Capsule Reviews of Movies and Plays
Movies
Ratings:
**** Excellent *** Good
** Fair * Poor
Reviewers: C.R., Carrie Rickey; S.R., Steven Rea; D.H., David Hiltbrand; T.D., Tirdad Derakhshani; W.S., Inquirer wire services.
Opened Yesterday
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans *** Werner Herzog's film about a corrupt, drug-addled cop is a one-of-a-kind experience that boasts a ridiculously entertaining performance from Nicolas Cage. 2 hrs. 02 R (drugs, violence, sexual violence, sexuality, profanity) - C.R.Fantastic Mr. Fox The fur flies in Wes Anderson's stop-motion animation gem about an erudite predator and his burrowing brood. With the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Bill Murray, this adaptation of a Roald Dahl book is the best animated film of the year, and maybe the best film, period. 1 hr. 27 PG (cartoon violence, "cussin," adult themes) - S.R
Old Dogs **1/2 Predictable plot - workaholics John Travolta and Robin Williams are tapped to be caregivers for seven-year-old twins - unpredictable turns in this brisk, family-friendly comedy as broad as the waistlines of its stars. 1 hr. 28 PG (bathroom humor, below-the-belt jokes) - C.R.
Ninja Assassin *1/2 There's more to making sword-and-splatter work than just shiny blades and blood - a movie's got to have an edge, and this one is dull as a butter knife. 1 hr. 33 R (strong bloody stylized violence throughout, and profanity) - W.S.
Red Cliff ***1/2 John Woo's awesome historical epic describes a storied third-century Chinese conflict in bold, breathtaking ways. A magnificent war movie about the powers of man, the forces of nature, and the art of cinema spectacle. 1 hr. 55 R (violence, adult themes) - S.R.
The Road *** Taut and haunting adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, with Viggo Mortensen and newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee as a father and son trudging across a postapocalyptic America, struggling desperately to survive. 1 hr. 53 R (violence, gore, profanity, menace, dread, adult themes) - S.R.
Continuing
Amelia *** The role of pioneer aviatrix Amelia Earhart (1897-1937), who broke records, hearts and boundaries, fits Hilary Swank like a jumpsuit. Richard Gere costars in the evocative film from Mira Nair. 1 hr. 51 PG (discreet sensuality) - C.R.Astro Boy ** Slick, stylish CG-animated take on the vintage Japanese TV toon, but as robotic as its boy hero. With the voices of Nicolas Cage, Charlize Theron, Kristen Bell, and with Freddie Highmore as the kid with rockets in his feet. 1 hr. 34 PG (cartoon violence, kids and 'bots in jeopardy) - S.R.
The Blind Side **1/2 Sandra Bullock stars as a Southern woman who takes a destitute teen into her home. Based on a true story, it's part sports saga, all tearjerker. 2 hrs. 08. PG-13 (violence; drug and sex references) - D.H.
The Boondocks Saints II: All Saints Day 1/2 star Brothers abandon their quiet life in Ireland to avenge the murder of a priest in Boston. 1 hr. 57 R (bloody violence, profanity, some nudity) - W.S.
The Box *1/2 Cameron Diaz and James Marsden are offered $1 million by a sinister stranger. Of course there's a catch. From that premise, the film veers off on a wild, incomprehensible cosmic tangent. What the ... ? 1 hr. 55 PG-13 (violence) - D.H.
Coco Before Chanel *** In Anne Fontaine's portrait of the influential designer, Audrey Tautou, the fetching gamine of Amelie, is the determined and prickly peasant who would dress princesses. A splendid performance from Tautou, who plays Chanel like a time bomb that explodes into a bouquet. 1 hr. 45 PG-13 (sexual situations, smoking) - C.R.
Disney's A Christmas Carol ** Robert Zemeckis' visually immersive, emotionally uninvolving animation of the Charles Dickens evergreen features "motion capture" performances by Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, and Robin Wright Penn. Lost in the video-game effects and ghostly grotesquerie is the redemptive saga of the man who learns that his stinginess has spiritually deformed him. 1 hr. 36 PG (really creepy effects, unsuitable for those under 10) - C.R.
An Education ***1/2 Disarming and unexpectedly poignant story set in 1961 of a dreamy, Oxford-bound 16-year-old (enchanting Carey Mulligan) who takes up with a sophisticated older man (Peter Sarsgaard). Pungently realized by filmmaker Lone Scherfig from the memoir by Lynn Barber. 1 hr. 35 PG-13 (discreet sexual content, smoking) - C.R.
The Fourth Kind ** Milla Jovovich stars as an Alaskan shrink increasingly unsettled by her patients, all of whom share remarkably similar and unsettling experiences. "Real" archival video and audio is mixed in with "reenactments" to create a Paranormal Activity vibe. 1 hr. 38 PG-13 (violence, scares, profanity, adult themes) - S.R.
