NEW FILMS FRIDAY
DERAILED — * 1/2 — This story of would-be adulterers caught in a blackmail plot is ugly and predictable. Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston star. Running time: 100 minutes. R (violence, profanity, sex). — Carla Meyer, Sacramento Bee
KISS KISS, BANG BANG — *** — Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer star in this comic thriller, which is as much fun as the title suggests. Running time: 103 minutes. R (profanity, violence, sex, nudity). — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
PRIDE & PREJUDICE — *** — Put in terms that Jane Austen might have used, the latest big-screen version of her beloved novel is perfectly serviceable. Keira Knightley stars. Running time: 128 minutes. PG (mild profanity, vulgarity, nude artwork).
WINTER SOLDIER — *** 1/2 —This documentary about the public hearings organized by Vietnam Veterans Against the War is infuriating, its testimonies depressingly surreal. Running time: 95 minutes. Not rated, probable R (violence, profanity, vulgarity). — Wesley Morris, The Boston Globe
ZATHURA — *** — This science-fiction adventure really is what the television ads and movie trailers make it out to be — " 'Jumanji' in Space." Though it is better and more exciting than that probably makes it sound. Running time: 103 minutes. PG (violence, mild profanity, vulgarity).
MIDNIGHT MOVIE
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH — *** —This energetic rock 'n' roll opus about a cross-dressing musician is not for all tastes, but it is a hoot. Running time: 91 minutes. R (vulgarity, profanity, sex, violence, nudity, racial epithets). (Tonight, Saturday and Monday, Tower.)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
CHICKEN LITTLE 3D — Select theaters are showing the animated film in the new Disney Digital 3D format. (Megaplex 17.)
THE GOLD RUSH — **** — Charlie Chaplin's first great movie, a comedy set during the California Gold Rush, features several laugh-out-loud sequences. Black and white. Live musical accompaniment. Made before ratings (1925), probable G (slapstick violence). (Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Organ Loft.)
IN HARM'S WAY — Veterans Day activities in Orem include a screening of this 1965 World War II drama starring John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Patricia Neal. Black and white. Running time: 165 minutes. Made before ratings, probable PG (violence). (Saturday, 10:30 a.m., SCERA, Orem.)
POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES — *** — Frank Capra's uneven 1961 adaptation of the Damon Runyon tale does feature some good performances, particularly those by leads Glenn Ford and Bette Davis. Running time: 136 minutes. Made before ratings, probable G (violence). (Tuesday, 10 a.m., SCERA, Orem, for seniors only.)
THE SPECTRE OF HOPE — Director Paul Carlin's 2000 documentary feature looks at the career of photographer Sebastiao Salgado. Running time: 52 minutes. This film is not rated but may feature some PG-13 rated content. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Library.)
WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE — Salt Lake City is one of several cities hosting screenings of this documentary feature, which examines some of the corporate giant's business practices. Running time: 95 minutes. This film is not rated but may feature some PG-13 rated content. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Tower.)
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).
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).
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).
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY — See listing under "Large-format films."
CHICKEN LITTLE — *** — More clever than funny, this digitally animated feature does have a peculiar, goofy sweetness to it. Zach Braff voices the title character. Running time: 80 minutes. G (animated violence, vulgarity).
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).
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
GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' — * 1/2 — The film debut from 50 Cent (real name: Curtis Jackson), plays like a feeble retread of Eminem's film debut "8 Mile." Running time: 117 minutes. Reviewed Wednesday. R (violence, profanity, drugs, sex, nudity). — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
GOD'S ARMY 2: STATES OF GRACE — *** 1/2 — Equal parts drama and dramatic thriller, Richard Dutcher's nervy follow-up to his 2000 hit goes much further in exploring the fairly weighty concepts of faith and redemption than the first film did. Running time: 128 minutes. PG-13 (violence, brief gore).
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. — *** 1/2 — George Clooney's fact-based drama about CBS News during the '50s "Red Scare" is probably the best feature film made about journalism since 1976's "All the President's Men." Black and white. Running time: 93 minutes. PG (profanity, racial epithets).
THE GREAT RAID — ** 1/2 —Too much of this World War II rescue tale is buildup. Still, the raid scenes are pretty riveting. Running time: 133 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, drugs, racial epithets, torture, vulgarity).
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).
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).
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).
JARHEAD — ** —This overly familiar war drama is reminiscent of other, better movies, especially "Full Metal Jacket." Jake Gyllenhaal stars. Running time: 118 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, sex, nudity, brief drugs, racial epithets).
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).
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).
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).
MOBSTERS AND MORMONS — ** 1/2 — There are a few laughs in this silly locally made comedy about a Mafia family sent to Utah as part of the Witness Protection Program. Running time: 98 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, brief drugs, ethnic slurs).
NEW YORK DOLL — *** 1/2 — Writer-director Greg Whiteley's fascinating and moving musical documentary examines the life of late glam-punk musician and LDS Church convert Arthur "Killer" Kane. Running time: 77 minutes. PG-13 (drugs, profanity).
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).
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).
THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO — ** 1/2 — Julianne Moore's performance as another harried housewife is the ultimate reward of this uneven adaptation of Terry Ryan's greeting-card memoir. Running time: 99 minutes. PG-13 (profanity). — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News
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).
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).
SHOPGIRL — ** 1/2 — Jason Schwartzman steals the show as a goofy suitor in this uneven adaptation of Steve Martin's novel. Claire Danes stars. Running time: 106 minutes. R (sex, vulgarity, brief drugs, 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).
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).
TWO FOR THE MONEY — ** — Al Pacino's blustery turn as a professional bookie is the only watchable part of this dramatic thriller. Matthew McConaughey stars. Running time: 122 minutes. R (profanity, drugs, vulgarity, violence, sex, brief partial nudity).
AN UNFINISHED LIFE — ** 1/2 — Every time this drama focuses on Jennifer Lopez, you'll find yourself wishing it would focus on Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman. Running time: 107 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, violence, brief drugs, vulgarity, brief sex).
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).
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).
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).