Now showing: Mini-reviews of current films

By North County Times | Wednesday, April 16, 2008 12:55 PM PDT ∞

C- "21"

Glossy and see-through Las Vegas crime nonthriller, story of a small group of smart-aleck, smarty-pants M.I.T. students who team to count cards in Las Vegas and win big at blackjack. Trouble arrives when the group can't always get along, and becomes overconfident. Then suddenly, danger. Fashion and music trump intrigue and intelligence in this bore enjoying more in common with "Josie and the Pussycats" than "Casino." PG-13. 122 min. (Dan Bennett)

D "10,000 BC"

A mix of vast CGI spectacle and small, silly moments, the prehistoric saga "10,000 BC" is an epic in name only. Rather, the film feels more like a video game in film form. The hero must protect his people from woolly mammoths and a saber-toothed tiger while rescuing the love of his life. And the dialogue is so bad, you almost wish someone would say something as silly as "Lana, zug zug," as they did in the 1981 Ringo Starr comedy "Caveman." PG-13. 109 min. (Associated Press)

B "Bra Boys"

Rough-and-tumble Aussie documentary about a notorious group of surfers in a rundown beach town near Sydney, who for decades have battled public perception concerning their sometimes lawless ways. The doc, narrated by Russell Crowe, tells of one family within the Bra Boys that seeks to change perceptions ---- no easy gamble. Gritty social portrait mixes with daredevil surfing scenes. R. 84 min. (Dan Bennett)

C "The Counterfeiters"

The hero of Austria's "The Counterfeiters," set during the Holocaust, is not some high-minded Jewish intellectual or oppressed family man, but a crook: Salomon Sorowitsch (Karl Markovics), a wormy and physically unattractive fellow whom, in the "Cabaret" world of pre-Nazi Berlin, we first meet as a master forger. When Hitler comes to power, Sorowitsch finds himself in the Sachsenhausen camp, where he's soon recruited by the camp commander to use his skills to lead an in-camp operation to counterfeit British and American currency that the Nazis can use to flood, and thus destabilize, the enemy economies. As this scheme (based on the Nazis' real-life Operation Bernhard) goes into high gear, Salomon enjoys the artistic challenge and the special treatment he gets, but he's soon torn by the reality that he's helping the Nazis win the war. R. 98 min. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

C "Drillbit Taylor"

Judd Apatow produced, Stephen Brill ("Little Nicky") directed and Seth Rogen co-wrote the script about a trio of high school nerds who hire a bodyguard to protect themselves from a psychotic bully. Owen Wilson is the same low-key guy as usual, playing the titular Santa Monica homeless dude who pretends to have special-ops training to get the gig. Young stars Nate Hartley, Troy Gentile and David Dorfman have a likable, goofy chemistry with each other, and the fact that they're up-and-comers makes them more believable. But once you get past the premise, there's just nowhere to go. PG-13. 102 min. (Associated Press)

C "Flawless"

A mildly diverting heist movie in which an odd couple conspire to loot an evil London diamond company, "Flawless" is most notable for having Michael Caine and Demi Moore as co-stars. The the movie tries to be both a throwback to more innocent caper films and to lecture us on "blood diamonds," and the ending is a mess. PG-13. 105 min. (The New York Times)

C "The Grand"

Anyone other than those already addicted to watching poker on TV will find this mockumentary tough going. The gimmick here is that much of the film is improvised, with the actors playing a real poker tournament in character. The cast ---- Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, Dennis Farina, Ray Romano and many others ---- are talented enough, but don't seem on top of their game here. R. 104 min. (San Francisco Chronicle)

B+ "Horton Hears A Who"

Swell adaptation of the 50-year-old Dr. Seuss classic, the animated story of the elephant Horton (voice of Jim Carrey) who discovers the existence of the tiny community of Who-ville inside a speck of dust, and works furiously to save Who-ville from the reckless actions of his jungle compatriots. A friendly and eventful plea for all voices to be heard, no matter how small. Not a perfect rendering, but true to the book, funny and spirited. With Steve Carell, Carol Burnett. G. 88 min. (Dan Bennett)

B- "In Bruges"

Respected Irish playwright Martin McDonagh takes his first stab at a feature-length movie script and comes up with a hit-and-miss effort. Two Irish hit men are sent to the medieval town in Belgium to hide after a murder attempt goes bad. Too often, McDonagh engages in cliche or obvious plot devices. R. 107 min. (The Boston Globe)

C "Leatherheads"

George Clooney's romp plays everything safe, offering up all the solid defensive moves it needs. Great period costumes, jazzy music, 1920s slang, all of which combine for a nice re-creation of the feel of the era, with Renee Zellweger a sound choice to play a saucy reporter opposite Clooney's gridiron grunt. Yet the movie never takes any risks, never goes on the offensive. It's all perfectly pat, and sadly, perfectly boring, for the most part. PG-13. 114 min. (Associated Press)

C+ "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day"

As the title implies, this fairy tale for adults, starring Frances McDormand as a frumpy governess and Amy Adams as the giddy actress who takes her on as a social secretary, only gradually learns how to get a life. After a slow and tiresome start, the film forges ahead with true British fortitude and class, an endearing bond forming between McDormand and Adams, who are ably backed by a top-notch supporting cast led by Ciaran Hinds and Shirley Henderson. PG-13. 92 min. (Associated Press)

B+ "Nim's Island"

Family adventure-comedy stars young Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") as Nim, living on a beautiful desert island with her scientist father. When her dad disappears, Nim seeks help by e-mailing adventure-writer Alex Rover, whose books she has read with admiration. When it turns out Alex is actually a shy, reclusive woman (Jodie Foster) afraid to leave her apartment, the challenge begins for both. A fun and spry outing with gorgeous scenery and a good message about pressing forward despite the odds. PG. 95 min. (Dan Bennett)

C "The Other Boleyn Girl"

While the casting offered promise (va-va-voomy Scarlett Johansson playing sweet country girl Mary Boleyn and the pixieish Natalie Portman playing her scheming vixen of an older sister, Anne), too often this film comes off as an unintentionally campy, highbrow soap opera. Your eyes will probably roll before anyone's head does. PG-13. 114 min. (Associated Press)

B+ "Priceless"

Audrey Tautou stars as a golddigging schemer in the South of France, hooking up with the wealthy until they uncover her ruse. She meets an unlikely new partner in a hapless waiter (Gad Elmaleh), and tutors him in the art of seduction for purposes of treasure. Along the way, they sort of fall in love. A screwball comedy with heart from director Pierre Salvadori, in the Preston Sturges tradition. PG-13. 104 minutes. (Dan Bennett)

D "Prom Night"

It's not just the absence of Jamie Lee Curtis that makes this a lame effort. It's the fact that the movie is a watered-down version of a stalk 'n' slash flick, a genre that should be rated "R." This is rated PG-13 to draw in younger viewers. That tactic may work, but it certainly doesn't add to the quality of the screenplay or the film itself. PG-13. 90 min. (Quad City Times)

B- "Shine a Light"

There is no such thing as a blank slate with cultural icons like Martin Scorsese or the subject of his latest documentary, the Rolling Stones. Too much informs our viewing experience ---- and that's both one of the film's biggest strengths and weaknesses. Certainly, there's an allure to the familiarity of watching these guys run through old favorites like "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Brown Sugar." And yet, now that they're in their 60s, they almost seem like parodies of themselves. They still put on a tremendous show, though, and "Shine a Light" derives much of its warmth and energy from the intimacy of its setting: New York's Beacon Theatre. PG-13. 122 min. (Associated Press)

B- "Smart People"

Dennis Quaid plays a self-possessed, downward spiraling widower and college professor, unable to connect with his children, his bumbling adopted brother and anyone else close to him. The encouragement of a hospital physician leads to a possible rejuvenation, and perhaps romance. A wry but friendly comedy-drama maintaining that intelligence doesn't always equal happiness. With Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, Thomas Haden Church. R. 93 minutes. (Dan Bennett)

C- "Street Kings"

Director David Ayer pretty much remakes "Training Day," which he also wrote, complete with a rogue Los Angeles detective (Keanu Reeves), an idealistic sidekick (Chris Evans) and cameos from various rappers (Common and The Game in place of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg). Reeves stars as Tom Ludlow, who has long carried out dirty deeds for his dirty boss, Capt. Jack Wander (Forest Whitaker, eyes bulging and channeling Idi Amin once more). But when Ludlow is implicated in the murder of his former partner (Terry Crews), a do-gooder who'd been snitching to internal affairs, he must do some investigating of his own to defend himself. R. 107 min. (Associated Press)

C- "Superhero Movie"

An anything-goes spoof of the "Spider-Man," "Batman," "X-Men" and "Fantastic Four" movies ---- but mostly "Spider-Man" ---- "Superhero Movie" has a hit-to-misfire ratio of about 50-50, and it tilts further as the plot wears on, not in the movie's favor. "Superhero Movie" would make a decent long-form short on the "Funny or Die" web site, but at 85 minutes ---- 15 of which are outtake-heavy end credits ---- its powers of amiability wear off fast. PG-13. 85 min. (The Boston Globe)

B "Under the Same Moon"

A Mexican woman living in Los Angeles, played by Kate Del Castillo, looks for a way to bring her 9-year-old son from Mexico to live with her. Tired of waiting, the boy (Adrian Alonso), takes off on his own, crossing the Texas border in a potentially perilous journey to Los Angeles. An emotional family drama with some danger, also able to pull the heartstrings effectively. PG-13. 119 min. (Dan Bennett)