Movie Guide
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Director: Ridley Scott. With Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, David Thewlis, Jeremy Irons. (138 min.)
Sterritt ** Scott turns to history again in this epic about crusaders fighting Muslims in the Holy Land several centuries ago. The screenplay aims for relevance to current world conflicts, but the story's medieval setting and the camera's obsession with action, action, action dilutes its potential as sober commentary. Adventure fans should like it, and while Bloom isn't an ideal hero, he's almost messianic compared with zero-charisma Colin Farrell in the awful "Alexander."
Director: Charles Dance. With Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Daniel Bruhl, Natasha McElhone. (103 min.)
Sterritt *** Two elderly women find a young musician stranded on shore after a shipwreck during the World War II era and decide, for differing reasons, to nurse him back to health. Dance's directorial debut isn't exciting, but it's deeply felt and engagingly acted. Why doesn't he take more advantage of the story's
opportunities for fine music, though?
Director: Breck Eisner. With Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, Steve Zahn, William H. Macy. (127 min.)
Sterritt * American adventurers (McConaughey, Zahn) search for a Civil War ship that's wound up buried in an African desert, teaming up with a humanitarian physician (Cruz) and stumbling on a plague of toxic chemicals in the process. The action thriller takes place in Nigeria and Mali, which are little more than exotic backdrops for standard buddy-movie maneuvers - lots of chasing, shooting, and wise-cracking; little of anything else.
XXX: State of the Union (PG-13)
Director: Lee Tamahori. With Ice Cube, Willem Dafoe, Nona M. Gaye, Samuel L. Jackson, Scott Speedman. (101 min.)
Sterritt ** Sequel to "XXX" with Cube taking over Vin Diesel's role as a supersecret government agent operating on (and beyond) the fringes of the law. This time he needs to save the president from a coup engineered by the secretary of defense, who thinks the US should flaunt its military strength more aggressively. Most of the movie is standard action fare, but the political commentary is interesting.
Director: Paul Weitz. With Dennis Quaid. Scarlett Johansson, Topher Grace. (110 min.)
Staff *** An entertaining and on-point film that explores Quaid's dilemma when he is demoted - only to be replaced with a scamp half his age (Grace), who also happens to be romancing his daughter. Viewers will enjoy commentary by the cast and crew, which adds context to the film, while some deleted scenes are just as funny as the movie itself. By Elizabeth Owuor
Director: Christophe Barratier. With Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, and Kad Merad. (96 min.)
Staff *** At a school for troubled boys in postwar France, Monsieur Mathieu, the new teacher, confronts sullen pupils, apathetic colleagues, and a vindictive headmaster. He eventually teaches the boys to sing, bringing meaning and even joy into their lives. The familiar plot is completely transformed by well-drawn and finely acted characters, especially Jugnot as the compassionate and lonely teacher. The soundtrack soars with ethereal boy voices and a poignant orchestral score. Sadly, there aren't any bonus features. By April Austin
