'A Christmas Carol': Another fantastical voyage for Jim Carrey and Ebenezer Scrooge
"Bah! Humbug!" (Updated: 11/06/09 4:12 PM )
'The Men Who Stare at Goats' : Extra special forces
It's called "The Men Who Stare at Goats" for a simple reason. The "psychic spies" of Lt. Col. Bill Django's unit are, in fact, trained to stare at goats, thinking homicidal thoughts, until their little hearts stop. (Updated: 11/06/09 8:59 AM )
‘The Fourth Kind’: Kind of succeeds in its creepiness
“I am actress Milla Jovovich,” says the gorgeous actress at the beginning of the alien abduction film “The Fourth Kind.” “Well, of course you are,” say veteran filmgoers. We’d recognize her anywhere — beautiful woman, pretty fair actress, too, as this film underscores. (Updated: 11/06/09 8:44 AM )
'Coco Before Chanel': A film with the same classic appeal as Chanel’s designs
“Coco Before Chanel” is a simple, elegant and well-crafted film with as much style and appeal as one of the iconic fashion designer’s legendary little black dresses. (Updated: 11/06/09 8:42 AM )
'This Is It': Jackson documentary is a fitting farewell
The title, at least, doesn't lie. This IS It. "The final curtain call" as Michael Jackson presciently put it when his comeback tour was announced. All those drugs saw to that. (Updated: 10/31/09 11:11 AM )
'The Damned United': A riveting look at legendary coach
A movie about one of the most celebrated and controversial masterminds of the world’s most popular sport is bound to be studied six ways from Sunday for inconsistencies and adherence to fact. (Updated: 10/31/09 11:15 AM )
'A Serious Man': Coen brothers deliver a brilliant film
The great Yiddish word for it is “tsurus.” Some people spell it “tsoris.” However you spell it, it means trouble and Larry Gopnik’s got it by the ton. (Updated: 10/31/09 11:14 AM )
‘Walt & El Grupo’: One too many shots of Disney
The year 1941 did not start off as a good one for Walt Disney. Although he had achieved critical success with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Pinocchio” and “Fantasia,” the war in Europe seriously interfered with his international profits, and he was several million dollars in debt. Then his animators went on strike, creating a PR nightmare and grinding production to a halt. (Updated: 10/23/09 9:38 AM )
'Amelia': Earhart bio pic is Swank-y but not very good
I didn’t know Amelia Earhart had freckles. After the wall-to-wall close-ups of Hilary Swank’s cosmetically freckled face in “Amelia,” it’s just about the only new thing you know for sure when the movie is over. (Updated: 10/23/09 9:37 AM )
'Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant': Made-for-fun 'horror' flick could use more laughs
“Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” is sort of a “Twilight”-lite. It’s about vampires and it’s about teenagers. But where “Twilight” vamps down Romance Novel Road, “Freak,” based on Darren Shan’s novels, is a lark and in this case, the laughs are intentional. (Updated: 10/23/09 8:48 AM )
'Astro Boy': Thin plot line keeps animated feature in low orbit
Lovely dollops of wit and warmth float through the big screen version of “Astro Boy,” the latest Japanese TV cartoon to make it to the big screen. But the look, themes and slam-bang “Transformers” violence of that 1960s animated series make this every bit as dated as “Speed Racer,” even if it is easier to watch. (Updated: 10/23/09 8:46 AM )
‘Good Hair’: Chris Rock documentary works despite a few tangles
In the world of hair— especially women’s hair— whatever you’ve got is whatever you don’t want. (Updated: 10/22/09 11:29 AM )
'Law Abiding Citizen': Sadistic streak runs through revenge thriller
“Law Abiding Citizen” is a glib, brutal and preposterous revenge fantasy, a take-the-law-in-your-own-hands rabble rouser that taps into a lot of fears and genuine gripes about the American legal system. It’s the sort of movie Mel Gibson or Clint Eastwood might have made back in the day — a man survives the slaughter of his family by thugs and sets out to get even, and then some. (Updated: 10/16/09 8:59 AM )
‘The Boys Are Back’: A dramedy without a lot of depth
The title “The Boys Are Back” might evoke a rollicking, PG-rated version of a buddy movie, a la “The Hangover” without the alcohol, but do not be fooled. (Updated: 10/16/09 8:49 AM )
'The Burning Plain': Weak dialogue, surprises abound in Arriaga’s tragedy
“T he Burning Plain” suffers too often from tediously spare and unconvincing dialogue, but the film and its beautiful cinematography are ultimately sustained by the surprise it packs at its core. (Updated: 10/16/09 8:31 AM )
