New in theaters

'Chicago 10' blends animation and archival footage to revisit the riots at the 1968 Democratic convention; Reese Witherspoon and Christina Ricci star in a fairy tale about a girl born with a pig's snout.

from the February 29, 2008 edition

New in theaters

Chicago 10 (R)

Director: Brett Morgen. With the voices of Dylan Baker, Hank Azaria. (103 min.)

Utilizing both archival footage and capture-motion animation, "Chicago 10" is a documentary that will work best for audiences already familiar with the riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention and the notorious trial of the uprising's ringleaders that ensued. Director Brett Morgen provides so little context to the goings on that even Robert Kennedy's assassination goes unremarked. Worth seeing for the expert archival selections, but a decidedly mixed bag for anyone familiar, or unfamiliar, with the times. Grade: B – Peter Rainer

Penelope (R)

Director: Mark Palansky. With Christina Ricci, Reese Witherspoon. (102 min.)

Christina Ricci plays a young woman who, thanks to a curse, was born with a pig snout instead of a nose. We are supposed to be aghast at the deformity but, actually, she looks kind of cute. She can only lose the snout if, according to legend, she finds a suitor who will love her forever. After many horrified turn-downs, a promising candidate emerges (James McAvoy). This half-baked fairy tale always seems to be on the verge of becoming charming but despite a good cast it never quite succeeds. Grade: B– – P.R.