Greenberg (R)Director Noah Baumbach (“The Squid and the Whale,” “Margot at the Wedding”) brings out the best in Ben Stiller and Greta Gerwig in this slow moving, funny/sad character study. Greenberg (Stiller), released from a psychiatric institution, packs up his neuroses and retreats to his brother’s home where he remains self-absorbed, needy, and contagiously uncomfortable.3 1/2 shells
Iron Man 2
High-energy, high-tech sequel to the first blockbuster, has billionaire inventor (Robert Downey Jr.) being pressured to share his technology with the military. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and an evil Mickey Rourke.
4 shells
Letters to Juliet (PG)
While her Italian recipe-obsessed fiancé (Gael Garcia Bernal) ignores her on their Tuscan holiday, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) finds a 50-year-old letter written by Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) to Shakespeare’s Juliet, and following local custom, posted on a wall in Verona. With Claire’s grandson (Christopher Egan), Sophie helps her find her great lost love (Franco Nero). Main ingredient — schmaltz.
1 shell
Robin Hood (PG-13)
Ridley Scott’s too-serious take on 12th century history and politics in the grim, humorless prequel version of Robin Hood (Russell Crowe). Even teamed with a feisty feminist Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett), there is more intellectualizing than action. With Joaquin Phoenix, Max von Sydow, Eileen Atkins.
2 ½; shells
Vincere (R)
Award-winning Italian film based on the story of Benito Mussolini’s first wife. Ida Dalsar, a well-to-do salon owner who sells all her possessions to fund her ambitious but impoverished husband’s political newspaper, then winds up abused, disallowed, and driven mad. With archival footage.
3 shells
Reel Picks ratings are based on a consensus of published reviews.
