Daily Herald | Posted: Wednesday, December 3, 2008 11:00 pm
OPENING THIS WEEK
CADILLAC RECORDS Review on this page
MILK Review on Page 7
ALSO OPENING
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE (1 hr., 47 min.; R for pervasive strong brutal violence, language and some drug use). Irish actor Ray Stevenson takes the place of American Thomas Jane (who followed in the shell casings of Sweden's Dolph Lundgren) in the latest film to feature blackhearted Marvel Comics avenger Frank Castle. This film was not screened for critics prior to the UV publication deadline.
CONTINUING
AUSTRALIA (2 hrs., 45 min.; PG-13 for some violence, a scene of sensuality and brief strong language). Though he bites off more than he can effectively chew, Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann works plenty of energy and visual splendor into this epic-sized blend of romance, history and social activism. Stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman shine. [B+]
BOLT (1 hr., 36 min.; PG for some mild action and peril) This, and not Pixar's wildly overpraised "WALL*E," is the best animated film to emerge from Disney this year. The story of a delusional dog (star of an action TV series) and his doting owner has a gentle heart and oodles of humor, much of it from a hero-worshipping hamster named Rhino. [A]
CHANGELING (2 hrs., 21 min.; Rated R for some violent and disturbing content, and language) The true crime saga at the heart of Clint Eastwood's sharply crafted period police thriller is grim, heartbreaking stuff. Eastwood gets great performances from a large cast, especially from Angelina Jolie as the resolute mother of a young boy who goes missing. [A]
THE DARK KNIGHT (2 hrs., 32 min.; PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace) With crisp, comprehensible action scenes, stellar acting and a dense, thoughtful script, this dark, hard-egded chapter would be the high point of the long-running Batman saga even without the amazing, chilling performance of the late Heath Ledger as Joker. [A]
THE DUCHESS (1 hr., 45 min.; Rated PG-13 for sexual conent, brief nudity and thematic material) Despite making yet another foray into period drama, Keira Knightley is charming and energetic as a British noblewoman hemmed in by the mores of her time. Its story feels a tad musty, but the film benefits from excellent acting and sharp writing. [B]
EAGLE EYE (1 hr., 48 min.; Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and for language) Big Brother (who talks like Big Sister, at least in this movie) is either out to harm or help a callow youth who's mistaken for a secret agent man in this slick, surface-level reworking of "North by Northwest." The action is crisp, though true paranoia never really seeps in. [B-]
FIREPROOF (2 hrs., 2 min.; Rated PG for thematic material and some peril) A firefighter is good at his job, but bad at his marriage -- can he keep his home life from going up in flamesfi The film hammers its pro-matrimonial message clumsily and relentlessy, but there's some charm to its characters and their dilemma is engaging. [C+]
FOUR CHRISTMASES (1 hr., 20 min.; PG-13 for some sexual humor and language). There's some fun energy between stars Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn at the outset of this wannabe holiday romp, but their chemistry gets snowed under by a Christmas blizzard of stupid gags and stupider characters. [D+]
GHOST TOWN (1 hr., 42 min.; Rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual humor and drug references) After discovering that he can see dead people, Bertram Pincus, D.D.S. (Ricky Gervais) finds himself falling for a sweet widow -- against her late husband's wishes. British comedy icon Gervais brings his "A" game to this snarky, sweetly romantic comedy. [A-]
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR (1 hr., 52 min.; Rated G) The Wildcats are back in school, but not back in form. The new movie's best musical number is the first one, which is also one of the only ones that isn't preeningly radio-ready and/or overproduced. There are scenes between the songs, but not much story to speak of. A fans-only affair. [C]
IGOR (1 hr., 20 min.; Rated PG for some thematic elements, scary images, action and mild language) Mad scientists are the rock stars of Malaria, and humble hunchback Igor dreams of trading the back-hunching labor of stealing brains and throwing the switch for a taste of scientific glory. The concept is clever, but the film fumbles away its early momentum. [C+]
NOBEL SON (1 hr., 42 min.; Rated R for some violent gruesome images, language and sexuality) Alan Rickman stars as a domineering chemist who wins the Nobel Prize and becomes an even bigger jackhole than he was already. Colorful, sometimes sloppily executed wackiness ensues after his son is kidnapped, with the prize money demanded as ransom. [B-]
NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST (1 hr., 30 min.; Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including teen drinking, sexuality, language and crude behavior) Teenagers fall in love in this blandly familiar, John Hughes-esque romantic comedy. Kat Dennings's lead performance as Norah is warmly inspired, but too much of the movie is wasted on pointless digressions. [C-]
PRIDE AND GLORY (1 hr., 52 min.; Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language and brief drug content) With a story as generic as its title, this good-cop-vs.-bad-cop big city policier is more than a little rote and predictable. Fine acting by an all-star cast jacks up the entire endeavor, but can't entirely overcome flat screenwriting and a flatter finale. [B-]
QUANTUM OF SOLACE (1 hr., 46 min.; Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content) Daniel Craig is still the best thing about the retooled James Bond franchise. The new film's screenplay is sub-standard, but its action is enjoyable, as is 007's partnership with a steely Bolivian intelligence agent. [B]
ROLE MODELS (1 hr., 37 min.; Rated R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity) Two slacker energy drink salesmen avoid jail time by mentoring "troubled" teens. The half of the movie that's about the nerd kid who loves fantasy role-playing is charming and funny, but the other half, about a stereotypically mouth black kid, is mostly shrill. [C-]
THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES (1 hr., 50 min.; Rated PG-13 for thematic material and some violence) Queen Latifah exudes wisdom and warmth as a Civil Rights Era beekeeper who shelters a young girl (Dakota Fanning) who runs away from an abusive father. The film hammers home its message of tolerance and love, but you'll still get misty-eyed. [B]
TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1 hr., 16 min.; Rated PG for some scary images) Directed by Henry Selick, written by Caroline Thompson and drawn out of the demented imagination of, yes, Tim Burton, this cheerful tale of topsy-turvy Halloween vs. Christmas madness is still enchanting 15 years after its initial release. [A]
TRANSPORTER 3 (1 hr., 40 min.; PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, some sexual content and drug material). Jason Statham gets behind the wheel again to play professional driver and no-questions-asker Frank Martin. The first "Transporter" film had wild energy and action, but the indicator is on "E" with this tired retread. [D]
TWILIGHT (2 hrs., 2 min.; PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality) Breathe, ladies, breathe. Robert Pattinson is an excellent Edward and Kristen Stewart is a note-perfect Bella. The young stars' charisma and chemistry is the rock that "Twilight" is built on, but the rest of the movie is pretty good, too. [B+]
WALL*E (1 hr., 43 min.; G) The newest film from Disney and Pixar has an electrifying beginning that stakes an instant claim to full recognition among the classics of science fiction cinema. But what start brilliantly slides into sometimes inspired mediocrity when the story of a lonely litterbot following his programming on a gutted future Earth blasts into deep space. [B-]
LARGE FORMAT FILMS
Cricket Imax Theater at Jordan Commons
MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA (1 hr., 29 min.; PG for some mild crude humor) Alex the Lion vs. wild Africa in IMAX widescreen!
Showtimes daily. 9355 S. State St., Sandy. (801) 304-INFO.
Xango Mammoth Screen Theater at Thanksgiving Point
DINOSAURS: GIANTS OF PATAGONIA (40 min.; No MPAA rating) Learn about the discovery of super-large dinos in South America.
WILD OCEAN 3D (45 min.; No MPAA rating) Massive aquatic feeding frenzies off the coast of Africa in 3D!
AFRICAN ADVENTURE: SAFARI IN THE OKAVANGO (40 min.; No MPAA rating) Visit the wild jungles of Africa's Okavango Delta in Botswana.
Showtimes daily. 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi. 768-2300.