Roger Ebert Movie Review - 04/02/10, 09:44

Roger Ebert Movie Review

Weekend Box Office: March 26-28, 2010

How to Train Your Dragon tops the box office with $43.7 million

Daily Box Office: Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The Last Song tops Wednesday's box office with $5.1 million

"Clash of the Titans? (PG-13, 106 minutes) Mortals in revolt against the gods, and battling terrifying lobster-monsters, the snake-haired Medusa, and the dreaded Kragon. A great deal of CGI action, skillfully done, and several good actors testing their skill at declamatory denunciation. With Sam Worthington as the buzz-cut, stubble-chinned hero Perseus in a land of bearded warriors, Liam Neeson as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes as Hades, and Alexa Davalos as Andromeda. Not great cinema, but amusing silly fun. Three stars

City Island / *** (PG-13)

"City Island" (PG-13, 103 minutes) Andy Garcia plays Bronx prison guard who dreams of being an actor. One day he startle his family by bringing home a young prisoner to live with them for 30 days' release. Meanwhile, his daughter and son lead secret lives, his wife believes his "poker games" are the cover-up for an affair, and Emily Mortimer is his acting class partner who talks him into going to an audition. Warm human comedy, with an almost operatic plot. Three stars

The Secret of Kells / *** (No MPAA rating)

"The Secret of Kells" (Unrated, 75 minutes) The 2010 Oscar nominee for best animated film tells the story of the youngest little monk, named Brendan, and how he helps a wise old monk illuminate a beautiful manuscript, but not without adventures in the magical forest outside the monastery walls. Directed by Tomm Moore and co-directed by Nora Twomey. Three stars

Vincere / ***1/2 (No MPAA rating)

"Vincere" (Unrated, 128 minutes) The long-suppressed story of Mussolini's early mistress, who bore him a son and then was pushed into the shadows after he made a respectable marriage. She obsessively follows him, confronts him with their child in public, and is finally locked away by the fascists in an asylum. Giovanna Mezzogiorno's performance as Ida, the mistress, reminds me of Sophia Loren in the way she combines passion with dignity. Directed by the legendary Marco Bellocchio. Three and a half stars

The Last Song / **1/2 (PG)

"The Last Song" (PG, 111 minutes). Now that Miley Cyrus is 17, it's about time she played a 16-year-old. That she does fetchingly in "The Last Song," and wins the heart of a beach volleyball champion a foot taller than she is. She's come to Tybee Island to spend the summer with her dad (Greg Kinnear), who she blames for divorcing her mother (Kelly Preston), and gradually emerges from her long gloom. With baby sea turtles, moonlight romance, a new Miley single, and no dramatic challenges from writer Nicholas Sparks. Recommended only for Miley's fans. Two and a half stars

Hot Tub Time Machine / *** (R)

"Hot Tub Time Machine" (R, 98 minutes). A raunchy guy comedy where three buddies and a nephew fall into a magical hot tub and are transported in time to the scene of their legendary bacchanal at a 1980s ski lodge. Rob Corddry, from the Daily Show, steals the movie as a tireless party animal; John Cusack and Craig Robinson are his buddies, Clark Duke is Cusack's nephew, Crispin Glover is a surly one-armed bellboy, and Chevy Chase, with a twinkle in his eye, is the hot tub repairman. Not quite the equal of "The Hangover," but with a lot of the same appeal. Better than the title might suggest. Three stars

Greenberg / ***1/2 (R)

"Greenberg" (R, 107 minutes). Ben Stiller in one of his best performances as a chronic malcontent who returns to L.A. to house-sit, nurture his misery, and reconnect with people who quite rightly resent him. With Greta Gerwig as an aimless but pleasant young college graduate who feels sorry for him, and Rhys Ifans and Jennifer Jason Leigh as survivors of his troublesome past. Directed by Noah Baumbach, of "The Squid and the Whale." Three and a half stars

Mother / ***1/2 (R)

"Mother" (R, 128 minutes). A mentally-deficient 27-year-old seems almost certainly guilty of murder. His mother, who has protected him all his life, is determined to prove his innocence. She is a remorseless force of nature, in a South Korean thriller that moves far beyond our expectations, into labyrinths deeper than reality. Written and diffracted by Bong Joon-ho ("The Host"). Three and a half stars

How to Train Your Dragon / *** (PG)

"How to Train Your Dragon" (PG, 98 minutes). Young Hiccup, whose Viking village has long been beset by dragons, befriends a young one and tames it. Thus the elders discover there can be good dragons and bad ones, and that leads to an aerial battle sequence obviously yearning to become a video game. The new Dreamworks animated feature is bright, good-looking and has high energy. Kids are above the easily-scared age will probably like the movie the younger they are. Three stars.

Chloe / ***1/2 (R)

"Chloe" (Unrated, 96 minutes). A woman doctor (Julianne Moore) suspects her husband (Liam Neeson) of cheating, and hires a young call girl (Amanda Seyfried) to test how he might respond. She is fascinated by the girl's reports. Her jealousy shifts into curiosity. And the call girl? What's in this for her? Egoyan weaves a deceptive erotic web. Three and a half stars.

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