KPCC film critics Peter Rainer, Henry Sheehan, and Charles Solomon join Larry to review the week’s new film releases including Barney’s Version, Black Swan, I Love You Phillip Morris, Dreams of Jinsha, and Meskada, among others. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Peter Rainer, film critic for The Christian Science Monitor
Henry Sheehan, film critic for henrysheehan.com
Charles Solomon, animation critic, author and historian for amazon.com
Films Reviewed
Black Swan
Competition between two ballerinas for the lead role in Swan Lake turns into an obsession.
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassell and Winona Ryder
Written by: Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin
Directed: Darren Aronofsky
Rated: R
Twentieth Century Fox
I Love You Phillip Morris
While in prison a white-collar criminal meets his true love and stages ever more elaborate cons to sustain their extravagant life together.
Starring: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor and Leslie Mann
Written and directed by: John Requa and Glenn Ficarra
Rated: R
Liddell Entertainment and Roadside Attractions
Barney’s Version
A murder mystery intertwined with the history of one man’s three marriages.
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver and Rosamund Pike
Written by: Michael Konyves
Based on the novel by Mordecai Richler
Directed by: Richard J. Lewis
Rated: R
Sony Picture Classics
Dreams of Jinsha
A modern day adolescent boy is transported back in time 3,000 years and finds himself in a battle with evil forces.
Starring: Xu Gang and Zhan Jia
Written by: Su Xiaohong
Directed by: Chen Deming
Not Rated
Hangzhou C&L Digital Production Co, Ltd
Essential Killing
A Taliban member escapes prison after killing three American soldiers in Afghanistan.
Starring: Vincent Gallo and Emmanuelle Seigner
Written by: Eva Piaskowska and Jerzy Skolimowski
Directed by: Jerzy Skolimowski
Not Rated
Tribeca Films
Bhutto
The life story of Benazir Bhutto, the assassinated leader of Pakistan and first woman to lead a Muslim country.
Written by: Johnny O’Hara
Directed by: Duane Baughman and Johnny O’Hara
Not Rated
First Run Features
The Precinct
During an argument with his fiance, a famous photographer wrecks his car and the pair end up in jail where they must confront their past.
Starring: Zaza Bejashvili, Teymur Odushev and Melissa Papel
Written and directed by: Ilgar Safat
Not Rated
Narimanfilm, MMC
Meskada
A small-town detective works to solve a juvenile homicide and the elusive trail leads to class tensions between two neighboring towns.
Starring: Nick Stahl, Rachel Nichols and Kellan Lutz
Written and directed by: Josh Sternfeld
Rated: R
Red Flag Releasing
The Assistants
A group of young Hollywood assistants will do anything for the opportunity to produce their own movie.
Starring: Joe Mantegna, Jane Seymour, Stacy Keach and Chris Conner
Written and directed by: Steve Morris
Not Rated
Team Effort Films
DVD Releases
Madam Satan
Starring: Kay Johnson, Reginald Denny and Lillian Roth
Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
Fantasia on Blu-ray
Includes 1940s version, 2000 version, and extras
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Starring: Roy Edward Disney, John Lasseter and Michael Eisner
Directed by: Don Hahn
Walt and El Grupo
Starring: Janet Lansburgh
Written and directed by: Theodore Thomas
The Town
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall and Jon Hamm
Directed by: Ben Affleck