Bride Wars
Claire Folger/ 20th Century Fox
Review in a Hurry: Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson duke it out in a battle for the ages—the Dark Ages, that is. Some cute rom-com moments about bridal hysteria die in the face of absurdly outdated notions.
Bedtime Stories
Tracy Bennett/Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Review in a Hurry: Sentimental simplicity meets big-budget effects in this cute kid's tale, with Adam Sandler doing what comes naturally—playing a lovable lout with a heart of gold. Awww.
Revolutionary Road
Paramount Vantage
Review in a Hurry: Eleven years after Titanic, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio reunite on another sinking ship—this dolorous tale of suburban misery. Thankfully, director Sam Mendes keeps the whole sad thing under two hours.
Seven Pounds
Merrick Morton/Columbia Pictures
Review in a Hurry: Will Smith faces his demons in this very important movie about very important ideas. Seven Pounds is so obsessed with its importance, in fact, it forgets to entertain.
The Bigger Picture: The secrecy of Pounds' marketing campaign—the trailer reveals next to nothing—is expertly maintained through the first 20 minutes of the actual film. Ben Thomas (Smith) is in contact with a handful of strangers in desperate situations; he wants to help them, but how or why, exactly, we don't know. Flashbacks fill in very little backstory, and Ben himself is cryptic and cautious.
Ben is a haunted man, and Smith tries hard to get this across—so hard, it looks like his head hurts. He's a performer you can see acting, trying very hard to impress. The result of this "technique" is that instead of letting the emotions flow, he forces them out, coming across as full of tics or constipated. Smith finally starts to lighten up in scenes with love interest Emily (a fresh, ebullient Rosario Dawson).
But it's director Gabriele Muccino, who first collaborated with Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness, who really sinks this ship. He subjects a provocative idea and good story to a ponderous, navel-gazing pace, until the whole thing feels like a seemingly endless health class. He never allows the audience a breath of fresh air, instead suffocating us with the utter seriousness of the story. No comic relief, no bursts of spontaneity—everything seems calculated and overthought, muddling the message.
The 180—a Second Opinion: The dialogue, plot and thematic elements interweave seamlessly; a lighter touch and categorical rejection of self-indulgence would have let this fine script blossom.
Four Christmases
New Line
Review in a Hurry: This'll never be a holiday classic, but its carefree mix of vulgar slapstick, gooey life lessons and a boatload of talent (five Oscar winners, kids!) might fill the seats this season.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Paramount Pictures
Review in a Hurry: Ben Stiller and Chris Rock return for another wacky animated romp through the wilderness. Unlike most sequels, Madagascar 2 is actually funnier—and better—than the original.
Pride and Glory
Glen Wilson/New Line Cinema
Review in a Hurry: Edward Norton and Colin Farrell are brothers in arms—or rather, armed—as New York cops embroiled in some bad business. A gritty aesthetic and clearheaded storytelling elevate this conventional plot into an engrossing drama.
The Bigger Picture: The poster for this movie says it all: the trite title, the graphic of two men back-to-back. One brother versus another! Good versus evil! Cops versus corruption!
Hey, if this obvious marketing is what brings butts to seats, fine. Because Pride and Glory is an excellent example of telling a timeworn story—brotherly betrayal, dirty cops, etcetera, etcetera—with economy, skill and craft.
Norton and Farrell are Ray and Jimmy, brothers-in-law serving as New York's finest along with their big bro Francis (Noah Emmerich). When four cops die in a shootout, one brother reestablishes his career as a detective, while the other one frantically tries to cover his tracks. The cat-and-mouse plot is gripping, unfolding like layers of an onion, refusing to pander with expository dialogue and taking advantage of the high tension of family dynamics.
The Shakespearean drama is tempered with director Gavin O'Connor's earthy approach. The movie looks like it was shot on film stock left over from the '70s, and he employs a handheld camera only when absolutely necessary to heighten drama. No gimmickry, no overly pretty cinematography—just storytelling, plain and simple.
The 180—a Second Opinion: At just over two hours, the general efficiency of O'Connor's pacing can't compensate for the downright exhausting onslaught of violence. It takes a lot of energy to stay with the film, and some judicious cutting could have eased the burden.
Body of Lies
Warner Bros.
Review in a Hurry: Leonardo DiCaprio gets roughed up six ways to Sunday in a movie full of unpleasant subject matter like war and torture, and the flabby plot will leave moviegoers feeling a little worse for wear too.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Sony Pictures
Review in a Hurry: Forget curfew, it doesn't exist in this sparkling movie about young love in the Big Apple. Starring Michael Cera, Kat Dennings and that most magical of movie stars, New York City.
The Duchess
Nick Wall / Paramount Vantage
Review in a Hurry: Keira Knightley rocks the hoop skirt and wigs as Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, a woman who provoked gossip of both the personal and the political. Sadly, we see more of her boudoir than her brain, the main downfall of this no-expense-spared lavish period piece.
Swing Vote
Touchtone Pictures / Ben Glass
Review in a Hurry: Like so many presidential candidates, Swing Vote falls victim to unfulfilled promises, wasted opportunities and smug self-satisfaction.
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