KPCC film critics Peter Rainer, Henry Sheehan and Charles Soloman join Larry to review the week’s new film releases including The Hangover Part II, Kung Fu Panda 2, The Tree of Life, Dumbstruck, Make Believe and The Abduction of Zack Butterfield. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and Christian Science Monitor
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and henrysheehan.com
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC and amazon.com
Films Reviewed:
The Hangover Part 2
In the aftermath of an ill-fated bachelor party in Las Vegas four friends face similar trouble in Thailand.
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifanakis and Ed Helms
Written by: Scot Armstrong, Craig Mazin and Todd Phillips
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Rated: R
Warner Brothers Pictures
Kung Fu Panda 2 (In 3-D)
A martial artist panda and his friends fight an old enemy with a new weapon.
Starring: the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Jackie Chan
Written by: Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger
Directed by: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Rated: PG
Paramount Pictures
The Tree of Life
The eldest of three brothers in a 1950s family copes with the loss of innocence.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain
Written and directed by: Terrence Malick
Rated: PG-13
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Dumbstruck
(Regent)
Follows the real life struggles of five ventriloquists onstage and off.
Starring: Wilma Swartz, Dan Horn, Dylan Burdette, Kim Yeager and Terry Fator
Directed by: Mark Goffman
Rated: PG
Truly Indie
Make Believe
Six young magicians struggle with adolescence and compete to be the next Teen World Champion.
Starring: Ed Alonzo, Albert M. Belmont Jr. and Gay Blackstone
Written by: Cleven S. Loham
Directed by: J. Clay Tweel
Not rated
CrowdStarter
The Abduction of Zack Butterfield
(Sunset 5)
A bizarre relationship develops between a 14-year-old boy and his captor, a murderous female Iraqi combat mercenary.
Starring: Brett Helsham and T.J. Plunkett
Written by: Stephen M. Ryder and Rick Lancaster
Directed by: Rick Lancaster
Not rated
Thunder Hill Pictures
Musica Surfica
Juxtaposes the art of finless surfing and classical music on remote King Island in the South Pacific.
Written and directed by: Mick Sowry
DVDs
Biutiful
Starring: Javier Bardem, Maricel Álvarez and Hanaa Bouchaib
Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Passion Play
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Megan Fox and Bill Murray
Directed by: Mitch Glazer
Kaboom
Starring: Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett and Chris Zylka
Directed by: Gregg Araki
Vitaphone Follies
A Warner Archive DVD of Vita Tune Shorts. It's a 4-disc collection of 60 10-minute shorts made by Warner Bros. from 1927-1930 in both its NY and LA studios. It includes vaudeville acts, musical acts and some "playlets."
