Movie reviews

The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

Django Unchained (Weinstein)
Vengeance tale written and directed by Quentin Tarantino about a brutalized slave (Jamie Foxx) in the antebellum South who is first purchased, then liberated by a German-born bounty hunter (Christoph Walz). Together the pair conspires to rescue the ex-slave's wife (Kerry Washington), who was sold away from him. But her current owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) is tipped off to their plans by a treacherous house slave (Samuel L. Jackson). Tarantino unleashes the same hyper-violence against those participating in, and profiting from, the evil enterprise of slavery as he previously launched against Nazis in his 2009 historical wish-fulfillment fantasy "Inglourious Basterds." Additionally, the horrific physical degradations endured by the victims of America's "peculiar institution" are depicted with careful attention to historical detail. Not for the casual moviegoer or the easily jarred. Revenge theme, pervasive and explicit bloody violence, a glimpse of full male nudity, fleeting upper female nudity, frequent profanity, constant rough language and racial slurs. (L, R)

The Guilt Trip (Paramount)
Warmhearted comedy about the relationship between a buttoned-up chemist (Seth Rogen) and his doting widowed mother (Barbra Streisand). Secretly hoping to reunite New York-based mom with a boyfriend from her youth who now lives in San Francisco, the researcher invites her along on a cross-country business trip during which he'll be pitching a cleaning product he invented. Though not all the adventures that ensue make for family viewing, notably an unintended stop-off at a roadside strip club, the vibrant mutual affection between the two main characters shines through as they try to reconcile their ill-matched temperaments. By turns amusing and touching, director Anne Fletcher's film — which sees both its stars in top form — is enjoyable fare for grownups. Brief partial nudity, numerous adult references, a couple of uses of profanity, at least one rough and about a dozen crude terms. (A-III, PG-13)

Jack Reacher (Paramount)
Tom Cruise as the title character sets out to clear a former military sniper (Joseph Sikora) accused of five murders in Pittsburgh. He is aided in his sleuthing by the veteran's lawyer (Rosamund Pike). Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie has adapted a reasonably compelling detective story from Lee Child's novel "One Shot." But his protagonist turns out to be an amoral avenger. Pervasive violence including gunplay, implied drug use, frequent profanity. (L, PG-13)

Les Miserables (Universal)
Lavish adaptation of the worldwide musical stage sensation, based on the Victor Hugo novel and directed by Tom Hooper. Inspired by the kindness of a Catholic bishop (Colm Wilkinson), an ex-convict (Hugh Jackman) assumes a new identity and amends his life, becoming a benevolent mayor and factory owner, all the while evading the obsessive pursuit of his former jailer (Russell Crowe). When one of his workers (Anne Hathaway) is unjustly fired and forced into a life of prostitution, he pledges to raise her daughter (Isabelle Allen) as his own. Years pass, and the now-grown lass (Amanda Seyfried) falls for a young revolutionary (Eddie Redmayne) amid violent protests on the barricaded streets of Paris. A positive portrayal of the Catholic faith, with characters calling on God for grace and mercy, and seeking personal redemption while trying to better the lives of others, makes this rousing film especially appealing to mature viewers of faith. Scenes of bloody violence, a prostitution theme, nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity. (A-III, PG-13)

Parental Guidance (Fox)
Family comedy stars Billy Crystal and Bette Midler as grandparents babysitting for — and trying to connect with — a trio of grandchildren (Bailee Madison, Joshua Rush and Kyle Harrison Breitkopf) they've barely seen before. Though they obviously mean well, director Andy Fickman and screenwriters Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse produce some very stale and predictable situations. Childish scatological humor. (A-I, PG)

Silver Linings Playbook (Weinstein)
Off-kilter romantic comedy that manages to address mental illness with fresh sensitivity while delivering laughs and uplifting emotion. Eight months after catching his wife (Brea Bee) cheating on him, and being confined to a psychiatric hospital because of his violent reaction, a Philadelphia man (Bradley Cooper) checks out of the institution and moves in with his parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver). He meets -- and is drawn to -- one of their neighbors, a widow (Jennifer Lawrence) who has psychological issues of her own. Writer-director David O. Russell doesn't shy away from awkwardness or feel-good sentiment as he guides a superb ensemble through a character-driven story about hope -- and the sometimes fine line between normal and crazy. Brief glimpses of a violent assault, fleeting rear and partial female nudity, some profane language, frequent crude and crass terms, sexual innuendo. (A-III, R)

—CNS

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.

—January 11, 2013