Boy A
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Katie Lyons and Andrew Garfield star in a scene from the movie “Boy A.” (CNS photo/Weinstein)
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By Harry Forbes
Catholic News Service
Achingly sad and touching story of a sensitive young man (stunning work by Andrew Garfield) – released from prison after 14 years for a dreadful crime in which he took part as a child – who, with the help of a concerned caseworker (Peter Mullan), tries to start anew with an assumed name working at a delivery company where he bonds with one co-worker (Shaun Evans) and falls in love with another (Katie Lyons). Director John Crowley’s adaptation of John Trigell’s novel is bleak, heart-wrenching, morally complex and thought-provoking in its themes of forgiveness, redemption, the negative influence of the media and the human tendency to judge without knowing the facts. Rough language and profanity, crude expressions, nongraphic sexual situations and frank discussion, fleeting upper female nudity, bodily violence, off-screen murder, suicide and brief drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. (Weinstein)
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The Dark Knight
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Christian Bale, back, and Heath Ledger star in a scene from the movie “The Dark Knight.” (CNS photo/Warner Bros.)
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By Harry Forbes
Catholic News Service
Tumultuous, technically dazzling – if overlong and excessively complex – sequel to “Batman Begins” as the chiropteran crusader (Christian Bale) is challenged by the anarchic Joker (Heath Ledger) to reveal his true identity or else scores will die, while a romantic rival for his ex-girlfriend’s (Maggie Gyllenhaal) affections – the upstanding district attorney (Aaron Eckhart), working in tandem with the city’s crime unit chief (Gary Oldman) – strives to bring integrity to corrupt Gotham. Ledger is electrifying in his last completed performance, while director and co-writer Christopher Nolan brings consummate polish to the creation of a chaotic and brutal milieu, albeit one relieved by underlying decency. Bloodless but intense action violence including shootings, explosions and vehicular mayhem, but virtually no objectionable language or sexual elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Warner Bros./Legendary)
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Mamma Mia!
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Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep star in a scene from the movie “Mamma Mia!” (CNS photo/Universal)
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By Harry Forbes
Catholic News Service
Lively and colorful adaptation of the popular stage musical, utilizing the songs of Abba, about a bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) who invites her mother’s (marvelous Meryl Streep) three lovers from two decades earlier (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard) to her wedding in Greece after discovering that one of them may be her father. Original theater director Phyllida Lloyd has skillfully adapted the show, and the stars handle their songs with aplomb, but though joyful, humane and life-affirming with little visually offensive, a strong caution must be raised about the underlying “anything-goes-for-love” message and several other problematic elements. Overall freewheeling morality, light sexual references and innuendo, casual treatment of marriage, divorce and nonmarital relations, some vulgar gestures, brief rear-nudity sight gag, an anti-Catholic remark and a few crass words. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L – limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Universal)
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Space Chimps
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Animated characters Luna, Ham III and Titan are pictured in a scene from the movie “Space Chimps.” (CNS photo/20th Century Fox)
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By John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
Lively computer-animated children’s adventure in which a happy-go-lucky circus performer (voice of Andy Samberg), whose grandfather was the first chimp astronaut, is invited to join a pompous commander (voice of Patrick Warburton) and his sensible lieutenant (voice of Cheryl Hines) on an all-simian mission to retrieve an expensive space probe that’s gone astray, its technology enabling an overbearing alien (voice of Jeff Daniels) to become dictator of a distant planet. Despite less than stellar animation and an easily predictable plot trajectory, director and co-writer Kirk De Micco’s lighthearted film provides warm family entertainment and offers lessons about maturity, resourcefulness and self-sacrifice. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I – general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G – general audiences. All ages admitted. (Fox)
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Film on pharmaceutical industry brings notoriety to Wisconsin woman
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Katherine Heigl and Lucian McAfee star in a scene from the movie “Side Effects.” Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau, a Catholic from Madison, Wis., produced the film. She says it has attracted attention because it stars Heigl of “Grey’s Anatomy,” who portrays a pharmaceutical sales representative in the film. (CNS photo/Hummingbird Pictures)
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By Joe Winter
Catholic News Service
A movie based on questionable marketing tactics she saw when she worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a sales representative has brought notoriety to a Wisconsin Catholic woman.
“Side Effects,” which Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau produced herself, and her follow-up radio show have gained attention from media outlets such as CNN, USA Today and Forbes.
The film was reviewed by many of the biggest industry publications the world over, including the British medical journal The Lancet, then did well in sales when it came out on DVD in 2007, she said.
The film is based on her on-the-job experiences as a pharmaceutical rep and is the basis for her radio talk show that has begun to be syndicated across the country.
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Days and Clouds (Giorni e Nuvole)
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Alba Rohrwacher, Margherita Buy and Antonio Albanese star in a scene from the movie “Days and Clouds” (“Giorni e Nuvole”). (CNS photo/Film Movement)
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By John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
Mature, generally perceptive drama in which an idealistic middle-age Genoese executive (Antonio Albanese) and his art restorer wife (Margherita Buy) find their relationship strained after he is forced from his job by his business partners, an economic and social crisis they try to conceal from, among others, their 20-year-old daughter (Alba Rohrwacher). Director and co-writer Silvio Soldini’s intimate, award-winning portrait of a marriage under siege upholds the value of long-term mutual commitment, though it downplays the devastating consequences of physical infidelity. In Italian. Subtitles. Brief, nongraphic adulterous sexual activity, much rough and crude language and sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Film Movement)
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Meet Dave
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Eddie Murphy stars in a scene from the movie “Meet Dave.” (CNS photo/20th Century Fox)
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By John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
Whimsical comedy in which the tiny captain (Eddie Murphy) of a human-shaped alien spaceship (also Murphy) gains the help of a kindhearted young New York widow (Elizabeth Banks) and her bullied 11-year-old son (Austyn Lynd Myers) in his quest to save his home planet. Director Brian Robbins’ film relies entirely on the single joke of Murphy’s abject social awkwardness, but along the way celebrates generosity, human decency and the heroic potential of seemingly ordinary people. Some mild scatological humor, a sexual reference and a brief profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II – adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG – parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. (20th Century Fox/Regency)
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Hellboy II: The Golden Army
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Ron Perlman stars in a scene from the movie “Hellboy II: The Golden Army.” (CNS photo/Universal)
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By Harry Forbes and John Mulderig
Catholic News Service
Lively sequel in which a domesticated demon (Ron Perlman), his incendiary girlfriend (Selma Blair), his aquatic sidekick (Doug Jones), an FBI bureaucrat (Jeffrey Tambor) and their new protoplasmic supervisor (John Alexander/James Dodd/Seth MacFarlane), together with a pale blonde princess (Anna Walton), unite to foil the schemes of the princess’ power-hungry twin brother (Luke Goss). Director and co-writer Guillermo del Toro’s follow-up to his 2004 film features superior special effects, bantering humor, and some superficial Christian imagery and religious subtext amid strictly standard action trappings. Premarital cohabitation and pregnancy, moderate fantasy violence, a suicide, some crass language, a few mild oaths and an instance of sexual humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Universal/Relativity)
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Journey to the Center of the Earth
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Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson and Anita Briem star in a scene from the movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” (CNS photo/New Line/Walden)
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By Harry Forbes
Catholic News Service
Enjoyable update of Jules Verne’s classic 1864 novel with a present-day geology research professor (Brendan Fraser), his late explorer brother’s son (Josh Hutcherson) and their Icelandic guide (Anita Briem) finding themselves deep below the earth’s surface, reliving most of the incidents from the book. Though not as memorable as the Hollywoodized 1959 version, this retread, from director Eric Brevig, provides plenty of nifty special effects – which are especially effective in the 3-D presentation used in some theaters – and together with personable leads and squeaky clean content make this wholesome family viewing for all but the very youngest viewers who might be frightened by some of the intense, though bloodless, action sequences. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I – general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG – parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. (New Line/Walden)
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The Wackness
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Ben Kingsley and Josh Peck star in a scene from the movie “The Wackness.” The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O – morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanyi ng parent or adult guardian. (CNS photo/Sony Pictures Classics)
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By Harry Forbes
Catholic News Service
Offbeat coming-of-age drama – set in 1994 New York to a hip-hop soundtrack – about a pot-dealing high school graduate (Josh Peck) with a troubled home life who forms an unlikely friendship with his drug-addicted therapist (Ben Kingsley in a quirky change of pace) and falls in love with the shrink’s promiscuous stepdaughter (Olivia Thirlby). Peck’s fine performance is often affecting, and there is trenchant humor in the script, but the milieu of director-writer Jonathan Levine’s film is mostly sordid and its objectionable elements and the permissiveness with which they are presented are problematic despite a solid moral thread and ultimately redemptive wrap-up. Pervasive rough language and some profanity, extensive drug dealing and use, nonmarital sexual encounters without nudity, brief rear and upper-female nudity elsewhere, masturbation, a suicide attempt and strong sexual talk. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O – morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R – restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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