cohabitation, scatological elements, some skimpy costuming, much crude language and brief profanity. O -- morally offensive. (PG-13) 2008

Fugitive Pieces -- Quietly reflective and affecting story about a small Jewish boy (Robbie Kay) in Poland, separated from his family during the Holocaust, who is adopted by a gentle Greek archaeologist (Rade Sherbedgia), and how the events of those years mold his adulthood as a writer in Canada (where he's played by Stephen Dillane) and his relationships (with Rosamund Pike and Ayelet Zurer). Directed with a measured pace by Jeremy Podeswa, who also wrote the adaptation of Anne Michaels' 1996 novel, the film is especially touching in the tender scenes with Sherbedgia and young Kay who morphs seamlessly into the excellent Dillane, who beautifully conveys how his character comes to terms with the ghosts and guilt of the past. Some nonmarital sexuality with partial and rear nudity, a shooting death, and other brief nongraphic violence, a suicide reference and a couple of mild expletives. A-III -- adults. (R) 2008

Iron Man -- Sleekly effective science-fiction tale about a devil-may-care playboy weapons manufacturer (Robert Downey Jr.) who, after being captured by an ambitious Afghanistan-based warlord (Faran Tahir) and ordered to build a replica of his most advanced product, with the help of another captive and scientist (Shaun Toub), instead constructs an impregnable suit of armor, escapes, and begins to re-evaluate his life, with the support of his loyal girl Friday (Gwyneth Paltrow) and despite the doubts of his junior partner (Jeff Bridges) and military liaison (Terrence Howard). In between the impressive special effects, executive producer-director Jon Favreau's screen adaptation of this popular comic-book series charts its main character's conversion from callous genius to dedicated defender. Nongraphic sexual activity, torture, a graphic medical procedure, sci-fi violence, occasional crude language, a brief profanity, sexual humor and innuendo. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008

Made of Honor -- A callous playboy (a charming Patrick Dempsey) comes to realize he loves his longtime best friend (Michelle Monaghan) just when she announces she's engaged to a Scottish lord (Kevin McKidd), and he agrees to be her "maid of honor" in the hopes of dissuading her from the marriage. Paul Welland's formulaic but ultimately winning film starts with some highly problematic elements having to do with the playboy's unbridled love life, but settles into a sentimental story about the hero learning the true meaning of love, while generally promoting an acceptable moral worldview. Nongraphic encounters, divorce, alcohol use, innuendo, and some crude words and expressions. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008

Son of Rambow -- Rollicking but also touching chronicle, set in 1980s Britain, of the unlikely friendship between a reserved schoolboy (Bill Milner), who's being raised by his puritanically religious widowed mother (Jessica Stevenson), and a rambunctious fellow student (Will Poulter) who's been left in the care of his dictatorial older brother (Ed Westwick), as they collaborate on a frenetic sequel to one of Sylvester Stallone's "Rambo" movies with the aid of a charismatically cool French exchange student (Jules Sitruk). Writer-director Garth Jennings' warmly humorous, semi-autobiographical film portrays the Amish-like sect as stifling enough to justify its main character's conflicted resistance, but ends by affirming faith as well as friendship. Shoplifting, underage smoking, a painful accident, and occasional crude and profane and some crass language. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay -- Potentially acute satirical adventure, overwhelmed by sophomoric excess, in which a drug-addled slacker (Kal Penn) and his slightly more motivated friend (John Cho) are mistaken for terrorists, escape from the titular detention camp, and embark on a road trip to Texas where the former's ex-girlfriend (Danneel Harris) and her politically connected fiance (Eric Winter) may help clear their names. Co-writers and directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg's buddy sequel revels in the salacious and the scatological while glorifying drug use. Graphic and frequent rear, upper-female and full-frontal nudity; sexual activity; some aberrant, pervasive rough, crude and crass language, including at least 100 uses of the f-word, seven uses of profanity, sexual and graphically scatological humor; drug use and references; a prostitution theme; and a pornography reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. (R) 2008

Deception -- Dull, sometimes obvious thriller about a lonely accountant (Ewan McGregor) who’s befriended by a charismatic corporate lawyer (Hugh Jackman), who introduces him into a sex club offering “intimacy without intricacy” where he falls for one of the other members (Michelle Williams) and soon becomes a blackmail victim. Director Marcel Langenegger’s feature debut -- nocturnal andclaustrophobic -- glamorizes its main character’s anonymous encounters before endorsing his more substantial relationship. Graphic nonmarital sexual activity, rear and upper female nudity, scanty costuming, much rough and crude and some crass and profane language, sexual discussion, drug use. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008

A Plumm Summer -- Gentle and winning fact-based coming-of-age tale, set in 1968, in which a 13-year-old aspiring detective (Chris J. Kelly) and his girlfriend (Morgan Flynn) search their small Montana hometown for the TV puppet with whom his kid brother (Owen Pearce) is obsessed and who has made the show's host (Henry Winkler) a local star, while he also supports his mother's (Lisa Guerrero) struggles with his father's (William Baldwin) alcoholism. Director Caroline Zelder's nostalgic first feature, narrated by Jeff Daniels, gleams with innocence and affection, and takes full advantage of its magnificent rural setting. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) 2008

Baby Mama -- Frequently funny but morally problematic romantic comedy about a hard-driving grocery chain executive (Tina Fey) who, incapable of bearing a child, hires an unpolished woman (Amy Poehler) to be a surrogate mother, subsequently becoming her roommate when the latter splits from her deadbeat common-law husband (Dax Shepard) while herself becoming attached to an ex-lawyer turned juice-bar owner (Greg Kinnear). Writer-director Michael McCullers' partially improvised feature debut, with a cast that also includes Sigourney Weaver and Steve Martin, abounds in comic energy but implicitly accepts current mores regarding fertility that are contrary to Catholic values. Acceptability of surrogate parenting and artificial insemination, implied premarital sex, some crude and crass language, sexual and scatological humor, and a drug reference. O -- morally offensive. (PG-13) 2008

Roman de Gare -- Impeccably crafted suspense tale from great director Claude Lelouch in which a young woman (Audrey Dana) abandoned at a gas station after a fierce argument with her fiance accepts a lift from an ominous stranger (Dominique Pinon) who agrees to drive her to her parents' farm and pose as her fiance. Stunningly acted by all -- including Fanny Ardant as a best-selling author whose story, along with that of a woman (Michele Bernier) whose husband has suddenly gone missing, eventually intersects with the main one -- and cleverly written to keep you guessing right up to the end, the film is keenly observant about human nature, the creative process and love. Sporadic rough language and crude expressions, brief frank sexual dialogue and suicide. In French. Subtitles. A-III -- adults. (R) 2008

Then She Found Me -- Fitfully engaging but mostly humdrum tale of a glum Jewish schoolteacher (Helen Hunt) who reconnects with the gregarious birth mother (Bette Midler) she never knew, and falls in love with a single father (Colin Firth) after her adopted mother dies and her husband (Matthew Broderick) walks out on her. Co-writer Hunt competently directs this adaptation of Elinor Lipman's novel, and performances are solid, but her character is frequently irksome and several plot points are problematic from a Catholic perspective. Nongraphic sexual encounters; some nonmarital, frank sexual talk; partial female nudity; profanity and some rough language; and artificial insemination. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed -- Provocative documentary intended to show that academics and research scientists are penalized for merely suggesting that there might be flaws in the prevailing theory of Neo-Darwinian evolution and that purported scientific evidence for the alternate theory of intelligent design is being systematically ignored. Director Nathan Frankowski's unabashedly partisan film -- using old movie clips to humorously underscore the film's themes of suppression and duplicity, and with at least some of the interviewees seemingly caught off guard by the line of questioning -- is impishly hosted and co-written by former presidential speechwriter, economist and sometime actor Ben Stein. Holocaust imagery and mature philosophical issues. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) 2008

Constantine's Sword -- Earnest but unbalanced documentary, adapted from ex-priest James Carroll's "Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews -- A History," surveys the fraught history of Christian anti-Semitism, particularly as it plays out among American evangelicals today, and its roots dating back to the early days of the Roman Catholic Church, incorporating seminal episodes from his life story, including his sometimes conflicted relationship with his father, and his ultimate disillusionment with the institutional church. Director Oren Jacoby's film ignores some significant nuances in the historical record, as it broadly outlines the tragic conflict. Mature religious themes, one use of the f-word and occasional crude and crass language. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. 2008

Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? -- Genial but not particularly insightful documentary in which average citizen Morgan Spurlock's ostensible search for the titular terrorist takes him to North Africa and the Middle East, where he mingles with the mostly friendly locals and ponders the origins of Islamic extremism. Spurlock, who also directed, rehashes the familiar shortcomings of American policy in the area, and makes a vague plea for a more humane world, but suggests no specific reforms. Two gory scenes, three uses of the f-word, and occasional crude and crass language. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008

88 Minutes -- Shoddy, B-level thriller about a forensic psychiatrist (Al Pacino) whose testimony leads to a serial killer's death sentence, but on the eve of the execution, copycat murders raise doubts, and the professional profiler gets a mysterious call informing him he will die in 88 minutes. Pacino does his best with the obvious and laughable script, with more red herrings than in a Scandinavian deli, but the result -- frenetically but dully directed by Jon Avnet -- is inferior to even run-of-the-mill television police procedurals. Torture and murder with blood, profanity, crude language, briefly glimpsed lesbian seduction, implied nonmarital encounter, some sexual talk and partial nudity. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008

The Forbidden Kingdom -- Glossy kung fu fantasy in which a teenage martial-arts film fan (Michael Angarano) is transported to ancient China where he embarks on a quest to return a magical staff to the Monkey King (Jet Li) so that he can continue his age-old struggle against the evil Jade War Lord (Collin Chou), assisted along the way by a tippling poet (Jackie Chan), a reticent monk (also Li) and a girl (Liu Yifei) out to avenge the tyrant's murder of her parents. Director Rob Minkoff's saga features impressive action sequences and special effects, but only passable humor and virtually no emotional depth. Crass scene of urination, two uses of the s-word, occasional crass language and vulgar expressions, one profanity, and fantasy violence. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008

Forgetting Sarah Marshall -- Romantic comedy -- by turns touching and funny but also frequently vulgar -- about a TV composer (very appealing Jason Segel who also wrote the often perceptive script) who, dumped by his actress girlfriend (Kristen Bell), travels to Hawaii to nurse his wounds, only to find his ex there with her new boyfriend, a British rock star (Russell Brand), while he falls for the hotel's empathetic receptionist (Mila Kunis). Take out the raunchy elements from first-time director Nicholas Stoller's film, and there's a surprisingly sensitive story that makes intelligent points about relationships, and even in some respects a moral underpinning, but the objectionable elements (characteristic of the Judd Apatow brand of R-rated comedy) are too pervasive to ignore. Sexual encounters, some aberrant, with partial nudity, full-frontal male-nudity sight gag, frank sexual talk, nonmarital situations, much rough language including irreverent remarks, and comic violence. O -- morally offensive. (R) 2008

Prom Night -- Leaden, formulaic slasher film in which an obsessed former teacher (Johnathon Schaech) escapes from a mental hospital and returns to stalk a high school student (Brittany Snow) whose family he killed three years earlier, pursuing her through the swanky hotel where she and her boyfriend (Scott Porter) are attending the titular event and staying a step ahead of the police detective (Idris Elba) who is trying to protect her. Director Nelson McCormick's homage to the 1980 movie of the same name displays more restraint than many examples of the genre, but the final corpse count is still high. Some graphic violence with gore, underage drinking, two uses of the s-word, occasional crass language, some profanity, brief sexual talk and innuendo. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (PG-13) 2008

Persepolis -- Unusual animated film for adults about the coming of age of a feisty young girl (voice of Chiara Mastroianni) in Tehran, Iran, in the troubled years after the fall of the shah's regime; amid the ensuing fundamentalist repression and the violence of the war with Iraq, her politically savvy parents (Catherine Deneuve and Sean Penn) and grandmother (Gena Rowlands) send her to school in Vienna, Austria, for safety, where she feels like an outsider. Marjane Satrapi (on whose life the film is based) and Vincent Paronnaud's absorbing, mostly black-and-white feature gives a valuable historical overview of the social and political situation, but what stays with the viewer is the powerful sense of family. Excellent English edition of the French original. Some rough and crude language and profanity, some brief violent imagery including torture and executions, sexual references, a couple of nonmarital relationships, the acceptability of divorce and brief drug use; acceptable for mature teens. A-III -- adults. (PG-13 2008

Smart People -- Well-acted, edgy, but only so-so comedy-drama about a self-absorbed, arrogant college professor-widower (a fine Dennis Quaid) in midlife crisis who improbably falls in love with a former student, now a doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker), while coping with a freeloading brother (Thomas Haden Church), a precocious, overachieving daughter (Ellen Page) and a distant son (Ashton Holmes). Mark Jude Poirier's intelligent screenplay -- well paced by first-time feature director Noam Munro -- is perceptive of human nature in many ways, but strong language and unconventional plot elements may bother viewers despite the morally sound wrap-up. Nongraphic premarital sex, condom use, frank sexual remarks, rough language, brief rear nudity, brief teenage drinking and drug use. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008

Street Kings -- Bleak, gritty police drama about a corrupt LAPD detective (Keanu Reeves), one of several evidence-planters led by a scheming captain (Forest Whitaker), who joins with an action-hungry rookie (Chris Evans) to investigate the death of his ex-partner (Terry Crews), who was informing on him to an internal affairs officer (Hugh Laurie), and for whose murder he fears being blamed. Lead screenwriter James Ellroy's adaptation of his own novel, directed by David Ayer, has a convoluted plot and conflicted morals, at times seeming to justify its hero's brutal shortcuts, at others offering him as a candidate for redemption. Gory murders, torture and beatings, brief rear nudity, relentless rough and crude and some crass language, seven uses of profanity, and rape and prostitution references. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008

The Visitor -- Sensitive, intimate drama in which an emotionally repressed economics professor (Richard Jenkins) discovers a couple (Haaz Sleiman and Danai Gurira), both undocumented aliens, unwittingly squatting in his long-unvisited Greenwich Village apartment as the result of a scam and becomes involved in their travails, eventually also forming a bond with the young man's mother (Hiam Abbass). Writer-director Tom McCarthy's affecting film makes its political point with intelligence, subtle humor and a deep sense of compassion. Implied cohabitation and a few expletives uttered under extreme duress. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
10,000 B.C. -- Familiar but only fitfully involving epic taking place at the end of the Ice Age about a young tribal hunter (Steven Strait) pursuing marauding slave raiders who have kidnapped the young woman he loves (Camilla Belle), while fighting predatory birds, saber-toothed tigers and mammoths along the way. Director Roland Emmerich's often silly epic holds few real surprises, and has the sort of cliche-filled script standard for this genre, but the digital effects are quite impressive, especially the bustling pyramid-studded slave colony that brings the hero and his companions to its predictable action-packed climax. Intense but not gory action violence and killings and some pagan mysticism. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG-13) 2008
Alvin and the Chipmunks -- Entertaining comedy with music in which the three familiar animated warblers (voiced by Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney) befriend a failing ad man and would-be composer (Jason Lee) and inspire him to write a hit Christmas song, which they record, while also trying to reunite him with the ex-girlfriend (Cameron Richardson) to whom he could not commit before then being tempted away by a greedy record producer (David Cross) who seeks to exploit them. Director Tim Hill’s film is full of enjoyable chaos, yet manages to send messages about family solidarity and rule keeping that parents will appreciate. Some crude and scatological humor. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) 2007
Atonement -- Moving World War II romance of a well-to-do young Englishwoman (Keira Knightley) serving as a nurse and the working-class soldier (James McAvoy) she has loved for years, but from whom she had been separated years before when her kid sister (Saoirse Ronan) wrongly accused him of a crime, an injustice that will haunt the accuser (now played by Romola Garai) ever after. Director Joe Wright, working from Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel, persuasively limns an unusual story of betrayal, steadfast love, forgiveness and redemption with some surprising twists, and with further pluses in the sensitive performances and period detail. A fully clothed nonmarital sexual encounter, an implied encounter between an adult and an underage girl, use of the f-word among soldiers, brief profanity, wartime dead and wounded imagery, and a crude written sexual remark. A-III -- adults. (R) 2007
The Bank Job -- Stylish but lurid fact-based tale, set in 1971 London, about a car dealer and small-time criminal (Jason Statham) who, tipped off by an old friend (Saffron Burrows), organizes a gang (Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays and James Faulkner among others) to rob the safe deposit boxes of an upscale bank, only to find himself caught between a crime lord (David Suchet), allied with a militant black-power leader (Peter de Jersey), and an agent of the British counterintelligence service (Richard Lintern) intent on preserving royal secrets. Director Roger Donaldson's film is primarily an intelligent and engaging crime thriller, but it delves, along the way, into the seamy details of some of its characters' private lives, while also graphically portraying underworld brutality. Nongraphic sexual activity, some of it aberrant, upper female and rear nudity, torture, much rough, crude and crass language, adultery and pornography themes, drug and prostitution references, a passing anti-Catholic reference. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008
Be Kind Rewind -- Zany, warmhearted comedy about a New Jersey video store worker (Mos Def) who comes up with a scheme to create amateur video versions of classic films when his bungling friend (Jack Black) accidentally erases all the tapes after the manager (Danny Glover) leaves town to investigate saving the building from demolition. Despite its intentionally rough-hewn, indie ambience, a wildly improbable plotline, and too much low-comedy schtick, writer-director Michel Gondry's valentine to filmmaking ultimately delivers a touching story of friendship, with a strong affirmation of community and good fellowship, as the townspeople rally to the aid of the threatened business. Some vulgar humor, brief sexual references and mild comic violence. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG-13) 2008
Bella -- Sweetly sentimental story about an unmarried New York waitress (an especially fine Tammy Blanchard) who loses her job after becoming pregnant, and her restaurant's empathetic chef (Mexican soap favorite Eduardo Verastegui) -- an ex-soccer star whose career ended after his car fatally struck a child -- who gives the young woman emotional support, takes her to visit his loving family, and gently tries to persuade her to keep the baby. Director and co-writer Alejandro Monteverde's impressive feature film debut is sometimes dramatically slack and implausible, but the sensitive performances, positive depiction of the chef's warm Latino family, and most of all, its affirmative pro-life message -- along with themes of self-forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption -- should resonate with Catholic viewers. Partially subtitled. A couple of crass words, a child's death, a drug reference, and the out-of-wedlock theme aside, film is admirably free of objectionable elements. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG-13) 2007
Bonneville -- Touching story of a widow (Jessica Lange) who treks by car from Idaho to California with her two girlfriends (Kathy Bates and Joan Allen) to turn over her late husband's ashes to her grown stepdaughter (Christine Baranski), who demands them in return for not evicting her stepmother from her home. First-time feature director Christopher Rowley -- with a sensitive script by Daniel D. Davis, who based the story on his grandmother and her friends -- sustains a gentle and easygoing tone throughout this mature "chick flick" road movie, the friendship of the women is beautifully dramatized, and there's an affectingly spiritual, if not specifically Catholic, quality in the healthy approach to dealing with death. A few instances of crass language, light violence and brief innuendo. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) 2008
The Bucket List -- Unremarkable, formulaic, only mildly entertaining story of two cancer patients -- a wealthy, womanizing tycoon (Jack Nicholson) and a middle-class garage mechanic (Morgan Freeman) -- who decide to hit the road and experience all their wildest dreams in the time they have left, that is, until they "kick the bucket." We've seen all this before, and except for seeing the two stars in standard reliable form, director Rob Reiner's film is predictably routine, though some problematic elements aside, imparting a positive message about finding the joy in life and bringing joy to others. An instance of the f-word; some crude expletives, crass expressions and scattered profanity; a vulgar gesture; an implied nonmarital sexual encounter; sexual references and innuendo; and domestic discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2007
Charlie Bartlett -- Off-beat comic study of a troubled but charismatic teen (Anton Yelchin) who partners with a reformed bully (Tyler Hilton) to set up an informal psychiatric practice and prescription drug dispensary in the boys' room of his high school, thus becoming its most popular student, much to the amazement of his weak-willed mother (Hope Davis) and the chagrin of the inept principal (Robert Downey Jr.) whose daughter (Kat Dennings) he's dating. Director John Poll's often droll feature debut highlights the value of open communication, the dignity of the marginalized and the dangers of narcotics, but its worthy intentions are undercut by a barrage of swear words and some crude humor. Nongraphic premarital sexual activity, brief upper female nudity, frequent coarse language, two profanities, suicide theme, gay reference. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008
CJ7 --Generally enchanting though somewhat flawed comic fable about an impoverished, shunned Chinese schoolboy (Xu Jiao) whose life is transformed when his hardworking, widowed father (Stephen Chow) brings a toy home from the garbage dump that turns out to be a doglike alien critter with supernatural powers. Chow, who also wrote and directed, hits the mark both humorously and dramatically, and his film offers a telling critique of cut-throat materialism, though its positive message and humane, even specifically Christian, values are undercut by a few distasteful scenes focused on the alien's doggy poop. Occasional crude language, comic book violence and scatological humor, though probably acceptable for older teens. A-III -- adults. (PG) 2008
Cloverfield -- Skillful, effective horror exercise in which the amateur videotaping of a going-away party for a young executive (Michael Stahl-David) hosted by his brother (Mike Vogel) and attended by the girl who's awakened his interest (Odette Yustman), as well as a number of other friends (Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas and T.J. Miller), is interrupted by the arrival in Manhattan of a rampaging monster. Director Matt Reeves' film cleverly contrasts the intimate feel of the ubiquitous camcorder with the vast scale of the havoc being unleashed and also benefits from believable characters and a script rich in deadpan humor. Some graphic images of the wounded, two uses of the f-word, pervasive crude and frequent profane language, and sexual references. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
College Road Trip -- Unobjectionable, though uninspired, family comedy in which a wildly overprotective father (Martin Lawrence), despite the misgivings of his sensible wife (Kym E. Whitley), insists on accompanying his 17-year-old daughter (Raven-Symone) on a visit to a distant university she's considering, meanwhile trying to convince her to attend a college much closer to home and discovering along the way that his small but precocious son (Eshaya Draper) has stowed away for the ride, accompanied by his pet pig. Director Roger Kumble's film is generally pleasant and conveys good messages about parental concern and the need for trust, but most of the humor is too implausible to really work. A-I -- general patronage. (G) 2008
The Counterfeiters -- Absorbing true story about the largest counterfeiting operation in history, as inmates of a German concentration camp are ordered to forge vast amounts of Allied currency to undermine England's and America's war effort, but courageously delay the production of American dollars that might have adversely altered World War II's outcome. Writer-director Stefan Ruzowitzky's frequent use of hand-held camera technique and Marius Ruhland's score add contemporary touches to a suspenseful tale bolstered by good performances including Karl Markovics as the expert criminal forger who's put in charge of the team, and August Diehl as the inmate who repeatedly sabotages the operation with the former's grudging allowance. In German. Subtitles. Some violence including brutal shootings, brief upper female and rear nudity, further brief shower nudity, brief nongraphic sexual encounters, a crass scene of urination, an irreverent joke, a few expletives including the f-word, and racial epithets. A-III -- adults. (R) 2008

Definitely, Maybe -- Carefully wrought romantic comedy, albeit with some problematic material, in which an advertiser (Ryan Reynolds) on the verge of divorce recounts to his inquiring daughter (Abigail Breslin) how he chose her mother from among the three women (Elizabeth Banks, Rachel Weisz and Isla Fisher) he had once been dating. Writer-director Adam Brooks' generally well-written, often touching film is most suitable for mature viewers. Implied nonmarital sexual activity and cohabitation, some profanity, frank sexual talk and crass language, divorce theme, lesbian reference and political pro-choice allusion. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly -- Inspiring if sobering true story of a French magazine editor (Mathieu Amalric) whose massive stroke left him completely paralyzed but who was able to tap into his imagination to take in the world around him, appreciate the important things in his life, and even dictate his memoirs by blinking his eye for every letter. Julian Schnabel's film begins entirely from the perspective of the paralyzed patient, but gradually expands to a third-person view. Though some may find his situation difficult to watch, the strongly life-affirming way he responded to adversity rather than succumb to despair is praiseworthy beyond measure. In French. Subtitles. References to past adultery, partial-male and upper-female nudity, nongraphic sexual encounter, and some crass words and sexual talk. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2007
Doomsday -- Blood-soaked futuristic adventure tale in which a tough policewoman (Rhona Mitra) is ordered by the British prime minister (Alexander Siddig) and his scheming security chief (David O'Hara) to lead a team of soldiers into pandemic-ravaged Scotland, where they battle a cannibalistic tribal chieftain (Craig Conway) and the ruler of a medieval castle (Malcolm McDowell) to bring back an immune survivor. Writer-director Neil Marshall's thoroughly benighted film wallows in barbarism. Graphic violence, mutilation, torture, cannibalism theme, brief upper female and sustained rear nudity, pervasive swearing, including at least 45 uses of the f-word, four uses of profanity. O -- morally offensive. (R) 2008
Drillbit Taylor -- Droll portrait of the unlikely friendship between a homeless veteran (Owen Wilson) and the three high school misfits (Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile and David Dorfman) who hire him as a bodyguard to protect them from a malevolent bully (Alex Frost) and his thuggish sidekick (Josh Peck). Director Steven Brill's film, produced by the prolific Judd Apatow, emphasizes its titular character's evolution from con man to caring mentor, and his young clients' search for courage and solidarity, but dialogue rife with vulgar terms and a problematic central love story make it appropriate fare only for the mature. Brief rear nudity, implied premarital sex, frequent crude and pervasive crass language, six uses of profanity, and drug and pornography references. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who -- Enchanting animated adaptation of the classic children's book about a warmhearted elephant (voice of Jim Carrey) who discovers that a speck of dust is home to the microscopic town of Who-ville, led by a slightly eccentric mayor (Steve Carell), and who must find the particle a safe resting place despite the opposition of a closed-minded kangaroo (Carol Burnett) and a wicked but dim eagle (Will Arnett). The film, co-directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, promotes excellent values and the script, performances and animation all match the high quality of the original source material. A-I -- general patronage. (G) 2008
The Eye -- Reasonably effective suspense yarn about a blind concert violinist (a believable Jessica Alba) who, after receiving corneal transplants, begins to envision harrowing scenes of devastation and spectral spirits for reasons she connects with her anonymous eye donor, while she tries to convince her doctor (Alessandro Nivola), sister (Parker Posey) and conductor (Rade Serbedzija) that she's not hallucinating. Co-directors David Moreau and Xavier Palud's remake of a 2002 Taiwanese film delivers the requisite scary jolts, despite plot improbabilities, and is devoid of sex and language concerns. Some brief and nongraphic but disturbing violent images, including fires and explosions, and a suicide flashback. Acceptable for older teens. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Fool's Gold -- Sparring treasure hunter (Matthew McConaughey and ex-spouse (Kate Hudson) join forces with a billionaire (Donald Sutherland) and his pampered daughter (Alexis Dziena) to seek ancient treasure in the waters off a Caribbean island before a gangster (Kevin Hart) and the hunter's former mentor (Ray Winstone) get to it first. The amiable stars, eye-filling location shooting and moral wrap-up are pluses, but the routine script co-authored by director Andy Tennant is generally witless and is bogged down by exposition, while the action sequences are lively but unexciting. Some uses of the s-word and brief profanity, a few crass expressions, moderate action violence, an implied sexual encounter in an abandoned church, and some light sexual banter. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Flawless -- Stylish heist film set in 1960 London as an executive (Demi Moore) in a diamond corporation and the soon-to-be-retired night cleaning man (Michael Caine) join forces to steal gems from the firm's high-security vault, after she learns she will be dismissed from her position. Director Michael Radford, working from a first-time script by Edward Anderson, captures the milieu of the corporation and the era well and builds taut suspense, with Moore, Caine and Lambert Wilson as the detective assigned to investigate the robbery all in top form, while objectionable elements -- apart from some language and the robbery itself, of course -- are practically nil. Brief profanity, a single use of the f-word and some crass language; acceptable for older teens. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Funny Games -- Bleak, horrifying thriller about a vacationing couple (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth) and their young son (Devon Gearhart) whose summer house is invaded by two sadistic young men (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet) who hold them hostage and threaten to kill them. Director Michael Haneke's shot-by-shot remake of his 1997 German film is purportedly a critique of violence and the media, but despite excellent performances, Haneke's undeniable craftsmanship, and most of the appalling violence occurring off-camera, many will find the unrelenting brutality unbearably disturbing, no matter what the intended social commentary. Extreme violence including torture and murder, blood, some crude language and profanity, skimpy female attire and a drug reference. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008
The Great Debaters -- Inspiring tale, based on true events, about a gifted and demanding debate coach (Denzel Washington) at a small African-American college in 1930s Texas who guides his forensics team of three male (Denzel Whitaker, Nate Parker and Jermaine Williams) and one female (Jurnee Smollett) student to unprecedented nationwide success. Washington, who also directed, creates an intimate character study that transcends the formulaic and presents an uplifting message in a thoroughly enjoyable way. Scenes of violence, including a lynched corpse; brief nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity; and four uses of the s-word and two profanities. Possibly acceptable for older teens. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2007
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert -- Exuberant, refreshingly innocent live-performance feature capturing singing star Miley Cyrus' 69-city tour during which she appeared both as herself and as her Disney Channel television persona, Montana. In addition to her onstage singing and dancing, director Bruce Hendricks' film showcases Miley's life behind the scenes, practicing guitar, rehearsing routines and dashing through a breakneck costume change. A few short skirts and a bit of crass language. A-I -- general patronage. (G) 2008
Hitman -- Slick but exceedingly violent action film in which an assassin (Timothy Olyphant), trained to kill from childhood, is hired to gun down the president of Russia (Ulrich Thomsen), inexplicably fails, kidnaps the president's girlfriend (Olga Kurylenko) and goes on the lam, pursued at cross purposes by an Interpol agent (Dougray Scott) and the head of the Russian secret service (Robert Knepper). Director Xavier Gens' adaptation of the titular video game is a blood-spilling, bone-crunching rampage with stops along the way for pompous dialogue and misogynistic humor. Pervasive graphic violence, rear and sustained upper-female nudity, nongraphic sexual activity, much rough and some crude language, and two uses of profanity. O -- morally offensive. (R) 2007
I Am Legend -- Grim but effective thriller has a brave scientist (Will Smith) as the last surviving person in New York battling ferocious animal and human mutants as he struggles to find a cure for the virus that has eliminated most of the world's population. Director Francis Lawrence's remake of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel has some eerie scenes of a decimated New York, and the computer-generated images of mutants attacking are scary enough when they come, but though Smith is a compelling presence and there are some pointed and admirable spiritual elements, the basic setup ultimately grows tiresome and more depressing than exciting. Intense if isolated violent sequences, including the killing of the creatures, and scantily clad mutants. Might be acceptable for older teens. A-III -- adults. PG-13 2007
In Bruges -- Playwright Martin McDonagh is writer and director of this film about a mobster (Ralph Fiennes) who, after a heinous murder, orders his two Irish hit men (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) to go into hiding in the medieval Belgian city -- an experience that proves transformative for both of them. Though the finely acted tragicomedy has several extremely violent sequences and myriad other sordid elements, necessitating the film's highly restrictive classification, McDonagh's theme of the futility of cyclical violence is powerfully conveyed, while the intermittent conversations between the two criminals about the meaning of life and other spiritual matters provide further texture. Pervasive rough language and some profanity, violence with bloodshed, murder and suicide, killing of a priest, drug use, prostitution, frank sexual talk, a nongraphic sexual encounter and ethnic slurs. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008
Jumper -- Chaotic science fiction thriller about a young man (Hayden Christensen) who learns he has the ability to transport himself instantly to any location around the globe, and how he teams with another Jumper (Jamie Bell) to fight an agent (Samuel Jackson) of the evil Paladin forces bent on their extermination. The premise is promising and there are some decent effects, but director Doug Liman, so adept in the action genre, can do little with a risible, underwritten script, dull plot and generally indifferent performances. Intense action violence, an instance of the f-word, crude language and profanity, implied nonmarital sexual relationship, murder and mayhem. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Juno -- Smart, funny and ultimately moving comedy-drama with a strong pro-life message about an unwed teen (an outstanding Ellen Page) who decides not to have an abortion, and promises the coming baby to a childless couple (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) who long to adopt. The narrative has just the right moral wrap-up; performances are tops, including J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney as the girl's supportive parents and Michael Cera as the shy classmate responsible for her condition. Jason Reitman's direction strikes just the right piquant tone, though Diablo Cody's script contains a high expletive level for its appealing but sassy heroine. Crude language and at least one instance of the f-word, some crass expressions, an irreverent remark, a nongraphic premarital teen encounter with brief partial nudity, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexual talk and divorce. A-III adults. (PG-13) 2007
The Kite Runner -- Superb adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's bestseller about an Afghan writer (Khalid Abdalla) now living in the U.S. who recalls how as a boy (played by Zekiria Ebrahimi) in his native homeland, he failed to help and subsequently betrayed his best friend (Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada), and now finds he has a chance to atone for that misdeed. Under Marc Forster's sensitive direction , the beautifully acted film provides a fascinating portrait of pre- and post-Taliban Afghanistan; its fine human values, strong affirmation of friendship and family, and redemptive ending should move even the most stone-hearted. In Dari and English. Partially subtitled. A single profanity and use of the f-word, a brief rape scene with no nudity involving a small boy and a bully, two discreetly worded sexual references, illegitimacy theme, a violent beating and a woman's stoning. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults (PG-13) 2007
The Last Legion -- Charming but ultimately dull sword and sandals adventure, based on the novel by Valero Manfredi, about the ancient Roman roots of King Arthur. Director Doug Lefler and screenwriters Jez Butterworth and Tom Butterworth spin a fictional epic about young Romulus Augustus, who fortunately finds the sword of Julius Caesar, named Excaliburum, and even more fortunately heads to Britain. Violence merely confined to bloodless swordfights. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG-13) 2007
Leatherheads -- Diverting romantic comedy, set in 1925, about a veteran professional football player (George Clooney) who hires a celebrated college star (John Krasinski) to revive his team's fortunes, only to find himself in a rivalry for the affections of a sassy, sophisticated newspaper reporter (Renee Zellweger) who's out to debunk his new teammate's heroic war record. Clooney, who also directed, evokes the tangy wit of the best screwball pairings of 1930s Hollywood and, despite a few inconsistencies in the plot and some objectionable language, creates an enjoyable period piece that thrives on the rough and tumble of the pro game's unregulated infancy. Some profanity, occasional crude and crass language, mild fistfighting, light sexual banter, innuendo. A-III -- adults, though acceptable for older teens. (PG-13) 2008
Love Songs -- Melancholy semi-musical (with 13 songs by Alex Beaupain) about a young man (Louis Garrel) grieving after the sudden death of his longtime girlfriend (Ludivine Sagnier) from cardiac arrest, who turns for comfort to the girl's loving family including her sister (Chiara Mastroanni), his coworker and sometime lover (Clotilde Hesme) and a young male student (Gregoir Leprince-Ringuet) who, improbably, develops a romantic crush on him. In style, director Christophe Honore's bears faint echoes of Jacques Demy's 1960s films like "Umbrellas of Cherbourg," but even those trifles had far more dramatic interest and charm, while the casual sexual attitudes displayed by several of the characters here are morally problematic. In French. Subtitles. Nonmarital sexual encounters including same sex couplings, though nongraphic, some frank sexual talk, occasional crude language. O -- morally offensive. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. 2008
Lust, Caution -- Superbly crafted romantic tale of a young woman (Tang Wei in an extraordinary feature film debut) who becomes a spy for the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in the 1930s and '40s, who must seduce a married collaborator (Tony Leung) in order to lure him to his death. Director Ang Lee's glossy adaptation of revered Chinese writer Eileen Chang's short story is a meticulously detailed, beautifully designed period thriller, recalling iconic Hollywood films of that era, with exquisite performances all around, making it all the more unfortunate that Lee felt it necessary to shoot the somewhat aberrant sex scenes so explicitly -- even if just a few minutes out of a long, serious-minded film -- precluding endorsement from a moral viewpoint. Subtitles. Graphic nonmarital sexual encounters, full-frontal and rear nudity, a violent stabbing death, adultery theme, vigilante justice, and a single use of the f-word. O -- morally offensive. (NC-17) 2007
Mad Money -- Clever, fast-paced caper comedy about three cash-strapped women -- a middle-class housewife (Diane Keaton) whose husband (Ted Danson) has just lost his job, a single mom (Queen Latifah) with two young boys to support, and a dippy but clever young woman (Katie Holmes) -- who join forces to smuggle money out of the Federal Reserve Bank where they work. The time-honored conventions of heist films, and the lighthearted "Ocean's Eleven"-ish tone throughout outweigh elements that would be morally problematic if viewed from a strictly literal point of view. The stars make a surprisingly effective and appealing team, and there's assured direction from Callie Khouri. Some crude expletives, crass expressions, one use of profanity, mild sexual talk and innuendo, an implied nonmarital encounter and brief drug reference. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Married Life -- Sluggish period melodrama -- based on John Bingham's 1950s' crime novel, "Five Roundabouts to Heaven" -- in which a businessman (Chris Cooper) decides to poison his wife (Patricia Clarkson) believing (wrongly) she'll be bereft without him when he ultimately leaves her for his mistress (Rachel McAdams), not knowing the latter is being romantically pursued by his best friend (Pierce Brosnan). Though co-writer-director Ira Sachs seems to want to explore the challenges and compromises of long-term relationships, the stilted dialogue, lumbering pace and stylized old-movie artifice undercut an ostensibly suspenseful plot, solid performances and handsome production design. Adultery, murder theme, nonmarital sexual relationships, one nongraphic sexual encounter, some sexual talk and partial male nudity. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns -- Listless romantic comedy about a struggling inner-city Chicago single mother (Angela Bassett) who falls for her son's (Lance Gross) generous basketball trainer (Rick Fox) while also getting to know her long-absent, recently deceased father's other children (Jenifer Lewis and David Mann, among others). Writer-director Perry's screen adaptation of his own play interweaves predictable dramatic developments with broad, sometimes off-color humor. Some sexual and scatological jokes, occasional crude and crass language, a brief scene of drug use, and an abortion reference. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Meet the Spartans -- Lame satirical comedy in which the ancient King of Sparta (Sean Maguire) leaves his realm in the care of his queen (Carmen Electra) while he leads a small band of warriors against the aggressive ruler of Persia (Ken Davitian). Directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer’s parody of “300” takes on everything from “American Idol” to Gatorade, but its humor -- always childish and often sexual or scatological -- fizzles. Rear and partial upper and frontal female nudity, much crass and crude language, sexual and bathroom humor. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (PG-13) 2008
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day -- Colorful though uneven comedy taken from Winifred Watson's 1938 English novel about a prim governess (a fine Frances McDormand) who, after being unfairly fired, blossoms as the social secretary to a flighty American actress (Amy Adams), helping her sort out the three men in her life: her musical accompanist (Lee Pace), a nightclub owner (Mark Strong) and a budding producer (Tom Payne), while herself falling for a prominent fashion designer (Ciaran Hinds). Director Bharat Nalluri's film, though more farcical than necessary and not always hitting the mark, is nonetheless well acted and plushly designed, while the story underscores the value of seizing second chances, discerning what's important in life and being true to one's finer self, with the amoral young woman ultimately making the right decision. Brief rear and partial nudity, implied nonmarital affairs, some innuendo, moderate swearing and brief profanity. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
The Mist -- Technically skillful but relentlessly pessimistic horror tale in which an unnatural fog, alive with murderous mutant animals, descends on a small Maine town, leaving a representative sampling of the locals trapped in a grocery store, where a courageous but sensible movie-poster artist (Thomas Jane), accompanied by his son (Nathan Gamble) and aided by the store's plucky manager (Toby Jones), must battle the malevolent critters while also trying to arbitrate between opposing groups led by a religious fanatic (Marcia Gay Harden) and a relentlessly skeptical lawyer (Andre Braugher). Writer-director-producer Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's novella has the makings of a diverting, old-fashioned monster movie, but -- in addition to being excessively bloody -- it instead becomes talky and meandering as it attempts to analyze social dynamics, religion and the polarities of human nature. Bloody violence and mutilation, mercy killing, pervasive rough and crude language, much crass language and profanity. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2007
My Blueberry Nights -- Noted Chinese director Wong Kar Wai's English-language debut tells of a young woman (singer Norah Jones in her movie debut) who, abandoned by her boyfriend, finds solace with an empathetic diner owner (Jude Law), after which she embarks on a cross-country odyssey of self-discovery encountering an alcoholic cop (David Straitharn), his estranged wife (Rachel Weisz), and a fearless gambler (Natalie Portman, giving the film's standout performance) along the way. Though poetically shot, generally well acted, and with characters all drawn with an underlying moral decency, the artsy film frequently drags. Some profanity and a few expletives, a couple of brief violent episodes, smoking, drinking. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
National Treasure: Book of Secrets -- Diverting, though paper-thin adventure sequel in which a treasure hunter (Nicolas Cage), helped by his technologically gifted but hapless partner (Justin Bartha), his estranged parents (Jon Voight and Helen Mirren) and his archivist girlfriend (Diane Kruger), sets out to vindicate an ancestor accused of conspiring in the Lincoln assassination and to find a legendary city of gold while being shadowed by the descendant of a Confederate officer (Ed Harris) who has his own agenda and by an FBI agent (Harvey Keitel) who always seems to be one step behind. Director John Turteltaub's overlong film will not bear much scrutiny, but those willing to go along for the ride will be rewarded with car chases, journeys through underground passages and an alternative version of U.S. history. Some intense action sequences and a couple of bathroom gags. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) 2007
Never back Down -- Pointless celebration of violent machismo in which a high school student (Sean Faris) moves to Florida with his widowed mother (Leslie Hope) and tennis champ brother (Wyatt Smith) where he turns to a fight coach (Djimon Hounsou) to train him in the technique of mixed martial arts after being beaten unconscious by the obnoxious boyfriend (Cam Gigandet) of the girl for whom he's fallen (Amber Heard). Director Jeff Wadlow's film, despite some high sounding phrases in the script, glamorizes brutal physical combat. Bloody fighting, a brief scene of same-sex kissing, underage drinking, frequent crude and crass language. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (PG-13) 2008
Nim's Island -- Winning yarn set on a solitary South Pacific island where an 11-year-old girl (Abigail Breslin) e-mails a heroic adventurer for help when her widowed marine biologist father (Gerard Butler) fails to return from a two-day research expedition, not realizing that her hero is actually a highly phobic fiction writer (Jodie Foster in a rare comic turn) living in San Francisco. Directors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett deftly combine the adventurous, humorous, sentimental and fantastical aspects of Wendy Orr's novel, and the three stars are engaging, making this recommendable family fare. Mild action violence. A-I -- general patronage. (PG) 2008
No Country For Old Men -- Spellbinding, richly detailed thriller based on Cormac McCarthy's 2003 novel set in the Texas borderlands as a cold-blooded, psychopathic killer (Javier Bardem) ruthlessly pursues a welder (Josh Brolin) who's taken a suitcase of loot after stumbling across a brutal drug slaying, while a philosophical small-town sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) pursues them both hoping to avert tragedy. Co-directors and writers Joel and Ethan Coen create an atmosphere of almost unbearably quiet tension, with powerful performances by a masterful cast (including Woody Harrelson and Kelly MacDonald), underscored by themes of the struggle between good and evil, the changing ethos of the West, temptation, honor and sacrifice. Strong violence and multiple killings with blood, occasional rough language and profanity, and brief partial nudity. A-III -- adults. (R) 2007
The Other Boleyn Girl -- Fresh telling of the oft-dramatized liaison of Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) and King Henry VIII (Eric Bana), including the monarch's break with the Catholic Church so he could divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent), with an emphasis on Anne's younger sister, Mary (Scarlett Johansson), who was the first Boleyn to win the monarch's favor. This adaptation of Philippa Gregory's best-seller from director Justin Chadwick keeps the story admirably intimate, and features surprisingly authentic performances by its non-British leads with predictably solid supporting work from Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey and Mark Rylance. Royal bedroom intrigue with nongraphic sexual encounters including a rape, incest reference, adultery, divorce, light sexual banter and innuendo, and discreetly filmed beheadings. Acceptable for older teens. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Penelope -- Likable romantic fairy tale about an otherwise beautiful London heiress (Christina Ricci) who, as the result of an ancestral curse, was born with a pig's snout and who, with the help of her domineering mother (Catherine O'Hara) and diffident father (Richard E. Grant) must avoid exposure by a tabloid reporter (Peter Dinklage) while searching for the man whose love can lift the spell, the two main candidates being an upper-class twit (Simon Woods) and a warm-hearted musician (James McAvoy) with a gambling problem. Director Mark Palansky's film establishes its unlikely premise quite successfully and offers some valuable observations about skin-deep beauty and self-acceptance, but the plot lags in places and the groundwork for a convincing central relationship is never really completed. Occasional crass language and innuendo, and suicide and adultery references. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) 2008
The Perfect Holiday -- Amiable romantic comedy, narrated by "Mrs. Christmas" (Queen Latifah), in which a divorced mother of three (Gabrielle Union) must cope with the machinations of her egotistical rap star ex-husband (Charles Q. Murphy) and the resistance of her 10-year-old son (Malik Hammond) as she gradually falls, with the help of her daughter (Khail Bryant), for a songwriter and shopping-mall Santa (Morris Chestnut) who's posing as an office supply salesman. Most of the humorous complications of director Lance Rivera's film work well enough, though the end product falls well short of its titular adjective. Implied premarital sex, divorce, some crass expressions and one mild profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults (PG) 2007
Run Fatboy Run -- Quirky romantic comedy in which a likeable British twit (Simon Pegg), despite being out of shape, must complete a marathon in order to regain the respect of his ex-fiancee (Thandie Newton), thwart her obnoxious boyfriend (Hank Azaria), vindicate the confidence shown by his trusting landlord (Harish Patel) and safeguard a friend who has rashly bet on him (Dylan Moran). Despite some errant, occasionally outrageous humor and a familiar story arc, actor David Schwimmer's directorial debut has enough sparkle and eccentricity to make it past the finish line. Two scenes of rear nudity, implied premarital sex, one use of the f-word, some crude and crass language, one profanity, obscene gestures, sexual and scatological humor, a violent fight and a transsexual character. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
The Ruins -- Dreary, gruesome horror tale in which four young American tourists in Mexico (Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore and Laura Ramsey) join up with a German visitor (Joe Anderson) to explore a little-known ancient temple, are trapped there by a group of armed locals, and gradually discover what it is their captors fear about the place. Along with some gratuitous nudity, director Carter Smith's film subjects its audience to several noisome scenes of jarringly painful medical procedures carried out in the most primitive circumstances. Gory scenes of murder, amputation and mutilation, partial frontal, upper female and rear nudity, implied nonmarital sex, frequent rough and occasional crude and crass language. O -- morally offensive. (R) 2008
The Savages -- Strongly acted, perceptive study of middle-aged brother and sister (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney) called upon to care for their emotionally and geographically distant father (Philip Bosco) who has had a stroke. Writer and director Tamara Jenkins accurately etches all the minutiae of dealing with an ailing parent, though the somber situation is leavened with humor and the film ultimately emphasizes the familial bond between the siblings while the conclusion is poignantly life-affirming. Conversational rough language and profanity, adulterous and nonmarital relationships, scatological details, sexual encounters without nudity, drug use and much domestic discord. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2007
Semi-Pro -- Outlandish, only sporadically funny sports comedy, set in 1976, about a one-hit singer (Will Ferrell) who becomes the owner and playing coach of a Midwest ABA basketball team and who must work with a new player (Woody Harrelson) and the team's established star (Andre Benjamin) to ensure his franchise's survival after their league's merger with the NBA. Executive producer and director Kent Alterman's feature debut has a few scenes of well-choreographed chaos and some sly period references, but mostly the film lumbers along with the cast strictly on autopilot. Brief sexual activity with partial nudity, pervasive rough and crude language, some uttered by a priest, some profanity and much sexual and scatological humor. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008
Shine A Light -- High-energy documentary capturing parts of two hard-driving performances by veteran rockers the Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood) at New York City's Beacon Theatre in fall 2006 during which they perform some of their most familiar songs as well as lesser-known original numbers and cover material. Director Martin Scorsese deploys 19 camera operators to create a fluid, consistently on-target visual record of the age-defying quartet as they strut, grimace and groove. Occasional rough and crude language, drug references, irreverent and suggestive lyrics. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Shutter -- Glum, morbid horror tale about a Brooklyn photographer (Joshua Jackson) and his bride (Rachael Taylor) whose Tokyo honeymoon is haunted by the wraith of a Japanese girl (Megumi Okina) they accidentally struck down with their car. Director Masayuki Ochiai's remake of the 2004 Thai film of the same name, while not gratuitously bloody, lacks coherence and originality. Implied nonmarital sex, occasional vulgarity, including one use each of the f- and s-words, five uses of profanity, a suicide and a rape theme. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008

Sleepwalking -- Somber working-class story of a good-hearted construction worker (an empathetic Nick Stahl) who bonds with his sister's 11-year-old daughter (AnnaSophia Robb) when her promiscuous mother (Charlize Theron) suddenly deserts them, eventually taking the girl to stay with his abusive farmer father (Dennis Hopper) after he loses his job and they run out of money. The central relationship between uncle and niece is touching, and performances, including Woody Harrelson and Deborra-Lee Furness as the man's concerned workmates, are fine, but first-time director William Maher's film is more sordid than uplifting, and the ending, redemptive in one sense, is morally problematic in another. Pervasive rough language and some profanity, a sexual encounter without nudity, some frank sexual remarks, domestic violence and murder, underage smoking. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008
The Spiderwick Chronicles -- Gothic fantasy adventure tale set on an isolated Victorian estate once occupied by an eccentric student of the paranormal (David Strathairn) and now home to his great-niece (Mary-Louise Parker), her twin sons (both played by Freddie Highmore) and daughter (Sarah Bolger), all of whom find themselves caught up in a struggle among normally invisible creatures, some good, others evil, for possession of a book detailing their ancestor's discoveries. Director Mark Waters' lavish film, showcasing first-class special effects, some fine performances, unobjectionable dialogue and estimable lessons about family life, is appropriate for all but the youngest viewers, who might find it too intense. Some fantasy violence, a couple of mild oaths. A-I -- general patronage. (PG) 2008
Step Up 2 the Streets -- Lighthearted, enjoyable dance sequel about an orphaned teen (Briana Evigan) who enrolls at a prestigious arts academy and, with the encouragement of a popular fellow student (Robert Hoffman), forms a hip-hop dance crew made up of likable eccentrics (Adam G. Sevani, Mari Koda and Luis Rosado, among others) from the school to rival the street crew to which she formerly belonged. Despite many derivative elements, occasionally clunky dialogue and some subpar acting, director Jon M. Chu's first feature manages to be both funny and charmingly romantic in between its well-staged, high-energy dance sequences. One scene of violence, moderately suggestive dancing and some crass language. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG-13) 2008
The Grand -- Moderately amusing improvised mock documentary about an addiction-prone, down-on-his-luck Las Vegas casino owner (Woody Harrelson) who sponsors and plays in a poker tournament that brings together a collection of eccentrics (David Cross, Dennis Farina and Cheryl Hines, among others) to compete for a $10 million prize. Co-writer and director Zak Penn's comedy, following the path blazed by Christopher Guest, takes a sly, deadpan approach to its characters' sometimes outrageous, sometimes banal behavior, but only scores laughs intermittently. Much rough, crude and crass language, three uses of profanity, some sexual humor, drug and prostitution references, and an obscene gesture. A-III -- adults. (R) 2008
There Will Be Blood -- Extraordinarily fine drama loosely based on Upton Sinclair 1927 novel, "Oil!" set during the early 20th century, about the rise and fall of a ruthless oil tycoon (Daniel Day-Lewis) who, accompanied by his young son (Dillon Freasier), fleeces a poor central California family of their land, and eventually finds himself pitted against one of the family's sons, a charismatic preacher (Paul Dano). Director Paul Thomas Anderson has used the novel as a springboard to fashion a classic piece of American cinema, with Day-Lewis' galvanizing performance among the great ones, though the confrontation between the tycoon and the preacher that forms the film's climax is truly disturbing. Some brief but brutal violence, murder, three uses of profanity and several crude expressions. L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (R) 2008
21 -- Flashy but shallow fact-based psychological drama in which a gifted MIT senior (Jim Sturgess) reluctantly joins a group of other math whizzes led by a hard-edged professor (Kevin Spacey), and including the girl he'd like to date (Kate Bosworth), in a scheme to win at blackjack by counting cards in Las Vegas casinos, eventually drawing the ire of a veteran security consultant (Laurence Fishburne). Director Robert Luketic's film shows the perils of greed and hubris, but also celebrates revenge and the value of indiscriminate "life experiences." Nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity, brief rear nudity, a same-sex kiss, some crude and crass language, and sexual humor. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
27 Dresses -- Glossy but formulaic romantic comedy about a perennial bridesmaid (the engaging Katherine Heigl) and the wedding reporter (James Marsden) who pursues her incognito, while she silently pines for her boss (Edward Burns) who, in turn, has fallen for her glamorous but superficial kid sister (Malin Akerman). Anne Fletcher's smooth direction, Heigl's self-deprecating charm and the rest of the personable cast compensate somewhat for the predictable script with results never less than pleasant, and there's a satisfying and morally sound plot resolution. Some crude language, crass expressions, a superfluous bathroom scene, an implied nonmarital sexual encounter, and mild sexual banter and innuendo. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008 A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Under the Same Moon ("La Misma Luna") -- Touching story of a 9-year-old Mexican boy (Adrian Alonso) who, following the death of his grandmother and temporary guardian (Angelina Pelaez), pays two American siblings (America Ferrera and Jesse Garcia) to smuggle him across the border so that he can reunite with his mother (Kate del Castillo), working in the United States illegally to improve his future. Along the way he forms an unlikely friendship with a tough, go-it-alone farm laborer (Eugenio Derbez). Director Patricia Riggen's restrained feature debut movingly dramatizes a real-life plight affecting millions of children, with all three leads turning in luminous performances. In Spanish. Subtitles. Occasional crude, crass and profane language, and a sexual reference; probably acceptable for older teens. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008
Vantage Point -- Propulsive thriller about an attempted assassination of the U.S. president (William Hurt) as he delivers an anti-terrorist speech in Spain, as seen from eight different perspectives including his Secret Service men (Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox), an American tourist (Forest Whitaker), an American TV producer (Sigourney Weaver), a Spanish security officer (Eduardo Noriega), and myriad other characters on the scene during the shooting and the deadly bombings which immediately follow. Director Pete Travis demonstrates a great affinity for this kind of material, while the cast delivers committed performances. Plot improbabilities aside, the script is clever, while culminating in a heart-pounding car chase. Much action violence which, though intense, is not gruesome, frequent uses of the s-word uttered under duress, some mild profanity. A-III -- adults (though acceptable for older teens). (PG-13) 2008

Young at Heart -- Often funny and ultimately moving documentary about a Northampton, Mass., senior citizens' chorus whose repertoire includes rock, R&B and punk selections as they rehearse over a two-month period for a hometown concert and cope with the death of one member and the ill health of others. Director-narrator Stephen Walker's film quickly engages viewers by introducing a winning array of real-life characters and charting their struggles to master the music and carry on with the show. Frank sexual discussion, innuendo, occasional crass language; possibly acceptable for older teens. A-III -- adults. (PG) 2008

Movie Reviews

May 9, 2008

Movies in Wide Release

Family Video of the Week

Send e-mail to Rosemary Sloss (rosemarysloss@msn.com) with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: May 09, 2008

Movie Reviews

May 9, 2008

Movies in Wide Release

Family Video of the Week

Send e-mail to Rosemary Sloss (rosemarysloss@msn.com) with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: May 09, 2008

Send e-mail to Rosemary Sloss (rosemarysloss@msn.com) with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: May 09, 2008