Film clips

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LITTLE ROCK — At area theaters

71

ALL ABOUT STEVE, PG-13 A crossword puzzle constructor (Sandra Bullock) thinks she’s found the love of her life in a news cameraman (Bradley Cooper), although she doesn’t seem to notice that he doesn’t feel the same way. (99 minutes)

87

THE BURNING PLAIN, R Charlize Theron plays a restaurant manager whose cool, professional demeanor takes a hit when a Mexican stranger confronts her with her mysterious past and she finds herself linked to a variety of disparate characters, all of whom are grappling with their own romantic destinies. With John Corbett, Robin Tunney; directed by Guillermo Arriaga. (90 minutes)

85

CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY, R Michael Moore takes a documentary look at the impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans and the world. (127 minutes)

88

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS

, PG

A geeky scientist invents a device that causes food to rain from the sky. Animated. (81 minutes)

75

COUPLES RETREAT, PG-13 Four Midwestern couples on a group-rate vacation to a tropical island discover that the resort’s couples therapy is not optional. (107 minutes)

68

GAMER, R In a future when mind control technology has overwhelmed society, humans control other humans in multiplayer online games. (105 minutes)

85

G-FORCE, PG Highly trained guinea pigs are the secret weapons in a government espionage program. Animated. (90 minutes)

80

G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, PG-13 The elite G.I. Joe team uses ultramodern spyware and military weaponry to fight a corrupt international arms dealer. (118 minutes)

88

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALFBLOOD PRINCE

, PG

Professor Dumbledore is intent upon preparing Harry for the final battle with Voldemort that both know is fast approaching. (153 minutes)

75

I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF, PG-

13

Madea turns over three troublemaking teens to their nightclub singer aunt, who is not interested in or prepared to take care of them. (113 minutes)

83

THE INFORMANT!, R Matt Damon plays a rising star at agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland who suddenly turns whistle-blower, but he may be too loose a cannon for the FBI. Based on a true story. (108 minutes)

85

THE INVENTION OF LYING, PG-13 A scriptwriter (Ricky Gervais) in a world where no one lies decides to be the first to do so. (100 minutes)

88

IT MIGHT GET LOUD, PG Documentarian Davis Guggenheim looks at the history of the electric guitar from the point of view of three rockers: Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, U2’s The Edge and the White Stripes’ Jack White. (81 minutes)

70

LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, R Gerard Butler plays a family man who, years after his wife was brutally murdered during a home invasion, begins to take revenge on the prosecutor (Jamie Foxx) and others who allowed one of her killers to get off lightly. With Bruce McGill, Colm Meaney, Leslie Bibb; directed by F. Gary Gray. (108 minutes)

87

MY ONE AND ONLY, PG-13 Renee Zellweger plays a beautiful but mercurial ’50s New Yorker who leaves her philandering society bandleader husband (Kevin Bacon) and takes to the roadwith her two teenage sons in search of a wealthy replacement mate, certain that her girlish charms will serve her as well as they did two decades earlier. (108 minutes)

88

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

, PG

The 3-D of Tim Burton’s 1993 animated tale of Halloweentown’s wellmeant but ill-fated takeover of Christmas. Colonel Glenn 18. (76 minutes)

89

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, R A young, middle-class couple move into what seems like a typical suburban “starter” tract house and become increasingly disturbed by a possibly demonic presence that is most active in the middle of the night. With Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Friedrichs, Amber Armstrong; directed by Oren Peli. (99 minutes)

71

SORORITY ROW, R In this remake, the five sorority sisters of Theta Pi who had caused the death of one of their own during a foolish prank gone wrong find that, one year after their graduation, an unseen killer not only knows their secret but is stalking them. (101 minutes)

70

THE STEPFATHER, PG-13 In this remake of a 1987 film, a young man just back from military school beginsto suspect that his mother’s seemingly loving new boyfriend could be hiding a dark side. With Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley; directed by Nelson Mc-Cormick. (101 minutes)

67

SURROGATES, PG-13 In a futuristic world, humans live in isolation and interact vicariously through surrogate robots. (88 minutes)

78

THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, PG-13 Clare (Rachel McAdams) loves timetraveler Henry (Eric Bana) even though he disappears without warning. (108 minutes)

90/90

TOY STORY/TOY STORY 2, G Disney is rereleasing in 3-D these Pixar animated classics featuring toy heroes Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Potato Head, Slinky Dog, Rex and Hamm. Animated. (173 minutes)

90

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, PG Based on the book by Maurice Sendak, it’s the story of a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just as he longs for a kingdom to rule. With Catherine Keener, Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Forest Whitaker; directed by Spike Jonze. (94 minutes)

88

WORLD’S GREATEST DAD, R Robin Williams plays a failed author who has settled for becoming a poetry teacher who turns his obnoxious son into an overnight folk hero after a tragedy. (99 minutes)

88

ZOMBIELAND, R Two guys trying to survive in a world overrun by zombies have to decide which is worse: being eaten or having to rely on one another. (81 minutes)

Movie-rating point system

Movies are rated on a scale from 50 to 100. Guidelines for moviegoers:

96-100 Transcendent

90-95 Exceptional

80-89 Better than most to remarkable

70-79 Average

60-69 Awful to mediocre

50-59 Irredeemable

This article was published October 23, 2009 at 4:17 a.m.

MovieStyle, Pages 39 on 10/23/2009

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