Kansas City Star: Movie Reviews

‘New Moon' shines brighter than its ‘Twilight' predecessor | 2 ½ stars

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00 CST

A marginal improvement on last year’s “Twilight,” “New Moon” is a bit like being locked in a room for two hours with a very moody teenager. The people most likely to appreciate the experience are other moody teens … and moms who remember what it was like to be a moody teen.

‘The Blind Side': You'll cheer with a lump in your throat | 3 stars

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

“The Blind Side” flirts with terminal cuteness but wins us over, thanks to a lump-in-the-throat real-life story of selflessness and triumph. It also helps that Sandra Bullock steps out of her romantic comedy mode to give one of her better performances. And that the film introduces a charismatic newcomer in Quinton Aaron.

‘Precious' is loaded with powerful performances | 3 stars

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

Few movies merit the kind of breathless praise that has been heaped upon “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” It’s a good movie, but it’s not that good.

‘An Education': A lesson in the talents of Carey Mulligan | 3 stars

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

Always a pleasure to eavesdrop on the beginning of a major career. That could the case with Carey Mulligan, the 24-year-old British actress who in “An Education” often outshines a supporting cast of great actors.

‘Planet 51' never takes off | 2 stars

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

How might a kid — OK, a teenager — protect himself from that dreaded fate described in legions of sci-fi movies (including “The Fourth Kind”), the anal probe? If you weren’t thinking “champagne cork,” you were way off, according to the sci-fi kids cartoon “Planet 51.” A genial but generic riff on sci-fi movie history, “Planet” has barely enough slapstick to keep the kids interested. Children won’t get the many sci-fi movie references — or the cork gag — and adults probably won’t find them that funny.

‘Revanche': A psychological brain twister | 3 stars

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

‘Revanche’ ★★★ Not rated | Time:2:01

‘2012': With special effects it's not a total disaster | 2 stars

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

Now we know how the world ends — with a whimper, a very loud whimper. That’s the conundrum of “2012”: We’re so bored by the human characters we end up rooting for the apocalypse.

‘Pirate Radio' makes an occasional comic splash | 2 ½ stars

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

All windup and no delivery, “Pirate Radio” puts a bunch of eccentric characters in a confined space and hopes that will be enough. It isn’t, but the film has its moments.

‘A Christmas Carol': Jim Carrey is a memorable miser | 3 stars

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

There are a few moments in Disney’s computer-animated “A Christmas Carol” when director Robert Zemeckis seems bent on re-imagining the yarn as a theme park thrill ride. But despite these lapses into unnecessary and unwelcome audience pandering, this “Carol” delivers. And Jim Carrey gets most of the credit.

‘The Men Who Stare at Goats': Funny parts don't add up to a whole | 2 ½ stars

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

“The Men Who Stare at Goats” is a handful of hilarious scenes looking for a movie. Based on Jon Ronson’s nonfiction book about attempts by the CIA and the military to “weaponize” the occult, Grant Heslov’s directing debut offers plenty of New Age silliness and yet another memorable performance from George Clooney, this time as a paranoiac convinced he’s a Jedi warrior.

‘The Fourth Kind': Only kind of scary | 2 stars

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

The Fourth Kind” is a “found footage” horror movie with a few new tweaks, though not enough to escape a certain clunkiness. At the onset of Olatunde Osunsanmi’s film, actress Milla Jovovich addresses the camera to announce that she’ll be playing real-life Alaska psychologist Abigail Emily Tyler in re-enactments of actual events.

‘Coco Before Chanel': One actor steals the show | 2 ½ stars

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:15 CST

Waifish Audrey Tautou is the main selling point of “Coco Before Chanel,” a look at the early years of the woman who would become the 20th century’s greatest fashion icon. And yet we cannot take our eyes off Belgian actor Benoît Poelvoorde, a nondescript, slightly balding fellow who plays young Coco’s first lover and benefactor.

‘The Box' fails to deliver anything worth watching | 1 star

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Have you ever actually tried watching paint dry? A sloth walk? Grass grow? You can have all the “thrills” with none of the chills courtesy of “The Box,” the painfully sluggish new sci-fi morality play from “Donnie Darko” creator Richard Kelly.

'This Is It' shines a light on Jackson's genius | 3 1/2 stars

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

In “This Is It,” the man who turned the music video into an art form and propelled it into the mainstream stratosphere uses the same medium to eulogize himself.

‘A Serious Man' shows suffering is good for the funny bone | 3 stars

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:15 CDT

The biblical story of Job — whose devoutness was tested by just about every misfortune God could devise — gets a modern spin in “A Serious Man.” Of course, God is not an active participant here. After all, this is a Coen brothers film.

'Amreeka' is a subtle, sweet story | 3 1/2 stars

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:15 CDT

Low-key and lived-in, the immigrant tale “Amreeka” at first feels like a this-will-be-good-for-you movie. You can try to resist it, but by the time Cherien Dabis’ writing/directing effort is over, you’ll be completely sucked in.

‘Amelia' never gains altitude | 2 ½ stars

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:15 CDT

No borders, just horizons,” enthuses aviator Amelia Earhart in the new biopic “Amelia.” “Who wants a life imprisoned in safety?” And yet this film, coming 72 years after Earhart vanished — plays it awfully safe.

‘Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant' sucks the life out of the story | 1 ½ stars

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:15 CDT

With its impressive pedigree, “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” should have been a show dog. Instead it’s a mutt.

‘Astro Boy' never takes flight | 2 stars

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:15 CDT

The animated “Astro Boy” is a shiny hodgepodge of “Pinocchio,” “WALL-E,” “Oliver Twist,” “Gladiator” and “Superman,” with some obvious visual touches taken from “The Iron Giant.” As its own entity, though, it’s forgettable.

‘Where the Wild Things Are': Monstrous moping | 2 stars

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:15 CDT

The children’s classic “Where the Wild Things Are” is sneakily deceptive. With few words and marvelous illustrations Maurice Sendak evoked an entire universe of fantastic creatures, imbued with evocative ideas about childhood and responsibility. It worked because it was simple. Our imaginations filled in the gaps.