The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Across the Universe (Revolution)
At once spectacular and schizophrenic, this musical tribute to the Beatles chronicles the adventures of a Liverpool dockworker (Jim Sturgess) as he travels to America, befriends a rebellious preppy (Joe Anderson), falls in love with the preppy's sister (Evan Rachel Wood), pals around with his Janis Joplin-like singer-landlady (Dana Fuchs), her Jimi Hendrix-like bandmate (Martin Luther McCoy), and a former cheerleader turned bohemian (T.V. Carpio). As conceived and directed by Julie Taymor, the film is a highly imaginative, visually stunning fantasia, employing the music of the Fab Four to elucidate the 1960s, though its contrived story line too often leaves both cast and audience bogged down in a mire of cliches. Partial, rear and upper female nudity, cohabitation, a sexual embrace, a disrespectful sequence with a priest, drug use, occasional rough and much crude and crass language. (L, PG-13)
The Brave One (Warner Bros.)
Finely wrought but ultimately troubling tale of a radio personality (Jodie Foster) who gradually becomes a vigilante after her fiance (Naveen Andrews) is killed and she herself grievously wounded in an attack in New York's Central Park, and of her complex relationship with a police detective (Terrence Howard) who is determined to hunt down the vigilante. An unsettling meditation on the effects of fear -- and of its absence -- director Neil Jordan's film has virtually every element of a great work of art -- except, ultimately, a steadfast commitment to humane values. Brutal violence with blood and gore, some graphic sexual activity, rear and upper female nudity, outbursts of extremely rough language, and frequent crude and crass language. (O, R)
Eastern Promises (Focus)
Taut, grippingly powerful story of the Russian underworld as a midwife in a London hospital (Naomi Watts) tries to locate the family of Russian girl who died giving birth; when she reveals she has the dead girl's incriminating diary, she becomes the target of a restaurateur-mobster (Armin Mueller-Stahl), his alcoholic bully of a son (Vincent Cassel) and their taciturn chauffeur (Viggo Mortensen). Director David Cronenberg's somber thriller is crafted with impressive artistry, and performances -- including those of Sinead Cusack and Jerzy Skolimowski -- are excellent, but though the violence is artistically valid extreme caution is advised as there are some graphic images and one intense sexual encounter. Brutal violence with bloodshed, the mutilation of a corpse, a graphic sexual act, rear and fleeting full-frontal-male and upper-female nudity, blood hemorrhaging, an extended tattooing sequence, rough language and profanity, and drug and rape references. (L, R)
The Hunting Party (MGM/Weinstein)
Interesting though uneven black comedy based on actual events, about a washed-up broadcast journalist (Richard Gere), his former cameraman (Terrence Howard) and the nerdy reporter-son (Jesse Eisenberg) of a network executive who, five years after the Bosnian war, attempt not just to interview but to capture a notorious war criminal who has thus far eluded CIA and U.N. search efforts in and around Sarajevo. Writer-director Richard Shepard's mix of drama and laughs works sometimes, but not enough of the time, and despite individual pluses and an implicitly strong indictment of governmental inaction in capturing war criminals it fails overall to convince. Much gratuitous rough language and profanity; crass expressions; rear and upper female nudity; some violence including torture; a fox hunt; sexual references; brief nongraphic scene of sexuality; and premarital situations. (L, R)
In the Valley of Elah (Warner Independent)
Inspired by true events, this is a powerfully understated drama about a patriotic ex-military man (Tommy Lee Jones) who, leaving his worried wife (Susan Sarandon) at home, searches for their missing son who's just returned from duty in Iraq, and who joins forces with a police detective (Charlize Theron) to break through the military's red tape, as they begin to suspect foul play. Writer-director Paul Haggis's script ultimately delivers a strong anti-war message, and cast members -- who also include Jason Patric, James Franco and Josh Brolin -- give sensitive, nuanced performances. Rough language and profanity, rear shower nudity, upper female nudity, brief gruesome war and morgue imagery and verbal descriptions, suicide, drug references and violent scuffle. (A-III, R) Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications: A-I -- general patronage; A-II -- adults and adolescents; A-III -- adults; L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O -- morally offensive.
MPAA ratings: G -- general audiences. All ages admitted; PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children; PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13; R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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