Roger Ebert of the Sun Times
09/01/2010
The American / **** (R)
"The American" allows George Clooney to play a man as starkly defined as a samurai. His fatal flaw, as it must be for any samurai, is love. Other than that, the American is perfect: Sealed, impervious and expert, with a focus so narrow it is defined only by his skills and his master. Here is a gripping film with the focus of a Japanese drama, an impenetrable character to equal Alain Delon's in "Le Samourai," by Jean-Pierre Melville.
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09/01/2010
Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 / ***1/2 (R)
"Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1" (R, 133 minutes). Continuation of the brutal life of France's most notorious criminal, who survived a 20-year series of bank robberies, kidnappings, prison breaks and murders. Vincent Cassel makes him brutal, ugly, powerful and inscrutable. Winner of French Oscars for best director and actor. Three and a half stars
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09/01/2010
Mugabe and the White African / *** (Unrated)
"Mugabe and the White African" (Unrated, 90 minutes). The story of Mike Campbell, a white farmer in Zimbabwe, who resists the efforts of the Mugabe regime to take over his farm, and eventually wins his case in an African regional high court. Dramatic, emotional, but raising some questions that go unanswered. Three stars
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08/25/2010
Flipped / ***1/2 (PG-13)
"Flipped" (PG-13,90 minutes) Juli (Madeleine Carroll) has adored Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) ever since he moved into the neighborhood in the second grade. Bryce has been running away from her ever since. Now they're 14 and they seem to be flipping: he more interested, she less. Rod Reiner's warm human comedy tells their stories by showing the same crucial events from both their points of view. He returns to the time of his "Stand By Me" with the same endearing insights. Rating: Four stars
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08/25/2010
Mesrine: Killer Instinct / ***1/2 (R)
"Mesrine: Killer Instinct" (R, 113 minutes) He was a ruthless killer, bank robber, kidnapper and prison break artist--and a self-promoting egomaniac who wrote books some compared to Camus. Vincent Cassel stars in a hard-boiled performance as the French criminal who killed on three continents and was in love with his image. Three and a half stars
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08/25/2010
Around a Small Mountain / *** (Unrated)
"Around a Small Mountain" (Unrated, 85 minutes) Jane Birkin is wonderful as a lonely woman returning to her father's little circus after 15 years. Sergio Castellitto is a man who helps her with car trouble and ends up running away with the circus along with her. But this isn't a romance; it's more two ships comforting each other in the night. Jacques Rivette, one of the founders of the French New Wave, has made a small film because for this gentle story that's exactly the right size. Three stars
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08/25/2010
Lebanon / ***1/2 (R)
"Lebanon" (92 minutes; Rated R). This claustrophobic war picture, set during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, is like "The Hurt Locker" turned outside-in. It takes place entirely inside an Israeli tank with the four crew members: a commander, a gunner, a loader and a driver. Written and directed by Israeli filmmaker Samuel Maoz, whose experience as a veteran of that war lends authenticity to what is also a bold cinematic experiment. Winner of the Golden Lion a the 2009 Venice Film Festival. Three and a half stars.
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08/25/2010
Chicago Heights / *** (Unrated)
"Chicago Heights" (Unrated, 90 minutes). A cinematic adaptation of Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio," moved to the present and recent decades and set in the far south Chicago suburb of Chicago Heights. Director Daniel Nearing uses a central character muck like Anderson's, who meditates on the lives he has observed in this African-American community, and as he approaches he recalls them in love and sadness. A remarkable job of evoking the essence of a book that is often considered not filmable. Three stars
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08/25/2010
Centurion / **1/2 (R)
"Centurion" (97 minutes; Rated R). A 97-minute chase through the spectacular scenery of the Scottish Highlands -- the far reaches of the Roman Empire in 117 A.D. -- as a platoon of bedraggled Roman soldiers find themselves hunted behind enemy lines by savage Picts. It gets monotonous, but there's lots of pretty red gore to brighten things up. With Michael Fassbender and Dominic West. Directed by Neil Marshall ("Dog Soldiers," "The Descent"). Two and a half stars.
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Movies In Theaters
08/26/2010
1. Takers - $20.5M
A detective (Matt Dillon) hunts a gang of elusive bank robbers (Hayden Christensen, Paul Walker).
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08/26/2010
2. The Last Exorcism - $20.3M
A clergyman (Patrick Fabian) faces the ultimate test of faith when he encounters Satan.
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08/12/2010
3. The Expendables - $9.5M
Mercenaries embark on a mission to overthrow a South American dictator.
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08/12/2010
4. Eat Pray Love - $6.8M
A married woman who seemingly has it all and is trying to get pregnant, realizes that she's not living the life she wants.
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08/05/2010
5. The Other Guys - $6.2M
A forensic accountant and a trigger-happy detective attempt to improve upon their "B team" status.
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08/17/2010
6. Vampires Suck - $5.2M
A teen is torn between two supernatural suitors in a spoof of 'Twilight' and other vampire films.
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07/15/2010
7. Inception - $4.8M
Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller centers on the premise of corporate espionage by way of dream invasion.
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08/19/2010
8. Nanny McPhee Returns - $4.7M
A nanny (Emma Thompson) uses magic to teach mischievous children a lesson.
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08/19/2010
9. The Switch - $4.5M
A 40-year-old unmarried woman decides to become pregnant by inseminating herself with a turkey baster.
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08/19/2010
10. Piranha 3D - $4.3M
A prehistoric strain of fish are set loose and people begin to disappear.
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