Burlesque (PG-13)
A spunky Ali (Christina Aguilera) leaves rural Iowa to find fame and fortune and stops at The Burlesque Lounge in Hollywood owned by Tess (Cher). Ali starts as a cocktail waitress and works her way up to saving the day. The plot is tired, but musical numbers are lavish. With Julianne Hough, Kristen Bell, Peter Gallagher, Eric Dane, Alan Cumming, Stanley Tucci.
Conviction (R)
The remarkable true saga of high school drop-out Betty Anne Waters’ (Hillary Swank) 18-year-long effort to exonerate her hard-luck brother Kenny’s (Sam Rockwell) murder conviction. With Minnie Driver, Peter Gallagher, Juliette Lewis.
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (PG-13)
The first of the two-part finale — very different, very dark, very hocus-pocus. It’s war, and Voldemort’s Death Eaters, determined to kill Harry, seize control of the Ministry of Magic where Harry, Ron and Hermione, morphed magically as older wizards, are sneaking around. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
Hereafter (PG-13)
Without drawing certainties or conclusions, Clint Eastwood directs this tender, questioning look at the possibility of an afterlife. It presents three plausible and ultimately connecting stories among Marie (Cecile de France), a French newscaster; twin British brothers (Frankie and George McLaren), and George Lonegan (Matt Damon) of San Francisco, a psychic who regards his gift as a curse, especially after meeting Melanie (Bryce Dallas Howard).
Love and Other Drugs (R)
Islanders love Jake Gyllenhaal sightings so here’s your chance. Gyllenhaal plays Jamie, an adorable Viagra salesman who knows he’s irresistibly charming and makes the most of it in this grown-up, happy and sad tale. There is a lot going on: Jamie romances the quirky and also adorable Maggie (Anne Hathaway), who faces health concerns as they struggle with commitment issues and the politics of peddling pharmaceuticals. Explicit language and sexuality. With Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, and as Josh, Jamie’s schmuck of a brother, Josh Gad.
Megamind (PG)
It’s a good guy-bad guy role reversal in this smart DreamWorks animation. The evil Megamind (Will Ferrell), always bested by the caped hero Metro Man (Brad Pitt), finds himself having to defend rather than destroy Metro City. With Tina Fey and Jonah Hill.
The Tourist (PG-13)
Even the beautiful Johnny Depp, as the American tourist Frank, should expect all hell to break loose when the beautiful Angelina Jolie, as the mysterious stranger Elise, beckons. Their flirtation leads to intrigue and run-for-your-life danger through Europe.
Unstoppable (PG-13)
A wonderfully photographed thriller about two heroic railroad workers (Denzel Washington and Chris Pine), as they single-handedly fight both the railroad’s corrupt corporate owners and a high-speed runaway train loaded with toxic chemicals that’s about to destroy a town. (Loosely based on a 2001 incident in Ohio.) A tension-filled ride.
