Movies that are playing in Chicago as of March 5

The Other Boleyn Girl
I did not read the book, and I realize movies often have a hard time stuffing everything in from the book. I liked the movie, though it seemed like Henry VIII had nothing better to do than turn his kingdom upside down in order to satisfy his libido. But this is Henry VIII we are talking about. I loved the lavishly bejeweled costumes and the tender love scenes with Mary. Although I really like Natalie Portman, I think her blatant flirting was a little stiff. I still enjoyed being transported to another time and it felt like the Medieval Festival all over again :).


Penelope
Cute fairytale story. A girl is cursed with a pig nose, and the only way to break the spell is to find another blue blood who will accept her as she is. Although even with the pig nose, Christina Ricci is still gorgeous, and it’s hard to believe everyone running away in horror at the sight of her. Cute movie. I love James McAvoy, but he seems to be in every movie in the theaters these days.


Vantage Point
This is a tough one to review.

On the plus side, it was extremely exciting. Very edge of your seat. I thought it seemed realistic and Forest Whitaker is amazing as usual. Even Randy Quaid was excellent.

On the downside, they play the same 23 minutes over and over, from different characters point of view/ vantage point. They build you up to a cliff hanger, then they stop! and start over the 23 minutes again from another point of view. This felt very much like Groundhog Day. They do this 4 or 5 times. And it feels a little insulting to your intelligence, when after the 23 minutes they do a little recap, in case you weren't paying attn the first time.

In the end it all ties together nicely, which makes me happy. I have to say, I don't see any other way they could have squeezed in all the details of all the many characters. I guess I would give it 3 stars. It was very exciting to watch though, and it made me care about the characters.

I know the critics have bashed it, and some lady who came out of the same show complained that it was all action, and little dialogue. Well DUH, in an action movie, there isn't much time for chit chat. Overall, I did like it, but I guess it could have been done better, I am just not sure how. Maybe stretch out the 23 minutes and show everything consecutively, but then it would be easier to get all the characters mixed up.

Spiderwick Chronicals
I LOVED this movie!!! Anyone who likes cool creatures, like the ones in Harry Potter or Narnia, etc, should love this movie too. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much, because I didn't think the previews looked very good. Luckily, there were way more nifty creatures that the previews didn't give away. This is the movie I had hoped Bridge to Terebithia would be (the previews had promised lots of creatures, but were pretty stingy with them). Lots of cool characters, a little bit of a mystery to unravel, some adventure since some of the creatures were evil, and a sweet ending. I just wish they showed more of the fairies :). May be too scary for very small children.

Charlie Bartlett :
I liked this one. It’s a teenager movie, but not obnoxious as most tend to be. Charlie is an Über rich, high IQ student who engages in illegal entrepreneurial enterprises in order to become popular. The movie begins with his getting kicked out of the latest private school, and he now must face public school. He shows up on his first day wearing a shirt, tie and a blazer with a crest on it… Robert Downey Jr. plays the harried principle who must contend with him. (Downey reminded me a lot of the Matthew Broderick character in “Election”, another movie I really enjoyed). I really enjoyed this one, as Charlie slowly learns from his mistakes and tries to do good.

Persepolis :
French adult cartoon with subtitles, which takes place in Tehran, and follows the life of a young girl who acts out against the injustices she must witness on a daily basis. It is a coming of age movie, of sorts, and a little enlightening on the way of life in Iran, and also in Vienna, where she is sent away to school. It begins in 1978, when she is about 10 or 11, and continues until about 1992 or 1994. There are some cute scenes, and I liked the stark black and white art used to illustrate the movie. There is a lot of teenage angst, intensified by her extreme life. It was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Ratatouille, which I disagree with. I’m pretty sure Ruthy and maybe Laura would like this one.

27 Dresses –
If you really need to see a chick flick go ahead, this should satisfy any chick flick cravings. Unfortunately, this is not one of the best chick flicks I’ve seen. The best part is when you see how Katherine Heigl’s character uses all the old bridesmaid dresses.

Fool’s Gold -
Not exactly an Oscar contender, but hey, during this frigid Chicago winter, it is really nice to see a tropical locale and swaying palm trees. Guys will be happy to see Kate Hudson in a bikini, and girls will be happy to see Matthew running around shirtless. Oh yeah, there's a treasure hunt too! It is a fun, silly comedy.

Jumper –
Well this one isn’t going to win any awards. There were some neat special effects as the main character learns he can transport himself to anywhere in the world. It did make me wish that I had that capability and be able to travel like he does. But then there is Samuel Jackson as the one who is after “jumpers” because jumpers do break laws. And the end was left wide open for a sequel.

Juno -
Great movie, a little slow in parts as most low budget type movies tend to be. Ellen Page as a pregnant teen, preparing to give it up for adoption to Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman. I loved the girl's father, J.K Simmons. The sound track reminded me a lot of Phoebe from Friends singing her coffee shop “Smelly Cat” song. Smart dialogue, witty, dry humor. I really enjoyed it.

No Country For Old Men –
Excellent movie, though a bad “ending” – the movie just stops, without any resolution. Though the ending in this one is better than the one from There Will Be Blood. Javier Bardem plays a chilling killer with his own strange code of ethics. He deserved the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

In Bruges –
Very good dark comedy. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are hit men in hiding in the quaint tourist town of Bruges. Ralph Fiennes is pretty intense as thier boss. There are some blood and guts toward the end, so it’s not all laughs. This movie is mostly dialogue, so if you are looking for an action movie, this is not for you. It is refreshingly politically incorrect, and pretty much everyone, including Americans, is insulted. I really enjoyed the different characters and their attitudes, and I definitely have to go see Bruges someday!

The Savages –
Excellent portrayal of siblings sniping at each other over the care of their father, from whom both had been estranged. Partly funny, partly sad, but excellent all the way through. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman are both excellent as usual.

Atonement –
I do love period films. This movie felt a bit long in parts, and I think they could have cut some of it out, mainly some of the war scenes. James McAvoy was excellent, and boy, you really will want to strangle that little girl! Beautiful costuming and scenery. Very tragic story. A good tear-jerker.

Definitely, Maybe -
I loved this movie! Ryan Reynolds tells his daughter, Abigail Breslin, the story of the 3 main loves of his life. Only complaint was Ryan Reynold's character wasn’t aged. His present day character is around 37-40, and he still looks baby faced. They should have added a little gray to his temples. But still an adorable movie with, of course, a happy ending.

There Will Be Blood –
No question that Daniel Day Lewis is a riveting actor. The story was interesting, but there was no ending – the movie just stops without any resolution. And there were some maddening questions over this Paul/Eli character. Were they twins and Paul just dropped out of the movie after his only scene? Or was Eli suffering from multiple personalities (he was a bit unbalanced)? And what made the kid go nuts? He saw a picture in a diary and just went nuts. Very strange movie.