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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2007

OPENING

Across the Universe **½

Inspired by the music of the Beatles, director Julie Taymor's sprawling musical starring Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess is visually imaginative but frequently plays like a bad night at a karaoke bar. 134 minutes (PG-13; drug content, nudity, sexuality and violence)

Feast of Love *½

Starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear, this movie is a meditation on love and its various incarnations, set within a community of friends in Oregon. Review, Page 5. 105 minutes (R; strong sexual content, nudity and profanity).

The Game Plan **

The Rock stars as a quarterback living the bachelor lifestyle until he discovers he has a 7-year-old daughter from a one-night stand. 110 minutes (PG)

The Kingdom **½

A team of FBI agents (Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner and Chris Cooper) travel to Saudi Arabia to determine who was behind a massive, deadly bombing at an American oil-company compound in Riyadh. Review, Page 4. 110 minutes (R; intense sequences of graphic brutal violence and profanity)

In The Shadow of the Moon ***½

In this documentary, 10 men who made the journey to the moon talk about the experience and its lasting effects. Review, Page 6. 100 minutes (PG; mild profanity and brief violent images)

Sharkwater (not reviewed)

Filmmaker Rob Stewart exposes the dark underbelly of the shark fin industry in this documentary. 89 minutes (PG; images of animal cruelty and profanity )

TAMPA THEATRE

A historic film house at 711 Franklin St. in downtown Tampa; (813) 274-8981. Tickets for regular screenings: $8.50 adults; $6.50 seniors age 55 and older, military, students, children 12 and younger. Weekend matinees: $6.50. Admission includes pre-show Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ mini-concert.

Into Great Silence (not reviewed)

Documentary by German filmmaker Philip Gröning, who lived in a monastery in the French Alps for six months filming the monks' daily prayers, tasks, rituals and rare outdoor excursions. In French with English subtitles. 162 minutes. (Not rated)

Show times: 7:30 p.m. today; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

18th annual event's opening night film is 'Kiss The Bride'; tickets are $9 adults, $7 students; see tiglff.com for more information.

Show times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

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)

Balls of Fury **

Washed-up former ping-pong prodigy (Dan Fogler) is recruited by the FBI to take down a table-tennis-loving criminal mastermind (Christopher Walken) in this slapstick comedy. 90 minutes. (PG-13; crude humor and profanity)

Becoming Jane (not reviewed)

This not-quite-a-biopic embellishes the story of a young Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) and her problematic romance with a mischevious Irishman (James McAvoy), who may or may not have been the inspiration for Mr. Darcy in 'Pride and Prejudice.' 120 minutes. (PG; brief nudity and profanity)

The Bourne Ultimatum ***½

Amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) gets closer to answering some burning questions about his murky past in this third installment of the series based on Robert Ludlum's novels. Despite the requisite car chases and fistfights, this is the rare action movie with a brain. 110 minutes. (PG-13; violence and intense action)

The Brave One **½

Jodie Foster channels Travis Bickle in this vigilante story of a woman who goes on a killing spree after thugs attack and kill her fiance (Naveen Andrews of 'Lost'). 108 minutes (R violence, profanity, sexuality)

The Brothers Solomon (not reviewed)

This comedy from director Bob Odenkirk ('Mr. Show') follows a pair of socially inept brothers looking for mates so they can provide their dying father with a grandchild. 91 minutes. (R; profanity and sexuality)

Daddy Day Camp (not reviewed)

Once-promising Cuba Gooding Jr. sinks even further in this family-friendly sequel, a predictable pastiche of low-brow slapstick, camp-kid stereotypes and a relentless supply of poop jokes. 89 minutes. (PG; mild bodily humor, profanity)

Death at a Funeral **

Matthew Macfadyen ('Pride & Prejudice') tries to keep his sanity when chaos reigns and secrets are threatened to be revealed at his father's funeral. Frank Oz directs this British farce. 90 minutes (R; profanity, drug content)

Death Sentence (not reviewed)

Kevin Bacon stars as a suburban dad who goes all vigilante on a local gang when his son gets killed. This being Hollywood, things don't go smoothly. 108 minutes. (R; violence and profanity)

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)

Dragon Wars: D-War (not reviewed)

Mythical computer-generated creatures - one good, one bad, naturally - wreak havoc on Los Angeles, while the woman they seem to be after (Amanda Brooks) does her best to flee. 107 minutes. (PG-13; violence)

Eastern Promises ***

Naomi Watts starts as a midwife, witnesses the death of a girl giving birth and goes in search of her family and identity. Her quest puts her at the center of a Russian mob sex-trafficking business where she strikes up a friendship with Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who may not be who he seems. 100 minutes (R strong, brutal and bloody violence, graphic sexuality, profanity and nudity)

Evan Almighty *½

Expect big laughs and possible floods in this sequel to 'Bruce Almighty.' Congressman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), enjoying his new career serving the public, finds that God (Morgan Freeman) has bigger plans for him. Hint: It involves building an ark. Lauren Graham also stars. 95 minutes. (PG; rude humor and some peril)

1408 **½

John Cusack plays a skeptical writer determined to debunk rumors of supernatural activity in a haunted hotel room. Would you believe he discovers the horror may be real? Based on a Stephen King short story. 94 minutes. (PG-13; violence, terror, profanity).

Good Luck Chuck (not reviewed)

Dane Cook plays a dentist under a curse - every woman he sleeps with will marry the next man she dates. When he falls for accident-prone Cam (Jessica Alba), he must find a way to break the curse. 96 minutes (R; strong sexuality, nudity, profanity and drug use)

Hairspray **½

John Travolta (in drag) and newcomer Nikki Blonsky star in the latest adaptation of a 1988 movie that went on to become a Broadway hit. Blonsky stars as Tracy Turnblad, a pleasantly plump teen who challenges stereotypes when she is chosen to dance on a popular 1960's television show. Christopher Walken, Zack Efron, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeifrer and Brittany Snow also star. 107 minutes. (PG; profanity, suggestive content and teen smoking)

Halloween (not reviewed)

Rocker-director Rob Zombie recasts the John Carpenter horror classic as an over-the-top freakshow with the masked slasher Michael Myers at the center of the action. 97 minutes. (R; violence, nudity, sex, profanity and drug use)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ***

Nobody believes Harry or Dumbledore when they say Lord Voldemort has returned to Hogwarts, so it's up to Harry and his pals to go to battle. In addition to main characters Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the movie stars Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter. (Reviewed by Kevin Walker.) 138 minutes. (PG-13; fantasy violence and frightening images)

Hurricane on the Bayou (not reviewed)

Stirring Imax documentary about Louisiana's vanishing wetlands was planned months before Katrina struck. The storm's cruel aftermath becomes part of the story, told mainly by New Orleans-based musicians who were affected by it. 41 minutes. (Not rated; contains disturbing news footage)

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry *

Two straight firefighters from Brooklyn (Adam Sandler and Kevin James) pretend to be gay in order to receive domestic partner benefits. When their relationship is challenged, the duo hires an attractive (maybe too attractive) lawyer played by Jessica Biel. 140 minutes. (PG-13; crude sexual content, nudity, profanity and drug references)

In the Valley of Elah **½

Vietnam vet Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones) joins forces with a police detective (Charlize Theron) to discover what happened to his son, a soldier who goes AWOL after returning from Iraq and is later found dead. 120 minutes (R; violent and disturbing content, profanity, sexuality and nudity)

The Invasion *½

In this sci-fi thriller based on the 1956 classic 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers,' the key is to stay awake. That's a plot point, not a criticism. Alien invaders crash onto earth and begin infecting humans during REM sleep, sapping them of their humanity. Stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig work hard to stop the invasion. 93 minutes. (PG-13; violence, disturbing images and terror)

Ladron Que Roba a Ladron (not reviewed)

Caper comedy about former crooks who get back in the game to take down an infomercial mogul who preys on Latino immigrants. In Spanish with English subtitles. 90 minutes. (PG-13; profanity and sexual content)

La Vie en Rose (not reviewed)

French film tells the life story of singer Edith Piaf, from her childhood in rough neighborhoods surrounded by unsavory characters to her dazzling success in New York City concert halls, the film follows Piaf's struggles to survive and love. Film stars Marion Cotillard and Gerard Depardieu. 140 minutes. (PG-13; substance abuse, sexuality, brief nudity and profanity)

License to Wed *½

A newly engaged couple (John Krasinski from 'The Office' and Mandy Moore) tries to cope with an obsessive clergyman's obnoxious demands. Robin Williams, naturally, plays the nutty reverend. 86 minutes. (PG-13; sexual humor and profanity)

Mr. Bean's Holiday **

The bumbling Brit (Rowan Atkinson) tours France in his second big-screen adventure, leaving comic devastation in his wake. 90 minutes (G)

Mr. Woodcock (not reviewed)

A self-help author (Seann William Scott) returns to his hometown to find his mom has fallen for his arch enemy - a junior high school gym teacher (Billy Bob Thornton) who tormented him mercilessly. 87 minutes. (PG-13; crude humor, sexual content, profanity, drug references)

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End **

Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom return in the (supposed) final installment of the 'Pirates' trilogy. This time, the Pirate Lords from the four corners of the globe make their final stand against Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) and the rest of their enemies. Chow-Yun Fat joins the cast as the infamous Pirate Lord Sao Feng. 168 minutes. (Reviewed by Kevin Walker.) (PG-13; intense action/adventure violence and frightening images)

Resident Evil: Extinction (not reviewed)

The third movie based on the popular video game has survivors of Raccoon City trying to get to Alaska when Alice (Mila Jovovich) joins their fight to stop the evil zombie virus. 95 minutes (R; strong horror violence and nudity)

Rush Hour 3 *½

Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan return to cash big, fat paychecks in the unnecessary third installment of this buddy-cop franchise. 91 minutes. (PG-13; action violence, sexual content, nudity and profanity)

Shoot 'Em Up (not reviewed)

As the name implies, it's a barrage of bullets and blood in this manic action flick starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti. 93 minutes (R; pervasive violence, sexuality and profanity)

Shrek the Third **

Everybody's favorite ogre is a proud papa this time around, but when his father-in-law's health takes a turn for the worse and Shrek is next in line for the throne, he tries to groom a new heir with help from Donkey and Puss in Boots. Features an all-star cast of voices, including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Eddie Murphy, Julie Andrews and John Cleese. 86 minutes. (PG; crude humor, suggestive content)

The Simpsons Movie **½

Writer Matt Groening brings everyone's favorite dysfunctional cartoon family to the big screen. When Homer accidentally causes an environmental disaster, all of Springfield is evacuated. Watch for cameos from stars like Tom Hanks, Minnie Driver, Kelsey Grammer and the boys from Green Day. (Reviewed by Curtis Ross.) 87 minutes. (PG-13; irreverent humor)

Stardust ***

This fairy tale for grown-ups follows the adventures of a star that falls from the sky in the form of an ethereal blond named Yvaine (Claire Danes), whose magical abilities make her the target of various people with nefarious plans. Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Peter O'Toole and Charlie Cox also star. 125 minutes. (PG-13; fantasy violence and some risque humor)

Superbad ***

A raucous comedy that follows one night in the lives of two co-dependent high school seniors (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) trying to score beer and girls before going their separate ways and onto college. 92 minutes. (R; profanity, drug use)

Sydney White (not reviewed)

A modern-day re-telling of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' set on a college campus. Amanda Bynes and Crystal Hunt star. 108 minutes (PG-13; profanity and sexual humor)

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)

Transformers **

There's more than meets the eye in this live-action film based on the popular 1980's cartoon about robots who transform into cars, jets and other machinery. Rival robotic clans, the Autobots (good guys) and the Decepticons (bad guys), engage in a war that threatens all of mankind. Earth's only chance for survival lies in the hands of Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBoeuf), a young man whose first car turns out to be an Autobot in disguise. The cast includes Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox and John Voigt. 144 minutes. (PG-13; intense action violence, brief sexual humor and profanity)

Underdog (not reviewed)

A labrotory mishap gives a beagle superpowers. Jason Lee ('My Name is Earl') voices the floppy-eared pooch who fights crime and sniffs butts. Kids and grownups are sure to find big laughs in this live-action Disney flick. 84 minutes. (PG; rude humor, mild profanity and action)

War (not reviewed)

Action flick follows an FBI agent (Jason Statham) as he seeks revenge on his partner's assassin (Jet Li). 103 minutes. (R; violence, nudity and profanity)

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

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