Movie Reviews
The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.
Alex Cross (Summit)
The titular hero (Tyler Perry) of the best-selling crime novels by James Patterson anchors an action-packed thriller, directed by Rob Cohen. Together with his partners — a tough Irish cop (Edward Burns) and a rookie (Rachel Nichols) eager to stand toe to toe with the big guys — Tyler's character, a detective and forensic psychologist, tracks a vicious serial killer (Matthew Fox) through the streets of Detroit. The high-stakes game of cat and mouse becomes personal when tragedy strikes close to home, and the investigators' search for justice is tinged by a desire for revenge. Fortunately, the strong violence is lightened by moments of humor, and the picture shows us the tender side to its protagonist, a devoted family man, as well as the role of faith in his life. Intense violence, including torture, drug use, a brief nonmarital bedroom scene with partial nudity, a few instances each of profane and rough language. (A-III, PG-13)
Argo (Warner Bros.)
Engrossing thriller, based on real events, and set against the backdrop of the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-81. Tasked by his boss with rescuing the handful of U.S. embassy employees who managed to escape capture when that facility was overrun by armed militants, a CIA agent (Ben Affleck) hatches a seemingly far-fetched scheme: He'll smuggle them out of Tehran — where they've been hiding in the Canadian embassy — disguised as a Canadian film crew scouting locations. To do so convincingly, he enlists the aid of a Hollywood producer (Alan Arkin) and makeup artist (John Goodman). Affleck, who also directed, masterfully alternates between life-or-death drama and high-stakes humor. Though both aspects of the story too frequently give rise to coarse dialogue, the canny patriotism and emotional impact of the picture — as scripted by Chris Terrio — make for a rousing experience. Potentially disturbing scenes and images, an abortion reference, a half-dozen uses of profanity, many rough and crude terms. (A-III, R)
Here Comes the Boom (Columbia)
Director Frank Coraci extols the Christian virtue of self-sacrifice through the unlikely yet inspiring tale of an ordinary man who goes to extraordinary lengths to help others. When the penny-pinching principal of a failing public high school threatens to eliminate its popular music program — and axe the beloved teacher (Henry Winkler) who runs it — a faculty colleague (Kevin James) pledges to raise the funds needed to save the activity. Having failed to do so by more conventional means, the onetime college wrestler becomes a mixed martial arts cage fighter. Despite being beaten to a pulp in each bout, he inspires his students and coworkers, especially the school nurse (Salma Hayek) who tenderly patches his wounds. Realistic martial arts sequences, a brief scene of gross-out humor, one instance of crass language. (A-II, PG)
Sinister (Summit)
Ethan Hawke plays a famed true-crime writer who moves his wife and two kids from their Connecticut mansion to a rambling Pennsylvania ranch house thinking he can solve an old murder that took place on the property. Instead he finds himself trapped in the vortex of an ancient killing ritual. Director Scott Derrickson blends the hoary haunted house motif with the found footage formula of more recent years to mostly tepid results. But at least he goes relatively light on the gore. Brief but explicit scenes of violence, some of it directed against children, grisly images, fleeting profanity, occasional rough language. (L, R)
Catholic News Service 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. Full-length reviews: www.catholicnews.com/movies.htm.
Alex Cross (Summit)
The titular hero (Tyler Perry) of the best-selling crime novels by James Patterson anchors an action-packed thriller, directed by Rob Cohen. Together with his partners — a tough Irish cop (Edward Burns) and a rookie (Rachel Nichols) eager to stand toe to toe with the big guys — Tyler's character, a detective and forensic psychologist, tracks a vicious serial killer (Matthew Fox) through the streets of Detroit. The high-stakes game of cat and mouse becomes personal when tragedy strikes close to home, and the investigators' search for justice is tinged by a desire for revenge. Fortunately, the strong violence is lightened by moments of humor, and the picture shows us the tender side to its protagonist, a devoted family man, as well as the role of faith in his life. Intense violence, including torture, drug use, a brief nonmarital bedroom scene with partial nudity, a few instances each of profane and rough language. (A-III, PG-13)
Argo (Warner Bros.)
Engrossing thriller, based on real events, and set against the backdrop of the Iran hostage crisis of 1979-81. Tasked by his boss with rescuing the handful of U.S. embassy employees who managed to escape capture when that facility was overrun by armed militants, a CIA agent (Ben Affleck) hatches a seemingly far-fetched scheme: He'll smuggle them out of Tehran — where they've been hiding in the Canadian embassy — disguised as a Canadian film crew scouting locations. To do so convincingly, he enlists the aid of a Hollywood producer (Alan Arkin) and makeup artist (John Goodman). Affleck, who also directed, masterfully alternates between life-or-death drama and high-stakes humor. Though both aspects of the story too frequently give rise to coarse dialogue, the canny patriotism and emotional impact of the picture — as scripted by Chris Terrio — make for a rousing experience. Potentially disturbing scenes and images, an abortion reference, a half-dozen uses of profanity, many rough and crude terms. (A-III, R)
Here Comes the Boom (Columbia)
Director Frank Coraci extols the Christian virtue of self-sacrifice through the unlikely yet inspiring tale of an ordinary man who goes to extraordinary lengths to help others. When the penny-pinching principal of a failing public high school threatens to eliminate its popular music program — and axe the beloved teacher (Henry Winkler) who runs it — a faculty colleague (Kevin James) pledges to raise the funds needed to save the activity. Having failed to do so by more conventional means, the onetime college wrestler becomes a mixed martial arts cage fighter. Despite being beaten to a pulp in each bout, he inspires his students and coworkers, especially the school nurse (Salma Hayek) who tenderly patches his wounds. Realistic martial arts sequences, a brief scene of gross-out humor, one instance of crass language. (A-II, PG)
Sinister (Summit)
Ethan Hawke plays a famed true-crime writer who moves his wife and two kids from their Connecticut mansion to a rambling Pennsylvania ranch house thinking he can solve an old murder that took place on the property. Instead he finds himself trapped in the vortex of an ancient killing ritual. Director Scott Derrickson blends the hoary haunted house motif with the found footage formula of more recent years to mostly tepid results. But at least he goes relatively light on the gore. Brief but explicit scenes of violence, some of it directed against children, grisly images, fleeting profanity, occasional rough language. (L, R)
Catholic News Service 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. Full-length reviews: www.catholicnews.com/movies.htm.
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