NEW FILMS FRIDAY
ONE MISSED CALL — Americanized remake of the 2003 Japanese horror hit, about people receiving cryptic phone messages. To be reviewed next week, running time: 87 minutes, PG-13 (violence, sex)
ROMANCE & CIGARETTES — **— It doesn't matter how strong this musical comedy-drama's cast is. This is unpleasant stuff. Complete review on Page W3, running time: 106 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, sex, violence, slurs, brief drugs)
SMILEY FACE — ** 1/2— A contradiction in terms: a "stoner" comedy with a purpose. Complete review on Page W4, running time: 85 minutes, R (sex, vulgarity, profanity, drugs)—Matt Zoller Seitz, New York Times News Service
RE-RELEASES
ERASERHEAD — ** 1/2— David Lynch's first feature, a bizarre 1977 fantasy, has gained cult status. It's strictly for his devotees, though. Black and white, running time: 108 minutes, not rated, probable R (violence, gore, vulgarity)
MIDNIGHT MOVIES
NATIONAL LAMPOON PRESENTS ELECTRIC APRICOT: QUEST FOR FESTEROO — Musician Les Claypool (Primus) directed this jam-band mockumentary. Running time: 85 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, sex, drugs) (Through Thursday: Brewvies, must be 21 or older)
ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS — This 1973 musical documentary captures David Bowie's last in-concert performance as his Ziggy Stardust persona. Running time: 90 minutes, PG (vulgarity, drug references)(Tonight and Saturday: Tower)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
BATTLING BUTLER — Buster Keaton stars as the title character in this 1926 comedy. Live musical accompaniment, black and white, running time: 71 minutes, made before ratings, probable G (nothing offensive) (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: Organ Loft)
INTO THE WILD — **— See listing under "Continuing films." (Tonight and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 6 p.m.: Park City Library)
SALT LAKE CITY FILM CENTER SCREENINGS — This week's movies are the Japanese animated features "The Cat Returns" and "My Neighbor Totoro," as well as the documentaries "De Nadie" and "Reserved to Fight." (Saturday, 1 p.m.; Monday, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 7 p.m.: Salt Lake City Library)
LARGE-FORMAT FILMS
DINOSAURS 3-D: GIANTS OF PATAGONIA — *** — The makers of this IMAX science film get us about as close as we'd ever want to be to these enormous creatures. Running time: 48 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence) —Jeff Strickler, Star-Tribune (Minneapolis)
DINOSAURS ALIVE! — Large-screen documentary featuring computerized re-creations of Jurassic-era carnivores and other creatures. Running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence)
I AM LEGEND IMAX — The new science-fiction thriller, shown in the large-screen format. (Jordan Commons)
SEA MONSTERS: A PREHISTORIC ADVENTURE — *** — What makes this IMAX mini-feature stand out from the pack is its eye-popping visuals. Running time: 40 minutes, not rated, probable PG (violence) —John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
SPACE STATION 3-D — Tom Cruise narrates this documentary short about the International Space Station crew. Running time: 47 minutes, not rated, probable G (nothing offensive)
CONTINUING FILMS
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE — **— The Beatles song covers are the highlight of this muddled, overlong musical fantasy/romance. Running time: 134 minutes, PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, drugs, nudity, brief sex, slurs, brief gore)
ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: REQUIEM — ** 1/2— Not classic sci-fi like the original "Alien," but it's a perfectly respectable next step in the series. Running time: 86 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity) —Neil Genzlinger, New York Times News Service
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS — **— Not as eye-gougingly awful as you might expect, this live-action version is simply mediocre and immediately forgettable. Running time: 92 minutes, PG (vulgarity, violence, mild profanity)
AMERICAN GANGSTER — ** 1/2— Denzel Washington's performance is terrific, but this crime thriller takes too long trying to find the center of its story. Running time: 157 minutes, R (violence, drugs, profanity, gore, nudity, sex, slurs, torture)
ATONEMENT — ***— A reasonably engaging period piece that suggests Keira Knightley is at her best in "costume dramas." Running time: 128 minutes, R (profanity, violence, sex, vulgarity, gore, partial nudity, drugs)
AUGUST RUSH — **— A revisionist version of "Oliver Twist" that's so ridiculous and sappy it defies the best efforts of a pretty good cast. Running time: 114 minutes, PG (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief drugs)
BECOMING JANE — ***— This fictionalized drama about author Jane Austen is well-acted. Running time: 113 minutes, PG (vulgarity, violence, brief nudity, mild profanity, brief sex, slurs)
BEE MOVIE — ***— In many respects, this animated comedy starring Jerry Seinfeld is more educational and more exciting than it is laugh-out-loud funny. Running time: 90 minutes, PG (vulgarity, violence, brief drugs)
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD — ***— Veteran director Sidney Lumet's latest is one of the most gut-wrenching thrillers in recent memory. Philip Seymour Hoffman stars. Running time: 116 minutes, R (profanity, violence, nudity, sex, drugs, vulgarity, brief gore, slurs)
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM — ***— The third Bourne film begins with an exciting foot-chase scene and doesn't let up. Running time: 111 minutes, PG-13 (violence, drugs, profanity, torture, brief gore)
CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR — ***— A mostly amusing film that features smart performances and even smarter dialogue. Tom Hanks stars. Running time: 97 minutes, R (profanity, violence, nudity, drugs, vulgarity, brief sex, slurs, brief gore)
DAN IN REAL LIFE — ***— A pretty warm, genuine comedy that succeeds, at least in part, because of some gutsy casting choices. Steve Carell stars. Running time: 95 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, mild profanity, violence, brief partial nudity)
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE — **— There is little in this "Golden Age'" to distinguish it from other filmed royal soap operas. Cate Blanchett stars. Running time: 114 minutes, PG-13 (violence, sex, nudity) —Eleanor O'Sullivan, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press
ENCHANTED — ***— Amy Adams enchants as a fairy-tale princess trapped in the real world in this cheeky romantic comedy/fantasy. Running time: 95 minutes, PG (violence, mild vulgarity, mild profanity, nude art)
FRED CLAUS — **— Your enjoyment of this so-so Yule comedy may depend on how you feel about motor-mouthed Vince Vaughn. Running time: 114 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity)
THE GAME PLAN — **— This attempt to make Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson "cute and cuddly" is not horrible. But it is overly familiar and too long. Running time: 110 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs)
THE GOLDEN COMPASS — **— A muddled, confusing fantasy that adds up to little more than the "Yawn-icles of Narnia." Running time: 113 minutes, PG-13 (violence)
THE GREAT DEBATERS — ** 1/2— This fact-based drama directed by and starring Denzel Washington settles for being merely watchable. Running time: 123 minutes, PG-13 (violence, slurs, profanity, brief sex, vulgarity)
HITMAN — **— A dopey action-thriller based on a video game, which tells you everything you need to know about the film. Running time: 100 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, nudity, torture, drugs, vulgarity, brief sex)
I AM LEGEND — ***— More of an improved "Omega Man" remake than a faithful adaptation of Richard Matheson's story. Will Smith stars. Running time: 100 minutes, PG-13 (violence, gore, drugs, profanity)
I'M NOT THERE — ** 1/2— Todd Haynes' odd biography of Bob Dylan is probably of less interest to those who aren't already fans of Dylan or his music. Running time: 135 minutes, R (violence, profanity, drugs, sex, vulgarity, nudity, slurs, brief gore)
INTO THE WILD — ****— Sean Penn's adaptation of the best-selling book is touching, thoughtful, sad, funny, sweet and ultimately redemptive — all at once. Running time: 149 minutes, R (violence, profanity, nudity, gore, brief sex, vulgarity, brief drugs)
JUNO — ****— A warm and smart, sometimes-crude, teen-pregnancy comedy filled with witty dialogue and genuine emotion. Running time: 97 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, brief drugs, brief gore, slurs)
THE KITE RUNNER — **— A cinematic "Cliffs Notes" version of Khaled Hosseini's best-selling book. With subtitles, running time: 122 minutes, PG-13 (violence, profanity, rape, slurs, vulgarity, brief gore)
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL — ***— This quirky comedy treats some potentially offensive material with surprising taste and restraint. Running time: 106 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, mild profanity, brief drugs, slurs)
MARGOT AT THE WEDDING — ** 1/2 — An at-times grueling, dysfunctional family comedy-drama. Nicole Kidman stars. Running time: 92 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, brief sex, brief nudity, violence)
MARTIAN CHILD — **— The second half of this comedy-drama starring John Cusack gets pretty messy and is a little too dark. Running time: 108 minutes, not rated, probable R (violence, gore, profanity, nudity, brief drugs)
MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM — ***— It starts to lose some of its magic about midway through, but this family-friendly comic fantasy has some charms. Running time: 94 minutes, G (slapstick violence, mild vulgarity)
NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS — **— Not without a few goofy thrills, but we've seen most — if not all — of this done better before. Running time: 124 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity)
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN — *** 1/2— A well-acted and tense thriller, the Coen brothers' most assured accomplished movie in years. Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones star. Running time: 117 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, vulgarity, slurs)
P.S. I LOVE YOU — **— Hilary Swank seems out of sorts in this two hour-long sitcom. Running time: 126 minutes, PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, brief partial nudity, slapstick violence, slurs, brief drugs)
RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION — *— Cut-rate Laura Croft Milla Jovovich hasn't had much luck turning this hit Z-movie franchise into a career renewal.Running time: 95 minutes, R (violence, gore, nudity) —Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
SAW IV — *— The hit, "torture-porn" movies have "bled out," growing weaker and weaker in their excruciating, squirm-inducing scenes. Running time: 108 minutes, R (violence, gore, torture, profanity)—Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
STEEP — ** 1/2—This extreme-skiing documentary often sounds like a promotional film. Running time: 92 minutes, PG (violence, profanity) —Stephen Holden, New York Times News Service
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET — *** 1/2— Tim Burton's sometimes-gory adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical is bloody good fun. Johnny Depp stars. Running time: 116 minutes, R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, nude art)
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY — ** 1/2— There are some laugh-out-loud moments in this musical biography spoof, but it's very R-rated. Running time: 95 minutes, R (vulgarity, drugs, nudity, profanity, violence, sex, slurs, brief gore)
THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP — ***—The boy-and-his-creature fantasy has some genuine appeal, much of it being the talented European cast. Running time: 108 minutes, PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity)
WE OWN THE NIGHT — **— James Gray's crime thriller squanders a lot of opportunities, as well as a first-rate cast. Joaquin Phoenix stars. Running time: 116 minutes, R (violence, profanity, drugs, sex, gore, vulgarity, nudity, slurs, torture)