Kansas City Star: Movies

Holiday movie guide | Here's something for everyone

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:15 CST

For young to old, funny to serious, our holiday movie guide is stuffed with gifts for all sorts.

‘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.

Viggo Mortensen went the extra mile to prepare for ‘The Road'

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

One of the many shocks in “The Road,” the screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel, comes when actor Viggo Mortensen pulls off his tattered, grimy clothing to luxuriate in a waterfall. The hunky star who played Aragorn in the “Lord of the Rings” movies now looks emaciated.

Red carpet photos | 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' LA premiere

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:48 CST

"The Road" opens Wednesday

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:25 CST

Photos | 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon'

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:34 CST

"Twilight" World Tour | The stars of "New Moon" hit France and Great Britain

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:35 CST

Photos | '2012'

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:34 CST

Beyond ‘New Moon': Cast and crew reveal future ‘Twilight' secrets

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Bet that romantic cliffhanger in “New Moon” got you salivating for the next “Twilight” movie, which just finished filming. Here are some tidbits about the upcoming films to help tide you over until “Eclipse” moves in June 30.

'New Moon' wolfs down $140.7M in opening weekend

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00 CST

The vampire romance "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" sucked up $140.7 million in its first three days and pulled in a total of $258.8 million worldwide, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Sorry, ‘Twilight' fans, some experts say vampire love isn't healthy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

What would you say about a teen relationship in which the guy is so obsessed and protective he sneaks into his loved one’s bedroom to watch her sleep, seems to stalk her every move, tries to control whom she sees and even disables her truck engine so she can’t go out? Or how about a girl who is equally obsessed with this guy even though he continually tells her he’s dangerous, could inadvertently kill her and treats her as if she were a child?

Carey Mulligan's ‘Education': From nobody to indie favorite to ‘Wall Street'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:56 CST

It’s hard not to think that Carey Mulligan is having a “Queen for a Day” moment. Done up in purple satin, with gold stilettos, the fresh-faced 24-year-old is dolled up for pictures and perched on an antique table in the $4,200-a-night presidential suite atop the storied Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Meet the Volturi, ‘Twilight's' vampire royalty

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00 CST

Who: The chillingly polite founder can read people’s minds by touching them Played by: Michael Sheen

Free films, special screenings Nov. 20-26

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

FREE FILMS “NASHVILLE” Robert Altman’s kaleidoscopic study of Music City USA during a presidential campaign. 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Film Vault, KC Central Library.

Butler's Top Five

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

BUTLER’S TOP FIVE The top five movies now showing, according to Star movie editor Robert W. Butler:

Now showing | Nov. 20-24

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Movie Mom | ‘The Blind Side,' ‘An Education,' ‘Planet 51,' ‘Precious'

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Information for parents deciding which movies are best for kids ages 2 to 18: ‘The Blind Side’

‘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.

‘Law Abiding Citizen': Sadistic mayhem | 2 stars

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:15 CDT

The temptation is to laugh the revenge melodrama “Law Abiding Citizen” right off the screen. We don’t, thanks to some tense pacing, a couple of jump-out-of-your-seat moments and a cast of pros who perform as if this weren’t preposterous.

‘Couples Retreat': Paradise lost | 2 stars

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:15 CDT

Couples Retreat” must have been a blast to make. Wish more of the fun had rubbed off on the movie. This hit-and-miss (mostly miss) comedy sends four Midwestern couples off to a tropical paradise (spectacular Bora Bora) for a vacation that doesn't play out quite as planned.

‘Paranormal Activity': Low budget, high fear | 3 stars

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:15 CDT

The time to tell your significant other that an evil force has been stalking you since childhood is long before you've moved in together. A demon/ghost/ whatever needn't be a deal breaker, but it should at least get a mention.

‘Zombieland': Night of the laughing dead | 3 stars

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:15 CDT

You could forgive the survivors of the zombie apocalypse if they were to sink into a morass of angst and self-pity. But where is the fun in that?

Bulls escape on set of film starring Cruise, Diaz

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:49 CST

Seven bulls being used on the set of a film starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz have broken free in Spain and slightly injured two people.

John Travolta, family attend opening of new movie

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:22 CST

John Travolta and his family have helped raise money for charities in their home state of Florida with a screening of his new comedy

'New Moon' takes record $72.7M box office bite

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:17 CST

Vampires and werewolves have vanquished a dark knight. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" took in $72.7 million in its first day to break the single day domestic box office record previously held by "The Dark Knight," which had a $67.2 million opening day last year.

Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:00 CST

"Anything's possible in this storm!" says the man with the badge in Werner Herzog's delirious "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," a true feat of daring and one of the craziest films of the year.

Antichrist'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:00 CST

Even by the sadistic standards of Lars von Trier ("Breaking the Waves," "Dogville"), "Antichrist" is a unique form of cruel and unusual punishment: an unrelenting orgy of graphic sex, violence and cynicism that also manages to be wildly pretentious.

Me and Orson Welles'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:00 CST

He swaggered, an outsize personality who filled a room figuratively decades before he did it literally.

What's opening in theaters next week

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:00 CST

Opening Wednesday:

'New Moon' midnight showings earn record $26.3 mil

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:37 CST

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" has set a box-office record for midnight screenings.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon'

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:00 CST

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon," also known as "Twilight: The Squeakquel," is actually pretty good - a tick better than the first "Twilight," which wasn't bad either. These are hardly superlatives on the order of "shattering" and "beautiful," but compared to the film versions of "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons," the only two movies ever made with less sex than the first two "Twilights," they're matchless.

Movie poll | What December film are you looking forward to the most?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:26 CST

Next month brings some big movies, like “Avatar,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Princess and the Frog.” Vote here for your favorite.

‘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.