Opening in Wide release:
- The Day the Earth Stood Still - In this remake of the 1950s sci-fi parable, Keanu Reeves stars as an alien with a warning for all humans: live in peace or be destroyed. I don't think the special effects look all that great, but on the other hand Reeves looks like a perfect choice to play the alien. And Jennifer Connelly's in the film too, so that pretty much guarantees that I'll see it at some point. Rated PG-13.
- Delgo - A fantasy epic about a teenager who must rally his friends to protect their world from conflict between two warring nations. There's no getting around it; this movie looks seriously FUGLY. I have no idea how this movie even got made, let alone a major release. If you watch the trailer and really want to see it, then go for it; I'm staying as far away from this film as possible. Rated PG.
- Nothing Like the Holidays - Secrets are revealed and bonds are tested when the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family reunites for the holidays. Don't get it twisted though; this is a comedy about the members of a dysfunctional-but-loving family coming back together for Christmas. Not exactly original, but the movie looks very funny and heartwarming. Rated PG-13.
Opening in Limited release:
- The Reader - Years after a passionate affair with an older woman, a law student meets her again when she is on trial as a Nazi war criminal. Stars Kate Winslet as the woman and Ralph Fiennes as the older version of the boy retelling the story. This looks like a good and powerful movie that I definitely want to see. Rated R.
- Wendy and Lucy - A woman's life is derailed when her car breaks down and she loses her dog while on the way to a summer job in Alaska. Stars Michelle Williams, whose career has recently been overshadowed by the death of her ex-husband Heath Ledger. But this looks movie looks like proof that she's a strong actor as well. Rated R.
- Che/Che Part 1 - Benicio Del Toro stars in the story of Che Guevara's rise in the Cuban Revolution, from doctor to rebel to revolutionary hero. How they're releasing this film is more than a little confusing: see, the movie's about four hours long, so starting next month they're going to release the first half of the film and then release the second separately in February, but for right now they're releasing the entire film in certain cities to qualify for the Oscars this year. But what's not hard to figure out is that the film looks great, so see it however you can. Rated R.
- Dark Streets - A 1930s night club owner gets entangled in love, lies and betrayal amidst menacing loan sharks and the darkness of city blackouts. This is a strange, intriguing, dreamlike movie. But is it good? I have no idea. Rated R.
- Doubt - Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman star in a drama about a nun who accuses a Catholic priest of abusing a black student. Amy Adams from "Enchanted" also stars. This film had a great cast and is one of the bigger Oscar hopefuls. But personally I think it doesn't look that great; it looks too stage-y and self-important. It was based on a play, and you can really tell (in a bad way). Rated PG-13.
- Gran Torino - Clint Eastwood directs and stars as a grumpy Korean War veteran who must protect the neighborhood from the threat of street gangs. This is the second film Eastwood directed this year, along with "Changeling." It looks intriguing for sure, but I'm not really sure what type of movie it's trying to be. And raspy-voiced Clint Eastwood singlehandedly taking on the scum of the streets is a little too reminiscent of Christian Bale's Batman. Rated R.
- Timecrimes - A man accidentally travels to the past and meets himself there, setting off a series of disasters with unforeseeable consequences. This is a foreign low-budget sci-fi film. It looks strange, not particularly interesting. I'd skip this one. Rated R.
- What Doesn't Kill You - Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke are buddies from Boston's mean streets trying to escape a life of crime--the only life they know. This is based on the true story of the film's writer/director (he also co-stars), and it looks to be a strong and powerful film. I definitely want to see this movie. Rated R.
- $9.99 - A stop-motion animated story about several people living in a Sydney apartment complex looking for meaning in their lives. Every once and awhile we get one of these weird, completely different and thoroughly original movies. If you like things that are truly off the beaten path, then this film is definitely something you should check out. Not rated, but definitely a film for older audiences.
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