On the Screen
****: Excellent***: Good
**: Average
*: Poor
**1/2 40-Year Old Virgin, The
Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) is the consummate dork who collects action figures, bikes to work, and stays far away from women. Without any friends, there’s no one to tell him what he’s missing. The generally artificial scenes and outrageously unbelievable characters are not noticed much because the movie makes you laugh so hard that you can barely put more popcorn in your mouth. (Yong-yi Zhu)
** A History of Violence
After killing two men in his diner out of self defense, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is forced to confront his past by the mob. There is a moment during the film when you wonder what it’s all about, not because it’s too deep, but because too many things are happening and nothing seems to come together. (Yong-yi Zhu)
*1/2 Aristocrats, The
This film features Hollywood notables delivering and analyzing what co-creator Penn Jilette touts as “the dirtiest joke you will ever hear.” And with the rabid incest, bestiality, child rape, and bodily fluids (and solids), hopefully it is. The joke — too vulgar to repeat in any form here — isn’t even funny. (Kathy Lin)
** Broken Flowers
Bill Murray is Don Johnston, a modern-day Don Juan who one day discovers an unsigned letter in a pink envelope — one of his relationships 20 years ago apparently yielded a son. He embarks on a cross-country journey to visit four former girlfriends and hopefully find the anonymous mother. The lack of a convincing plot, and more importantly, a point, means that those two hours of your life are better spent elsewhere. (Kelley Rivoire)
***1/2 Brothers Grimm, The
The movie follows the adventures of the brothers Grimm, the fairy tale authors who go around French-occupied Germany at the end of the 18th century ridding villages of evil that their buddies are cooking up. But their adventures take a turn for the worse when the French government summons them to investigate what appears to be genuine witchcrafty evilness. Humor, adventure, and crazy violence ensue. (Bill Andrews)
***1/2 Constant Gardener, The
Though this may appear to be a film about the drug companies taking advantage of Africans, it is in fact a story about what a man will do for a woman he loves with every ounce of his strength. If you want a smart film that’s not only well done but is also pleasing to watch, this is a must. (Yong-yi Zhu)
***1/2 Corpse Bride
Tim Burton’s latest feature is a dark-hued romantic fantasy, which combines an unconventional story with subtle satire and unusual cinematographic techniques to deliver a truly delectable treat. Factor in the vocal talents of a remarkable cast and Danny Elfman’s sparkling music, and there you have a masterpiece you won’t regret watching over and over again. (Bogdan Fedeles)
**** March of the Penguins
Capturing a range of stunning images from the lighthearted, with penguins coasting along the ice on their bellies, to the majestic, with a seemingly infinite line of penguins marching to the sea and jagged walls of ice, this documentary surely pulls at the heartstrings of all who watch it. (Kelley Rivoire)
***1/2 Murderball
Murderball, the original name of quadriplegic rugby, was invented in Canada in 1979. The movie excels most when it relates the lives of its players to ours through familiar activities. Moreover, it gracefully portrays the impact of the sport on the journey quadriplegics travel, from coping with their condition to parenthood. (Kapil Amarnath)
** Must Love Dogs
John Cusack and Diane Lane, both recently divorced, predictably fall in love after a bumpy initial relationship, the result of meddling on the internet by pushy friends and family. My showing was attended primarily by groups of old ladies and slightly awkward, lonely-looking men, and unless you fall into one of those groups, I’d suggest skipping this one. (Kathy Lin)
*** Proof
Hollywood once again successfully brings together mathematical genius and mental illness. Katie (Gwyneth Paltrow) struggles with finding her place in the world and her own emergence as a mathematician. For the first time on the big screen is a woman whose experiences highlight important challenges facing women in math and science today. (Kathy Lin)
**1/2 Red Eye
It’s 2 a.m., your flight’s been delayed three times already, and you have a fear of flying to boot. And on top of that, the cute guy you were flirting with before boarding turns out to be a sadistic freak working for terrorists. If you can relate, then perhaps “Red Eye” is the right movie for you. Even though it is a thriller, and not the traditional horror we’ve come to know and love from director Wes Craven, there are still many scares and suspenseful moments. (Bill Andrews)
**1/2 Wedding Crashers
Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn never seem to do their real jobs as divorce mediators; instead they crash weddings on a regular basis (going to weddings uninvited, drinking free booze, and meeting, then sleeping with girls there). If you’re looking for a lighthearted summer comedy with some stupid humor and superfluous sex, then “Wedding Crashers” may be the perfect movie for you. (Yong-yi Zhu)
Compiled by Kevin Der
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