NEW FILMS FRIDAY
THE 2005 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED SHORT FILMS — ** 1/2 — The imaginative animated pieces are the best part of this uneven compilation of Oscar-nominated shorts. Running time: 179 minutes. Not rated, probable R (violence, nudity, profanity, vulgarity, gore, drugs, brief sex).
DUCK SEASON —** — Nothing in this Mexican drama entirely counter-balances its often dull dialogue and marginally interesting characters. Spanish with subtitles. Running time: 90 minutes. R (profanity, drugs).— Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Cox News Service
SCARY MOVIE 4 —* 1/2 — The latest in this scattershot series of spoofs of horror and other film hits is just as crass as its predecessors. Running time: 83 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, brief sex, brief drugs, brief nudity, ethnic slurs).
SOPHIE SCHOLL — THE LAST DAYS —*** — This fact-based German thriller's notions about the importance of free speech and the proliferation of ideas are obviously important. German with subtitles. Running time: 117 minutes. Not rated, probable PG-13 (profanity, violence, brief drugs).
SORRY, HATERS —* — It's cold and aloof, but there's no denying the power of this post-9/11 thriller's sucker-punch ending. Running time: 86 minutes. Not rated, probable R (profanity, violence, ethnic slurs, vulgarity).
THE WILD — * 1/2 — More crude and violent than "Madagascar," which it resembles, this animated feature is pretty questionable for a G-rated film. Running time: 85 minutes. G (violence, vulgarity).
RE-RELEASES
IL CONFORMISTA (THE CONFORMIST) —*** — Bernardo Bertolucci's 1970 political thriller feels a little dated, though its headier aspects and New Wave stylings make it worthwhile. Running time: 120 minutes. R (violence, brief nudity, sex, profanity, drugs, vulgarity, brief gore, ethnic slurs).
MIDNIGHT MOVIE
RUSHMORE — **** — Jason Schwartzman is terrific in this offbeat comedy about a private-school student, though Bill Murray steals the show. Running time: 93 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, nude photos, ethnic slurs). (Tonight and Saturday, Tower)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE — Produced for public television, this documentary examines Turkish atrocities during World War I. This film is not rated but may feature some PG-13 content. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Library, free)
THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI — **** — Oscar-winner Alec Guinness is terrific in director David Lean's 1957 drama about British soldiers forced to build a bridge — as Allied forces prepare to destroy their efforts. Running time: 161 minutes. PG (violence). (Tuesday, 10 a.m., SCERA, Orem)
CLASSIC COMEDY SHORTS — A compilation of shorter works featuring Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Black and white. Live musical accompaniment. Made before ratings, probable G (slapstick violence). (Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Organ Loft)
INTERNATIONAL FILM SERIES — The series continues this month with screenings of the Russian films "Russian Ark" and "Come and See." Russian with subtitles. The films may feature some PG-13 content. (Saturday, 2 p.m., Salt Lake City Library, free)
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS — Waldemar Young, grandson of Brigham Young, co-wrote this Cecil B. DeMille epic about the romance between a Roman centurion and a Christian girl. Running time: 114 minutes. Made before ratings, probable PG (violence). (Tonight, 7 p.m., Harold B. Lee Library, BYU, Provo, free)
SOLO DIOS SABE (ONLY GOD KNOWS) — The Sundance Institute is sponsoring free screenings of this Mexican drama, which was featured in the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Spanish with subtitles. Running time: 114 minutes. This film is not rated but may feature some R-rated content. (Tonight and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 6 p.m.; Park City Library, free)
SPANISH LANGUAGE FILM SERIES — This month's selection is the Peruvian drama "Paloma de Papel (Paper Dove)." Spanish with subtitles. This film is not rated but may feature some PG-13 content. (Monday, 7 p.m., Salt Lake City Library, free)
STAR FEST 2006 — A one-day event featuring screenings of "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country," "Star Trek: Insurrection" and the silent film "Aelita — The Queen of Mars." Most of the films are rated PG-13. (Saturday, 4:30 p.m.-midnight, Peery's Egyptian Theater, Ogden)
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
DEEP SEA 3D — *** — This entertaining documentary mini-feature — narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet — includes up-close looks at various forms of aquatic life. Running time: 40 minutes. G (animal violence).
JOURNEY INTO AMAZING CAVES — *** 1/2 — The makers of "Everest" manage to scale new heights in their latest big-screen documentary. Running time: 40 minutes. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive) — Margaret McGurk, The Cincinnati Enquirer
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).
ROVING MARS — *** 1/2 —If the mission of this exceptional large-format film is to get us jazzed again about outer space, it's mission: accomplished. Running time: 40 minutes. G (nothing offensive).— Chris Hewitt, Knight Ridder
SHARKS 3D — ** 1/2 — It's fun to watch and won't scare kids, but this large-format documentary skims the surface and doesn't offer much depth. Running time: 40 minutes. G (animal violence). — Jim Carnes, Sacramento Bee
V FOR VENDETTA — Select theaters are showing the new thriller in the large-screen format. (Megaplex 17)
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
ANNAPOLIS — *** — Despite the lack of originality, this Naval drama is dandy entertainment with compelling characters and clear conflicts. Running time: 98 minutes. PG-13 (violence, sex, profanity).— Chris Hewitt, Knight Ridder
AQUAMARINE — ** — Essentially a reworking of "Splash" as a teen-empowerment message . . . or perhaps a pre-teen-empowerment message. Running time: 100 minutes. PG (mild profanity, vulgarity).
ATL —** — Set in an Atlanta roller-skating rink, this film fails to find the middle ground between its competing dramatic and comic elements. Running time: 105 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, drugs, racial epithets, brief sex, nude photos).
BASIC INSTINCT 2 —* — The sequel to the inexplicable 1992 hit is laughably awful. Sharon Stone stars. Running time: 113 minutes. R (sex, vulgarity, profanity, nudity, drugs, violence, brief gore).
THE BENCHWARMERS —* — The latest from Adam Sandler's "Happy Madison" production banner severely tests the maxim that "There's no such thing as a bad movie about baseball." Running time: 80 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity).— Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2 — * — Martin Lawrence goes undercover — in drag — again. Even worse than the comic moments are the sentimental ones. Running time: 99 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, drugs). — John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN — *** 1/2 — Director Ang Lee's "gay-cowboy"film is not a homosexual-rights statement, but an unexpectedly moving drama with tragic elements. Winner of three Academy Awards. Running time: 134 minutes. R (profanity, sex, violence, nudity, vulgarity).
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE — ** — This live-action adaptation of C.S. Lewis's beloved fantasy novel is more yawn-inspiring than awe-inspiring, especially for those who haven't read the book. Running time: 140 minutes. PG (violence).
CHURCH BALL —** — This sports comedy is more appealing than earlier HaleStorm productions ("The Singles Ward," "The R.M."). But it still relies heavily on dumb slapstick and tasteless, low-brow humor. Running time: 91 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs).
CSA: THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA —** — The makers of this film, which imagines U.S. life if the Confederate Army might had won the Civil War, would have been better as a full-on "mockumentary." Running time: 89 minutes. Not rated, probable PG-13 (racial epithets, violence, brief drugs).
CURIOUS GEORGE — ** 1/2 — This animated comedy remains within its own candy-colored universe and stays true to the lighthearted spirit of the books. Running time: 95 minutes. G (nothing offensive).— Christy Lemire, Associated Press
DATE MOVIE — * — A pointless, tasteless and laughless spoof of such hit romantic comedies as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Hitch." Running time: 80 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, sex, brief nudity, racial epithets).
DAVE CHAPPELLE'S BLOCK PARTY — *** — An amiable, amusing vehicle for the comic that is as much a documentary as it is a concert film (among the performers are the reunited Fugees). Running time: 100 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity, racial epithets, brief drugs).
DOOGAL — * —The laziest kind of animated children's film: one that seems features colorful talking animals and flatulence jokes. Running time: 80 minutes. G (vulgarity) — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
EIGHT BELOW — ** 1/2 — This outdoor adventure drama spends too much time with the humans and not enough with the considerably more watchable animals. Paul Walker stars. Running time: 120 minutes. PG (violence, brief gore, mild profanity).
FAILURE TO LAUNCH — ** — Matthew McConaughey stars in this film, which goes back-and-forth between a cutesy romantic comedy and a considerably more strained wacky comedy. Running time: 95 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, brief sex, brief nudity, brief drugs).
FINAL DESTINATION 3 — * — Let's just hope that this sequel really is what it claims to be — the last part of this successful but intellectually bankrupt horror series. Running time: 92 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, nudity, vulgarity).
FIREWALL — * 1/2 — Harrison Ford looks as if he'd rather be somewhere else — anywhere else — than in this suspense-free thriller. Running time: 104 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief gore, vulgarity, brief drugs).
GLORY ROAD — ** 1/2 — This racially conscious basketball drama set in the 1960s recalls "Remember the Titans," though it's not quite up to that film. Running time: 116 minutes. PG (racial epithets, violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, brief drugs).
GOD'S ARMY 2: STATES OF GRACE — *** 1/2 — Equal parts drama and thriller, Richard Dutcher's nervy follow-up to his 2000 hit goes much further in exploring the weighty concepts of faith and redemption. Running time: 128 minutes. PG-13 (violence, brief gore)
THE HILLS HAVE EYES — * — This sickeningly violent and gory remake of the 1977 cult horror film is skillfully made trash. Running time: 106 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, rape, vulgarity, brief drugs).
HOODWINKED! — ** — This animated spoof of "Little Red Riding Hood" is filled with pop-culture references and other unfunny show-biz jokes. Running time: 86 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs).
ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN —** 1/2 — Where the first "Ice Age" was low-key, this less-funny sequel is more frantic. And the material is cruder and more lowbrow. Running time: 90 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity).
INSIDE MAN —*** — As much a mystery as it is a thriller, this suspenseful bank-heist film combines elements of both "Dog Day Afternoon" and "The Usual Suspects." Denzel Washington stars. Running time: 129 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, racial epithets, brief drugs, brief gore).
KING KONG — *** 1/2 — The giant ape is the most noble and sympathetic cast member in director Peter Jackson's handsome and exciting period remake of the 1933 classic. Running time: 187 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, gore, drugs).
LARRY THE CABLE GUY: HEALTH INSPECTOR — * —Team Cable Guy has made a junky, throwaway comedy that will almost certainly appeal to his fans, for at least the first half hour. Then it runs out of gas. Or jokes. Running time: 89 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, sex, profanity).— Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN —** — This over-plotted revenge-thriller starring Josh Hartnett is a little too pleased with itself. Running time: 104 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity, sex, brief nudity, brief drugs, racial epithets).
MATCH POINT — *** 1/2 — Woody Allen returns to form with this erotic thriller, which has a distinct, refreshing European feel to it. Running time: 124 minutes. R (sex, violence, profanity, brief drugs).
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA — ** —Director Rob Marshall's adaptation of the best-selling novel — with non-Japanese actresses Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li— is beautiful-looking but empty-headed. Running time: 145 minutes. PG-13 (violence, sex, vulgarity, mild profanity).
MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS — ** 1/2 —This pre-World War II period comedy-drama stars Judi Dench as the owner of a burlesque theater, but it stumbles when it takes a serious turn. Running time: 103 minutes. R (nudity, vulgarity, violence, profanity, brief sex, ethnic slurs).
NANNY MCPHEE — * 1/2 — It's hard to believe this charmless comic fantasy was written by Emma Thompson, who won an Oscar for her "Sense and Sensibility" screenplay. Running time: 98 minutes. PG (slapstick violence, vulgarity, mild profanity).
NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD — *** — An enjoyable no-frills concert film that serves as a folk counterpoint to Young's more rocking "Rust Never Sleeps." Running time: 103 minutes. PG (brief drugs, nude artwork).
PHAT GIRLZ —** — While this comedy about big women living in a "fattist" society is an overdue eye-opener, it's uneven and self-indulgent.. Running time: 99 minutes. PG-13 (sex, vulgarity, profanity).— Hanh Nguyen, Zap2it.com
THE PINK PANTHER — ** — This "prequel" to the classic Blake Edwards comedies isn't a cinematic train wreck. It's just dumb. Steve Martin stars. Running time: 93 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, brief drugs).
THE PRODUCERS — ** —The constant mugging and smirking of Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane makes this film version of the smash Broadway musical-comedy nearly insufferable. Running time: 134 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, slapstick violence, brief sex, racial epithets, nude artwork).
THE SHAGGY DOG — * 1/2 — The latest remake of the much-filmed Disney concept is much more low-brow than any of the previous incarnations. Tim Allen stars. Running time: 99 minutes. PG (vulgarity, violence, drugs, mild profanity).
SHE'S THE MAN —** — Amanda Bynes stars in this for-teens update of Shakespeare's gender-bending "Twelfth Night." Crude jokes and dumb slapstick eventually bring it down. Running time: 105 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity).
SLITHER —*** — A clever, maniacally paced twist on B-movie slimefests that features a wicked sense of parody. Running time: 96 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity).— David Germain, Associated Press
STAY ALIVE — * — This horror film has creepy, spectral presences and gruesome, too-young deaths. And it can't make them the least bit frightening. Running time: 85 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, brief sex, brief drugs).— Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
SUITS ON THE LOOSE — ** — This predictable, flat-footed comedy about mistaken identity does try harder than most LDS-centric films, but it's just not funny. Running time: 93 minutes. PG (vulgarity, violence, mild profanity, brief drugs).
TAKE THE LEAD —** 1/2 — This drama is redeemed somewhat by its plentiful dancing scenes, as well as the charismatic lead performance given by Antonio Banderas. Running time: 115 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence, brief drugs, racial epithets).
THANK YOU FOR SMOKING —*** 1/2 — The movie adaptation of Christopher Buckley's best-selling satirical novel is a smart, funny and often perceptive work. Aaron Eckhart stars. Running time: 91 minutes. R (profanity, sex, drugs, vulgarity, violence).
THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA — ** 1/2 — Tommy Lee Jones' feature filmmaking debut boasts some solid performances, as well as a bizarre and dark sense of humor. Running time: 116 minutes. R (profanity, violence, gore, sex, brief nudity, racial epithets, vulgarity, brief drugs).
TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK & BULL STORY — *** — Your enjoyment of this British "mockumentary" may depend on whether you find its star, Steve Coogan, amusing. Running time: 94 minutes. R (vulgarity, profanity, violence, sex, brief nudity, brief gore, brief drugs).
TSOTSI —*** 1/2 — This year's Oscar winner for best foreign-language film says a lot, even when it appears to be saying nothing. With subtitles. Running time: 94 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, brief gore, brief partial nudity).
ULTRAVIOLET — * — Milla Jovovich stars in this overstyled, deafening and incoherent, futuristic re-envisioning of the 1980 John Cassavetes film "Gloria." Running time: 88 minutes. PG-13 (violence, partial nudity, profanity). — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
V FOR VENDETTA —*** 1/2 — Terrorist plot lines may make this futuristic film about a masked vigilante seem controversial, but it's a thought-provoking suspense-thriller. Running time: 130 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, drugs, vulgarity, torture, brief nudity).
WHEN A STRANGER CALLS — ** 1/2 —This remake of the 1979 horror hit proves there's pleasure to be had just from watching a tale unfold precisely as you know it must. Running time: 87 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity).— Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN — *** 1/2 — Anthony Hopkins' loose, likable performance as New Zealand legend Burt Munro propels this motorcycle-racing drama, which has surprising heart and warmth. Running time: 127 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, violence).