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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

Updated: 12/19/2007 08:34 pm

OPENING

Charlie Wilson's War ***

Starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman, this movie is the "true" story of how Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson persuaded the CIA to arm resistance fighters in Afghanistan to fend off the Soviet Union. Review, Page 29. 97 minutes (R; profanity, nudity, sexual content and drug use)

The Kite Runner **½

Based on a best-selling novel, this story of fathers, sons, friendship and betrayal is set against the backdrop of the last days of Afghanistan's monarchy and the atrocities of the Taliban reign. Review, Page 29. 122 minutes (PG-13; adult themes, violence and profanity)

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Nicolas Cage returns as archaeologist Ben Gates, who goes on a search for the missing pages of John Wilkes Booth's diary after his family is linked to the assassination of President Lincoln. Review, Page 5. 124 minutes (PG; some violence and action)

P.S. I Love You
Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler star in this holiday weeper about a widow who learns her late husband has left her a list of tasks intended to ease her grief and help her start a new life. Review, Page 5. 126 minutes (PG; sexual references and brief nudity)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street ***

A musical thriller about an ex-convict (Johnny Depp) who seeks revenge by killing his barber shop customers and giving them to an accomplice (Helena Bonham Carter), who turns them into meat pies. Review, Page 20. 117 minutes (R; graphic bloody violence)

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story ***

In this comedic send-up of "Walk the Line," we're introduced to Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly), a hardscrabble musician who marries repeatedly, has more than 20 children, gets hooked and unhooked to drugs, becomes a national icon and eventually earns the love of a good woman (Jenna Fisher). Review, Page 4. 96 minutes (R; sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and profanity)

TAMPA THEATRE

A historic film house at 711 Franklin St. in downtown Tampa; (813) 274-8981. Tickets for regular screenings: $9 adults, $8 students with ID, $7 seniors age 55 and older, military and children 12 and younger. Weekend matinees: $7. Admission includes pre-show Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ mini-concert.

The Rape of Europa

Joan Allen narrates this epic chronicle of the systematic theft, deliberate destruction and miraculous survival of Europe's art treasures during the Third Reich and the Second World War. 117 minutes (not rated)

Show times: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

It's a Wonderful Life

Sure you've seen it a million times, but nothing can compare to seeing Frank Capra's holiday classic on the big screen. The life-affirming tale stars Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Henry Travers as an angel named Clarence who shows us what Christmas is all about. 130 minutes. (G)

Show times: 3 p.m. Sunday

STILL IN TOWN

The Alps (not reviewed)

A mountain climber attempts to scale the Swiss mountain where his father died in this adventure-documentary, filmed in glorious Imax. 45 minutes. (Not rated)

Alvin and the Chipmunks (not reviewed)

In this CGI/live action comedy, three homeless chipmunk brothers with helium voices find refuge in the home of a struggling songwriter (Jason Lee). 90 minutes (PG; for mild rude humor)

American Gangster ***

Two of Hollywood's biggest stars go head-to-head in this tale about a New York cop (Russell Crowe) on the trail of a Harlem drug kingpin (Denzel Washington) in the 1970s. 157 minutes (R; violence, pervasive drug content and profanity, nudity and sexuality)

August Rush

1/2

A musical prodigy (Freddie Highmore) uses his talent (and help from a stranger played by Robin Williams) to search for his parents (Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), who he's never met. 112 minutes (PG; mild violence and profanity)

Awake (not reviewed)

A psychological thriller, starring Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba, about "anesthetic awareness," a horrifying phenomenon where failed anesthesia leaves a patient fully conscious but physically paralyzed during surgery. 84 minutes (R; profanity, disturbing situations and drug use)

Bee Movie **

Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger provide voices in this animated tale about a busy bee who sets off to sue the human race for stealing honey. 90 minutes (PG; mild suggestive humor)

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead **

Family dysfunction hits a new low when siblings (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke) decide to rob the family jewelry store. 123 minutes (R; graphic sexuality, nudity, violence, drug use and profanity)

Bella (not reviewed)

An ex-professional soccer player (Eduardo Verastegui) goes to work in a restaurant and finds himself drawn to a waitress (Tammy Blanchard), who recently learned she is pregnant. 100 minutes (PG-13; disturbing images)

Beowulf **½

Using motion-capture animation, director Robert Zemeckis tells the tale of the young warrior Beowulf (Ray Winstone), who slays the monster Grendel. But then the hero must face a deadlier foe: Grendel's mother (Angelina Jolie), who seeks vengeance for the loss of her son. 113 minutes (PG-13; intense violence, disturbing images, sexual material and nudity)

Deep Sea 3D (not reviewed)

This 3-D exploration of the ocean's depths is filmed in Imax and narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. 41 minutes. (Not rated)

Enchanted ***

Disney pokes fun at itself in this twisted fairy tale about a cartoon princess (Amy Adams) banished to a live-action New York City where she finds her prince charming (Patrick Dempsey), a divorce lawyer. 107 minutes (PG; scary images and mild innuendo)

Fred Claus *½

Christmas is in jeopardy when Santa (Paul Giamatti) gives his black-sheep brother (Vince Vaughn) a chance at redemption in the North Pole toy shop. 116 minutes. (PG; mild profanity and rude humor)

The Golden Compass *½

A 12-year-old girl (newcomer Dakota Blue Richards) tries to rescue a kidnapped friend and winds up on an epic quest to save her world. The movie also stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig. 114 minutes (PG-13; sequences of fantasy violence)

Gone Baby Gone ****

Two Boston private investigators get drawn into a complex child kidnapping case in actor Ben Affleck's directorial debut. 114 minutes (R; violence, drug content, profanity)

Hitman (not reviewed)

Based on a popular video game, Agent 47 (Timothy Olyphant) is an assassin who carries out high-profile hits for a group called The Agency. 100 minutes (R; graphic violence, profanity, sexuality and nudity)

I Am Legend **½

A scientist (Will Smith) has his hands full battling carnivorous mutants in an eerily empty New York City while trying to reverse the effects of the virus that wiped out mankind. 100 minutes (PG-13; intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence)

I'm Not There **

Unconventional biopic of Bob Dylan in which six different actors - including Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger and Richard Gere - play characters based on the legendary singer. 135 minutes (PG; profanity, sexuality and nudity)

Michael Clayton ***

George Clooney shows range as a "fixer" at a prestigious New York law firm who copes with mounting professional and personal complications in this smart, cynical thriller. 118 minutes (R; profanity and sexual dialogue)

The Mist ***

Thomas Jane ("The Punisher") stars in this thriller about residents trying to fend off monsters that hide in a fog that engulfs their town. Marcia Gay Harden also stars. 127 minutes (R; violence, terror, gore and profanity)

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium *½

The 243-year-old owner (Dustin Hoffman) of a strange, yet wonderful toy store enlists the help of an eager young manger (Natalie Portman) to keep his Emporium going. 93 minutes (G)

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs (not reviewed)

The DNA of a 3,000-year-old mummy may help researchers gain insight into human genetics and new medical treatments. 40 minutes (not rated)

No Country for Old Men ****

A man (Josh Brolin) stumbles across a drug deal gone bad, takes $2 million and sets off a violent chain reaction that includes a sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) and a psychopathic bounty hunter (Javier Bardem). Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen ("Fargo"), based on the book by Cormac McCarthy. 122 minutes (R; graphic violence and profanity)

Noelle (not reviewed)

A cold, impatient Catholic priest (David Wall) arrives in a tiny fishing village just before Christmas to shut down the dying parish. But things take a turn when he becomes entangled in the lives of the village's eccentric characters. 90 minutes (PG; fighting)

No Reservations **½

Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a hotshot New York chef, has her carefully scheduled life thrown into disarray when a young niece, played by Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine"), comes to stay. Things only go more askew when Kate falls for a hunky sous chef, played by Aaron Eckhart. 103 minutes. (PG; sexuality and profanity)

The Perfect Holiday (not reviewed)

Romance blossoms when a girl asks a department store Santa Claus (Morris Chesnut) to pay her lonely single mother (Gabrielle Union) a compliment. 96 minutes (PG; brief profanity, suggestive humor)

Ratatouille ***

A young rat with culinary aspirations and a cook desperate to keep his job team up to create the best ratatouille in Paris in this animated family film by Disney Pixar. Cast of voices includes Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Peter O'Toole and Janeane Garofalo. 110 minutes. (G)

Saw IV (not reviewed)

Demented killer Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) returns to inflict more pain and also target the last police officer to touch his case, SWAT commander Rigg (Lyriq Bent). 108 minutes (R; grisly violence, torture and profanity)

Things We Lost in the Fire ***

A recent widow (Halle Berry) invites her husband's troubled friend (Benicio Del Toro) to live with her and her two children. As he turns his life around, he helps them cope with and confront their loss. 113 minutes (R; drug content and profanity)

This Christmas (not reviewed)

The Whitfield family (Chris Brown and Loretta Devine, among others) brings a lot of baggage home when they gather for the holidays. 117 minutes (PG-13; comic sexual content and violence)

3:10 to Yuma ***½

A rancher (Christian Bale) and an outlaw (Russell Crowe) form an unlikely alliance in this remake of the 1957 cult classic from director James Mangold ("Walk the Line"). 117 minutes (R; violence and profanity)

Underdog (not reviewed)

A laboratory mishap gives a beagle superpowers. Jason Lee ("My Name is Earl") voices the floppy-eared pooch who fights crime and sniffs butts. 84 minutes. (PG; rude humor, mild profanity and action)

We Own the Night **

Joaquin Phoenix plays a black-sheep brother from a family of policemen who runs a nightspot from which Russians operate their drug business in 1980s New York. His cop-brother (Mark Wahlberg) and cop-dad (Robert Duvall) try to enlist him to spy on his clientele, forcing Phoenix's prodigal son to choose between crime and justice. 117 minutes (R; strong violence, drug material, profanity, sexual content and brief nudity)

Why Did I Get Married? (not reviewed)

Big-screen adaptation of Tyler Perry's stage play about a marriage that's put to the test when a sexy young temptress enters the mix. 113 minutes (PG-13; mature themes, sexual references and profanity)

Listing compiled from Tribune wires and staff reports; Associated Press critics' ratings are out of four stars.

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