The following are brief reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications: A-I -- general patronage; A-II -- adults and adolescents; A-III --- adults; A-IV --- adults, with reservations (this indicates films that, while not morally offensive in themselves, are not for casual viewing because they require some analysis and explanation in order to avoid false impressions and interpretations); L --- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O --- morally offensive.
Broken Flowers (Focus)
World-weary womanizer (Bill Murray), deserted by his latest amour (Julie Delpy), receives an anonymous letter from a long-ago flame informing him he has a 19-year-old son, leading his neighbor (Jeffrey Wright) to suggest he look up ex-girlfriends (Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Tilda Swinton, Jessica Lange) and determine which one might have sent the letter. Writer-director Jim Jarmusch's quirky film is a telling commentary on relationships and human interconnection, the performances are fine, and Murray is effortlessly luminous. Scattered uses of rough language, brief full-frontal female nudity, implied premarital sex, underage drinking and brief drug use. Ratings: L, R.
The Dukes of Hazzard (Warner Bros.)
Sleazed-up film version of the popular television series about redneck rascals Luke and Bo Duke (Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott), who with the help of curvaceous cousin Daisy (Jessica Simpson) and moonshine-running Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson) foil the shady land dealings of crooked local politician "Boss" Hogg (Burt Reynolds). Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, the movie plays like an episode of the original TV show, capturing its rip-roaring spirit, but also introducing a raunchier brand of humor that pushes the envelope of its PG-13 rating. Recurring action violence, sexual situations and humor, drug references, Southern stereotypes, reckless behavior, flagrant if comical disregard for authority, as well as some crude language and gestures and profanity. Ratings: L, PG-13.
Grizzly Man (Lions Gate)
Fascinating profile of grizzly bear preservationist Timothy Treadwell, who filmed himself alone in the wilderness over a five-year period as he tried to "make friends" with wild bears and protect them, fully aware of the dangers, until he was killed by a bear in 2003. German director Werner Herzog explores the life and death of a man by turns passionate, eccentric and childlike -- using much of Treadwell's own footage -- to which he added the recollections of Treadwell's parents, colleagues and girlfriends. The result is a compulsively absorbing psychological study of an obsessed man, alternately admired and disparaged by those who knew him, as much as a nature documentary. Profanity, much rough language including repeated use of the f-word, some sexual musings, irreligious grumblings, animal violence, and gruesome description of his death (not shown). Ratings: L, R.
Must Love Dogs (Warner Bros.)
Amiable but uneven comedy about a recently divorced teacher (Diane Lane) whose well-meaning family runs a personal ad on her behalf that brings her into contact with a lonely boat-builder (John Cusack) in similar straits, but the possibilities of romance are complicated by the woman's attraction to the handsome father (Dermot Mulroney) of one of her preschoolers. Writer-director Gary David Goldberg's script meanders, the plot turns are sometimes implausible, but the central characters are decent and played by likeable leads, with good support by Christopher Plummer, Elizabeth Perkins and Stockard Channing. Freewheeling attitude toward premarital sex, condom use, an instance of profanity, scattered crude language, sexual banter, and a scantily clad go-go dancer. Ratings: L, PG-13.
Sky High (Disney)
Fun-filled and smartly crafted coming-of-age comedy about an adolescent superhero (Michael Angarano) attending an elite academy for the children of costumed crimefighters, who must live up to his parents' (Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston) world-saving reputation while navigating the equally trying teen trials of high school. Director Mike Mitchell strikes the perfect blend of campy humor, visual finesse and honest emotion while exploring themes of self-esteem, peer pressure and parental expectations. Comic-book violence and some mild rude language. Ratings: A-II, PG.
Stealth (Columbia)
Turbo-paced but vacuous action movie directed by Rob Cohen about a trio of elite Navy pilots (Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx) who must stop a highly advanced unmanned warplane, whose artificial intelligence has run amok, from triggering a world war. Combining elements of "Top Gun" and "2001: A Space Odyssey," the film's criticism of using technology to sanitize warfare sounds disingenuous given its video game-style violence and, despite some spectacular, if dizzying, dogfights, amounts to little more than an empty exercise in adrenaline overdrive. Action violence, a suicide, an implied sexual situation, some crude language, humor and gestures, a few instances of rough language and profanity. Ratings: A-III, PG-13. |