NEW FILMS FRIDAY
CAPOTE — *** — Philip Seymour Hoffman's Oscar-worthy performance as late author Truman Capote propels this effective, albeit sometimes too-aloof, drama about the true-crime novel "In Cold Blood." Running time: 110 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, racial epithets).
INTIMATE STORIES — *** — A few unfortunate, R-rated tendencies aside, this low-key comedy-drama about Argentines on a road trip has real charm. Spanish with subtitles. Running time: 88 minutes. Not rated, probable R (profanity, vulgarity, brief gore, brief partial nudity).
THE LAND HAS EYES — ** — The main storyline in this coming-of-age drama from Fiji is cliched and predictable, though star Sapeta Taito does have some appealing feistiness. Rotuman with subtitles. Running time: 87 minutes. Not rated, probable PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, rape, brief gore).
THE LEGEND OF ZORRO — ** — This sequel's propensity for silliness would be forgivable if there wasn't a real nastiness to some of its violence. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as the title character. Running time: 128 minutes. PG (violence, profanity, vulgarity, racial epithets, brief partial nudity).
PRIME — ** — Supporting performer Meryl Streep carries the comic load in this romantic comedy starring Uma Thurman. But when Streep disappears for much of the second half, the film suffers. Running time: 105 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, ethnic slurs, slapstick violence).
SAW II — * — If anything, this blood-spattered, stomach-churning sequel to last year's serial-killer thriller hit is even more moronic. Running time: 91 minutes. R (gore, violence, profanity, drugs, vulgarity).
SEPARATE LIES — ** — This marital-strife drama is a movie you want to like. But there's scarcely any pleasure. Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson star. Running time: 85 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity). — Wesley Morris, The Boston Globe
THE WEATHER MAN — ** — The four-letter dialogue and crudities only undermine the rest of this dark comedy, which stars Nicolas Cage as the title character. Running time: 102 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity, violence, brief drugs, brief sex, brief nudity).
SNEAK PREVIEW ZATHURA — Director Jon Favreau's follow-up to "Elf" is this fantasy about two boys who find a board game that takes them on an outer-space adventure. To be reviewed when it opens Nov. 11. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity). (Saturday, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12.)
MIDNIGHT MOVIE
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW — ** 1/2 —The uneven film version of the popular rock opera, about transvestites from outer space, is entertaining when viewed with interactive crowds. Running time: 100 minutes. R (violence, sex, profanity, vulgarity). (Tonight, Saturday and Monday, Tower.)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL — A festival featuring documentaries selected by the international human-rights organization, including the documentary "Innocent Voices." A schedule is available at www.slcfilmcenter.org. (Thursday, 5 and 7 p.m., Trolley Square.)
ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL — A series of free screenings featuring classics and more modern films, including the 2000 drama "Devils on the Doorstep" and 1994's "To Live." These films are unrated and are in Mandarin with English subtitles. (Tonight, Monday and Wednesday, 7 p.m., Wildcat Theater, Weber State University, Ogden.)
BRIGHAM YOUNG — FRONTIERSMAN — *** — Enjoyable but highly fictionalized tale about the LDS Church leader, played by Dean Jagger. Vincent Price is also good in an all-too-brief appearance as Joseph Smith. Black and white. Running time: 114 minutes. Made before ratings, probable G (violence). (Tonight, 7 p.m. Harold B. Lee Library, BYU, Provo.)
DEMONLOVER — French-made thriller about two corporations trying to acquire illegal pornography. With subtitles. Running time: 115 minutes. R (violence, sex, profanity, torture, vulgarity). (Sunday, 7 p.m. Orson Spencer Hall, University of Utah.)
THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX — This 2005 Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary examines sex-education programs, as seen through the eyes of a 15-year-old Texan. The film is not rated but may feature some R-rated content. Running time: 76 minutes. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Jim Santy Auditorium, Park City Library.)
MURDERBALL —**** —This inspiring look at quadriplegic rugby is one of the best sports documentaries to come along since 1994's "Hoop Dreams." Running time: 88 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, brief sex, brief nudity, brief drugs). (Tonight and Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 6 p.m., Jim Santy Auditorium, Park City Library.)
PARTS OF THE FAMILY — Typical mix of gore and tasteless comedy from the Troma studio (responsible for the "Toxic Avenger" movies). Running time: 85 minutes. Not rated, probable R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, sex, nudity). (Monday, 6:30 and 11 p.m., Brewvies, must be 21 or older.)
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC — Maria Falconetti plays the martyred 15th-century saint in Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 biographical drama. Running time: 82 minutes. Black and white. Live musical accompaniment. Made before ratings, probable PG (violence). (Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Organ Loft.)
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA — **** — One of the all-time great horror films, this 1925 silent version stars Man of a Thousand Faces Lon Chaney in the title role. Running time: 79 minutes. Black and white (with color sequences). Live musical accompaniment. Made before ratings, probable PG (violence). (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Peery's Egyptian Theater, Ogden.)
THE RACE FOR THE DOUBLE HELIX — This British television film stars Jeff Goldblum as Jim Watson, one of the scientists who discovered DNA and the genetic coding of cells. Not rated, probable G. Running time: 97 minutes. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Library.)
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW — See listing under "Midnight Movies." (Monday, 8 p.m., Tower.)
THE SALT LAKE FREEDOM FILM AND STORYTELLING FESTIVAL — Intended to celebrate "the nobility in liberty," the festival includes screenings of the documentary "Ghostly Guardians," as well as other musical and storytelling performances. A schedule of events is available at www.fortdouglas.org. (Saturday and Monday, 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Fort Douglas, University of Utah.)
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES — ** 1/2 — Uneven 1990 live-action adaptation of the popular comic book and cartoon series about kung-fu fighting reptiles. Running time: 93 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity). (Saturday, 2 p.m. Peery's Egyptian Theater, Ogden.)
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE — ** 1/2 — Julie Andrews is a delight as the title character, but this 1967 musical comedy gets bogged down with some questionable subplots. Running time: 138 minutes. G (violence, racial epithets). (Tuesday, 10 a.m., SCERA, Orem, for seniors only.)
LARGE-FORMAT FILMS
ADRENALINE RUSH: THE SCIENCE OF RISK — ** 1/2 —This adventure can't decide if it's a documentary or an "extreme-sports" travelog. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). (Tonight and Saturday, 10 and 11 p.m., Clark Planetarium.) — Ivan M. Lincoln
ALIENS OF THE DEEP — ** 1/2 — James Cameron's latest 3-D IMAX extravaganza about undersea exploration could do with less of him on camera. Running time: 47 minutes. G (nothing offensive). — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
BATMAN BEGINS — *** — Director Christopher Nolan's involving but darker superhero remake is the best of the big-screen adventures featuring the Caped Crusader (Christian Bale). Running time: 140 minutes. PG-13 (violence, drugs, profanity).
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY — *** 1/2 — In many respects, Tim Burton's inventive, visually rich fantasy about a tour of a mysterious candy factory is faithful to Roald Dahl's source material. Johnny Depp stars. Running time: 110 minutes. PG (slapstick violence, vulgarity, mild profanity).
INTO THE DEEP —*** —One of the first IMAX films, this underwater documentary is a visual treat, stunningly photographed and always entertaining. Running time: 35 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive).— Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
THE LIVING SEA — *** — Even for the landlocked, this large-screen documentary about the ocean resonates, reminding us that we're like so many fish in a school. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). — Diane Urbani
MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION: WALKING ON THE MOON 3D — *** 1/2 — This IMAX mini-feature on manned space missions is as entertaining as it is educational. Narrated by Tom Hanks. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive).
WILD SAFARI 3D: A SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE — *** — This cinematic safari's simple pleasures are best experienced with the littlest ticket-holders, who get a thrill ride and a sense of a wider world. Running time: 45 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). — Ned Martel, New York Times News Service
CONTINUING FILMS
THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN — *** 1/2 — It's extremely raunchy and crude, but this Steve Carell vehicle just might be the funniest movie since "There's Something About Mary." Running time: 116 minutes. R (vulgarity, profanity, sex, nudity, slapstick violence, drugs, brief gore, racial epithets).
THE ARISTOCRATS — ** 1/2 — This sexually profane documentary about the so-called "dirtiest joke ever" is only for those with extremely open minds. Running time: 86 minutes. Not rated, probable NC-17 (profanity, vulgarity, brief drugs).
BATMAN BEGINS — See listing under "Large-Format films."
THE BROTHERS GRIMM — ** 1/2 — Terry Gilliam's dark comic fantasy has its share of good and bad moments.Heath Ledger and Matt Damon star. Running time: 118 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, torture, gore).
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY — See listing under "Large-Format films."
THE CONSTANT GARDENER — ** 1/2 —The chemistry between Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz salvages this muddled dramatic thriller, based on the best-seller by John Le Carre. Running time: 129 minutes. R (profanity, violence, drugs, nudity, sex, vulgarity).
CRY_WOLF — * — Hardened fans of movie splatter may be tossing their drinks at the screen in contempt for this botched, PG-13 slasher film. Running time: 90 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, sex, brief drugs). — Ty Burr, The Boston Globe
DOOM — * 1/2 — Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars in this moronic science-fiction thriller, which is too similar to the smash hit video game it's based on. Running time: 100 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, vulgarity).
DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY — *** — Stars Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell are both charming in this unassuming but crowd-pleasing, horse-racing drama. Running time: 105 minutes. PG (mild profanity, violence, racial epithets, brief drugs).
ELIZABETHTOWN — ** — Cameron Crowe's latest comedy-drama goes off in a million different directions, but winds up going nowhere. Orlando Bloom stars. Running time: 117 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence).
EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED — *** — This quirky adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's best-seller has enough style and laughs to help it overcome its shortcomings. Elijah Wood stars. With subtitles. Running time: 102 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, gore, ethnic slurs, brief drugs, nude photos).
THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE — ** — More boring than it is scary, this demonic-possession thriller wastes the talents of Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson. Running time: 116 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, drugs, brief gore).
FANTASTIC FOUR —** — Not as horrid as the trailers make it appear but this superhero adventure is more of a "Mediocre Four." Running time: 110 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, brief gore).
FLIGHTPLAN — * 1/2 — This kidnapping thriller completely falls apart in the final third, as it jettisons reason and logic. Jodie Foster stars. Running time: 93 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief drugs, vulgarity, racial epithets).
THE FOG — * 1/2 — Like most remakes, this reprise of the 1980 John Carpenter horror film is pretty unnecessary. Tom Welling and Maggie Grace star. Running time: 100 minutes. PG-13 (violence, brief sex). — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
FOUR BROTHERS — * 1/2 —The most deadly flaw of this vicious revenge-thriller is that it only occasionally has a sense of humor. Mark Wahlberg stars. Running time: 108 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity, racial epithets, brief nudity, brief sex, torture).
THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED — ** 1/2 — Gimmicky filmmaking almost proves to be the undoing of this sports drama, based on the true story of the 1913 U.S. Open golf championship. Running time: 115 minutes. PG (mild profanity, violence).
GRIZZLY MAN — *** 1/2 — Director Werner Herzog's documentary profile of animal activist Timothy Treadwell, who was killed by a grizzly bear, is compelling stuff. Running time: 103 minutes. R (profanity, violence, brief drugs, brief gore, vulgarity).
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE — *** — This thriller starring Viggo Mortensen really is violent, but much more effective in the non-violent scenes. Running time: 96 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, sex, brief nudity, vulgarity).
IN HER SHOES — *** — Shirley MacLaine steals the show in this well-acted comedy-drama about squabbling sisters (Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette). Running time: 131 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, violence, brief drugs).
INTO THE BLUE — * — Jessica Alba and Paul Walker star in this adventure-thriller filled with groan-inducing dialogue and equally groan-inducing performances. Running time: 110 minutes. PG-13 (violence, drugs, profanity, gore, vulgarity).
JUST LIKE HEAVEN — ** 1/2 — It isn't nearly as funny as it should be, but this comedy-fantasy gets by on the charms of stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. John Heder (a k a "Napoleon Dynamite") has a supporting role. Running time: 102 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, brief drugs, brief partial nudity, vulgarity, violence).
MADAGASCAR — ** 1/2 — Heavy on jokes and light on story, DreamWorks' latest computer-animated comedy about zoo animals who escape does fly by quickly. Running time: 86 minutes. PG (slapstick violence, vulgarity, brief drugs, mild profanity).
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS — *** 1/2 — The acclaimed penguin documentary features a life-and-death struggle that's much more compelling than any film so far this year. Running time: 80 minutes. G (animal violence).
MIRRORMASK — *** — The imaginative design goes a long way towards redeeming this somewhat cold and aloof live-action/digital animation hybrid. Running time: 101 minutes. PG (violence).
MR. & MRS. SMITH — *** — Celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie amuse in Doug Liman's violent, action-packed comedy-thriller. Running time: 115 minutes. PG-13 (violence, sex, vulgarity, profanity).
MUST LOVE DOGS —** 1/2 — It feels like a sitcom, but this romantic comedy starring Diane Lane and John Cusack works as cinematic comfort food. Running time: 98 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, slapstick violence).
NORTH COUNTRY — ** 1/2 — Charlize Theron's strong performance bolsters in this heavy-handed drama, inspired by the nation's first class-action, sexual harassment case. Running time: 123 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity, rape, violence, sex, brief drugs, brief nudity).
PROOF — ** — Most of the sound and fury in this clunky drama comes from its star, Gwyneth Paltrow. Running time: 100 minutes. PG-13 (sex, profanity, drugs). — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
RED EYE — *** — Wes Craven's air-travel thriller moves so quickly it covers up some of the bigger plot holes. Rachel McAdams stars. Running time: 85 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief gore).
SERENITY — *** — Fans of the canceled science-fiction series "Firefly" will be pleased by this big-screen sequel, though newcomers may be lost. Running time: 119 minutes. PG-13 (violence, brief gore, brief drugs, vulgarity, brief sex).
THE SKELETON KEY — ** —This supernatural suspense-thriller starring Kate Hudson offers fewer scares than it does tiresome Southern stereotypes. Running time: 104 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, drugs, racial epithets, brief partial nudity).
SKY HIGH —*** — The charm eventually wears off of this superhero spoof, but there are a few funny gags. Running time: 98 minutes. PG (violence, mild profanity, mild vulgarity).
STAY — ** — The cast (which includes Ewan McGregor and Ryan Gosling) appears to be going through the motions in this muddled psychological thriller. Running time: 95 minutes. R (profanity, violence, gore, drugs, vulgarity).
THUMBSUCKER — *** — This dark comedy-drama cleverly manages to examine dysfunctional-family dynamics without becoming too heavy-handed. Running time: 96 minutes. R (profanity, drugs, vulgarity, sex, violence, brief gore, racial epithets).
TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE — *** 1/2 — At times this stop-motion animated feature is grotesque, but it's just as often achingly sweet. Johnny Depp stars as one of the voices. Running time: 78 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity).
TRANSPORTER 2 — * — The first "Transporter" was no great prize, yet it looks like "The French Connection" compared to this laughably awful action sequel. Running time: 88 minutes. PG-13 (violence, sex, partial nudity, profanity). — David Germain, Associated Press
VALIANT — ** — The laughs are scarce in this winged action comedy. Running time: 80 minutes. G (slapstick violence, vulgarity). — David Germain, Associated Press
WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT — *** 1/2 — Despite some questionable humor, this horror spoof is a welcome return for the clay-animated, human-and-dog duo that has starred in three classic shorts. Running time: 95 minutes. G (vulgarity, violence, mild profanity, brief partial nudity).
WAR OF THE WORLDS — *** — Steven Spielberg's dark and creepy version of the classic alien-invasion tale may be a bit much for very young audiences. Running time: 118 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief gore, vulgarity).
WEDDING CRASHERS —** 1/2 — Mixing sappy sentiment with crude sexual material makes this Owen Wilson-Vince Vaughn vehicle about womanizing buddies a sweet-and-salty movie snack. Running time: 119 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity, sex, violence, nudity, drugs).
THE WORK AND THE GLORY: AMERICAN ZION — ** 1/2 — This dramatic sequel about early LDS Church history (based on LDS General Authority Gerald N. Lund's novels) is more intense and dark, and more quickly paced than the first film. Running time: 100 minutes. PG-13 (violence, torture).
Past movie reviews are available online; search for MOVIES at deseretnews.com