TAE GUK GI (R) 145 minutes * * * Jin-Tae and Jin-Seok are brothers who find themselves fighting a war they never intended to be involved with. Jin-Tae is the older brother, and swears to protect him. But war does strange things to people and as the weeks go by, they find themselves put to tests they never imagined. A powerful story of the Korean War and the bond of brotherhood. The R rating is for rather extreme graphic violence.
THE TAILOR OF PANAMA (R) 103 minutes * This would've made a nifty little comedy vehicle for Peter Sellers, but the approach here was to use Geoffrey Rush and Pierce Brosnan in a more serious tone. It's a spy story with Brosnan creating a conspiracy where there is none, with the help of Rush, who talks to much and likes to tell stories. There are some good moments late in the film, but most of us have given up long before we get there. Adapted from John LeCarre's novel and filmed in Panama. R for sex, violence, and language.
THE TAKE (R) 96 minutes * * 1/2 Felix (John Leguizamo) is almost killed during an armored car robbery. His life is still in danger, because the robbers thought they killed him, intending to leave no witnesses. But the FBI aren't as easily convinced and are finding reason to implicate Felix in the heist. Good performances, though nothing to help this stand out from other similar films. R for violence, sex, and language.
TAKE OUT (NR) 86 minutes * * Ming Ding (Charles Jang) is an illegal Chinese immigrant who is trying to make money to send home. But paying off the loan shark he owes money to is making that impossible. The really bad news is that unless he can come up with $800 by the end of the day, his debt is going to double. The mix of actors and non-actors adds to the realism in some ways, but also proves to be a bit distracting as well. The story doesn't really go very far either, with the focus on Ming Ding trying to earn more money by doing more take out deliveries and dealing with rain, a flat tire, and people who don't tip much.
TAKE THE LEAD (PG-13) 110 minutes * * Inspired by the life of Pierre Dulaine, who started programs that teach ballroom dancing to troublesome teens as part of a program to teach them respect for self and others. It's a great idea and a wonderful program, though a bit over-dramatized in this story. The story is uneven, mostly from what appears to be either a great deal of material being cut or from a less than skilled job of script writing that tried to include too much material. The acting is adequate, but we never feel like to get to know anyone except Dulaine (Antonio Banderas). PG-13 for violence and language.
TAKEN (PG-13) 85 minutes * * * He may be a little on the paranoid and over-protective side, but when Bryan's (Liam Neeson) daughter meets up with a friendly stranger in Paris, and finds herself kidnapped, her father's skills as a "preventer" are going to come in handy. Plenty of hard and fast action and most of it manages not to stretch believability too far. Neeson does nice work here and carries the film quite well. PG-13 for violence and language.
TAKEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT (NR) 80 minutes * * 1/2 Teenager Anne Sluti (Sara Canning) was kidnapped from the parking lot of a mall, and despite the fact that seveeral people saw the abduction, tracking her kidnapper would have been nearly impossible if not for the clues she was able to leave. Her quick thinking and determination saved her life. Based on a true story. The story is paced well, and has enough suspense to keep us interested despite performances that are little more than adequate.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS (R) 104 minutes * * All Jimmy Jaworski (Jim Belushi) wanted to do was see the World Series. OK, so he has to break out of prison to do it... that's a minor detail. Mistaken for someone else, he begins to impersonate them until, of couse, he meets them. It's a story we've seen before and is mostly light comedy that will be quickly forgotten. Belushi makes it entertaining, but Charles Grodin's whining cuts it off in many spots. R for language.
TAKING CHANCE (NR) 74 minutes * * * Lieutenant Colonel Mike Strobl (Kevin Bacon) volunteers to accompany the body of a young Marine as it returns home. As with "Gardens of Stone", this shows a little seen or known side of war. The difference here is that this is a more intimate film, dealing with Chance and his escort. Nice work by Bacon in this TV movie that was nominated for numerous Emmys (winning one for editing).
TAKING CHANCES (R) 95 minutes * 1/2 A small town with a historic past is in danger of being overrun by a casino. Chase (Justin Long) is determined to stop this from happening, but he doesn't seem to have the right connections, only a couple of friends who aren't quite as upset about the whole thing. Slightly offbeat story with a moral that isn't about the importance of standing up to the corporate giant. There also just isn't much depth to the script. It's too bad because Long could have used some help with where to go with his quirky character. R for language.
TAKING LIVES (R) 99 minutes * 1/2 Agent Scott (Angelina Jolie) is on the trail of a killer who takes on the identity of those he kills. The biggest problem here is one of story consistency. If Scott is such an observant investigator, some of what happens just doesn't follow. It undermines her credibility later in the story and the ending to the film is weakened because of it. Ethan Hawke does a nice job here, but Jolie has definitely done better. R for violence, language, and sex.
THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 (R) 101 minutes * * 1/2 When a New York City subway train is hijacked by armed men, dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) never thought he'd be the one to try and talk down the man in charge (John Travolta). There are a few logistic holes in the story, but the action is fairly intense and Travolta and Washington are old hands at films like this. Not quite as good as the 1974 film it's a remake of, but close. R for violence and language.
TAKING WOODSTOCK (R) 114 minutes * * * A sleepy little community, and a little music festival that needed a place to happen. A little festival called Woodstock. It was more than just a concert, and this film does a very nice job of giving us an idea and the experience of what went on behind the scenes and while all of those performances were happening on stage. Nice performances by Liev Schreiber and Jonathan Groff! R for language and nudity.
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX (G) 87 minutes * * 1/2 Soup Day was the best day in the kingdom until a tragedy leads the king to forbid anything to do with soup. Despereaux, a brave little mouse who always tells the truth, just may be able to bring joy (and Soup Day) back to the kingdom. Nicely animated, though the violence in the story could have easily earned this a PG rating. Adapted from the book by Kate DiCamillo and featuring an amazing cast of voices including Matt Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Ciaran Hinds, Kevin Kline, Frank Langella, Christopher Lloyd, William H. Macy, Tracey Ullman, Emma Watson, and Sigourney Weaver.
THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY (R) 134 minutes * 1/2 Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) is a man with one talent. He can mimic other people. He's given a golden opportunity when invited to go to Italy and convince Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) to return home. Dickie appears to have it all, and Tom is going to try to slip into Dickie's shoes. The web he weaves gets tangled, which is no real surprise, and things eventually fall apart. Damon does a nice job here, but the story is so drawn out that we are thoroughly bored. It's like watching a slow chess game, where you have more than enough time to calculate all the possible moves before anything happens. What could have been interesting plot twists, become slow and gentle turns that lull us to sleep instead. R for language, violence, and nudity.
TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE (R) 90 minutes * * 1/2 Three short stories included in a wrap-around story make up the content here. They're not bad, but they aren't all that scary either. Most of the scares are due to music and some reasonably effective camera and lighting work. Lot 249, from a story by Arthur Conan Doyle comes off the best, with Cat From Hell, from a story by Stephen King being a bit silly, and Lover's Vow being far too predictable. Films like this tend not to come off very well, though fans of the short-lived TV series of the same name will still find this somewhat entertaining. R for violence.
TALES FROM THE HOOD (R) 93 minutes * 1/2 Anthology of four horror stories with an African-American slant. There is some creativity evident here, but the film is bursting with editing mistakes and poor acting that tends to kill most of the entertainment value the film might have had. This is the stuff for late night, low-budget horror fans.
TALK TO ME (R) 113 minutes * * * Petey Greene (Don Cheadle) knew how to say it like it was. And he didn't know how to do it any other way. It was a fresh new voice that radio hadn't heard before, and the people couldn't get enough of it. Cheadle delivers yet another fine performance, and we are transported back in time to those turbulent times when Greene's honest and open voice invited people to open up and talk to him, and to one another. Nice supporting performances as well, but Cheadle carries the film, and does so quite well. R for language and sex.
TALL TALE (PG) 92 minutes * * 1/2 Broadly painted story of legendary characters populating the dreams of a boy. It's a beautiful film, and rather interesting, but there isn't a particular audience it can be aimed at. It's too cerebral for little kids, and too full of cartoonish characters for adults.
TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY (PG-13) 99 minutes * Ricky (Will Ferrell) is a star Nascar driver who has to learn how to drive all over again after he's in a serious crash. Full of typical Ferrell humor that pokes fun at Nascar fans for an hour and a half. John C. Reilly has a nice supporting role here, but unless you're a fan of Ferrell, it's not really worth watching. PG-13 for langugae and violence.
TAMARA (R) 94 minutes * 1/2 Nobody seems to like Tamara (Jenna Dewan). She'll teach them. Of course, she'll have to wait until after she's dead. Fairly standard teen slasher flick with an emphasis on witchcraft and revenge. R for violence, language, and sex.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (2005) (NR) 85 minutes * * * Another entry in the "Shakespeare Re-Told" series, with Shirley Henderson starring as the fiery Kate. Her sister Bianca is playing hard-to-get with her boyfriend and says she won't marry until Kate does. Bianca's boyfriend introduces Kate to a friend, who ends up falling for her. Kate's shrewish personality slowly begins to change, thanks to the influence of love. Henderson is perfect in this very fun entry in the series!
TANGO & CASH (R) 98 minutes * * * Kurt Russell is Gabriel Cash, one of the two best law enforcers in Los Angeles. The other one is Ray Tango (Sylvester Stallone). His methods are a bit more polished than Tango's, but they are equally effective. They are rivals in a sense, but find themselves working together on this particular case. Yes, it reminds us of Lethal Weapon, but Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are better actors than these two. Still, the villains here are evil enough and the music and action keep us on the edge of our seat, and those are important pieces to what makes an action film work. R for violence and language.
TANK GIRL (R) 98 minutes * * * The year is 2033, and water is as valuable as gold. Lori Petty is Rebecca, otherwise known as "Tank Girl", who along with her friend "Jet Girl" and a bunch of mutant kangaroos, is fighting to keep the water supply out of the hands of the dastardly Malcolm McDowell. Fun, hip, punk film based on the comic book with Petty perfectly cast in the lead.
TAPS (PG) 118 minutes * * * TAPS (PG) 118 minutes * * * Tim Hutton stars as a cadet who leads his fellow students in a takeover of the military academy they attend in an effort to save it from demolition. The story is rather predictable, but the performances are memorable and make this well worth watching. Sean Penn makes his debut here, and Tom Cruise chalks up his second performance, as the leader of the red berets. The film could’ve used some trimming, as it runs a bit long, but most will find this an entertaining look at the dedication and ambitions of a group of young men. PG for language and violence.
TARZAN (G) (1999) 81 minutes * * * Another beautifully animated film from the Disney studios. Yes, it takes liberties with the story, but that's no real surprise. It's a rather dark and somewhat scary film, with six deaths and not a great deal in the way of playful and fun characters. So, the younger kids might not be that happy about seeing it. It would've been nice to have a couple of additional songs too, but Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart" is sure to be up for an Oscar. Rated G, but there's a good deal of violence.
THE TASTE OF TEA (NR) 137 minutes * * * The Haruno family live just outside Tokyo, and while in some ways their life is quiet and ordinary, there is definitely another way to look at it. Each character's life and struggles are explored through various subplots, and we find ourselves drawn to them, both in spite of and because of their eccentricities. Director Katsuhito Ishii has created a visually stunning film filled with metaphors and unusual images which will definitely leave an impression that is difficult to forget.
TAXI (PG-13) (2004) 91 minutes * * Washburn (Jimmy Fallon) is a young cop who seems to always be doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. Belle (Queen Latifah) is a taxi driver who loves speed. And now that Washburn has lost his license, they just might make a great team... if they can stop arguing long enough. Based on a script that Luc Besson wrote for the 1998 film "Taxi", this never really gets very far. There is a little bit of nice car stunt work, but Fallon just isn't that funny here and that doesn't give Queen Latifah anywhere to go. PG-13 for language and violence.
TEACHER'S PET (PG) 67 minutes * 1/2 Big screen adaptation of the Disney tv cartoon that doesn't seem to have much in the way of audience appeal. The bright colors and the story of a dog who wants to be a boy might appeal to younger kids, but the every-other-minute musical numbers and sometimes adult humor will be lost on them. Younger teens will enjoy some of the weirdness (similar to Ren & Stimpy), but they'll get bored quickly as well. Lots of big names helped with the voices here, Nathan Lane, Kelsey Grammar, David Ogden Stiers, Paul Reubens, Mae Whitman, and many more, but it doesn't really help in the end. PG for language and violence.
TEACHING MRS. TINGLE (PG-13) 91 minutes * 1/2 Mrs. Tingle (Helen Mirren) is the teacher you love to hate. Even the other teachers and administrative staff can't stand her. And Leigh Ann (Katie Holmes) needs an "A" from her to get the scholarship she needs. It's a comedy of errors as one problem leads to another, but it's never really that funny. The script and direction leave us caught in the middle, wondering if we're supposed to laugh or think this is serious. Holmes does a fine job, but Marisa Coughlan has more fun with her role as Jo Lynn and manages to do a better job. There are a couple of twists at the end that try to put some life into it, but the soundtrack is still the best part of the film. PG-13 for violence and language.
TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (R) 91 minutes 1/2 Disappointing satire from the creators of "South Park" that only manages to hint at the humor it could have offered. Instead, we have a foul-mouthed bunch of marionettes in a story that manages to offend just about everyone. R for language and sex.
TEARS OF THE SUN (R) 112 minutes * * 1/2 Lieutenant Waters (Bruce Willis) orders are simple. He's to take his men in and escort a doctor out of hostile territory along with a priest and a couple of nuns if they so choose. That's not the course of action he chooses, and there will definitely be difficulties as a result. The premise is highly unlikely, but given that as the starting point, they story is told reasonably well though it turns overly sentimental near the end. Willis is relatively good here, but there's little to make the film memorable. Filmed in Hawaii. R for violence and language.
TEEN WOLF TOO (PG) 91 minutes * * Weak sequel that tells the story of the teen wolf's cousin (Jason Bateman). He exploits his wolf side to make money and gain popular. Formula film that has a few cute moments but nothing memorable. No real need for that annoying wolf's tail either...
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (PG) 87 minutes * * 1/2 Great costumes and puppetry effects bring those comic book heroes to life on the big screen. The acting is, well..., nevermind. But the story is interesting and stays relatively close to the original material. It's not quite as dark, and aims at a crowd a bit younger than the comic, but those under age 10 will be bored with the lack of action during many sequences. PG for language.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (2007) (PG) 78 minutes * * 1/2 Leonardo returns after taking some time off. In the meantime, not only is there a new evil threatening the city, but Raphael is more than a little upset with Leo, and doesn't see him as a leader or even a team player anymore. The animation works well here, and for those who already know the turtles, this is a fairly good film. If you're unfamiliar with the characters, don't look to this film to do much explaining. PG for violence and language.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II (PG) 81 minutes * * The second outing for the turtles tries to appeal to younger children a little more, but not with much success. It turns out that Shredder is still alive and there's more of the ooze that created the turtles in the first place. Lots of smart-aleck remarks throughout make this a fairly unappealing sequel. PG for violence and language.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III (PG) 90 minutes * 1/2 The turtles are really watered down in this third film. Much less violent and continuing to stray further from their original concept. The animatronics from Jim Henson's muppet shop continue to improve, but this film is aimed at a younger crowd than the first two. Even so, kids don't seem as interested in this one, no matter what their age, the story is just too boring.
TEETH (R) 87 minutes * 1/2 Dawn (Jess Weixler) has dedicated herself to being a pure and wholesome young girl. But when hormones and temptation begin to make themselves evident, the boys are going to find a bit more than they bargained for. Dawn definitely bites. Interesting idea and the film ends well, but it's a bit slow getting there at times. R for sex, violence, and language.
TELL NO ONE (NR) 122 minutes * * * 1/2 Eight years ago, the love of Alexandre's (Francois Cluzet) life was killed. Some of the details are still a bit cloudy, but now, at the anniversary of her death, two other bodies are found at the scene of the original accident, and Alxeandre is getting email messages that appear to be from his wife... urging him to tell no one, because people are watching. Nicely crafted mystery/suspense film adapted from Harlan Coben's novel. Winner of numerous foreign film awards.
TEN CANOES (NR) 85 minutes * * * Sit back, relax, and listen to a story. It's a story of another time, and also a story of today. Australia's indiginous Ramingining people share a story of life and death in the beautiful Arafura wetlands. While the narration isn't essential to understand the story, it does help to create a sense of folklore. It's not only the story, but what it means to those who tell it and to those who hear it.
10 ITEMS OR LESS (R) 71 minutes * * * Wonderful, relaxed little film that follows Morgan Freeman as he studies a small grocery store for an upcoming role he'll be playing. He finds himself drawn to the clerk at the "10 items or less" checkout lane. As they begin to talk, a friendship is born. It will likely be no more than an extended brief encounter, but when two lives touch and both of them notice, there is something special. That's all this film has to say. In some ways, it's very little, and in others... Freeman ambles through this at a relaxed and natural pace, and Paz Vega is charming as well. We almost feel as if we're intruding on a private reality between the two of them, which is somewhat unique, and well-worth a look if you enjoy watching something a little off the beaten track. R for language.
10.5 (NR) 161 minutes * 1/2 It's the big one! Another earthquake disaster film with a series of quakes that keep getting larger threatening to drop part of California into the ocean unless somehow the earth can be fused back together. The multiple cliffhanger endings tend to get a bit tiresome after awhile.
10 QUESTIONS FOR THE DALAI LAMA (NR) 83 minutes * * * Filmmaker Rick Ray arranges to have a meeting with the Dalai Lama. He will have 45 minutes and plans to ask ten questions. But which questions should he ask? And what if the Dalai Lama decides he is less than sincere and ends their meeting early? Solid documentary that not only gives us the opportunity to hear the Dalai Lama speak to these questions, but explains quite a bit about Tibetan Buddhism and the history of Tibet.
10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (PG-13) 93 minutes * * * Two sisters who are nothing alike... or are they? Bianca really wants to date, but her father says she can't until her older sister, who seems to hate boys, gets a boyfriend. Sibling rivalry, relationships... a slice of adolescent life. Nothing really extreme here, but solid performances from Julia Stiles and Larisa Oleynik carry this along quite nicely. It would've been nice if the songs in the soundtrack had been a bit less intrusive, but the characters are likeable and fun to watch. PG-13 for language.
10,000 BC (PG-13) 93 minutes * * 1/2 D'Leh (Steven Strait) leads a group of young warriors to rescue Evolet (Camilla Belle) when she is kidnapped by another tribe. Though not really a prehistoric "epic", it is a solid drama, with some romance and adventure too. Very nice work by Jacob Renton and Grayson Hunt Urwin in their debuts as the young D'Leh and Evolet. PG-13 for violence.
TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY (R) 87 minutes * * 1/2 This is the story of the beginning of Tenacious D, the greatest rock band the world will ever see. Maybe. Funny, satirical look at rock music and rock bands, with Jack Black and Kyle Gass as Tenacious D. Not quite as genuine or surprising as "This is Spinal Tap", but still fun and the music isn't bad either. Several unbilled cameo appearances from actors and rock stars add to the fun. R for language and sex.
TENNESSEE (R) 96 minutes * * * Carter (Adam Rothenberg) and Ellis (Ethan Peck) are on their way to Tennessee to find their father, who may be able to help. Along the way, they meet Krystal (Mariah Carey), who agrees to help them. She has a journey of her own. And as with so many journeys, the destination is often less important than what happens along the way. Nice work by Carey, but it's Russell Schaumburg's debut script that really makes this work. R for language.
10TH & WOLF (R) 103 minutes * 1/2 Facing punishment for disobeying military orders, Tommy (James Marsden) is given a way out if he returns home and helps the FBI on a drug case. In return, he'll not only avoid punishment, but protect his brother and cousin from drug charges. Once home, old friends and the violence of the streets prove to be just as tough and confusing as the military. There's an impressive cast here, including Dennis Hopper, Drian Dennehy, Giovanni Ribisi, Brad Renfro, and Piper Perabo. Unfortunately, Most of them don't get much screen time, and Ribisi takes over the screen whenever he has a chance. It fits the character, but we don't see the response we need to from the rest of the cast. It leaves the story with a rather empty feeling. R for violence, language, and sex.
THE TENTH CIRCLE (NR) 88 minutes * * She's a nice girl from a nice family. At a party one night, Trixie's (Brittany Robertson) boyfriend goes too far and she accuses him of rape. But was it really rape? And when he's found dead in the river a little later, did he jump, or was he pushed? The script runs a little on the overly-emotional side, and is fairly predictable as well. Performances are fair, though not that interesting. Adapted from the novel by Jodi Picoult.
TEQUILA SUNRISE (R) 113 minutes * * 1/2 Mel Gibson and Raul Julia do nice work here, but the script, offering a story of a retired drug dealer and a young cop, doesn't really go anywhere after a very good first few minutes. It has the makings of something great, but finally flounders on a rocky script. It looks a little better on video than on the big screen, but it still has trouble. R for language and sex.
THE TERMINAL (PG-13) 121 minutes * * * A government coup in his home country while he's airborne on his way to the US leaves Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) without a country, a valid passport, or much in the way of civil rights. So, he lives at the airport, finding ways to eat, make friends, and contribute to the world, while hoping that something will work out so he can finish his visit to the US. While in some ways this is extremely silly and far-fetched, in other ways it is sentimental and touching. Hanks is the one who makes it work, though the supporting cast help at times as well. A little more contrived than "Cast Away", but a little more fun to watch. PG-13 for language.
TERMINAL BLISS (R) 86 minutes BOMB Luke Perry stars in this sad attempt at filmmaking. The longer it goes on, the worse the dialogue gets. The basic story is about two guys who love the same girl and how they all cheat on each other. Incredibly poor acting and an obviously low budget marked this for oblivion until Luke Perry's career took off on "Beverly Hills, 90210". It was released to the theaters five years after it was filmed.
TERMINAL VELOCITY (PG-13) 98 minutes * * Ditch (Charlie Sheen) is assisting a new jumper on her first parachute jump, but she doesn't pull her cord when she's supposed to. The mystery/intrigue aspect here ends up working out way too smoothly, but the stuntwork is great fun to watch. In fact, the stuntwork is the best part of the film, which is otherwise just a high-gloss piece with little to offer. PG-13 for violence and language.
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (R) 133 minutes * * * In 1984, the first terminator was sent to kill Sarah Connor, and it failed. Now it's 1991, and another one has been sent to kill her son. But this time, a terminator has also been sent to protect him. The action here is pretty much non-stop, and the special effects are just what you'd expect from the talented Stan Winston. Unfortunately, Edward Furlong doesn't do too well here, and there's so much emphasis on action that the story gets lost along the way a few times. Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger both do good work here, as does the evil terminator. R for violence and language.
TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (R) 101 minutes * * 1/2 Introducing TX, the anti-terminator terminator! John Connor (Nick Stahl) learns that some aspects of the future cannot be prevented. All that he and his mother accomplished before was to postpone the inevitable. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as the terminator who protects Connor and Kristanne Loken plays a mean TX! The stunt effects are amazing, though they do have a cartoonish aspect at times. A few extra story details are filled in for us, and this feels like it might be the end of the saga. Of course, time will tell... R for violence, language, and nudity.
TERMINATOR: SALVATION (PG-13) 106 minutes * * 1/2 John Connor (Christian Bale) needs to find Kyle (Anton Yelchin) to send him back in time. If he isn't able to do this, the resistance, and John himself, will never exist. But he'll have to trust the very thing he is fighting if he is to succeed. Great special effects, and the action is well-paced. The story itself really isn't that interesting if you're familiar with the other Terminator films since it simply shows us some of the back story we already mostly know. PG-13 for violence and language.
TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES (2008) NR) 225 minutes * * * Lengthy BBC version of the classic Thomas Hardy novel. Nice work by Gemma Arterton in the lead role, and the supporting cast does a fine job as well. Originally presented in four segments, and it remains better if watched that way.
TETRO (R) 126 minutes * * * 1/2 Completely disengaged from his family, Tetro (Vincent Gallo) is more than a little frustrated when his younger brother Bennie (Alden Ehrenreich) shows up on his doorstep. Not only does seeing Bennie bring back bad memories, but he;s full of questions about their family and about why Tetro left. Director Francis Ford Coppola takes the time to really use light and shadow, taking advantage of the subtleties that black and white film can use in ways that color film can't. It's a wonderful piece of artistry, and an example of Coppola at his best. R for language and sex.
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2003) (R) 93 minutes * 1/2 It's very rare for a film to improve on the original. This is definitely no worse than the sequels to the original classic horror film, but it's not really any better either. Jessica Biel adds a little bit of strength as far as acting, but the "Blair witch" style opening and closing are just plain silly and add nothing to the film. R for violence and language.
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING (R) 85 minutes * 1/2 Strange... the beginning seems much like the rest of the story... After a brief glimpse of the birth of leatherface and how he came to be at the house in 1939, we jump to 1969 and the first killings of the "family". Nothing really distinguishes them from any of the killings in the "first" film or from anything in the original series of TCM films. The final shot of leatherface shuffling down the middle of the road, chainsaw at his side, is a classic one, but getting there is nothing special. Too bad we couldn't explore the childhood of leatherface... R for violence and language.
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING (R) 87 minutes * * 1/2 Spin-doctor for big tobacco Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart) finds his skills put to the test when a senator bent on stamping out cigarettes comes after him. I'm not sure how much of Christopher Buckley's book that this was adapted from ended up getting cut, but far too much of what this film could have been, seems to have vanished into thin air. Eckhart does a nice job here, as does William H. Macy. Rob Lowe and Robert Duvall also deliver fine, though very brief, performances. Perhaps, since this is in many ways a jab at the influence the film industry has, someone wasn't willing to let this film slap us as hard as it should. Too bad. It could have been even funnier and more poignant as well. R for language and sex.
THAT DARN CAT (PG) 85 minutes 1/2 Absolutely pathetic remake of the 1965 Disney film. This time around, we have Christina Ricci, turning in her worst performance ever. The cat obviously hates her, which doesn't help matters. A HUGE waste of talent considering we have people here like Dyan Cannon, Doug E. Doug, Dean Jones Estelle Parsons, Peter Boyle, Michael McKean... Unbelievable that Disney would put out a piece of trash like this. PG for language.
THAT OLD FEELING (PG-13) 101 minutes * * 1/2 Molly doesn't want to invite her parents to the wedding because they always seem to get into a fight. This time, the sparks that fly are of a different color and surprise everyone with the direction they take. This is pleasant enough to watch, and mildly entertaining, but it leaves us with little to remember. Bette Midler and Dennis Farina are OK, but the best performance is actually from Danny Nucci, as the photographer who follows Midler around. PG-13 for language.
THAT THING YOU DO (PG) 102 minutes * * * Tom Hanks first effort at directing is tremendous fun! This really captures the excitement that was present in the music scene of the 50's and 60's. Tom Scott and Liv Tyler are the stand-outs among the actors, but it's the whole picture of the music scene and the general fun that really captures the audience and carries us along. PG for language.
THELMA & LOUISE (R) 124 minutes * * * From the opening moment of this film, you can tell it's a Ridley Scott picture... a bleak and generally negative setting that is, for some strange reason, somewhat appealing. It's the story of two early-middle-aged women who take a vacation where things end up going wrong. As Hal (Harvey Kietel) says, "Brains will only get you so far, and luck always runs out." So what do you do? What direction wiil you take at the next crossroads in your life? What will you do if it doesn't work out well? Is there someone you can rely on to help you? There are some great songs here too, "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" and "Part of Me, Part of You", with lyrics that are important for us to hear. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis breathe life into two very memorable characters. R for language, violence, and sex.
THEN SHE FOUND ME (R) 92 minutes * * * 1/2 Life was going along just fine for April (Helen Hunt). Then her husband (Matt Broderick) leaves, her adoptive mother dies, and she gets a note from the biological mother she never knew (Bette Midler). It's just too much at once. And then there's Frank (Colin Firth), father of one of the children in her class. With his own set of problems, now just isn't the time for a relationship. Or is it? Life doesn't always work the way you think it will, or the way you want it to. Nicely written script, adapted from Elinor Lipman's novel, that asks us to think about what it is that we are willing to promise those who we say we love. R for language and sex.
THERE WILL BE BLOOD (R) 151 minutes * * * Oscar winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview, an oil man with a talent for finding oil and for convincing people to invest in his projects. It's not a particularly pleasant story, adapted from the novel, "Oil" by Upton Sinclair, but the characters are large and almost come right off the screen. Plainview's slow deterioration is seen as the film progresses and Day-Lewis seems to descend almost into madness. Not particularly fun to watch, but a powerful performance. R for violence.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (R) 112 minutes * 1/2 Silly comedy with lots of bathroom humor about a boy (Ben Stiller) infatuated with a girl (Cameron Diaz) and how they get together again later in life. Matt Dillon is wasted in a caricatured supporting role, and Chris Elliott and Brett Favre both need to go back to doing TV commercials. True, some audience members really seem to love this film, but I wasn't the only one who found only a few lines in the film to be amusing. Best when seen with lots of friends and little sleep. R for language.
THEY (PG-13) 83 minutes * Nice, very creepy start, playing with the taboo of bad things happening to children. The story revolves around the night terrors we have as children, claiming that they result from some sort of monsters that "mark" some of us and then return for us later. Far too many holes in the story undermine the night chills that are scattered throughout the film. The ending doesn't help matters, leaving us even more confused. It doesn't help matters that most of the scenes with the monsters are extremely dark, letting us see very little. PG-13 for violence and nudity.
THEY LIVE (R) 90 minutes * 1/2 The aliens have taken over our planet and masquerade as humans. They, and the subliminal messages they are using to take over, can only be seen with the aid of some special glasses, which our hero stumbles across. Rowdy Roddy Piper's acting talents, or lack thereof, aside, this is pretty much the silly 1950's style, low-budget sci-fi film you might expect from the title. Fun, perhaps, quality filmmaking... definitely not. R for violence and language.
THICKER THAN WATER (NR) 85 minutes * * Sentimental story about Jess (Lindsay Wagner), a woman trying to protect the wild horses that are running on the land she leases while the owner is trying to get rid of them and lease the land to someone else. Mix in a couple of love stories, an orphan, and a sister that didn't know about, and there you are. No surprises, but pleasant enough to watch. No rating, but suitable for family viewing.
THE THIEF LORD (PG) 94 minutes * * Prosper and Bo run away from their evil aunt after their mother dies. When they meet Scipio, it seems that things will be alright. He's the thief lord, a young trickster and leader of a small group of orphans who are living in an old movie theater. But all is not as it seems, and when they go to steal a wing from a magical carousel, their adventure gets much more extreme than they ever thought possible. Adapted from the novel by Cornelia Funke, this is a nice adventure film for the younger set. Less intense than the Harry Potter films, but still a nice ride. PG for language.
THIN ICE (NR) 84 minutes * * Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) is having difficulties. His involvement in a shoot-out have internal affairs and the town council breathing down his neck. At the same time, a missing baby case resurfaces. Selleck doesn't seem to be all that interested in what's going on here. The story isn't bad, the the lack of energy doesn't help the film keep our interest.
A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE (R) 103 minutes * 1/2 Martin Lawrence stretches himself too thin in this production, serving as director, executive producer, writer of the story and co-writer of the script, and co-music supervisor! He's a playboy with a mid-size budget who falls for a rich woman. It's turns into a "fatal attraction" but spins its wheels for awhile before getting there. A few good bits, but not much more.
THE THIN RED LINE (R) 162 minutes * * 1/2 Slow-moving film that attempts to be philosophical about the people and activities on Guadalcanal during World War II. The film is full of flashbacks, which give it a dreamlike quality. But that same approach also tends to lull us to sleep, though the occasional violent images jolt us back to awareness. In the final analysis, the film just never manages hit us on all fronts at once. There are some earnest performances, but we're left with disconnected images and little to help us piece them together. R for violence and language.
THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS (PG-13) 93 minutes * * 1/2 Sam (Peter Falk) and Muriel (Olympia Dukakis) have been married for 47 years. So he's at a loss when one day she just walks away. As he begins to talk with his son (Paul Reiser), they both begin to learn. About marriage, women, parenting, life, death... more than either thought possible, and yet they are only scratching the surface. Nice work from both Falk and Reiser, though the rest of the cast really don't have much to do for most of the film. It's a very good father and son relatinoship film, but falters a bit when dealing with other aspects of family relationships. PG-13 for language.
THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE (R) 112 minutes * * * Shattered by the recent and unexpected death of her husband, Audrey (Halle Berry) find unexpected comfort in talking with her husband's best friend Jerry (Benicio Del Toro). But there is frustration and anger as well. Why does Jerry know so much about her husband that she never knew? Jerrry is struggling as well. The death of his friend is turning him back toward his heroin addiction. How can Audrey and Jerry help each other, and how do they know if they should? Del Toro delivers another gritty performance in this dramatic exploration of the strengths, limitations, and boundaries of friendship. Great performances by young Alexis Llewellyn and Micah Berry (not related to Halle)! R for language.
THINNER (R) 88 minutes * Aside from the fact that this does manages to follow the book pretty well, this is far from one of the better adaptations of a Stephen King story. Most of the problem is that it's just too drawn out. The story is an old EC comics style morality tale that would play much better in a 30-60 minute time frame. Michael Constantine and Joe Mantegna are wasted and King makes his obligatory appearance as Mr. Bangor for a few seconds in the film. R for language and violence.
THIRST (2009) (R) 130 minutes * * * It's an accident, but the outcome is impossible to ignore. Sang-hyeon (Knag-ho Song) volunteers for a medical experiment, and through a blood transfusion ends up becoming a vampire. He doesn't really like what he's become, but he finds ways to get the blood he needs that don't involve killing. Love can complicate matters though, and Tae-ju (Ok-bin Kim) has some other ideas about how vampires should feed. Inspired by Emile Zola's book "Therese Raquin". R for violence, sex, and language.
THIRTEEN (R) 95 minutes * * * When Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) looks for a way to fit in, she hooks up with Evie (Nikki Reed). Things quickly spiral out of control as shoplifting and theft become drug use and cutting. Tracy, once a model student, is now on the other side of life in middle school. Wood is terrific here, and Reed makes a stellar debut as she plays her own best friend in a story she co-scripted from her own life at the age of thirteen. It's an unflinching look at a sometimes terrifying part of adolesence and parenting. R for language and violence.
13 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING (R) 104 minutes * * * Interwoven stories of five New Yorkers tell us tales of life and choices, happiness and loss, fate and luck. The stellar cast does a wonderful job, though the script is a bit wordy at times. Some of the stories are woven together a bit more tightly than others, but this still manages to be both entertaining and thought provoking... not an easy task. Starring Alan Arkin, Matthew McConaughey, Clea Duvall, John Turturro, and Amy Irving, rated R for language.
THIRTEEN DAYS (PG-13) 140 minutes * * * Impressive historical dramatization of the Cuban Missile Crisis and how close we came to having something far more disastrous occur. Kevin Costner plays the part of Kenny O'Donnell, special assistant to the president, and it is mostly from his perspective that we watch events transpire. Costner delivers his standard performance, but it plays well alongside Bruce Greenwood's portrayal of John F. Kennedy. The accents are a bit awkward in a few scenes, and the film could have used a bit of trimming, but it does a good job of holding our interest, which is more than can be said for most film of this length. PG-13 for language.
THIR13EN GHOSTS (R) 86 minutes 1/2 Bearing little resemblence to the 1960 film which covers the same story, the highlight here is the house itself. Some special effects are wonderfully gruesome, while others are rather amateurish. The story does get more interesting toward the end, but it's a little late to tease us with something interesting at that point. And then the house explodes? That seems to be little more than a desire to show off some special effects when the story clearly cried out for something more sinister to be lying just around the corner. R for violence, language, and nudity.
13 GOING ON 30 (PG-13) 92 minutes * * 1/2 Nothing seems to be gonig well for Jenna. It's her 13th biorthday and she just wants to be 30, beautiful, and popular. Suddenly, the next 17 years have flown by and she has no memory of it. Jennifer Garner does a very nice job here, though the story never really tries to make much of a serious statement. The ending is cute, but it's Garner's energy and enthusiasm that make this work far better than the script merits. PG-13 for language.
13 TZAMETI (NR) 90 minutes * * * 1/2 Stunning feature film debut for writer/director/producer Gela Babluani with an excellent debut performance by his younger brother Georges in the lead role. Sebastien (Babluani) is working on a house when he stumbles onto a way to make alot of money. He doesn't really know what will be involved, but decides to take the risk anyway. The film moves deftly from drama to complex suspense, as Sebastien becomes a player in a larger game, where he becomes a number... 13. A powerful and memorable piece of work.
THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR (R) 96 minutes * * 1/2 Can computer generated simulations have consciousness? That's the question posed here as the characters in a simulation begin to notice things about their world. The idea is handled well as far as keeping us interested, though the film shies away from having much in the way of action, relying instead on a great deal of dialogue. It makes for a very thought provoking film, although not one that you'll find particularly exciting. R for violence.
THE 13TH WARRIOR (R) 98 minutes * * An unspeakable, unnameable evil is causing trouble and thirteen warriors must go to try and defeat it. Twelve Northmen and one Arab (Antonio Banderas) will test their mettle against those who come with the mist and eat the flesh of the dead. There are a few rather intense battle scenes here, but the story has been stripped down to the bare essentials. Jerry Goldsmith's music helps keep us interested, but it's too straightforward to be very engaging. Adapted from Michael Crichton's book, "Eaters of the Dead". R for violence.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT (R) 107 minutes * * 1/2 With no light for 30 days, most everyone leaves Barrow, Alaska. Some people choose to stay, and a few other creatures are going to be in town for the month as well. Based on the comic book, this story of vampires in the cold, dark north, definitely has a slick look and some very nice effects. There are more than a few lapses in story logic, and the film gives us enough time to think about them, which is unfortunate. There are some sequences that are fairly suspenseful, but a shorter film with better editing would have made this even more impressive. R for violence and language.
35 SHOTS OF RUM (NR) 98 minutes * * 1/2 Lionel (Alex Descas) is struggling with the impending departure of his daughter. He knows that she has grown up and that it's time for her to be on her own, but change is often not an easy process. Still, it will come, and Lionel must find a way to adapt while Jo (Mati Diop) begins a life on her own. A quiet film about relationships and change, though the characters seem a bit disconnected at times.
THIS CHRISTMAS (PG-13) 110 minutes * * 1/2 Almost everyone has a secret or two, but this Christmas, the secrets that each member of the Whitfield family has are about to be uncovered. Good drama sprinkled with bits of humor, but the story does drag on for a little too long, especially considering that there isn't anything really new here. PG-13 for language, sex, and violence.
THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED (NR) 95 minutes * * * You know about the film rating system (G, PG, PG-13, R, & NC-17), and you may know what those ratings tend to mean. But do you know who rates them? Neither did anyone else before this film was made! This documentary expose of the Motion Picture Association of America's system of rating films goes undercover to discover the identity of the members as well as the identity of the appeals board members. It's a fascinating look at a system that says it works in the interest of parents and the American public in general. But how can that be the case when there's so much secrecy involved in the process? Is it censorship? You be the judge! Not rated because it shows clips from various films to illustrate various points. These clips often contain sex, violence, and/or language that would have made the film NC-17... or was it because they were used to illustrate inconsistencies in the system...?
THIS IS ENGLAND (NR) 100 minutes * * * Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) recently lost his father and is having a hard time at school. But he's found a new group of friends in the local skinheads. When one of their old mates gets out of prison, the group dynamics change and become a bit more violent. We see this all through Shaun's eyes, so there's a mixture of understanding and questioning. Though bawdy and violent at times, this is essentially a gentle film about a young boy coming of age in England, coming to terms with his life and what direction he will take. Sensitive and solid performances throughout. Filmed in Nottingham and Grmsby.
THIS OLD CUB (NR) 88 minutes * * Chicago Cubs fans will enjoy this look at the life of Ron Santo, legendary third base player. There is a nice balance of baseball lore, and personal info as the film looks both at Santo's career and at his struggle with diabetes. The production quality is far less than desirable though, with the film shot on a home video camera mostly by Ron's son Jeff, who also co-wrote, co-produced, and directed the film.
THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1999)(R) 106 minutes * * It's a cat and mouse game as a rich financier and fan of the arts steals a painting and has an insurance company investigator who is determined to catch him. Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo are both far too two-dimensional here, though Russo does seem to be trying. The script follows the old film too much and tries to recapture the original, which it just never succeeds at doing. Bill Conti's score adds a touch of class, but it can't make up for the rest of the problems here. Filmed in part in Martinique. R for sex.
THOUGH NONE GO WITH ME (NR) 97 minutes * * Adapted from Jerry B. Jenkins' book, this is the story of a woman whose life is filled with loss, yet she manages to find the strength to go on. She recounts much of her life journey to her granddaughter, though we wonder why the girl hasn't already heard it all before. Sentimental and predictable, with mediocre performances and poor makeup. The story holds us enough to keep our attention, but a stronger cast would have helped a great deal. Not rated, but suitable for family viewing.
A THOUSAND ACRES (R) 101 minutes * * * Jason Robards is Larry Cook, a respected farmer who has decided to retire and give his farm to his three daughters. But as he realizes that he doesn't want to give up the farm, the older two daughters begin to face memories of a past that has shaped the now disintegrating relationship between them and their father. The story here is very strong in spots, but the granddaughters and neighborly Jess Clark (Colin Firth) are weak characters and the story gets muddled in a few spots. Still, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jessica Lange give us solid performances that are well worth watching. R for language.
THR3E (PG-13) 101 minutes * * Adapted from the novel by Ted Dekker, this suspense-thriller follows the work of a strange "riddle killer" whose fascination with riddles and the number "three" are among the only clues. Marc Blucas does his best, but the script is such a stripped-down version of the novel that he isn't left with much. Not that the story is all that original to begin with... The strongest parts of the film are the cinematography and the soundtrack. Dekker fans will likely be disappointed, but those who stumble across this and aren't expecting much will find it an adequate diversion. PG-13 for violence and language.
THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA (R) 116 minutes * * 1/2 Tommy Lee Jones' first directorial effort is this interesting story of friendship and justice. Pete (Jones) is an old cowboy, whose friend has been killed. No one seems to care because his friend is an illegal alien, so Pete finds out who did it and brings them to justice. It's a fairly typical sort of film for Jones, though it begins with sequences out of time order and it doesn't really seem to serve a purpose. Nice work from Barry Pepper as well. R for language, violence, and sex.
THREE CAN PLAY THAT GAME (R) 85 minutes * * In this sequel to "Two Can Play That Game" has Shante (Viveca A. Fox) running a service that assists people in their relationships. The story is cute and the acting is good enough, but the on-camera narration is unnecessary and somewhat annoying. If you enjoyed the first film, this offers more of the same. R for language and sex.
THREE FUGITIVES (PG-13) 92 minutes * * * It's a rather strange mix of near tear-jerker drama and slapstick comedy. What's even more surprising is that the see a good deal of dramatic acting from Martin Short and some comedic efforts from Nick Nolte... and it works. The simplicity of the plot undoubtedly helps. A bank is robbed by a man who is desperate to get money to help his child (Short and Sarah Rowland Doroff, who is adorable). A hostage is taken during the robbery (Nolte) who happens to be an ex-con. They attempt to disengage from each others lives after the robbery. That's it. An enjoyable and entertaining film that does a great job keeping the delicate balance between comedy and drama thanks in great part due to two very talented actors working well together.
300 (R) 109 minutes * * 1/2 Beautifully and artistically styled production that immediately shows the pride and strength of the Spartan people. The film relies heavily on narration, which does fit the visual style, but the transition between scenes that have narration and those that don't is rarely smooth. There are also plenty of slow-motion effects, which look great, but again, transitions are a problem. It's clearly a memorable, visual presentation, but the imagery is expected to carry the story and its emotions, which is a bit much to ask. Adapted from Frank Miller's graphic novel. R for violence and sex.
305 (PG-13) 80 minutes BOMB If you thought that "Meet the Spartans" was a bad parody of "300", try watching five minutes of this piece of junk. Made for pennies by people who don't seem to understand how to make a film. The outtakes during the credits are almost painful to watch because they further highlight the inept abilities of everyone involved. PG-13 for language and violence.
THREE KINGS (R) 109 minutes * * The Gulf War is over, but that doesn't mean things just instantly come to a standstill. There are still people who are oppressed, tortured, and killed. And when Archie Gates finds out about a map that shows where Saddam Hussein has hidden some of the gold he has stolen, a treasure hunt ensues. The slow motion sequences are irritating and the comic moments are out of place. George Clooney looks like he wishes he were somewhere else and so does Ice Cube. Mark Wahlberg does a nice job, but the film just never manages to get past it's amateurish style enough to pique our interest. R for language, violence, and sex.
THREE MEN AND A BABY (PG) 99 minutes * * * Adaptation of the French hit, "Three Men and a Cradle" teams up Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson as bachelors trying to take care of a baby. Guttenberg and Selleck do pretty well here, but the baby is the star. (Played by twins Lisa and Michelle Blair) As with many adaptations of foreign films, the original is even better, but this does a pretty good job of keeping us entertained.
3 MEN AND A LITTLE LADY (PG) 99 minutes * 1/2 This sequel follows the men who raised Mary as her mother decides to move away and take Mary with her. Little of interest or value here. In fact, what might have worked better would have been to do a few scenes during the credits of the first film, showing how Mary grows up. Then we could have skipped this entirely.
THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1993) (PG) 101 minutes * * * This new version of the old story gives us a wild ride with lots of action and a story that keeps the pace moving quickly the whole way through. We can tell that Kiefer Sutherland, Oliver Platt, and Charlie Sheen are having loads of fun and that's part of what makes this so much fun to watch. Tim Curry plays the evil Cardinal Richeleau is his usual extreme manner with great success. This is, perhaps, a bit too violent and grotesque for the young ones, but it still managed to get the PG rating.
3 NINJAS (PG) 80 minutes * * Grandpa trains his three grandsons in the ways of the ninja, which comes in handy when one of his old students starts causing trouble. The villains here are total idiots, though the kids do a reasonable job with their martial arts skills. (Their acting leaves alot to be desired though.) Basically harmless action film for kids with a wholesome message.
3 NINJAS STRIKE BACK (PG) 90 minutes * * The kids are back at their granfather's house for the summer to undergo more training. The villains are as idiotic as ever, making this most appealing to those of less discriminating tastes. The morals are good and the adventure aspect is mildly entertaining, with the mood being a little more upbeat than the first film.
THREE O'CLOCK HIGH (PG-13) 88 minutes * * * Buddy (Richard Tyson), a violent psychopath starts attending a new school. Jerry (Casey Siemaszko) is the class nerd who works for the school paper and who makes the mistake of touching Buddy. Buddy doesn't like to be touched and wants to fight Jerry after school... at three o'clock. Things get progressively worse for Jerry as the day progresses and the dreaded hour approaches. Nicely acted and well-written story with a nice soundtrack by Tangerine Dream.
THREE OF HEARTS (R) 99 minutes * 1/2 When Connie loses her girlfriend Ellen, she hires Joe to break Ellen's heart so she'll come running back... with predictable results. Cardboard acting ruins what could've been some interesting characters exploring relationships in New York City. William Baldwin, Kelly Lynch, and Sherilyn Fenn star though their performances are not very good.
3 PIGS AND A BABY (PG) 72 minutes * * Part of the animated series of "Unstable Fables", this version of the Three Little Pigs has the pigs adopting a baby wolf and raising it as their own only to discover that it was all a plot by the wolves. Will their adopted son stay true to his adoptive family or choose to help his blood relatives in their evil plan? Nice voice work by Brad Garrett, Jon Cryer, Steve Zahn, and Jesse McCartney. PG for violence.
3:10 TO YUMA (2007) (R) 116 minutes * * * Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) is a bad man. He may be caught for the moment, but the odds are that his gang will manage to set him free before the law can get him on the 3:10 to Yuma. More violent than the 1957 film, but the intensity is about the same. It's a little easier to dislike Wade and his gang, and the subtleties around the questionable traits of the "good guys" are gone. Crowe plays this in much the same style as an old western, which helps make the ending work well. R for violence and language.
3000 MILES TO GRACELAND (R) 121 minutes * * 1/2 Murph (Kevin Costner) and Mike (Kurt Russell) have a plan. The object is to pull off a robbery at a casino in Las Vegas in broad daylight during Elvis week. Needless to say, things don't go down quite like they were planned. The cast is good, though some might question Costner in this role. Courteney Cox, Christian Slater, Kevin Pollack, Howie Long, Ice-T, just to name a few. Aside from Cox though, none of them get much screen time. That's unfortunate. The action sequences are presented well, but between them we have to wade through a muddle of double-crosses and possible underlying motives for the behaviour of the two leads. Why? It ends up being far too long and in many ways does nothing but cover the same ground over and over. R for violence, language, and sex.
THREE TO TANGO (PG-13) 94 minutes * * Charles asks Oscar to watch his girlfriend, Amy, to make sure she doesn't go out on him. Of course, they fall for each other, despite the fact that Amy and Charles think he's gay. In fact, it seems that the more people think he's gay, the more in love with Amy he becomes. There are good performances here from Matthew Perry, Neve Campbbell, and Oliver Platt, nice camera work, and a fairly decent script. It definitely leans toward fluff rather than anything deep, but it will definitely make for a nice relaxing bit of entertainment for most people. PG-13 for language.
THREE WISHES (PG) 110 minutes * * 1/2 Tom (Joe Mazzello) is an ordinary little boy who finds himself in the possession of three wishes, to be granted by a mysterious stranger (Patrick Swayze). This family fantasy film is incredibly boring in the middle, but if you can make it through, the end is wonderfully sentimental and worth watching. With some trimming and re-writing, this would've been wonderful, as it has plenty of heart, just not enough focus.
THREESOME (R) 90 minutes * * 1/2 Lara Flynn Boyle, Stephen Baldwin, and Josh Charles. Three college roomates, each attracted to each other, but forming a triangle. They make a vow to remain friends, but only time will tell. It's a study in relationships that unflinchingly deals with just about everything you can think of. To it's credit, it remains honest and sincere, and is well worth watching for that alone.
THROUGH THE FIRE (NR) 101 minutes * * Documentary about the basketball career of young Sebastian Telfair, from his days as a star of his Coney Island neighborhood and school to his move to the professional arena. It's mostly a home movie sort of approach to his last year in high school and the few months that follow. Not bad, but lacking the polish that more experienced filmmakers could have delivered and not really inspiring us as much as it probably should have.
THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN (PG-13) 84 minutes * * 1/2 Danny DeVito's comic remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train" suffers from too much... Danny DeVito. In keeping so much of the creative control in his own hands, he effectively strangles the film to near total ineffectiveness. There are definitely some hilarious bits here and great scene changes, but we needed a bit more of Billy Crystal and a bit less of DeVito. In homage to it's inspiration, scenes from the Hitchcock classic are used in the film.
THUMBELINA (G) 81 minutes * * * Hans Christian Anderson's story of a tiny girl finding her place in the world comes to us courtesy of Don Bluth. Barry Manilow's music is good throughout, highlighted by Jodi Benson's beautiful voice as Thumbelina. The problem here is a poor balance in the story itself which is very light and positive early on and turns dark and sinister during the second half until just a few minutes before it ends. Still, a fine piece of work with some beautiful animation.
THUMBELINA (2009) (NR) 71 minutes * * The Barbie verion of the story about how size doesn't matter. Thumbelina is a twillerbee, a tiny fairy whose field (and home) are about to be destroyed to make way for a huge factory. How can she and her friends stop them? Can their young human friend be of assistance? Cute and magical story for the younger (4-8 year old) crowd.
THUMBSUCKER (R) 92 minutes * * * Justin Cobb (Lou Pucci) is still sucking his thumb as a teenager until he gets a little help from his dentist. But becoming normal isn't as easy as just stopping a thumbsucking habit... or is it? This somewhat quirky coming of age story is a great first feature film effort from director Mike Mills. Those who like their films a little on the original side should enjoy this. R for sex and language.
THUNDERBIRDS (PG) 86 minutes * * This film definitely has its heart in the right place, but when you're trying to make a film about a kids' show from forty years ago that was done with marionettes... still, much of the spirit of the original is captured here with a story that is aimed at the preteen crowd but should trigger fond memories in the over-forty crowd. It's a fun, light-weight adventure that barely deserves its PG rating, telling the story of how the youngest member of the Tracy family proves that he's worth to be part of the Thunderbird team.
THUNDERHEART (R) 116 minutes * * * The Indian heritage that Ray Levoi (Val Kilmer) has denied for most of his life may now be the only way he can solve a murder. An Oglala Sioux indian has been killed in the Badlands of South Dakota, and Ray must immerse himself in their culture to uncover the clues. Graham Greene comes across very well here, playing the part of Walter Crow Horse, a tribal police officer who teaches Ray that you must look beyond the obvious and follow your heart. There is a good mix here of Indian culture and murder investigation, set in the present, with all the turmoil that presents as well. R for violence and language.
THE TIE THAT BINDS (R) 94 minutes * 1/2 For being a thriller, this story of a homicidal couple who wants their child back, moves with surprising slowness. Moira Kelly and Vincent Spano do not work well together as the adoptive couple. Keith Carradine and Daryl Hannah work well as maniacs, but they grow larger than the story and have no place to go. Don't worry too much if you miss this one.
THE TIGGER MOVIE (G) 70 minutes * * * Tigger is looking for someone to bounce with, but no one seems interested or able to bounce quite like him. That could be because he's the only one. But maybe there are other tiggers out there... maybe he has a tigger family. Embarking on an adventurous search for his family, Tigger discovers, of course, that his family has been around him the whole time. Those who care about us are our family. It's a wonderful story and a powerful message that parents will appreciate. The songs aren't as memorable as one might hope, but the style of presentation is true to the Pooh films and stories of the past. It's a film for everyone who has ever enjoyed Tigger, Pooh, and all the rest of A.A. Milne's charming characters from the hundred acre wood.
TIME CHANGER (G) 96 minutes * 1/2 A young man travels back in time to understand the importance of keeping Jesus' name connected with his teachings. Stilted dialogue and stiff performances are the major downfalls of this fundamentalist Christian production. And while there is certainly an element of fantasy here, much of the film mistakenly presents itself as truth. (eg. that movies began in the 1930s)
THE TIME MACHINE (2002) (PG-13) 91 minutes * * Based on David Duncan's screenplay for the 1960 film, this remake features Guy Pearce as Alex Hartigan and Samantha Mumba as Mara. The visual effects are quite nice, but the film doesn't flow well. Scene transitions are awkward and the pace of the film drags at several points. It does end quite nicely, with a sequence that is both moving and artistic. PG-13 for violence.
A TIME TO KILL (R) 145 minutes * * * 1/2 From John Grisham's novel about racism, Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, and Samuel L. Jackson star in this tense courtroom drama. The tension between Bullock and McConaughey plays well, thanks to a great script and wonderful work by the actors and director Joel Schumacher. The ending is a little too perfect, but getting there is full of drama and excellent work by a fine cast all the way around. This is one of those film not to miss! R for language and violence.
THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (PG-13) 99 minutes * * * A truly magical love story. A young girl meets a man in a field. He tells her that one day he will return. He knows that he will, because this is a moment from his past. Very romantic, and highly illogical, but we don't really care, and the story doesn't dwell on why this wouldn't work, just on the magic and romance between Henry (Eric Bana) and Claire (Rachel McAdams). Despite how central the idea of time travel is to the story, almost no time is spent on trying to explain it, which is key to making the story work well. Just sit back and enjoy! PG-13 for nudity.
TIMECODE (R) 92 minutes * * * 1/2 "It's time to move forward, to move beyond." A film with not one single cut... a film that was improvised around a story structure by the actors as the camera was rolling. It's not something that will appeal to the average filmgoer, but those with an interest in the dramatic arts will find it fascinating. Watching things happen on four smaller screens isn't really as hard as you might expect as the sound comes from one at a time for the most part. Much of the concept of the film is explained by one of the characters near the end of the film, but the idea is for us to be drawn into it early on so that the explanation adds to what you already understand rather than explain it before you start. Mike Figgis directed, co-produced, wrote the story, co-wrote the music, and served as a camera operator! Figgis has definitely established himself as an actor's director who is willing to push the boundaries. R for language and sex.
TIMECOP (R) 93 minutes * 1/2 In a future where time travel is a reality, we find the need for police who can make sure that people who travel in time don't cause ripples that will have dangerous effects on the present. Jean-Claude Van Damme to the rescue... though this adaptation of the comic book lets him down a bit too much as far as genuine excitement. The uneven quality of the special effects also takes a toll, though it doesn't look quite as bad on video.
TIMECRIMES (R) 89 minutes * * 1/2 In the woods near his new home, Hector (Karra Elejalde) discovers a building that houses a time machine. Chased there by a man with a bandage covering his face, Hector enters the machine and finds himself emerging an hour before he entered... and in the midst of a problem that is getting worse each time her enters the machine. An interesting premise, but the ending may leave you a bit dissatisfied. R for violence and language.
TIMELINE (PG-13) 108 minutes * * A wormhole into the past is discovered and someone has been stranded there. A team of archaeologists who specialize in the time period are about to be sent back to retrieve him. Definitely a few plot holes here, though they manage to sidestep any questions about time travel itself by saying they don't really know how it works or why it only seems to connect to one particular period in history. There are a few moments of fun scattered here and there, but this never really offers us more than that. PG-13 for violence.
TIN CUP (R) 129 minutes * * 1/2 Laid back character study of golfer Roy McEvey (Kevin Costner) who wants to make a comeback. Also starring Rene Russo, Cheech Marin, and Don Johnson, this is overly long, but pleasant enough to watch unless you really hate golf. Costner does tend to play the same character over and over, but he plays it well. R for language and sex.
TIN MAN (NR) 263 minutes * * * Modernized retelling of "The Wizard of Oz" with Zooey Deschanel as D.G. (Dorothy Gale). Purist fans of the original probably won't like this, but it is creative, well-written, and produced in the typically lavish style that Robert Halmi Sr. and Jr. usually bring to their productions. It does run a bit long, but remains well-paced and interesting throughout. If you're willing to re-imagine that trip down the yellow brick road, you'll find this to be an exciting new look at a classic story.
TIN MEN (R) 116 minutes * * * It's 1963, and two aluminum siding salesmen are trying to outdo each other... with sometimes ridiculous results. Danny DeVito is great here, but Richard Dreyfuss is less consistent. A unique and humorous look into the world of salesmanship.
TINKERBELL (G) 71 minutes * * 1/2 The birth of Tinkerbell, whose origins are now explained, not necessarily as J.M. Barrie would have, but entertaining enough anyway. Bell discovers that her job is that of a Tinker fairy. She thinks it would be much more exciting to be a light fairy, a garden fairy, or a water fairy, but, of course, eventually realizes that she needs to be herself. Great voices including those of Mae Whitman, Raven-Symone, Lucy Liu, America Ferrera, and Angelica Huston.
TINKERBELL AND THE LOST TREASURE (G) 72 minutes * * * Tink is chosen to prepare the Fall scepter. And, of course, all does not go as planned, and Tink has to find a lost treasure that can help her out of the mess she's in. Entertaining story with great music. Mae Whitman, Raven-Symone, Lucy Liu, Kristen Chenoweth, and Anjelica Huston provide some of the voice work here.
TITAN A.E. (PG) 87 minutes * 1/2 The Titan is a planet creating ship, the "A.E." stands for "after Earth". The story is set in 3028, when the Earth has been destroyed and our young hero is off to find the Titan, which was hidden by his father, in the hope that he can create a new world for humanity to have a fresh start. It's a tired story, and the animation quality here is mixed. There are a few sequences that are quite nice, but the mixture of two and three dimensional images feels awkward here. Character voices are provided by Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, Bill Pullman, Nathan Lane, Janeane Garafalo and others, and the soundtrack is by Graeme Revell. One of the ending songs is "Not Quite Paradise", which reminds us that this wasn't quite the film it needed to be.
TITANIC (PG-13) 181 minutes * * * 1/2 The story of the great ship Titanic and it's maiden journey to the bottom of the sea is told through lengthy flashbacks through the eyes of one who was there. It's a love story that crosses class lines as Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet meet and find themselves drawn together. She's a girl from a rich family, about to be wed and feeling trapped by her apparent future. He's a young artist who has an eye for truth and a willingness to risk. The story sweeps you along, unfortunately dipping into occasional sensationalism late in the film that ruins some of the effect. The last 15 minutes or so are tragic and triumphant at the same time. Winslet and DiCaprio both do fine work here, but so does Kathy Bates, as the "unsinkable" Molly Brown. Filmed in Baja, California. PG-13 for violence and language.
TO DIE FOR (R) 102 minutes * 1/2 Over-the-top attempt at irony as we follow Suzanne Maretto (Nicole Kidman) in her quest to reach the top of the TV world. She stops at nothing, including murder, to get there, and we wish we could get to the end of this more quickly. The supporting characters have their moments, the best being Joaquin Phoenix, but Kidman repeatedly steals their thunder and throws her character off the walls with little direction.
TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY (PG-13) 89 minutes * * Peter Gallagher seems a little out of his depth as his character deals with the two-year anniversary of his wife's death. Most of this has a very shallow feeling to it, but it ends rather well. Michelle Pfeiffer plays the part of Gillian and Claire Danes is the daughter. Taken from Michael Brady's play, with a soundtrack by James Horner. PG-13 for language.
TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JULIE NEWMAR (PG-13) 104 minutes * * Three drag queens head across the country to compete in a national queen contest. They stop in a small town and transform it into a place that will accept them... right. It's a nice message, but the trip getting there is silly. It's too bad that they're played as bimbos... is that so we (the audience) will find it easier to accept them? Food for thought.
TODAY YOU DIE (R) 87 minutes * 1/2 He thought it was just a quick driving job, but when Banks (Steven Seagal) gets busted for driving the getaway van in a heist, he's determined to get back at the people who set him up. Standard Seagal action flick of the same caliber that he seems to turn out most every year. The chase sequence at the begining is fairly impressive, but the rest of the film settles down to the same old material fairly quickly. R for violence and language.
TOKYO! (NR) 106 minutes * * * Three short films whose common chord is the setting of Tokyo. In the first, a young woman's experience of being ignored and useless transformes her into an object of use. In the second, and best of the three, a strange man crawls out of the sewers to terrorize people. Though it begins rather strangely, the story here is the most interesting and draws us in at the same time some of the images repulse us. And in the final segment, a man finds himself reconnecting with the world after an earthquake.
TOM AND HUCK (PG) 86 minutes * * Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Brad Renfro star in this retelling of the Mark Twain stories. The stories are timeless and are entertaining in that respect, but the pacing of the film is weak, making it seem much longer than it really is. Thomas and Renfro give reasonable performances, but this looks too much like a film made on a lower budget to cash in on the popularity of its young stars.
TOM & JERRY: THE MOVIE (G) 79 minutes * Tom and Jerry are left behind when the family moves and find a friend in Robyn, a runaway child. Filled with villains, this is a cartoon with shoddy animation and little to redeem it in the way of story. Henry Mancini's music is nice, so you might want to buy the soundtrack, just don't waste your time on the movie.
TOMCATS (R) 90 minutes * A group of young guys make a bet... the last one of them who is able to stay single gets the money they put into an investment each year. When Kyle (Jerry O'Connell) gets himself into some financial trouble and needs the money, he tries to set up the only other guy left. Trouble is, he's falling for the girl himself. Shannon Elizabeth does a nice job, but the script is poorly written and shallow. There are some good outtakes at the end, but that doesn't really say much for the film eaither. Filmed in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. R for language and sex.
TOMBSTONE (R) 122 minutes * * * Kurt Russell stars in this fun and exciting version of the story of Wyatt Earp. Russell shows his talents as a seasoned professional here, surrounded by a very talented group of supporting actors as well. The most noticeable of these is Val Kilmer, who gives a very memorable performance as Doc Holliday. Definitely one of the more entertaining stories of these legends of the Wild West. R for language and violence.
TOMMY BOY (PG-13) 92 minutes * * Chris Farley is Tommy Boy, the new man in charge of the company... look out! Farley's prat falls are good for a few laughs here, but he's most entertaining when playing off David Spade, his straight, serious, and sarcastic comedy partner. One of the better modern comedies of its type, though that isn't really saying a great deal. PG-13 for language.
TOMORROW NEVER DIES (PG-13) 115 minutes * * * Pierce Brosnan's second outing as James Bond fits nicely into the series. There's plenty of action, and the stuntwork during the chase scene on the motorcycle is wonderful. Plenty of tricks and double entendre phrases are sprinkled throughout as well. The biggest complaints are that the villain really isn't that tough of a character, and that we don't get to see enough of Michelle Yeoh, who plays secret agent Wai Lin. A solid entry, but we'll hope Brosnan fares even better the next time out. PG-13 for violence and language.
TONY TAKITANI (NR) * * * Tony (Issei Ogata) has always been a loner. One day, he finds himself attracted to a beautiful young woman. Her obsession with expensive new clothes doesn't bother him, but in the end, it will have more power than he suspects. Heavily narrated, but in a style that creates a particular atmosphere that works for this morality play. Adapted from a short novel by Haruki Murakami, it does sort of "drift off" at the end, but we are still strongly affected by the simple beauty of the story, and by the characters themselves.
TOO BEAUTIFUL FOR YOU (R) 89 minutes * * 1/2 Bernard (Gerard Depardeau) cheats on his beautiful wife Florence (Carole Bouquet) with his rather plain and somewhat overweight receptionist Collette (Josiane Balasko). This starts off well enough, but remains surprisingly shallow and doesn't end well at all.
THE TOOTH FAIRY (NR) 86 minutes * 1/2 More like the tooth witch, than the tooth fairy, but who's being picky? She wants your last baby tooth and your life, and it's up to the young daughter of the new residents to figure out how to defeat the wicked witch. There are a few good special effects here and there, but the story is not well-written and suspense is spotty at best.
TOOTH FAIRY (2010) (PG) 95 minutes * * 1/2 Telling his girlfriend's daughter that there's no such thing as the tooth fairy was not a good idea. Not only is Derek (Dwayne Johnson) in trouble with Carly (Ashley Judd), he's been drafted into service as a real tooth fairy for at least a week. It's not so easy, and he's got quite a bit to learn. Silly, with a somewhat sentimental ending, but it's fun, family entertainment, and few seem to be able to poke fun at their own masculine image with the ease and success of Johnson. PG for language.
TOOTHLESS (NR) 85 minutes * * * Kirstie Alley plays an unwilling tooth fairy in this charming family film. Alley gives us superb performance and the story, though somewhat predictable, is thoroughly entertaining. It's one of those little gems that you might miss just because it hasn't been publicized much.
TOOTSIE (PG) 116 minutes * * * * Hilarious comedy with Dustin Hoffman giving the comic performance of his career as an actor who can only get a job when he impersonates a woman. Jessica Lange is wonderful as his romantic interest. Filled with entertaining characters, this is a real treat to watch. It also happens to feature the film debut of Geena Davis!
TOP DOG (PG-13) 80 minutes * * Chuck Norris just doesn't have the personal charm (or acting ability) to really pull this off. His martial arts skills receive their nominal showcase. The dog does some cute tricks, but never convinces us that it should really be a police dog. It's grade B material at best, so don't say you weren't warned. PG-13 for violence and language.
TORQUE (PG-13) 80 minutes 1/2 Biker gangs and double crosses are the fare of the day here, with lots of bike chase scenes and stunts that have been enhanced a great deal by computer animation. It's far too cartoonish to be believable in the slightest. It does have a nice look, and a few of the performances make it just barely watchable. PG-13 for violence and language.
TOTAL RECALL (R) 108 minutes * * * Doug Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) wants to take a vacation on Mars. When he opts for a memory implant of the vacation instead of actually taking the trip, he discovers that he's really someone else and has been deprogrammed... or is that part of the vacation? Quaid's character never manages to elicit the sympathy from us that he needs to for this to really work well. Schwarzenegger does a nice job, but the script lets him down. And Ronny Cox's villainous character just isn't convincing. Still, the idea is quite good and Rob Bottin's special makeup effects are excellent. R for violence and language.
TOUCH THE TOP OF THE WORLD (NR) 88 minutes * * 1/2 Inspirational biographical drama about Erik Weihenmayer (Peter Facinelli), the first blind man to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Suffering from a degenerative eye disease, Erik refuses to let it get the best of him. His attitude inspires those around him, and together, they achieve what some would never think possible. Reasonably good for a TV movie, with nice performances from several in the cast, though Bruce Campbell's is rather wooden, which is not really a surprise.
THE TOURNAMENT (R) 90 minutes * * 1/2 "Every seven years, in an ordinary town, an extraordinary event takes place." The world's greatest assassins come together for a challenge that will leave only one of them standing. As the event begins to unfold, a priest (Robert Carlyle) finds himself in the middle of the event, and mistaken for a competitor. Nice stunt work and effects, though the inclusion of Carlyle's character doesn't really help the story. R for violence, language, and nudity.
TOWELHEAD (R) 110 minutes * * * Coming of age can be rough. Jasira (Summer Bishil) is sent to live with her Lebanese father, whose more strict approach is supposed to keep her under control. But Jasira's budding sexuality isn't so easy to contain. If anything, her father's tougher style of parenting is apt to push her to do something extreme even more quickly. Edgy and controversial film adapted from Alicia Erian's novel. Writer/producer/director Alan Ball dealt with similiar material in "American Beauty" as a writer/producer, though from a slightly different angle. R for sex and language.
THE TOWERING INFERNO (PG) 165 minutes * * * One of the 1970's classic disaster films, this won Oscars for cinematography, editing, and song. An all-star cast including Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, and Richard Chamberlain try to survive in a burning skyscraper. Exciting and entertaining even though it suffers from the usual problem of stretching things a bit too far at times.
TOWN & COUNTRY (R) 97 minutes * * 1/2 Despite a fine cast, this comedy of affairs just never quite hits the mark. It's a story that reminds us of great stories we've heard from Neil Simon and Woody Allen, but the depth and strength are missing. It's not bad, it just keeps missing that edge. What a cast though, Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, Nastasia Kinski, Gary Shandling, Andie McDowell, Jenna Elfman... it's worth a look for them, just don't expect too much from the story. R for sex and language.
THE TOWN THAT BANNED CHRISTMAS (NR) 80 minutes BOMB Not every holiday film is a good one, and this is a great example. Neigbors feuding over the best decorated yard contest (hmmm, where have we heard THAT before) end up causing the town to ban the decorations altogether. Which is, of course, what someone should have done with the film itself.
TOY SOLDIERS (R) 105 minutes * * 1/2 A prep school for boys is taken over by Columbian terrorists, but the boys fight back. OK. Not what you'd call believable, but... it actually doesn't come off too badly, thanks to the talents of the cast. Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, Lou Gossett Jr. and the rest, do a good job of keeping us entertained. It would have been nice to have learned a bit more about their characters though... R for language and violence.
TOY STORY (G) 76 minutes * * * * Pixar studios set a new mark for animated motion pictures with this top-notch piece of computer animation. The hilarious story of Woody and Buzz, and the friendship they create together has the usual mix of adult humor and entertainment for children that you find in most cartoons. Randy Newman's song, "I Will Go Sailing No More" is a classic, and you will find this a film you want to watch over and over, with or without your kids.
TOY STORY 2 (G) 85 minutes * * * 1/2 This is just about as good as you can hope for a sequel to be. The boys are back and this time Buzz needs to save Woody from the clutches of a toy collector. The story is a delight, adding just a few new characters and giving more depth to most of those that appeared in the first film. There's even a guest appearance from Pixar's short film about a chess player. Where the film falls short is in the music department. Only two new songs this time, with "Woody's Roundup" being very mediocre, although "When She Loved Me" is nice. And don't miss the short film at the beginning that tells the story of the Pixar lamp... it's hilarious!
TOY STORY 3 (G) 94 minutes * * * Andy is going to college and leaving his toys behind. They were supposed to be stored in the attic, but end up at a day care where some other, rather mean toys, make sure that they don't enjoy the experience. But never fear, Woody and Buzz and the rest of the gang will figure their way out of this and end up just where they need to be. (Bring your handkerchief.) The story works well, which is no surprise with a Pixar film, though it does rely heavily on the earlier films. The music is a bit of a disappointment, with little to speak of aside from a Spanish language version of "You've Got a Friend in Me", performed by the Gipsy Kings.
TOYS (PG-13) 115 minutes * * * Technically, this film is a wonder, with sets and props that are simply amazing. There is a strange mix of styles that is certainly not appealing at first glance, and which will turn most viewers off rather quickly. Director Barry Levinson gives us a unique look at the importance of toys and play in our lives. Solid performances from Robin Williams, Joan Cusack, LL Cool J help make it work, and be sure to really listen to the Christmas song, "The Closing of the Year". PG-13 for violence and language.
TRACES OF RED (R) 101 minutes * * * Plenty of twists, turns, false leads, and more fun things to keep you interested. James Belushi stars in this modern film noir with Lorraine Bracco as the sultry and mysterious Ellen Schofield. The film begins with Belushi's death and retraces the steps that result in that event. Fun to watch, but don't expect to have it all figured out very early on. R for violence, language, and sex.
THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS (R) 73 minutes * * * 1/2 Tracey Berkowitz (Ellen Page) is fifteen years old and just a normal girl who hates herself. Her life has felt torn in many directions, but it gets even worse when her little brother goes missing... the little brother she feels responsible for. The screenplay by Maureen Medved, is an adaptation of her own novel, and paints a picture of an adolesence that is both normal and twisted. Director Bruce McDonald creates a picture that is a visual patchwork of images that are both beautiful and disturbing. And Ellen Page delivers a performance that draws us in to a character who we are drawn to, while at the same time repelled by. R for language, sex, and violence.
TRADE (R) 115 minutes * * 1/2 When Jorge's (Cesar Ramos) little sister is kidnapped, he will stop at nothing to rescue her and keep her from becoming another victim of the sex trade. His search leads him to Ray (Kevin Kline), who is still looking for his own daughter, kidnapped by sex traffickers several years earlier. The story is definitely intense, and Ramos does an excellent job. Kline seems almost emotionless until toward the very end of the film, and it doesn't seem to fit the story. R for sex, violence, and language.
TRAFFIC (R) 140 minutes * * * Sweeping and somewhat numbing look at drug trafficking. At times this has the feel of a documentary, but at other times, it's so scattered that we almost become disinterested. The cast is impressive, with Michael Douglas, Albert Finney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dennis Quaid, Benicio Del Toro, Majorina Delfino, Don Cheadle, Amy Irving, Miguel Ferrer... it's almost as numbing as the story. The biggest drawback is that despite how effect the film is at showing us how pervasive and difficult the drug industry is, we have a rather upbeat ending. It feels a bit too patronizing. R for language, violence, and sex.
TRAIL OF TEARS: CHEROKEE LEGACY (NR) 110 minutes * * * Documentary look at the events surrounding the relocation of the Cherokee people to the Oklahoma Territory. The film details their proud history, their attempts to peacefully resist, and the indomitable spirit of the Cherokee people that continues to survive.
TRAILER PARK BOYS (R) 88 minutes * 1/2 Based on the Canadian television comedy series, this follows Ricky Julian and Bubbles in their misguided efforts to make a few dollars and mostly stay out of too much trouble. They usually fail, but somehow we still find ourselves liking them. Perhaps it's because some of the other people here are even worse losers... If you enjoy the TV show, you'll find this fun too. R for language and sex.
TRAILER PARK BOYS: COUNTDOWN TO LIQUOR DAY (R) 96 minutes 1/2 The boys are out of jail now, and Julian wants to go straight, but Ricky just wants to sell more dope and make some easy money. And, of course, Bubbles just wants his cats back. More annoying than the first film, though fans of the series are still likely to enjoy it. R for language and sex.
TRAINING DAY (R) 115 minutes * * * New recruit Jake (Ethan Hawke) gets a taste of the wild side when his first day on the job as a police office on the narcotics squad puts him under the guidance of Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington). Alonzo's methods are not what he's used to and ethics are definitely going to be put to the test. Street justice is a different sort of creature, and is far more harsh than the courts, as both Jake and Alonzo will discover on this particular training day. Nice job by both leads, though the film gives away it's ending far too early to try and keep us going for this long. R for violence and language.
TRAINSPOTTING (R) 90 minutes * * * Taken from the novel by Irvine Welsh, this is an in-your-face look at the world of drugs. Sick Boy and Renton are the two characters who are the most interesting to watch, but this film takes awhile to get used to. Images of filth are constantly around to remind us how bad things are and that might be more than most audiences can handle. It has a rather large following among the young crowd and is worth watching if you know what you're getting into. R for language, violence, and sex.
TRAITOR (PG-13) 108 minutes * * * FBI agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) has been investigating a series of terrorist bombings that may be linked. Part of what appears to be linking them is that Samir Horn (Don Cheadle) seems to be involved. But exactly how is he involved? Horn is an American Muslim, and a former U.S. Special Forces operative. Plenty of twists and turns in the story, and the tension builds well throughout the film, thanks in no small part to another fine performance by Cheadle. PG-13 for violence and language.
TRANSAMERICA (R) 99 minutes * * * Bree Osbourne (Felicity Huffman) just wants to get to Los Angeles to have the sex change operation that has been scheduled. But then the phone rings. It's Toby (Kevin Zegers), a son that Bree didn't know existed. They end up on a cross-country trek that teaches them alot about each other, about their family, and about what's important in life. Superb performance from Huffman that earned her a Golden Globe award and an Oscar nomination. There's a bittersweet sense of humor to the story, but it would have been more effective if kept a bit more in the background rather than making light of the struggle the characters are experiencing. R for sex and language.
TRANSFORMERS (PG-13) 135 minutes * * * This is the movie that all of the fans of the old cartoon and it's toy merchandise have been dreaming of! The Autobots and the Decepticons battle each other with the fate of the human race hanging in the balance. No surprises there, and no surprises with only the younger humans really understanding which robots are the good ones. Director Michael Bay loves to pack his films with action, and this one is no exception. And the animated transformations are quite well done, though often so fast that it difficult to see very much. It does run a bit long, but we actually don't notice until close to the end. PG-13 for language and violence.
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (PG-13) 143 minutes * * * The Autobots are working with a select group of humans (NEST) to hunt down the remaining Decepticons. Meanwhile, Sam (Shia LeBeouf) is just trying to have a normal first year at college. Unfortunately, the Decepticons have found a way to resurrect/reactivate Megatron. Plenty of action and quite a few more transformation sequences, which is what all of the fans were asking for. Nice work! Some nice bits of humor scattered throughout as well. PG-13 for violence and language.
THE TRANSPORTER (PG-13) 87 minutes * * Despite boasting the talents of director Cory Yuen and screenwriter Luc Besson, this is a rather disappointing action/thriller. Jason Statham plays the part of a man who moves things for a fee. Unfortunately, he breaks his own rule by looking into a package and getting involved more deeply than he is supposed to. There are plenty of very impressive stunts throughout the film, but the film quickly becomes more about setting up the next stunt than about telling us the story of this character and his rather interesting job. PG-13 for violence.
TRANSPORTER 2 (R) 81 minutes * * Action-packed, stunt-filled sequel, but there's even less story than there was the first time. Jason Statham plays the part well, but we know he's going to make it and the stunts get cartoonish and more unrealistic as the film progresses. R for sex and violence.
TRANSPORTER 3 (PG-13) 98 minutes * * Frank (Jason Statham) has always loved his car. Now he can't be more than 75 feet away from it without setting of an explosion that will kill him. It's an interesting twist to the story. The not so interesting twist is the addition of a girl. Obviously, the attempt is to spice up the story a bit, as it's getting a little repetitive the third time around. Filled with the usual chase scenes and fight choreography by Cory Yuen. PG-13 for violence and language.
TRANSSIBERIAN (R) 106 minutes * 1/2 Travelling from China to Moscow, across the frozen landscape of Siberia, Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer) share their compartment with another young couple. But something isn't quite right, and they soon discover that their new "friends" have some secrets, and that this cross-country journey is about to become more frightening than they ever dreamed. Few of the performances here are very convincing, and the story itself doesn't help much. In fact, the final scene makes little sense and would have been far better if we had seen a dog ripping into the jacket instead of what we are shown. (Don't worry, that doesn't really give anything away.) R for violence and language.
TRANSYLVANIA TWIST (PG-13) 82 minutes * 1/2 Campy send-up of horror films with "guest stars" from "Friday the 13th", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Hellraiser", "Poltergeist", and "Phantasm". Corny and cheap, but at least this film never takes itself too seriously, which gives it an edge over a few others in this genre.
TRAPPED (R) 103 minutes * * It's the perfect kidnapping setup, and it's worked every other time. But this time they're dealing with a child with severe asthma and parents who aren't so willing to play the game by the rules that have been outlined. Dakota Fanning delivers an amazing performance as Abby, Kevin Bacon is wonderfully evil, and the suspense is kept fairly high throughout the film. But the story falters at the end and decides to wrap up the story with an absolutely ridiculous multi-vehicle crash on the interstate. R for language and violence.
TRAPPED ASHES (R) 99 minutes * 1/2 Anthology horror film that begins with six people taking a movie studio tour where they end up in a mysterious house that was used as a set for a horror film in the past. They find themselves trapped, with the only hope of exit being a repeat of the plot of the film. They must each tell a personal horror story. Fun idea and nice to see Henry Gibson as the tour guide and Dick Miller as the gatekeeper. The stories are a combination of campy and creepy, and don't fit together that well though. R for sex, violence, and language.
TRAPPED IN PARADISE (PG-13) 108 minutes 1/2
Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz get their "brother" Nicolas Cage out of prison and decide to rob a bank. But it's such a lovely little town full of nice people... and it's the Christmas season too. Unbearably long story with too few genuinely fun moments. Lovitz whines his
way through the film, Carvey is annoying, and Cage looks like he's trapped in a film he'd rather not be in.
TREASURE PLANET (PG) 88 minutes * * 1/2
Nice, quickly-paced modernization of the classic Treasure Island story. Set in the future, this young Jim was raised on the legends of pirate treasure hidden on a remote planet, only to find out that the legend is true. Good animated and a nice soundtrack from James Newton Howard make this a nice little adventure film. Come of the character voices are provided by Joseph Gordon Levitt, David Hyde Pierce, Emma Thompson, and Martin Short. PG for violence.
TREASURE RAIDERS (PG-13) 84 minutes *
Professor/race car driver/treasure hunter Michael Nazzaro (Steven Brand) searches for a treasure that is buried in Moscow. Really low budget and not much else, though David Carradine and Sherilyn Fenn are both here. PG-13 for violence.
TREMORS (PG-13) 91 minutes * * 1/2
Is it caused by a nuclear mutation? Was it a government experiment
that went wrong? Are these creatures from outer space? Who knows? Who
cares? There are four nasty slug monsters that are tearing up the
ground and eating people near the town of Perfection. That much we do
know. Filled with both horror and pure corny humor, this is
reminiscent of the old "b" horror flicks of the 1940's and 50's. It's
a fun film for those in the mood for some light-hearted, slightly
scary entertainment. PG-13 for language.
TRESPASS (R) 98 minutes * *
Two white firemen decide to search for hidden gold in a deserted factory building in East St. Louis. Of course, the gang whose turf it is might have a few things to say... Ice T and Ice Cube give some nice character performances here, and Ry Cooder's music lends some atmosphere, but the film switches too quickly to
action and stops at the end without much of a resolution.
TRIAL AND ERROR (PG-13) 93 minutes * 1/2
Charlie Tuttle (Jeff Daniels) is a lawyer who gets talked into having a
few drinks with the boys for his bachelor party. When he's too bombed to go to court the next day, his good buddy Richard Rietti (Michael
Richards) fills in, and really messes things up. There are a few
chuckles along the way, and the end ing is alright, but getting there is a real chore. The most notable aspect is the appearance of Charlize
Theron as Billie Tyler... expect to see more of her in the future. PG-13 for language.
TRIAL BY JURY (R) 100 minutes * *
Unconvincing story of juror Valerie Alston (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer) who is manipulated first by the defendant, and then by the prosecution. Not that this sort of thing doesn't happen, but the story just doesn't lay it out very well. Armand Assante, Gabriel Byrne, William Hurt, and
Kathleen Quinlan co-star in what amounts to a big budget film that will only succeed moderately on the small screen.
TRICK 'R TREAT (R) 78 minutes * * 1/2
There may be a festival going on downtown, but in some of the houses, alleys, basements, and dark corners of town... something else is going on. Pretty creepy little film with some memorable sequences that does a nice job tying several different subplots together. Written and directed by Michael Daugherty. R for violence, sex, and language.
TRIPPING THE RIFT: THE MOVIE (NR) 73 minutes * *
Chode and his pals are supposed to protect a princess. As is typical, things don't go as planned. Bobo, the ultimate killing machine is trying to kill Chode, and the others are wondering if maybe they shouldn't go ahead and let it happen. Filled with much of the same foul language and rudeness as the series, whose fans will likely enjoy this far more than others.
TRISTAN + ISOLDE (PG-13) 118 minutes * * *
Ireland has fought to free itself from the Britons and has been successful primarily because the tribes of the Britons are not united. Tristan (James Franco) is a strong fighter for his tribe, but he falls in battle and is cast adrift on a burning ship as is the funeral custom. But he is not yet dead, and is found by the beautiful Isolde (Sophia Myles), who nurses him back to health. Theirs is a forbidden love, and will be the stuff of legends. Very nice historical romance film with solid performances and a beautiful soundtrack from Anne Dudley. Filmed in Ireland and the Czech Republic. PG-13 for violence and sex.
TRISTAN & ISOLDE (2002) (NR) 76 minutes * 1/2
Animated retelling of the classic story with narration by an annoying wood sprite named Puck. It's difficult to fault the story, but the presentation is clearly lacking, and te music doesn't do much for this either.
TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK & BULL STORY (R) 90 minutes * * 1/2
Steve Coogan stars in this rather unusual adaptation of the book, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy". While supposedyl nearly impossible to translate to film, using a similar approach to that used in "Adaptation" seems to work. Make a film about how hard it is to translate a book into a film. Coogan plays this very well, though the extent to which the film constantly jumps time periods and storylines is more than a little difficult to follow at times. Those who enjoy British and literary humor will find this more appealing than others, though it's an interesting trip even if those aren't your preference. R for language and sex.
TROOP BEVERLY HILLS (PG) 102 minutes 1/2
Cheap, predictable film about a Beverly Hills housewife who takes her daughter's girl scout troop on some rather unique outings. Fans of Shelley Long might be interested, but I found it to be rather unbearable after the first half hour or so.
TROPIC THUNDER (R) 99 minutes * *
Stellar cast in this parody of filmmaking that follows the making of a war film. The problem is that, in trying to find a more realistic location, the cast ends up in a real war. It's a little hard to convince them at first. More than a little over-the-top at times, but fans of Ben Stiller's sense of humor should enjoy this quite a bit. Also starring Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan, Matthew McConaughey, and Tom Cruise. Filmed in Kauai. R for language and violence.
TROUBLE THE WATER (NR) 91 minutes * * 1/2
Kim Roberts and her family rode out Hurricane Katrina because they had no way to leave. Hoem video footage coupled with news clips show the remarkable story of a family that survived as well as those who didn't, and the devastation that continues to linger years after the storm has passed. It's a pwoerful message, but the home movie style does get a little irritating at times.
TROUBLED WATER (NR) 116 minutes * * * 1/2
After serving time for a crime he still claims he never did, Jan (Pal Sverre Valheim Hagen) is trying to start his life over. But there are those who don't want that to happen. A choice was made and tragedy resulted. Blame is cast and punishment is metted out. But is that justice? For anyone? A beautiful and powerful film, with an intense and emotional story.
TROY (R) 153 minutes * * 1/2
The classic battle between Troy and Sparta, fought in part over the beautiful Helen, but also to serve Agamemnon's unquenchable thirst for power comes to life here. Brad Pitt does a very nice job as the warrior Achilles, balanced well by Eric Bana's portrayal of Hector. Costumes, sets, and props are all quite nice, but the film rings hollow due to poorly written dialogue. It also tends to drag, not only between battle scenes, but even during a few of them. R for violence.
TRUCKER (R) 89 minutes * * *
Diane (Michelle Monaghan) is a trucker. But her life on the road is being interrupted by her ex-husband. He needs her to take care of their son for a fwe weeks while he's in the hospital. Her routine has been comfortable, but also very isolating. Now that she is being forced to change that routine, a few other things may begin to change as well. The story is a little stale, but Monaghan does nice work here, drawing us into the story as she struggles to cope with change. R for sex and language.
TRUE BELIEVER (R) 105 minutes * * *
Robert Downey Jr. is the new kid, a young law clerk who manages to get assigned to his hero, a lawyer who has now lost his enthusiasm and energy between the slowly grinding wheels of the legal system. James Woods does an excellent job here, giving us a character we can easily understand and Downey gives him all the right reasons to get involved again. It's a bit overly dramatic in a few spots and the intensity actually drops off a bit too much at the end, but the performances do a splendid job of carrying the film and making it worth your while to watch. R for language.
TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET (NR) 86 minutes * *
Morgan's (JoJo Levesque) life has gotten to be more than a little out of control. So, this little Hollywood starlet's mom sends her to Fort Wayne, Indiana to chill for awhile. The aunt she will be staying with has a few issues of her own, but it will all work out fine in the end. Light, teen angst film with fair performances. Nothing special here, but mildly entertaining at least.
TRUE CRIME (R) 122 minutes * *
Clint Eastwood brings his leisurely pace of direction to the story of a man who is about to be executed despite his innocence. Eastwood plays the part of a reporter who never gives up on a hunch, no matter what his boss might say. The story moves along at a snail's pace, which undermines much of the effect. The performances by Eastwood and the rest are solid enough, but the film has little in the way of energy to move it along. R for language and violence.
TRUE IDENTITY (R) 90 minutes * 1/2
British comedian Lenny Henry stars in this mildly entertaining comedy about assumed identities. There's too much drama for this to be very funny, but too much comedy to take it seriously.
TRUE LIES (R) 137 minutes * * *
Arnold Schwarzenegger does a good job in this film that puts him in the role of a secret agent. Jamie Lee Curtis plays his wife who thinks her life is boring. But that's before she really knows just what her husband does for a living. She may wish he had chosen a line of work
that was a little less exciting. Lots of exciting stunts and special effects in this fast-paced film from director James Cameron.
TRUE ROMANCE (R) 110 minutes * *
Comic book store clerk (Christian Slater) meets call girl (Patricia Arquette), they fall in love, he kills her pimp, grabs the suitcase full of cocaine, and now they're in over their heads. Full of great character performances by Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Chris Walken, Gary Oldman, Bronson Pinchot, and Brad Pitt, but it's hard to sympathize
with the leads. And then there's that subplot involving Elvis Presley... R for violence, language, and sex.
TRUMAN (PG) 135 minutes * * *
Gary Sinise gives us the portrayal of Truman we've been waiting for. An
outstanding biographical film that pulls no punches, delivering the good with the bad. Sinise, along with Diana Scarwid, will have you convinced you're watching something more true to life than most films, so accurate are their portrayals. These are characters with life and passion, and this is a film not to be missed. PG for language.
THE TRUMAN SHOW (PG) 93 minutes * * *
Director Peter Weir once again tackles a thematic film in his usual style, filled with subtleties as well as a few moments that are more blatant. Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is a man who has lived his life in a normal fashion, or so he thinks. But it begins to unravel one day when a light falls from the sky. He's been living a television show life, and now everyone wants to know how it will end. Fascinating and filled with social commentary as well as the thought provoking
concept of the balance between that which is real and that which isn't. Jim Carrey is perhaps not the best choice for the lead role, though he does an adequate job. Filmed in Seaside, Florida. PG for language.
TRUST (R) 105 minutes * * *
Adrienne Shelly stars in this earnest little film about a girl who is
dumped by her boyfriend when she gets pregnant. Her father can't handle the news either, and she finds herself attracted to a rather unsuspecting guy. Fantastic characters and solid acting make this a very interesting film from director Hal Hartley.
TRUST THE MAN (R) 95 minutes * * *
Tobey (Billy Crudup) can't seem to take that final step of committment to his girlfriend Elaine (Maggie Gyllenhaal). In the meantime, his sister Rebecca (Julianne Moore) is having problems with her marriage to Tom (David Duchovny) who is having affairs on a regular basis. Marriage is about more than just committment though, and relationships are about more than trust, though those are both important. It takes understanding and a willingness to work at the relationship. Well-written look at relationships with a solid performance by the cast. R for language and sex.
THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS (PG-13) 92
minutes * * 1/2
Janeane Garafolo's first feature film handles her character fairly
well, but leaves the rest of the cast a bit thin on character development.
Even though Uma Thurman is supposed to be "just a pretty face", a little
more depth would have been helpful. Though not unpleasant to watch, the
story tends to just wander around, not really going anywhere. Mostly
fluff that you won't really remember, except maybe for the dog in roller
skates... PG-13 for language.
TSOTSI (R) 89 minutes * * * 1/2
Tsotsi... thug... it's not much of a name, but it's descriptive. Tsotsi has made a reputation for himself in his community as a powerful young man who is as tough as they come. But when a robbery goes bad and circumstances put him in a position he never considered, he finds himself facing a different set of choices. Powerful performances and an amazing soundtrack from Mark Kilian and Paul Hepker combine with a script adapted from a novel by Athol Fugard to create a film well worth watching. A film that won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film of 2005. Filmed in Soweto and Johannesburg, R for language and violence.
TUCK EVERLASTING (PG) 85 minutes * *
The Tuck family has found something very interesting... a spring in the woods which is apparently the fountain of eternal life. Having tasted of it, they now feel a responsibility to keep it safe from those who might abuse it. There are some great quotes about life that are scattered through the film, like "Don't be afraid of death... be afraid of the unlived life." Unfortunately, the story seems to focus on the negative aspects of eternal life, which gives the film a rather depressing mood. And, of course, there is all that annoying narration. It's unclear why this approach was chosen with the film not being all that long, but it undermines the characters and keeps us from being very involved in the story. With the talents of William Hurt, Sissy Spacek, Ben Kingsley, Alexis Bledel, and Jonathan Jackson, it's too bad that we don't get the chance to see what they could have done with these characters. PG for violence.
TUCKER (PG-13) 110 minutes * *
A rather beautiful film, which one might not expect from a film about an automobile designer. It is filled with wonderful camera angles and superb lighting effects. However, for being a biographical film of a visionary man, there is almost nothing in the way of emotion. Little sense, in fact, of why we should be interested in this man at all. Toward the end, there is a scene where Tucker pleads for the rights of the individual to prusue his dream, but we were expecting that. What we have here is an empty film with a few hints that the main character might be an interesting subject for a film... but this isn't the film.
TULPAN (NR) 94 minutes * * 1/2
Asa lives on the steppes of Kazakhstan. It's a harsh life, and he hopes to share it with Tulpan. But getting the permission of her family will not be easy, and Asa may have to rethink his plans for the future. It's a desolate landscape and an isolated and rather harsh life. The film does an excellent job of presenting that without creating a feeling of despair.
TUNNEL RATS (R) 88 minutes * 1/2
During the Vietnam War, tunnels were sometimes used to move from one area to another. They were dangerous places to be if you're enemy was in the tunnel as well. Writer/director Uwe Boll is known for his work in horror, suspense, and adventure, and there's some of that here, though too much of the film takes place in the tunnels where we can't see much of what happens. The film ends with a powerful and emotional scene that is by far the strongest in the film, but also seems somewhat out of place. R for violence and language.
TURBO: A POWER RANGERS MOVIE (PG) 93 minutes * 1/2
Trying to follow the course of the TV show (where the stars of the show
keep leaving...) most of our cast is new. Tommy, Bulk, and Skull are
back, and we do get to see a couple of cameos from Kim and Jason, but
this is sorely lacking in creativity and talent. The new Turbo cars are
nice, but the Turbo megazord is ridiculous! Kids will tire of this one
quickly. This just isn't exciting or fun! PG for violence.
TURBULENCE (R) 97 minutes * *
Pathetic script with way too many story holes. Another problem this film
has is trying to take a number of incredibly talented supporting actors
and giving them leading roles. They might do alright if they had a
wonderful script and some decent direction, but this is no fun to watch.
Only for fans of Lauren Holly, Ray Liotta, Rachel Ticotin and Hector
Elizondo. R for violence and language.
TURISTAS (R) 89 minutes 1/2
They're on vacation in Brazil, but when the bus they are on has an accident, they take a side trip to a bar on a nearby beach. But then they discover it was a trap and now they are in trouble. The moral of the story is "take the airplane" and "stay with your tour group" if you don't want to end up having your body organs harvested by a mad doctor. Poor pacing and way too many dark scenes at the end of the film. R for violence, language, and nudity.
TURNER AND HOOCH (PG) 98 minutes * *
Hooch is definitely not the kind of dog that appeals to everyone, but he's the only witness that Scott Turner (Tom Hanks) has to help find a murderer. On the positive side, thanks to Hooch, Scott has met the town veterinarian (Mare Winningham), and she and Scott are spending quite a bit of time together now. Hanks and Winningham neither one seem that interested in these characters though, and it is rather noticeable at times. It's not a bad film, but the mystery takes a back seat to the dog's story, and the dog's story just isn't that interesting. PG for language.
TURTLE BEACH (R) 82 minutes * * *
Manou Hobday (Joan Chen) is trying to save Vietnamese refugees who are
coming to shore on Malaysia. Journalist Judith Wilkes (Greta Scacchi)
wants to tell her story. It's a powerful story, and not for the faint
of heart. This is a rather compact little film that delivers its punch
quickly and leaves, asking only that you remember what you've seen.
Life and freedom sometimes come with very high price tags. We tend to
forget that. R for violence.
TURTLES CAN FLY (PG-13) 95 minutes * * *
Amazing piece of work from director Bahman Ghobadi. On the border of Iraq and Turkey, a young boy finds himself in a position of leadership and is helping himself and other orphans provide for themselves. But when the armless boy who can see the future and his hauntingly beautiful sister arrive, priorities change and the world looks a little different. The story seems to get lost in the details a few times along the way, but it still draws us in and delivers a powerful look at a land in turmoil and a population of children who struggle to find their place in it. PG-13 for violence.
THE TUXEDO (PG-13) 92 minutes * *
Jimmy (Jackie Chan) just got a new job driving for Clark Devlin, an important, and somewhat mysterious man. Jimmy wants to be like his boss, and his wish is granted when Clark meets with an accident and Jimmy puts on a very special tuxedo. Light-hearted adventure with nice work by Jackie Chan and a fair supporting performance by Jennifer Love Hewitt. The stunts are a treat to watch, as are the outtakes at the end. PG-13 for violence and language.
THE TV SET (R) 84 minutes * * 1/2
From initial concept to becoming a television series, it's a process that sounds fairly straightforward, but there are... a few kinks as well. Mike Klein (David Duchovny) is discovering those as his pet project, which looked like a sure thing, is now in danger of becoming something completely different. There is quite a bit of "insider" humor here, but for the most part, the story makes us feel like we're on the inside. R for language.
12 (PG-13) 157 minutes * * *
Modernized Russian version of "12 Angry Men" with strong performances. The core of the story is about how one juror's refusal to just go along with the rest and opt for a quick decision results not only in a more serious consideration of justice, but allows us to really get to know the characters as they discuss their thoughts and feelings about the case. The process of deliberation to find the truth is not always easy, but when the life of another is involved, it's important to take the time to do it justice. PG-13 for violence and language.
TWELVE MONKEYS (R) 124 minutes * * *
Strange blend of science fiction and suspense that will not appeal to
everyone who normally loves either of these genres. The story is quite
interesting, about traveling back in time to find a cure for a virus
that is wiping out the entire population, leaving the surface of the
planet to be ruled by the animals. There's a nice twist at the end of
the film and solid performances from Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt which
are what make this really work. R for language and violence.
12 ROUNDS (PG-13) 106 minutes * *
Detective Danny Fisher (John Cena) almost single-handedly brings in one of the FBI's most wanted, but in the process, the criminal's girlfriend dies. Now Miles has escaped and has a score to settle. He's a dangerous man and the game has just begun. Cena's no great actor, the story has enough intensity to carry it through the first hour fairly easily. After that, it begins to slow down and lose our attention. PG-13 for violence.
28 DAYS (PG-13) 100 minutes * * 1/2
Gwen (Sandra Bullock) is the life of the party, but when her antics ruin her sister's wedding and she crashes a limousine into a house, she ends up in a mandatory detoxification program. Treatment programs don't work unless you really want them to though, and Gwen has a choice to make. There are a number of great scenes in the film, but many of them seem disconnected or incomplete. Bullock and the rest of the cast create some wonderful characters, but the awkward and uneven presentation prevents us from feeling the full impact of their situation. PG-13 for language.
28 DAYS LATER (R) 108 minutes * 1/2
Chimpanzees that have been infected with rage are freed by well-meaning animal rights activists. But the rage is contagious, and 28 days later, one man emerges from his hospital room to find that a city, and perhaps a world, have been drastically changed. There's an interesting story here, with some parallels to "Dawn of the Dead". Instead of mindless consumerism, it's mindless rage that is the downfall of society. The writing meanders around a bit too much though and the limited budget hurt this as well. R for violence, language, and nudity.
28 WEEKS LATER (R) 93 minutes * 1/2
The zombie-creating virus sees to have run its course. Six months have gone by and a portion of the city is being re-populated. Of course, all it takes is one mistake... The editing style used here is very effective for creating tension and confusion, but it's not very conducive to watching a film. We find ourselves waiting for the confusion to stop so we can figure out where the story is really going. Is everybody ready for "28 Months Later"? R for violence and language.
2046 (R) 124 minutes * * *
Continuation of the film "In the Mood for Love", with Chow (Tony Leung) writing a story about his memory of a relationship with a woman who lived in Room 2046. To help inspire his writing, he moves into Room 2047 and discovers that a prostitute is now living in Room 2046. What does it mean to revisit relationships from your past, and what happens if you want to live in those memories? It's a fascinating and dreamlike film. A little difficult to follow early on, but it really begins to take hold as it progresses. Nice work from Leung, Ziyi Zhang, and Maggie Cheung. R for sex.
24: REDEMPTION (NR) 97 minutes * * 1/2
Although this does stand alone as a story of agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and his efforts to avoid those who are trying to track him down, it's clearly a supplement to the television series. Falling in the time period between seasons six and seven, Jack finds himself unable to keep his distance when the orphan boys that he and a friend are working with are put at risk. The gimmick of the twenty-four hour time period has long ago worn thin, but Sutherland does a nice job, and makes it worth a look. Fans of the series should be pleased.
THE 24TH DAY (R) 93 minutes * *
Twenty-four days ago, Tom (Scott Speedman) found out that his encounter with Dan (James Marsden) had a dangerous consequence. Now he's determined to make Dan pay for it. But what will that mean? Directed by Tom Piccirillo, who adapted his own play, which shows. It's a very wordy script, well acted, but unable to to involve us as emotionally as it needs to. The first half of the film is more involving than the second. Once the idea has been completely introduced, all we have to hold our attention is to wonder exactly what Tom will do. Filmed in Philadelphia, but most of the action here takes place in one room. R for language and violence.
21 (PG-13) 119 minutes * * *
A group of MIT students under the guidance of their professor (Kevin Spacey) decide they know how to beat the tables in Las Vegas. The story takes awhile to become interesting and pacing throughout is uneven. It does make us wonder what might have happened if greed and pride hadn't been part of the picture. Adapted from the book, "Bringing Down the House". PG-13 for violence and language.
27 DRESSES (PG-13) 104 minutes * *
Jane (Katherine Heigl) has been the bridesmaid more than a few times. Now, the man she's in love with is marrying her little sister, and it's just too much. Kevin (James Marsden) thinks that Jane's experiences as a bridesmaid would make a good story for the newspaper. It might. It makes for a somewhat boring film because the story is such an old and tired one. There are moments when it sparkles a bit, due almost entirely to Heigl's credit. PG-13 for language.
2012 (PG-13) 149 minutes * * 1/2
Increased radiation from the sun is acting like a microwave on the planet, and the earth's crust is de-stabilizing... faster than anyone thought possible. Another in the long line of disaster flicks, though the special effects here are more than a little impressive. The plot, unfortunately, is full of holes and ridiculous moments, but it's still reasonably entertaining. PG-13 for violence and language.
2012: DOOMSDAY (NR) 81 minutes 1/2
Earthquakes, hurricanes, and all manner of natural disasters have a number of people convinced that the end of the world is at hand. Or perhaps just the end of acting. Two-dimensional performances and an absolutely ridiculous ending that undermines the premise of the film. All of these disasters only serve as a warning. Now our characters are supposed to go and preach the gospel to others? Half a star for the special effects crew, but the rest of this is a waste of time.
TWILIGHT (R) 90 minutes * *
Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, James Garner, Susan Sarandon, Stockard Channing, and Reese Witherspoon star in this story of people whose careers have seen better days and the murder and deception they have covered up for so long. Harry Ross (Newman) finds himself back in the private eye business when he goes to deliver a package for a friend. A murder that has been kept under wraps for a long time begins to come to light through a trail of clues that Harry uncovers. This is definitely one of the most laid-back mystery/thrillers you'll ever see. The story lets us down though, and the direction is a bit too straightforward for there to be much in the way of suspense. R for language, violence, and nudity.
TWILIGHT (2008) (PG-13) 114 minutes * * 1/2
Bella (Kristen Stweart) is the new girl in town. As she begins to meet people and make friends, she is drawn to the Cullen clan, a rather unique group who just happen to be vampires. The flow of the film is a bit uneven, moving from a mix of vampires and teen angst to something resembling classier art. The more artistic approach doesn't fit well here, though the characters are quite appealing. Especially nice work by Ashley Greene and Jackson Rathbone as Alice and Jasper. Adapted from the novel by Stephanie Meyer. PG-13 for violence and language.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE (PG-13) 115 minutes * * *
This "final" chapter of the saga is clearly the best, building nicely on the previous two pieces of the story. Of course, the hormonal teen angst is still quite strong, but the battle scenes and quite well-done and the visuals in general are quite nice. Alice and Jasper have larger parts here, and since they are two of the better actors in the series, it's a welcome improvement to see more of them in the film. PG-13 for violence and language.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (PG-13) 121 minutes * *
The Cullens need to leave town. They've been around long enough that they're running the risk of people noticing how they aren't aging. When they leave, Bella finds herself spending more time with Jake (Taylor Lautner), who is dealing with a "coming-of-age" change of his own. This suffers from the usual "part 2 syndrome", meaning that it spends a good deal of time tying up loose ends from the first film and setting up the next. it's reasonably good as such, but will appeal more to fans of the series and will look better as part of the series once the third entry is available to watch. PG-13 for violence and language.
THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI (NR) 126 minutes * * * 1/2
Seibei Iguchi doesn't really want much out of life. To enjoy watching his daughters grow up and be able to continue to provide for them is all he really asks. Now it seems that he not only may be able to marry the woman he's always loved, but he's also been asked to kill the member of another clan who is fighting with his own. Winner of twelve Japanese film academy awards and nominated for an Oscar as best foreign language film, this is a beautiful story, told by his youngest daughter as she fondly remembers her father and his love for her and her sister. Perhaps a few minutes could have been trimmed from some early parts of the film, but the ending is perfect.
TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME (R)
130 minutes * * 1/2
David Lynch's masterpiece of surrealistic television
comes to the big screen. Not quite as effective
because those commercial breaks really helped us
process all the strangeness on the TV show! A couple
of the original actors are missing, but otherwise
things are about the same. Another interesting
element is that though this is a prequel to the TV
show in terms of chronology, it really helps to have
seen the TV show first.
TWINS (PG) 110 minutes * * *
A man who is raised on a tropical paradise under near perfect circumstances discovers that he is a twin. Of course what makes this fun is that the twins are Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. It's nice to see Schwarzenegger in a role that lets us see his acting abilities in a non-action setting. It's a nice package of relaxing entertainment, with a PG-13 rating for the language.
TWISTED (R) 92 minutes * *
Is the killer targeting people that Jessicae (Ashley Judd) knows or is she the killer and not aware of her own actions? Poor dialogue and sloppy editing in several spots keep us from getting very involved in the story. It's a great cast, with Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia, David Straithairn, and Camryn Mannheim as well, but even a great cast needs a good script. It will look a little better on the small screen, but only a little. R for violence, language, and sex.
TWISTER (PG-13) 105 minutes * * * 1/2
Co-written by Michael Crichton, this definitely keeps you on the edge
of your seat! OK, there are a few times when believability is stretched
a bit far, but the witty dialogue and fine performances keep us
entertained. Both sides of tornado chasing are glimpsed here. The excitement and
the danger, and the importance of having a Dodge truck to excape in!
What a ride! PG-13 for language and violence.
TWITCHES (PG) 85 minutes * *
Disney TV movie about twin witches played by Tia and Tamara Mowry. Separated at birth for their own safety, they are now 21 years old and need to reunite and learn to use their powers to rescue the magical kingdom where they were born. The sisters do a reasonably good job here, but the script doesn't really call for much in the way of difficulty. The major appeal here will be for girls between the ages of eight and fourteen. PG for violence.
TWO BROTHERS (PG) 99 minutes * *
Two tiger cubs get separated from their parents and end up living very different lives. Eventually they are reunited and live happily ever after. There's quite a bit of off-screen animal cruelty here that the younger crowd may need to have explained. The story does end nicely, but it takes far too long to get there. The cubs are cute, but the film's pacing makes even these scenes a bit tedious. PG for violence.
TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME (R) 83 minutes * *
Sometimes the advice you give is the advice you need to take. Viveca
Fox and Morris Chestnut along with some terrific help from Anthony Anderson, give this film a little life, but it will play better on the small screen where mistakes are less noticeable. R for language.
2 DAYS IN PARIS (R) 93 minutes * 1/2
Jack (Adam Goldberg) and Marion (Julie Delpy) are having some difficulties in their relationship. They decide that a trip to visit her parents in France might spark the romance. Unfortunately, they keep bumping into her old boyfriends. Delpy's less-than-inspired script falls flat and Goldberg's whining character begins to grate on our nerves after only a few minutes. By the end of the film, Delpy's character is unlikable as well. Not one of Delpy's better films. R for language and sex.
2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY (R) 98 minutes * * *
Though this is written and directed by John Herzfeld, it has the look of Robert Altman all the way. Danny Aiello, Louise Fletcher, James Spader, Jeff Daniels, Teri Hatcher, Marsha Mason... the list goes on and on. This also brings to mind films like "Pulp Fiction" in the strangeness of the story. The peices dont' really begin to fall into place until the halfway point of the film. Could've used more energy, but still quite good. R for violence, language, and nudity.
2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (PG-13) 100 minutes * *
O'Connor (Paul Walker) was just trying to relax and race a little bit on the side, but the FBI wants his help on a case, so he's back in action, with his friend Tyrese (Roman Pearce). Plenty of driving stunt action here, and it's quite good. Of course the story is a bit thin... It is nice that you don't really need to see "The Fast and the Furious" to understand what's going on, but let's just hope they don't make "3X Fast and Furious"! PG-13 for violence.
TWO FOR THE MONEY (R) 117 minutes * * 1/2
Former football rising star Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey) ends up doing telephone sales after a career ending injury. Walter Abrams (Al Pacino) sees something in him and brings Brandon to New York to work a sports betting line. Pacino dominates the scenes in his usual style, though McConaughey and Rene Russo manage to hold their own and it generally works as far as the story. Unfortunately, we don't get enough of the real story here. By the time we get to the essence of it, we're tired of Pacino's tirades and McConaughey's uneven responses to them. R for language.
200 CIGARETTES (R) 96 minutes * * *
What an incredible collection of characters! It's New Year's Eve 1981
and they're headed to a party, what will happen along the way? Ben
Affleck, Christina Ricci, Martha Plimpton, Gaby Hoffman, Janeanne
Garafalo, Courtney Love... but the real delight is Kate Hudson, who
reminds us very much of her mother, Goldie Hawn. The flow of the film is a bit awkward, but the energy level is high throughout. It's a fun film, though the narrated explanation at the end should've been cut. R for language.
TWO IF BY SEA (R) 91 minutes * *
Roz (Sandra Bullock) and Frank (Denis Leary) have a stolen painting they need to get rid of. But when you're in a town where the sheriff's office doubles as the video store, things are bound to go wrong. Awkward combination of mystery, comedy, romance, action and more... this has it's moments, but too often misses the mark. I like Bullock,
but Marisa Tomei might have served this better.
THE TWO JAKES (R) 134 minutes * * * 1/2
Jack Nicholson's long-awaited sequel to Chinatown finds Jake
(Nicholson) embroiled in a murder case that seems to be connected to
an old case he worked on many years ago in Chinatown. Vilmos
Zsigmond's photography is wonderful, setting the mood perfectly. The
story is a bit laid back at times, but Jake is older now. Robert
Towne, who wrote the earlier film as well, has tied the films
together neatly. It's a gem of a sequel with a talented cast and crew
who really shine. Harvey Kietel, Meg Tilly, Madeleine Stowe, Ruben
Blades, and many more who all seem to fit perfectly into the film.
TWO LOVERS (R) 104 minutes * * 1/2
Recovering from a recent broken relationship, Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) has moved back home. His parents just happen to know this wonderful girl... and then he meets one of their neighbors... or does he just want to stay single and avoid the potential heartbreak? The feel-good ending doesn't really fit with the characters. These are tragic characters and a more realistic direction would be more depressing, but would have resulted in a better film. R for language and sex.
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (PG) 139 minutes * * * *
Keep in mind that this film was made in 1968, well before the advent
of computer generated effects that are so commonplace these days. It is
sheer magic that will sweep you away with its beauty and will stun you
with its social commentary. An Oscar winner for special effects, and a
science fiction classic not to be missed.
TWO TIGERS (R) 87 minutes 1/2
She's an assassin and she's found romance and friendship and wants to get out of the business. But her cover is about to be blown, which will create some problems. (Not the least of which is how to find time to take some acting lessons.) This suffers from a bad script and acting that is pretty poor from the whole cast. In fact, the action sequences aren't well staged either. Andrea Osvart is attractive, but that's about all this has going for it. R for sex, violence, and language.
2 TURNTABLES AND A MICROPHONE: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JAM MASTER JAY (NR) 92 minutes * * 1/2
Jam Master Jay - Jason Mizell - clearly one of the greatest DJs and a founding father of hip-hop. This bio-documentary chronicles his rise to fame as well as the circumstances that led to his untimely death. Informative and interesting film, especially for those who appreciate music and its history.
TWO WEEKS (R) 94 minutes * * 1/2
Tear-jerker with Sally Field playing the role of a mother who is dying. As her children arrive to spend time, they find themselves sharing memories and coming to a new understanding of what it means to be family. Sorrow and laughter mingle well in the story, but the chemistry between some of the actors is absent more often than it should be. R for language.
TWO WEEKS NOTICE (PG) 95 minutes * * *
She protests against just about everything big business stands for. He's the poster boy for big business. Of course we know what's going to happen when the two of them end up spending some time together. Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant work very well together. They play well off of each other's weaknesses in the story and appear to have as much fun telling us this story as we do in watching it. It's a great example of the importance of a talented cast, and yet another example of Bullock's casual style of acting that brings the characters she performs to life. Filmed in New York. PG for language.
U2: RATTLE AND HUM (PG-13) 92 minutes * 1/2
Concert film featuring the very talented U2, but interrupted far too often with interview segments that are unorganized and poorly edited. There's a great deal more info and concert footage from this band that is worth a look, but only diehard fans need to bother with this particular film.
U-571 (PG-13) 109 minutes * * *
During World War II, the German U-boats were responsible for a great deal of damage to the allies. This film tells the story of a plot to get aboard one of the U-boats and steal the code machine the Germans were using in an effort to put an end to the German's success in this area. Great suspense and solid acting keep this moving along nicely. It's no "Das Boot", but it's a good war film that will keep most everyone's attention. PG-13 for violence and language.
U.S. MARSHALS (PG-13) 122 minutes * * *
Spinning off of the success of "The Fugitive", Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) finds himself on the trail of a convict on the loose. Mark Roberts (Wesley Snipes) escapes after a plane crash, while being transported to a different jail facility. He seems to know a bit more than the average person about how to get himself out of a tough spot though, so we suspect that there's more to this man than meets the eye. Although many aspects of the story are derived from the previous film, Jones, Wesley Snipes, and the supporting cast give this the energy it needs to succeed. As with a number of action/thrillers, events tend to get overly predictable in the last half hour. Still, it's fast-paced,
exciting, and thoroughly entertaining up until then, and Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack is worth the price of admission all by itself. PG-13 for violence and language.
U-TURN (R) 119 minutes * *
Typically contrived film from Oliver Stone with lots of extremes that
are shoved in our face to try and make a point. It's mostly irritating
to have it all thrown at us instead of presented in a more artistic
and creative manner. It's a shame, because Sean Penn and Jennifer
Lopez do fine work here, and the cast is filled with interesting little
characters and fun cameo bits, but you're left with a violent batch of
short bits and nothing to hang them on to make much sense. R for sex,
language and violence.
THE UGLY TRUTH (R) 91 minutes * * 1/2
Abby's (Katherine Heigl) new show is struggling. Mike (Gerard Butler) has a successful little show on an independent network. It's everything that Abby hates, but she's going to have to work with it, and with him. Predictable, but fun, and Butler and Heigl have enough chemistry to make it work fairly well. R for language and sex.
UHF (PG-13) 91 minutes * 1/2
George (Weird Al Yankovic) gets the opportunity to run a television station after his uncle wins one while gambling. The only problem is that George doesn't really know what he's doing. Neither did the people who were making this film. They try to spice up a boring story with funny skits, but the result is that we lose interest rather quickly. Yankovic has done some incredible song parodies, but most of the skits here just aren't all that funny. The Ballad of Jed Clampitt is an exception, but it isn't worth sitting through the whole film. If you do watch the whole thing, you might keep an eye out for Dr. Demento as he eats some whipped cream.
ULEE'S GOLD (R) 110 minutes * * 1/2
The contradictory elements are what unbalance this story. For the
most part, it is a gentle slice of life film about Ulee (Peter Fonda)
a beekeeper in Florida who is raising his two granddaughters. When we
get to the parts about the extra bank heist money, the strung out
daughter-in-law, the son's friends who want the money... the film
becomes predictable and uninteresting. Fonda has given us a character
much like those his father played, though with his own style. It's nice
to see. R for violence and language.
THE ULTIMATE GIFT (PG) 110 minutes * * *
When Red Stevens (James Garner) dies, the disposition of his connsiderable wealth is of concern to many of his surviving relatives. His grandson Jason (Drew Fuller) stands to be the primary beneficiary, but he must first complete twelve tasks. More than the money, these twelve tasks are gifts that will help Jason on his journey through life, and in understanding the true gifts life has to offer. Inspirational and sentimental, but well-acted and thoughtfully written as well. Adapted from Jim Stovall's novel. PG for violence and language.
ULTRAMARATHON MAN (NR) 106 minutes * * 1/2
Documentary about Dean Karnazes, who set out to run fifty marathons in fifty states in fifty days. It's a film about doing what you love and doing it well. Karnazes is an inspiration, and the film does a nice job of sharing his passion and dedication to running.
ULTRAVIOLET (PG-13) 83 minutes * 1/2
Very slick-looking adaptation of the comic book that is sorely lacking in story development. Milla Jovovich really looks great as Ultraviolet. Loads of questions are unanswered here, with the 14 second introduction falling far short of delivering what we need to know. Milla Jovovich looks great in the costume though. The battle scenes are chroeographed well, but the chase scene early in the film involving motorcycles and helicopters is far too cartoonish. Milla Jovovich does so many great poses for the camera! Oh yeah, I've said that already... lots of style, not a great deal of substance. PG-13 for violence and nudity.
UNACCOMPANIED MINORS (PG) 84 minutes * 1/2
Their stranded at an airport on Christmas eve. That won't stop them from celebrating the holiday and having more than a little bit of fun along the way. Moderately entertaining for the younger crowd, though it tends to drag in a few spots. Based on a story by Susan Burton that aired on Chicago Public Radio as part of the show, "This American Life". PG for language.
THE UNBORN (PG-13) 78 minutes * 1/2
Visions and hauntings... it turns out that Casey (Odette Ysutman) had a twin who died at birth that she never knew about. The music is suspenseful at times and there are a couple of really creepy children, but that's about all this has going for it. PG-13 for violence and language.
UNBREAKABLE (PG-13) 102 minutes * * 1/2
If there are certain people who always find themselves being injured, are there those who aren't? Are they here to protect the rest of us? After a train wreck, David Dunn (Bruce Willis) finds himself to be
the only survivor. Is he a superhero? Director M. Night Shyamalan gives us an interesting look at the possibility of real superheroes. The film is rather laid back and almost misleading, but slowly draws us
in and convinces us. It still seems to need some fine tuning, but Willis delivers a fine performance as a man trying to figure out just where he fits into the big picture. Shyamalan may have taken on a bit much as writer, producer and director (he also has a bit part as a drug dealer), but this is definitely an interesting film. PG-13 for language and violence.
UNCLE BUCK (PG) 93 minutes * * *
Despite all of his oddities, he's really a good, caring, responsible person... just a little on the eccentric side of things. This is one of John Candy's stronger roles, with both comedy and some good, serious drama. Writer/producer/director John Hughes definitely deserves much of the credit, but it's nice to see Candy working with some good material that shows off his talents. PG for language.
UNDER COVER (R) 90 minutes * *
An undercover cop in a high school investigates a drug ring that resulted in the death of another officer. Good atmosphere and fair acting, but the predictable story does this in rather quickly.
UNDER SIEGE (R) 99 minutes * * *
Sort of like, "Die Hard" goes to sea... Steven Seagal
is a bit more likeable than Bruce Willis though, and
the story is written in a fashion that allows events
to move forward without Seagal having to be in every
scene. Balancing the story really helps make an
action film be more interesting. The only real
problem is that the villain gives up a bit too easily
at the end. R for violence, language, and nudity.
UNDER SIEGE 2: DARK TERRITORY (R) 93 minutes * *
Although the villains in this film are easy to hate, when they come up against our hero (Steven Seagal), they fold with an ease that shows us a script that is severely flawed. Seagal seems unimpressed throughout, walking through his part with little passion and as if he's reading his lines for the first time. The music is suspenseful enough and the special effects are spectacular, especially toward the end of the film. Basically, this is just another mediocre sequel, of which there are far too many already. R for violence and language.
UNDER THE SAME MOON (2007) (PG-13) 107 minutes * * * 1/2
Carlitos (Adrian Alonso) misses his mother, who has crossed the border from Mexico into the United States so that she can earn better money for their family. But when his grandmother dies, Carlitos only wants to be with his mother, so he sets out on his own to find her. Alonso does an outstanding job here, and his performance alone makes this worth watching. It's a powerful and emotional story that is sure to stay with you for quite awhile. PG-13 for language.
UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN (PG-13) 106 minutes * * *
Discovering that her husband is having an affair, Francis (Diane Lane) ends up paying him alimony and giving him the house. A present from her friends, in the form of a vacation in Tuscany, sounds like a great idea. While there, she buys a house on a whim, but maybe it was the right thing to do after all. Adapted quite freely from the book of the same title, this is heavy on narration, but well performed by Lane and filled with beautiful photography of the area. It's a reminder that wishes can come true... sometimes they just look a little different. PG-13 for sex and language.
UNDERCOVER BLUES (PG-13) 84 minutes * 1/2
Mildly entertaining spoof of police/action films that never gets off the ground. Kathleen Turner and Dennis Quaid are really out of place here, toting around a baby while on an FBI case when they are suppposed to be on leave. PG-13 for violence and language.
UNDERCOVER BROTHER (PG-13) 80 minutes * *
Based on the internet series, this is the story of Undercover Brother (Eddie Griffin), who is on a mission to bring back the funk that has been missing since the 1970s. It's a light-hearted parody of some of the films from the 1960s and 1970s. If you've seen several of those, this does manage to give you a few laughs, but even at it's short length, it manages to drag. PG-13 for language.
UNDERDOG (PG) 75 minutes * *
Thanks to an accident in a laboratory, a cute little mutt becomes the powerful and amazing "Underdog"! The old cartoon series did have its fans, but this will be less likely to have many. It is fun to see Jim Belushi, Patrick Warburton, and Peter Dinklage here, but Alex Neuberger who plays Underdog's young owner, is forgettable at best. PG for language and violence.
THE UNDERNEATH (NR) 73 minutes * *
Accompanying his wife on a working weekend at her boss's house in the country doesn't sound like a problem at first. But Michal (Tomasz Karolak) is also Iza's (Beata Kozikowska) former boyfriend. Even more frustrating is that Michal's girlfriend is making it difficult for Piotr (Zbigniew Kaleta) to concentrate on the work that Michal has asked him to do. The relationship tangle is a bit much to sort out, especially when none of the characters have a great deal of appeal.
UNDERWORLD (R) 113 minutes * * *
Vampires are killing of the remaining few werewolves in their long-standing war against each other. But there may be some werewolves they didn't know about, and a traitor in their own ranks as well. It's an interesting and different sort of vampire film, adapted from the comics, and nicly translated to the big screen though it's a bit heavy with narration at times. Kate Beckinsale does a very nice job as Selene, a death dealer whose primary responsibility is to hunt down werewolves and who finds herself in a rather awkward position as the story evolves. R for violence.
UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION (R) 98 minutes * *
Despite the fact that this film starts with a brief history lesson and recap of the first film, it still helps a great deal if you see it first. And, as with many sequels, this plods along somewhat as it answers questions that the first film raised while trying to leave room for a sequel. There's less action here as well because the focus is on the two brothers rather than on the rest of their followers. Filmed in Vancouver. R fro violence, sex, and language.
UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS (R) 83 minutes * *
Prequel piece of the series that explains the relationship between the vampires and the lycans back when the former were the masters of the latter. Victor (Bill Nighy) has found a way to control the lycans by breeding a weakness into their bloodline. Lucien (Michael Sheen) is the first of these, but has other capabilites that Victor hadn't accounted for. Typically dark film, making it difficult to tell if the effects are very good or not. Nice work by Rhona Mitra. R for violence.
UNDISCOVERED (2005) (PG-13) 93 minutes * * 1/2
The road to success in the entertainment industry is a rough one, but it's travelled by many. The film has a nice, somewhat unpolished feeling to it that makes it feel more realistic and the performances of Pell James and Steven Strait (who sings his own songs) are earnest and honest. Carrie Fisher, Peter Weller, Fisher Stevens and Ashlee Simpson are here as well, and the film is well worth a look for their performances as well. What's lacking is a story that had a little more strength. PG-13 for language.
UNDISPUTED (R) 87 minutes * 1/2
Monroe (Wesley Snipes) is the prison's boxing champ. He's won every match for the last several years. But then a "real" champ ends up in jail and a match between them is something everyone wants to see. Life on the inside is a little different though, and the Iceman (Ving Rhames) is about to be handed defeat. Predictable, unrealistic, and two-dimenstional to say the least. Snipes and Rhames are better than this, but their performances are about all this has to offer. R for language and violence.
UNDISPUTED III: REDEMPTION (R) 92 minutes * 1/2>/b>
Boyka (Scott Adkins) just wants the chance to fight again. Recovering from a broken leg in a previous fight will be difficult enough. Then he has to get past the current champion of the prison before facing the best fighters from seven other prisons around the world. Some of the fight scenes are fairly impressive, though there does seem to be quite a bit of repitition from one fight to the next. R for violence and language.
UNEMPLOYED (R) 95 minutes BOMB
Two out-of-work actors realize that maybe the reason they don't have jobs is because they can't act. We're convinced. Neither can anyone else in this film. For that matter, the ability of those who wrote this script should be questioned as well... R for language.
UNFAITHFUL (R) 115 minutes * *
It's only a chance encounter with an attractive young man, but it quickly turns into something that adds a little spice to Connie's (Diane Lane) life. At first it's innocent flirtation, but as it begins to take a more serious tone, she does nothing to stop it. Based on the French film La Femme Infidel, this version drags in spots and grows rather tiresome. Lane and Richard Gere do what they can, but the story is treated too simplistically and doesn't fit the stylish ending. Most people don't appreciate the ending because it leaves so much unanswered. My problem with it is that it doesn't fit the tone of the rest of the film. R for sex, language, and violence.
AN UNFINISHED LIFE (PG-13) 102 minutes * * *
After so much abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, Jean (Jennifer Lopez) and her daughter Griff (Becca Gardner) head to her father-in-law Einar's (Robert Redford) place. But Einar and Jean have grown apart in the years since the death of her husband, for which Einar holds her responsible. That's not the only part of Einar's past that he is dwelling on. Dealing with grief and anger is not always an easy task, but working with others, talking it through, taking it one step at a time... Beautifully directed by the talented Lasse Hallstrom and also featuring Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas, and Camryn Manheim, this is a memorable film with a heartfelt message. PG-13 for language and violence.
UNFORGETTABLE (R) 113 minutes * 1/2
To solve the murder of his wife (for which he is suspected) Dr. Krane
(Ray Liotta) undergoes an experiment which gives him his wife's memories. Very drawn out and obvious, which makes it hard to sit through. The best part is the soundtrack, but the film really isn't worth sitting through just for that. Wasted talents in the film include Linda Fiorentino, Peter Coyote, Kim Cattral, and David Paymer. R for violence, language, and nudity.
UNFORGIVEN (R) 124 minutes * * *
Most westerns involve stories that are fairly simple
and show us a confrontation between good and evil,
with good usually winning in the end. Not so in this
film. As William Munny (Clint Eastwood) says at one
point, "We've all got it coming." It isn't easy to
find a western that isn't predictable, but this one
will keep you guessing and thinking. It will make you
wonder about the ability to change, and what it means
to live, to love, and to die. Director, producer, and
actor, Clint Eastwood has given us a wonderful
western film, with a slightly different edge. Filmed in Alberta, Canada. R for violence
and language.
THE UNFORESEEN (NR) 89 minutes * * *
Barton Springs, near Austin, Texas was a nature spring area that the community was able to defend against development... for awhile. This documentary does a wonderful job of critiquing and analyzing what happened to this community and what it means for society at large. If you're paying attention, you will note that it was legislation that then governor George W. Bush signed that actually sealed the fate of Barton Springs. Of course he wasn't the first to ignore the importance of natural space, and he won't be the last.
THE UNHOLY (R) 98 minutes * 1/2
Yet another horror film involving demons and the Catholic church as a priest is trying to exorcise one from a church in New Orleans. Weak story and poor acting, with special effects that are fair, but not enough to give this the boost it needs.
THE UNINVITED (PG-13) 83 minutes * *
Coming back home after rehab from a suicide attempt, Anna (Emily Browning) has enough problems to deal with. But the nurse who helped take care of her mother has now moved in with her father. Anna just wishes she could remember what happened that last night. She may not like what she finds out. Based on the Korean horror film "Janghwa Hongryeon". PG-13 for violence, sex, and language.
UNITED 93 (R) 102 minutes * * *
Relying less on emotion and more on facts, this film provides an interesting look at the events of September 11, 2001. We do still find ourselves connecting with some of the individuals portrayed here, but the emphasis is clearly on communication more than anything else. Even among the passengers we see that communication was key to them understanding what was happening and what they might do in light of that information. No blame is really placed and the film even gives us a glimpse at "terrorists" who believe they are doing the will of God. We each see the world through our own lens and act accordingly. Communication is key. R for language and violence.
THE UNITED STATES OF LELAND (R) 98 minutes * * *
Very interesting low-key story about a young man who has committed murder and the teacher who is interested in writing a book about the incident. Despite the intense performances, the story has a way of remaining gentle and compassionate. A quality piece from writer/director Matthew Hoge with great work by Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle, Jena Malone, and several others. R for language.
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (R) 98 minutes *
1/2
Ten soldiers are reported "missing in action", but
are actually packed in ice and turned into cyborgs to
become the ultimate killing machines. A poorly
written story does this in pretty quickly. Dolph
Lundgren and Jean Claude Van Damme will probably
never win Oscars, but they can do better than this if
you give them a decent script.
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: THE RETURN (R) 80 minutes * 1/2
The Unisol project is about to be shut down, but Seth (the computer in charge) isn't going to let that happen. Actually, this comes off fairly well. The story is simple enough and there is a fair amount of action with Jean Claude Van Damme and Michael Jai White supplying the martial arts. The small screen will help this one too, making the mistakes less noticeable and intensifying the action. R for violence and language.
UNLAWFUL ENTRY (R) 108 minutes *
*
Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta, and Madeleine Stowe manage
to lend a little credibility to this story of a
police officer who gets into a relationship he
shouldn't have. But the story gives us no suprises,
though James Horner's soundtrack does its best to
keep us in suspense. Try watching "Someone to Watch
Over Me" instead. You'll be glad you did. R for
violence, sex, and language.
UNLEASHED (R) 94 minutes * *
Danny (Jet Li) has been raised to believe he is nothing more than an enforcer for a second-rate thug. When the opportunity comes along for him to be something more, he struggles to find the strength within himself to finally control his own destiny. This is an unusual mix of martial arts, action, and emotional drama that struggles to get its footing and never quite makes it. Jet Li does fairly well here, and having Morgan Freeman around never hurts. R for violence, language, and nudity.
UNMISTAKEN CHILD (NR) 101 minutes * * *
The search for the great Buddhist master Geshe Lama Konchag's reincarnation. His young disciple has been tasked with doing the search and doesn't feel that he is worthy of the responsibility. The film never really tries to convince us of anything, rather, it just follows the process as it unfolds. Interesting and peaceful film.
AN UNREASONABLE MAN (NR) 120 minutes * * *
Straightforward doumentary about Ralph Nader, focusing on his political aspirations. While definitely showing support for Nader, the film does bring in other viewpoints and clearly lifts up the value of having a democratic system that doesn't rely on a two-party system. For those with an interest in politics, this is an interesting look at some of the history of "third party" politics and the influence that one person can have.
UNREST (R) 85 minutes *
Strange little piece about some medical students who discover that the cadaver they are working with seems to have some unfinished business. Psychological gore thriller that is too poorly written and acted to succeed on any level. The film gained some notoriety for using a real cadaver, though it doesn't really add anything except hype. R for violence, language, and nudity.
UNSTRUNG HEROES (PG) 90 minutes * * *
To cope with his mother's illness and impending death, young Steven (Nathan Watt) goes to live with his two extremely eccentric uncles. John Turturro and Maury Chaykin are great fun to watch as they struggle to provide Steven the parenting he needs, and Watt's performance is superb as well. Adapted from the autobiographical book by Franz Lidz, this is a joy to watch.
UNTAMED HEART (PG-13) 97 minutes * *
Quiet, slow-moving romance that suffers severely from lack of direction.
Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei are good, but they get lost quickly
with a script that has little depth, and direction that is almost
non-existent. There are some good ideas here, but they are communicated
so poorly by the script that most of their effect is lost.
THE UNTOUCHABLES (R) 115 minutes * * 1/2
Suggested by the television series, and only a "suggestion" of what it could have been. The opening is promising enough, both in direction and acting. But it never progresses beyond that point. The music suffers the same fate. The theme is wonderful. However, after hearing it repeated for two hours... Some have said that this is one of Sean Connery's greatest roles. In reality, it's just that his fairly good performance is such a contrast to the detached and unemotional performances of Robert DeNiro and Kevin Costner. Director Brian DePalma paces the chase scenes well, but audience manipulation has always been a strong point of his. A quote from Malone (Connery) fits well here, "Don't want it to happen, don't wait for it to happen, just watch when it does happen. Unfortunately, this film never quite happens.
UNTRACEABLE (R) 96 minutes * * 1/2
Agents Marsh (Diane Lane) and Dowd (Colin Hanks) are part of an FBI internet crime team. When they come across a website that appears to show animal torture with a live webcam, it's not among their highest priorities. But when the site shows a human victim, it moves to the top of the list. As untraceable as the site is, there are still clues, but the clock is ticking and time is running out quickly. Solid suspense and good pacing, but somehow this keeps us at a distance, so we feel less involved. Filmed in Portland, Oregon. R for violence and language.
UP (PG) 89 minutes * * *
Carl and Ellie were great friends right from the start. Despite their love of adventure, the dream of going to Paradise Falls always seemed just out of reach. Now Carl knows he must go, but what's he supposed to do with Russell? The kids just won't leave him alone! This is a bit more scary than most of Pixar's other films and quite a bit of the story is more than the youngest viewers will pick up on. The characters are delightful though, and Ed Asner is perfectly cast as the voice of Carl. PG for violence.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL (PG-13) 116 minutes * *
Suggested by the book "Golden Girl", this is the story of a girl who takes the broadcasting world by storm. The combination of her own will to succeed and the guidance of a veteran reporter take her to the top. But Michelle Pfeiffer never gives us the naivete we need and Robert Redford gives us no energy. There are a few exciting moments late in the film and it does finish well, but it drags on far too long and gives us no surprises. PG-13 for language, violence, and nudity.
UP IN THE AIR (R) 104 minutes * * * *
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate ax-man and motivational speaker. His life is on the road... or actually... up in the air. What's also up in the air is his employment status. You see, Ryan's way of working may be replaced by using video conferencing technology. He's going to take the new girl with him to try and show her why this new way won't work, but he's got a few other things on his mind. Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner have done an amazing job of adapting Walter Kim's novel to the big screen. The script is packed tightly with an amazing amount of character development and gives us a story that is both fun and sensitive. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga are perfect counter-points to Clooney's character and Jason Bateman and Sam Elliott deliver fine supporting performances as well. R for language and sex.
UP THE YANGTZE (NR) 91 minutes * * *
Documentary film covering the more personal and emotional side of the effects of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Presents a clear picture of the mixed blessing that the dam represents. While providing a wonderful opportunity for an improved economic situation and bringing new life and technology to many areas of the country, it also means the destruction of entire communities and a great deal of history.
THE UPSIDE OF ANGER (R) 111 minutes * 1/2
Terry's (Joan Allen) husband has left her and she's angry. She also has four daughters who are all dealing with the situation in their own ways. Meanwhile, their neighbor Denny (Kevin Costner) is interested in furthering their friendship. Overlong soap opera with unnecessary narration and a story that keeps faltering every time it starts to get moving in a particular direction, and never really delving very far into the motion of anger. R for language and sex.
UPTOWN GIRLS (PG-13) 88 minutes * * *
An heiress to a rock star, Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) finds herself the victim of a scam that leaves her penniless. It's a morality tale of sorts, about two spoiled brats who are both forced to deal with reality in ways they never had to before. With a little help from each other, they just might make it! Part of what gives Murphy her incredible appeal is her ability to combine sexiness with both humor and drama. The script here gives her the opportunity to do some great bits, frequently with the also extremely talented young Dakota Fanning. Filled with great music, this manages to be delightfully humorous and occasionally tearful. Remember, "every story has an end, but in life, every end is just a new beginning." PG-13 for language.
URBAN LEGEND (R) 95 minutes *
You know all those urban horror legends? Well, someone has decided to bring them all to life. It's not a bad idea, but the low budget and weak direction really destroy most of the effect. There are a couple of moments here and there, but if you're familiar with the legends, there aren't any surprises. The silly ending doesn't help things much either. R for violence, language, and nudity.
URBAN LEGENDS: FINAL CUT (R) 91 minutes * 1/2
It's time for that final thesis project for film class. How about a film that deals with urban legends? But somebody is willing to kill to win the coveted Hitchcock award. The ending works well, but getting there is a real chore and makes this feel like it lasts alot longer than it does. R for violence and language.
THE U.S. VS. JOHN LENNON (PG-13) 96 minutes * * *
Biographical documentary of John Lennon, focusing on his later years as he became an activist for peace. How could in a democracy object to the idea of giving peace a chance? Ah, but they did. Well-edited and well-scripted look at how Lennon's ideas were supported and used by a variety of people. Includes both contemporary and archival interviews of an amazing group of Lennon's contemporaries. Yoko Ono, Gore Vidal, Tom Smothers, Tariq Ali, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, George McGovern, Angela Davis, and Geraldo Rivera just to name a few! PG-13 for language and violence.
USED PEOPLE (PG-13) 112 minutes * * * 1/2
Pearl (Shirley MacLaine) finds herself being courted by an Italian (Marcello Mastroianni) who has secretly been in love with her for years. Charming story that plays itself out in a number of smaller vignettes. If anything, that's where the fault lies, things are a bit disconnected through the course of the film. Otherwise, it's a rather nice film that reminds us to quit dreaming our dreams and try to live them. We may fail, but we'll never know unless we try. Based on material from "The Grandma Plays" by Todd Graff
THE USUAL SUSPECTS (R) 102 minutes * * * 1/2
As the usual suspects are rounded up for a recent crime, they begin to plot another job. But where does the mysterious Keyser Soze fit into the picture, and just who is he anyway? Intriguing story with a great twist ending that actually manages to surprise us. R for violence and language.
V FOR VENDETTA (R) 124 minutes * * *
England in the near future. A future where free thought is a thing of the past. But there will always be resistance, and sometimes there will be justice as well. This time, justice will be served by V. Adapted from the graphic novel, this is a story with many layers of meaning, and told very well. There's an interesting mix of the 1940's and the near future of the 2010's. As with many stories of this nature, you can find similiarities to many different political groups and individuals, so the critical comments about the way politics are being dealt with applies not only to them specifically, but to the systems in general. Many powerful images are present in the film, more of them cluster toward the end. In fact, the fil would have been even stronger if the last few minutes had intentionally been paced more slowly as it seems to race to its conclusion rather than taking those few extra minutes to allow the power of the message to be felt more fully. R for violence, language and nudity.
VACANCY (R) 81 minutes 1/2
If you ever wanted another reason to stay on the main roads when you travel... just watch this film. David (Luke Wilson) and Amy (Kate Beckinsale) are having a little trouble in their marriage. Perhaps fighting to stay alive while sadistic killers are after them. To make matters worse, these killers film what they do and sell it. There are plenty of editing errors and gaping plot holes, and the ending is worse than bad. Wilson and Beckinsale are the only saving grace here, but one has to wonder why they signed on to this project. R for violence and language.
VALENTINE (R) 93 minutes *
Another in the endless flood of hollywood horror films about a loser who gets publicly humiliated and goes on a killing spree as an adult. Filled with the usual sequences of people investigating noises by themselves in the dark and the usual compliment of cheap noise scares. The talents and good looks of Katherine Heigl, Denise Richards, and David Boreanz offer the only reason to watch this. R for language, violence, and nudity.
VALENTINE'S DAY (PG-13) 118 minutes * * * 1/2
It's a day that can put plenty of pressure on a relationship. A montage of love stories and relationships with an absolutely amazing cast and a delightful script by Katherine Fugate. Director Garry Marshall also does a wonderful job of balancing the cast, which is no easy task in a film with so many talented actors. Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, and Taylor Swift. Best line: "Young love. Full of hope, full of promise... ignorant of reality!" PG-13 for sex and language.
VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR (PG-13) 92 minutes * * 1/2
Fashion designer Valentino Garavani was one of the great fashion designers whose career spanned decades. This documentary explores his life and career as well as the unfortunate corporate involvement that eventually put an end to a dynasty. PG-13 for nudity and language.
THE VALET (PG-13) 82 minutes * * 1/2
Pierre's (Daniel Auteuil) affair with a supermodel (Alice Taglioni) has him in hot water with his wife. Maybe he can convince her otherwise by hiring Francois (Gad Elmaleh) to be Elena's boyfriend. But will anybody believe that a supermodel would be dating a valet? Light comedy from writer/director Francis Veber. Nothing great here, but a pleasant enough diversion. PG-13 for sex and language.
VALIANT (G) 71 minutes * 1/2
Mercifully short and surprisingly boring cartoon about a young pigeon in World War II who risks his life to deliver an important message. The script really does this in, with little in the way of excitement except some falcons who try to kill the pigeons, and comic relief that just isn't that funny. Rated G, so it's OK for the kids, but they probably won't be interested anyway, though the animation itself is done well.
VALKYRIE (PG-13) 111 minutes * * *
Not everyone in Germany was in agreement with the direction Hitler was taking the country. There was more than one attempt to kill him, though one particular attempt not only included assassination, but an entire shift of power. This is that story, nicely told, and well-performed by all. It builds well, and we feel the frustration and growing panic of those who have planned the coup as it slowly unravels and they realize that they have failed. PG-13 for violence.
VAMPIRES (R) 102 minutes * 1/2
Jack Crow is a master vampire slayer, trained in the methods by the
Catholic church who created the first vampire with an exorcism gone
awry!? There are some nice effects here and the film definitely has
the right look. Unfortunately, there's also a very empty feeling to
the film. Aside from the evil passion that Thomas Ian Griffith is able
to deliver as Valek, the film offers little to draw us in and keep us
interested. R for violence, language, and nudity.
VAMPIRES SUCK (PG-13) 67 minutes * 1/2
You knew someone was going to do it. This parody of the Twilight saga does a nice job of staying focused on the series, with only a handful of references to other films. It still suffers from the same problems that most parodies suffer from, mostly being that they make a great skit, but don't stretch past thirty minutes very well. Don't miss the song at the end, it's actually pretty good. PG-13 for language, sex, and violence.
VAN HELSING (PG-13) 122 minutes * * *
In this versino of the classic battle between humans and vampires (among other sorts of monsters), Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) works for a mysterious order of the Catholic church that is charged with protecting the world from the forces of evil. After he defeats Mr Hyde, he is sent to Transylvania to deal with Dracula, coming across Frankenstein's monster and a werewolf along the way. The production creates a wonderfully haunting atmosphere and the story is quite interesting. There are a few problems though and the sense of having Dracula's children born into cocoons that need to use Frankentein's reanimation technology to live is lost on me. It's an interesting entry in the genre and well worth a look, especially for the solid, if sometimes campy performances of Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. PG-13 for violence.
VAN WILDER: FRESHMAN YEAR (R) 94 minutes 1/2
A young Van Wilder is on his way to college. He has a wild heritage to live up to, and it's going to take a lot of work... to party and hard as his father did, and the dean of the school is going to do everything in his power to bring Van Wilder down. The love story here is very out of place, and Jonathan Bennett's performance as Van Wilder is almost one dimensional. R for language and sex.
VAN WILDER 2: THE RISE OF TAJ (R) 92 minutes 1/2
Taj Badalandabad (Kal Penn) heads to a university in England where he ends up with another bunch of losers. Taj teaches them how not to be losers, but we don't really care much. A few chuckles, but even fans of the first film, if there are any, will likely be disappointed. R for language and nudity.
VANILLA SKY (R) 129 minutes * * *
David has inherited his father's empire, but there are those who want him out. After a disfiguring accident that is caused by a jealous friend, David's life twists out of control. Things aren't what they appear to be though. There's a touch of science fiction mixed in with the romance and suspense, and it's a story that will definitely be confusing until the last thirty minutes. Those last thirty minutes are worth the wait though, in a story that reminds us that "every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around". Based on the foreign film "Abre los Ojos", this features Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz. R for language and sex.
THE VANISHING (R) 108 minutes * *
Hard-to-believe story is helped along by great music courtesy of Jerry
Goldsmith and good performances from Kiefer Sutherland, Jeff Bridges,
Nancy Travis, Lisa Eichhorn, and Sandra Bullock. Directed by the same
person who directed the original (French) version, but this one is not
much more than a shadow of the original.
VANITY FAIR (PG-13) 136 minutes * *
This classic story about social climber Becky Sharp has the right look, and some very talented actors, but somehow manages to keep us at arms length. Reese Witherspoon seems uninterested, and for most of the film, we are too. Also features Jim Broadbent, Bob Hoskins, and Gabriel Byrne. PG-13 for language and sex.
VANTAGE POINT (PG-13) 84 minutes * * *
Agent Barnes (Dennis Quaid) is back on presidential duty after recovering from a recent injury. He's a bit tense, but when the president is shot, he already has a better sense than most of where to look to find out what happened. The story is retold numerous times throughout the film from different vantage points, each time uncovering a little more information which is then followed up from another angle. The film is paced well, though we do begin to get tired of the various angles. Forest Whitaker does a nice job as a tourist who happens to be videotaping the speech and films an important clue while doing so. PG-13 for violence and language.
VARSITY BLUES (R) 101 minutes * *
James Van Der Beek is John Moxon, high school football player, well... sort of. Mostly he sits on the bench as the back-up quarterback in this small town where life revolves around football. Coach Kilmer (Jon Voight) doesn't like him, but is forced to use him when the starting quarterback goes out with an injury. Voight does a nice job as the coach you'll love to hate, but the film's story is stale. A few of the supporting performances give it a little spark, but not enough to bring it out of mediocrity. R for language and nudity.
VEER (NR) 96 minutes * * *
Bicycling and bike culture. This documentary follows a few very different people who are involved with various aspects of bike culture and the industry surrouinding it. Casual bikers, bike repair shops, people working to change bicycling laws, performers, and much more. An interesting look at a diverse and popular activity.
VEGAS VACATION (PG) 89 minutes * 1/2
Mildly amusing sequel, with the Griswold family going to Las Vegas
where dad loses his savings, son wins money and cars, mom is romanced
by Wayne Newton, and daughter becomes a showgirl. Plenty of cameos and
guest stars, but no real spark. PG for language.
THE VELVETEEN RABBIT (2009) (G) 93 minutes * * 1/2
Another version of the classic story about the power of love to make us "real". The mix of live action and animation works reasonably well, though it's the story that is both memorable and powerful and what makes this work.
VENUS (R) 90 minutes * * * 1/2
Maurice (Peter O'Toole) and Ian (Leslie Phillips) are a couple of old actor friends who are having difficulty finding work. Ian thinks that pales in comparison to dealing with his niece Jessie (Jodie Whittaker). But Maurice sees something different in her brash attitude, and he sees the beauty she hides within. They grow close, though the road is rough, and having known each other will leave them each with treasures they didn't think possible. O'Toole is masterful once again, and Whittaker does an amazing job for a relative newcomer. Working with a legend seems to have inspired her well. A memorable film, not to be missed. R for language and sex.
VERA DRAKE (R) 120 minutes * * *
Bravura performance from Imelda Staunton that earned her several awards and nominations for other awards. She does a wonderful job giving a sensitive performance made even more remarkable by the fact that there was no script for the film. Director Mike Leigh had to write a script after filming for it to be considered for awards, some of which it then won. The weakness here is that Staunton's performance is so strong and the film so focused on her, that some of the scenes where other characters are more prominent don't come off all that well. R for language and topic.
VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE (R) 98 minutes * * 1/2
Veronika (Sarah Michelle Gellar) decides to die. But when her attempt at suicide fails, she is told that though she is still alive, she has only a few weeks or months to live. The story, adapted from Paulo Coelho's novel, isn't particularly deep, but Gellar does a nice job here, as her character explores what it is tha tmakes life worth living. R for sex.
VERTICAL LIMIT (PG-13) 117 minutes * * 1/2
Tense scenes are scattered throughout this film about climbers and the tight spots they sometimes find themselves in. The characters are almost cartoonish and the story is far from original. What does manage to win points here is the stuntwork. Coupled with some nice photography, the stunts hold our interest for much of the film. The effects aren't too great though, so don't look too closely or you'll notice how much of this was done with models. Filmed in New Zealand
and Pakistan. PG-13 for language and violence.
VERY BAD THINGS (R) 94 minutes *
It's supposed to be a harmless bachelor party, but a few too many
drinks and a few drugs and the boys have a problem. The real trouble
is that they keep making decisions that make it all worse. The film
moves from the bizarre to the absurd and loses us somewhere along the
way. Christian Slater is interesting to watch, but more for his Jack
Nicholsonesque performance than anything else. Jon Favreau, Cameron
Diaz, and the rest of the cast seem to be lost in an attempt to make
an alternative film with an attitude. All we end up with is a hollow
film we wish we hadn't watched. R for language, violence, and
sex.
A VERY BRADY SEQUEL (PG-13) 86 minutes * 1/2
A little more fun than the first Brady Bunch film, with tie-ins to
Gilligan's Island and I Dream of Jeanie and cameos by Zsa Zsa Gabor,
Rosie O'Donnell, and RuPaul. Low quality still prevails though, so don't expect too much. PG-13 for language.
A VERY BRITISH GANGSTER (NR) 96 minutes * * 1/2
Dominic Noonan is a British gangster from Manchester, and this documentary gives us a glimpse into his life. If, by the term "gangster", you are expecting something along the lines of "mafia", you may be disappointed. In many ways, Noonan is portrayed here as more of a thug who runs a few neighborhoods and little more. Though he claims to have stolen millions of dollars, that doesn't seem to fit with where and how he and his family live. Still, an interesting look at a less than positive side of the Manchester area of England.
A VERY COOL CHRISTMAS (NR) 93 minutes * 1/2
Lindsay (Brooke Nevin) wants to dump her family and spend Christmas on the ski slopes with her friends. But that's before she meets Santa and decides to help him with a full makeover. After all, his image is just so... yesterday. Of course, Santa may just give Lindsay a much needed makeover as well. The story is cute enough, and George Hamilton does a nice job as Santa, but the target audience is a mystery here. Teens will find this silly and pointless, yet it talks too much about teen issues for the younger ones to enjoy it. Not rated, but suitable for family viewing.
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT (R) 126 minutes * * *
Mathilde (Audrey Tautou) and Manech (Gaspard Ulliel) are in love and engaged. World War I interrupts their plans and when Manech doesn't return as expected, Mathilde begins a search for him. The sepia tones and muted colors do a great job of taking us back in time and Tautou's performance sparkles through the grit and grim of the war and post-war scenery. The narration is not necessary though and distracts us from the story that the camera is trying to tell us. R for violence and sex.
V.I.WARSHAWSKI (R) 85 minutes * * 1/2
Sara Paretsky's detective character comes to the screen in this story of three brothers and a shipping company that has seen better times. It's a formula story though, and despite Kathleen Turner's performance, this has "TV movie" written all over it. Angela Goethals also does a fine job here, but the script and direction show little concern for subtleties and move us quickly through the film to uncover the mystery. It works better on video, but it could have been much better. R for language and violence.
VICE VERSA (PG) 96 minutes * *
Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage are a father and son who exchange bodies courtesy of a strange oriental skull. Reinhold is less than convincing here, but Savage and Corinne Bohrer make it worth a look. Savage and Reinhold do at least look like they're having fun here.
THE VICIOUS KIND (R) 88 minutes * * 1/2
Caleb (Adam Scott) doesn't like women, or his father, or much else for that matter. He does care about his little brother, but Peter (Alex Frost) has a new girlfriend. Caleb's not too sure about her though. There are secrets here. Dark and vicious family secrets. Intense performances, though it's difficult to like these characters at times. R for sex and language.
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (PG-13) 93 minutes * * *
Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are spending the summer in Barcelona. They are about to fall in love with the same man (Javier Bardem), who appeals to each of them for slightly different reasons. It will be a summer that neither of them will forget. Another gem from writer/director Woody Allen. Rather heavily narrated, but Allen's style of storytelling lends itself to narration in a way that works more often than not. Great work by the cast, whose performances draw us in to experience this romantic and somewhat unusual summer along with them. PG-13 for language and sex.
LA VIE EN ROSE (PG-13) 135 minutes * * * *
Absolutely astounding performance by Marion Cotillard as the legendary Edith Piaf. No one else before and probably no one ever will be the heart and soul of Paris more than Edith Piaf. From her early and rough life on the streets of Paris, to her final days that came far too soon, Cotillard IS Piaf. The film moves back and forth through her life in a mezmerizing and captivating way. Though many say that singing is all that mattered to her, we see here a woman who sang because she loved to sing, but that it was love that mattered the most, love that gave meaning to the singing. Clearly an award winning performance by Cotillard, and well supported by both cast and crew. PG-13 for language and sex.
VIEW FROM THE TOP (PG-13) 79 minutes * *
Donna (Gwyneth Paltrow) desperately wants to get out of the small town she has lived in before it crushes her spirit completely. She decides to become a flight attendant so she can see the world. There's a funny thing about pursuing your dreams though... sometimes they chance as you get closer to making them reality. Paltrow does a nice job here, though the film suffers from a rather awkward balance between comedy and drama. If you like Paltrow, you'll probably like this, otherwise, you might want to watch something else. PG-13 for language.
THE VILLAGE (PG-13) 101 minutes * *
It's difficult to say too much about this film without spoiling the twist. It's somewhat of a change for director M. Night Shyamalan in that it's more of a drama than anything else. It also has the feel of a Twilight Zone episode with some big name talent (William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Adrien Brody) in a story with social and moral overtones that overshadow the performances. It may make you think, if you haven't heard the story before. But if you have heard it before, this isn't a particularly good retelling. PG-13 for violence.
THE VILLAGE BARBERSHOP (R) 95 minutes * * 1/2
It's a small barbershop, and now that Art's (John Ratzenberger) partner has died, it's getting difficult to hold onto the shop. Gloria (Shelly Cole) has some ideas about how to change things so that the shop can make more money, but Art isn't even sure why he hired her... except that she wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Gentle and charmingly quirkly little film with great work by both Ratzenberger and Cole. The story does wander a bit, but the characters keep us interested. R for language and sex.
VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED (R) 91 minutes * * 1/2
John Carpenter's remake of the 1960 horror film about emotionless children born after a strange mist covers the town. More violent than the original, and just as spooky, but Christopher Reeve and Kirstie Alley are miscast as the leads.
VINYAN (R) 89 minutes * 1/2
A "vinyan" is a spirit that is angry because it is lost. Paul (Rufus Sewell) and Jeanne (Emmanuelle Beart) last their son during a tsunami but she thinks she sees him in a short film about children in Thailand and Burma. Nothing will convince her to stop her search, and yet he is increasingly certain that their son is dead. The story repetitively beats the same note the whole way through and then finishes with a creepy and rather ridiculous ending. R for violence, sex, and language.
VIPER (R) 90 minutes * *
Linda Purl stars in a film about a woman determined to get revenge against those who played a part in the death of her husband. The story itself is interesting, based on actual events in the Indianapolis and Marion, Indiana areas, but after a promising start, things slow down quickly. Repetitive music and a disappointing ending manage to keep this from rising above mediocrity. Partially filmed in Indianapolis.
VIRTUOSITY (R) 100 minutes * *
Slick production about the near future and a computer program that wants to be alive so it can kill. The special effects are good and S.I.D. is appropriately evil. However, the rest of the characters are so thin that the tension throughout can't quite get a good grip on us. R for violence, language, and nudity.
VIRUS (R) 88 minutes 1/2
What an incredible waste of a fine cast! Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Sutherland, Joanna Pacula, William Baldwin... A ship at sea is taken over by an alien electronic lifeform that kills people and uses them for spare parts in an effort to adapt to our environment. There are so many plot holes in this film that it's sunk before it begins! R for violence and language.
THE VISITATION (PG-13) 100 minutes * 1/2
When miracles start happening in a small town, there are those who think the messiah has returned. There are others who think that it might be something else. Travis (Martin Donovan) is determined to get to the bottom of things and find out just who this Brandon Nichols (Edward Furlong) really is and what he's planning to do. Adapted from the Frank Peretti novel. Fans of Peretti's "end times" novels may find this entertaining, but it's poorly written and the performances are half-hearted at best. PG-13 for violence and language.
THE VISITOR (PG-13) 99 minutes * * * 1/2
What would you do if you went to your apartment and found that other people were living there? This is the question that Walter (Richard Jenkins) finds himself asking. It becomes even more complicated as he learns more about Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira), and begins to discover the world he has isolated himself from. Jenkins delivers an Oscar-worthy performance, and the entire cast does a fine job with this sensitive, powerful, and beautifully told story from writer/director Tom McCarthy. PG-13 for language.
VITAL SIGNS (R) 99 minutes * * 1/2
Fairly solid hospital drama that follows third-year interns on their
rounds. It's a nice cast that includes Diane Lane, William Devane,
Jimmy Smits, and Laura San Giacomo. The ending isn't very strong, but
for those who enjoy this sub-genre of drama, it's one you'll more
than likely enjoy. R for sex and bloody hospital room scenes.
VITUS (PG) 120 minutes * * *
Vitus (Teo Gheorghiu and Fabrizio Borsani) is a child prodigy. His piano playing talent is phenomenal. His parents have dreams for him. But Vitus has dreams of his own, and has to figure out how to make it all work out. The cast all do fine work here, especially from the younger members of the cast. The story does get a little overly involved in some of the subplots at times, which causes the pace to drag a little. PG for language.
VOLCANO (PG-13) 98 minutes * * 1/2
Only slightly better than it's recent twin (Dante's Peak), the only drawing
cards here are the special effects and a cast that does manage to work together
fairly well. Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche are fine and Gaby Hoffman does a
good job too, but the special effects and Alan Silvestri's score steal the show.
Of course, the pathetically unbelievable script doesn't help. This will probably
be another lost entry in the list of disaster films that are coming out these
days. PG-13 for language and violence.
VOLVER (R) 110 minutes * * *
Raimunda (Penelope Cruz) and Paula (Yohana Cobo) lost their parents in a fire years ago. Their aunt still talks about the girls' mother as if she were alive. Is she seeing a ghost? Pedro Almodovar wrote and directed this story about women, family, and second chances. It's a little uneven at times, but overall an entertaining and interesting look at the relationships between these women. R for sex and language.