PLANES, TRAINS AUTOMOBILES *** Steve Martin and John Candy play a mismatched duo trying to get to their respective homes in this amusing 1987 road comedy. Running time: 93 minutes, R (slapstick violence, profanity, vulgarity) (Tonight and Saturday: Tower) A CHRISTMAS CAROL A direct-to-video, animated feature (with musical numbers) based on the classic tale. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive) (Saturday and Sunday, 1 and 3 p.
m.: Carmike 12, Ritz, Wynnsong, Provo) PEACEFUL WARRIOR ** This slow-moving version of the best-selling novel is the kind of metaphysical nonsense that gives new age a bad name. Running time: 120 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, violence, vulgarity, brief drugs, brief partial nudity) (Tonight, 7 p.
m.; Saturday, 4 and 7 p.m.
: Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living, Midvale) PRIDE FILM SERIES The Salt Lake Film Center is hosting screenings of the transgender-themed films "Home Is Where the Heart Is" and "TransAmerica." (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
: Salt Lake City Library) SAMUEL BECKETT FILMS The Beckett series wraps up with a screening of "Krapp's Last Tape." (Wednesday, 7 p.m.
: Language and Communications Building, University of Utah) THE U.S. VS.
JOHN LENNON See listing under" Continuing films." (Tonight and Saturday, 8 p.m.
; Sunday, 6 p.m.: Park City Library) DEEP SEA 3-D *** This entertaining documentary minifeature is an up-close look at various forms of aquatic life.
Running time: 40 minutes, G (animal violence) MYSTIC INDIA Peter O'Toole narrates this 2004 documentary short about an Indian boy's spiritual journey. Running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable G (nothing offensive) SANTA VS. THE SNOWMAN 3-D ** 1/2 This digitally animated IMAX comedy is an expanded version of a 1997 TV short with Jonathan Winters as the voice of Santa Claus.
Running time: 35 minutes, not rated, probable G (animated violence) Ivan M. Lincoln WILD SAFARI 3-D A SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE *** This cinematic safari's simple pleasures will be best experienced by the littlest ticket-holders. Running time: 45 minutes, not rated, probable G (nothing offensive) Ned Martel, New York Times News Service ALEX RIDER: OPERATION STORMBREAKER ** As a publishing phenomenon, the "teenage 007" concept works, but onscreen it's pretty dull.
Running time: 93 minutes, PG (violence) Stephen Hunter, The Washington Post ALL THE KING'S MEN ** This sluggish remake of the 1950 best-picture Oscar winner wastes a first-rate cast and material. Jude Law and Sean Penn star. Running time: 128 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, racial epithets, brief gore, partial nudity) BARNYARD ** Another quick-and-dirty all-star-cast (led by Sam Elliott and Kevin James) animated feature churned out by digital start-ups hired to steal some of Pixar's cash.
Running time: 83 minutes, PG (vulgarity) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel BOBBY ** There's not much subtlety to be found in this fictionalized historical drama. Worse, there's not much interesting going on, either. Reviewed Thursday, running time: 111 minutes, R (profanity, drugs, violence, brief gore, racial epithets, vulgarity, brief nudity, brief sex) BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN *** As outrageous as it is funny, this mockumentary seeks to enlighten through offensiveness.
Running time: 82 minutes, R (vulgarity, profanity, nudity, violence, sex, ethnic slurs) CASINO ROYALE *** Thankfully, the first film with Daniel Craig as 007 has the more serious tone of the earliest Sean Connery movies. Running time: 144 minutes, PG-13 (violence, gore, torture, brief sex, brief drugs, profanity, vulgarity, brief partial nudity) DECK THE HALLS * A leaden slice of fruitcake, this Christmas comedy starring Matthew Broderick is not worth working up a good hate over. Reviewed Wednesday, running time: 95 minutes, PG (vulgarity, profanity) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel DEJA VU ** 1/2 Some audiences may be confused by this contrived but tense science-fiction thriller.
Denzel Washington stars. Reviewed Wednesday, running time: 128 minutes, PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, brief partial nudity, brief drugs, vulgarity) THE DEPARTED *** 1/2 Martin Scorsese's latest sprawling crime epic is a welcome return to form. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson star.
Running time: 149 minutes, R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, drugs, sex, gore, torture, racial epithets, nudity) EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH * 1/2 Jessica Simpson's woeful attempts at acting are probably the funniest part of this painful, poorly assembled mess. Running time: 103 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief drugs) EVERYONE'S HERO ** Its heart is in the right place, but this animated baseball comedy is pretty crude for a G-rated kids movie. Running time: 88 minutes, G (violence, vulgarity) FAST FOOD NATION ** This feature-film version of the best-selling expose is a bit of a queasy mess.
With subtitles, running time: 114 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, gore, sex, drugs, brief nudity, racial epithets) FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS ** 1/2 Clint Eastwood's World War II epic is definitely no "Saving Private Ryan," but the war scenes are well-staged. Running time: 136 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, brief drugs, vulgarity, racial epithets) FLICKA ** Scenes of horses running in the wild may make this remake worthwhile for some, but it's pretty standard stuff. Running time: 100 minutes, PG (violence, mild profanity) FLUSHED AWAY ** 1/2 This modestly amusing, animated comedy's preoccupation with low-brow crudities is a bit distressing.
Running time: 82 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, ethnic slurs) FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ** Unfortunately, this showbiz comedy's in-joke humor is too inside. And the rest of the bits just aren't that funny. Reviewed Wednesday, running time: 86 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity) THE FOUNTAIN ** This would-be science-fiction epic is so overcrammed with ideas that it actually feels a bit shallow, unfocused and scattered.
Reviewed Wednesday, running time: 96 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, drugs, brief sex, gore, torture) A GOOD YEAR ** Russell Crowe seems to be straining and out of sorts in this mixed-bag adaptation of the best-selling novel. With subtitles, running time: 118 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, brief partial nudity, brief sex, ethnic slurs) THE GRUDGE 2 * 1/2 There are a couple of good startling moments here and there, but we've seen it all before. Running time: 98 minutes, PG-13 (violence, adult themes) Christy Lemire, Associated Press THE GUARDIAN ** This rescue drama's lengthy running time works against it, though stars Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher are solid.
Running time: 136 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, drugs, vulgarity) HAPPY FEET ** 1/2 The animation is handsome, but this musical-comedy gets in trouble when it stops being cutesy and tries to make a point. Running time: 97 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity) HOW TO EAT FRIED WORMS ** 1/2 This adaptation of the popular children's book is the ultimate 11-year-old boy's movie. Running time: 85 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel THE ILLUSIONIST ** Despite a talented cast, this shallow, vapid romantic drama isn't as important as it strives to be.
Edward Norton stars. Running time: 110 minutes, PG-13 (violence, sex, profanity) INVINCIBLE *** The filmmakers get more mileage out of this formulaic sports drama than you might expect. Mark Wahlberg stars.
Running time: 108 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity) JACKASS: NUMBER TWO * Johnny Knoxville and his pals return for more irresponsible stunts and gags in this even more painful "reality" sequel. Running time: 83 minutes, R (violence, vulgarity, nudity, profanity, gore, racial epithets) LET'S GO TO PRISON * 1/2 There is probably a funny comedy to be made from this concept. But this juvenile comedy never comes close.
Reviewed Saturday, running time: 84 minutes, R (vulgarity, profanity, violence, sex, drugs) David Hiltbrand, The Philadelphia Inquirer LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE ** 1/2 It's not as hysterical as advertised, but this modestly amusing comedy boasts good performances amid absurd situations. Running time: 101 minutes, R (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, nude photos) MARIE ANTOINETTE ** Filmmaker Sofia Coppola's biographical drama starring Kirsten Dunst is superficial and tacky. Running time: 123 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, partial nudity, violence, brief sex, brief drugs) THE MARINE * 1/2 This action-thriller starring wrestler John Cena is a love story but it's hard to hear the heart beating through the explosions.
Running time: 93 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity) PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST *** An improvement over the first "Pirates" movie in the story department, though it is dark, intense and scary in places. Johnny Depp stars. Running time: 151 minutes, PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, brief gore, profanity, brief drugs, torture) THE PRESTIGE ** 1/2 This period thriller's cinematic cat-and-mouse routine becomes wearying, though the performances are solid.
Running time: 135 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief gore, nude artwork) THE QUEEN **** Helen Mirren is an early Oscar contender for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II. Running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (profanity, violence, brief drugs) THE RETURN ** 1/2 Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this simple ghost story that is , for all its faults, elegantly told and compellingly acted. Running time: 85 minutes, PG-13 (violence) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel RUNNING WITH SCISSORS ** The deliberate quirkiness and weirdness of this adaptation of Augusten Burroughs' questionable memoir feels forced.
Annette Bening stars. Running time: 116 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, drugs, sex, violence) THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE * 1/2 Star Tim Allen looks silly, tired and bored this time in the fat suit and beard. Martin Short co-stars as Jack Frost.
Running time: 90 minutes, G (nothing offensive) David Germain, Associated Press SAW III * 1/2 The third movie is closer to the wincing discomfort of the original. Running time: 107 minutes, R (violence, gore, torture, nudity, profanity) Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS ** The first half of this dark comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder is surprisingly watchable, but then it falls apart. Running time: 100 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, nude artwork, brief drugs) THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP *** Director Michel Gondry's examination of dysfunctional relationships is as entrancing as it is bizarre, absurd and whimsical.
French with subtitles, running time: 105 minutes, R (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief sex, brief nudity, brief drugs) SHORTBUS * 1/2 Once its shock value wears off, this sexually explicit ensemble piece becomes a snore. Running time: 101 minutes, not rated, probable NC-17 (nudity, sex, profanity, vulgarity, drugs, violence) SHUT UP SING *** There are plenty of candid conversations to savor and enjoy in Barbara Kopple's documentary about the Dixie Chicks. Running time: 93 minutes, R (profanity) Christy Lemire, Associated Press STEP UP ** The by-the-numbers plot causes crucial stumbles and slips that this dance drama just can't afford.
Running time: 98 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, nude artwork) STRANGER THAN FICTION *** A comic fantasy with whimsical and bizarre touches that is also one of the better vehicles to star Will Ferrell. Running time: 107 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence, brief nudity, brief drugs) SUPERMAN RETURNS *** Bryan Singer's continuation of the Superman saga was one of the few summer movies to deliver the goods with more than a few "gee-whiz" moments. Running time: 154 minutes, PG-13 (violence, mild profanity, vulgarity, brief drugs) TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY *** It's dumb, but this auto-racing comedy starring Will Ferrell does have its share of laugh-out-loud moments, questionable as some may be.
Running time: 108 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, drugs, brief sex) TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY ** Fans of the fictional heavy-metal rock duo Tenacious D and fans of Jack Black may get more out of this crude musical comedy than casual viewers. Reviewed Thursday, running time: 93 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, violence, drugs, partial nudity, brief gore) THE U.S.
VS. JOHN LENNON ** 1/2 This documentary is not completely satisfying, but it's probably required viewing for fans of the late musician.
News RSS