127 Hours (R)
The thrilling true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco), who was trapped in an isolated canyon in Utah, his arm pinned under a boulder. For five days, Ralston reviews his life and the people in it, and discovers a desire for life compelling enough to enable him to amputate his own arm, and hike over eight miles before being rescued.
Barney’s Version (R)
Adapted from Mordecai Richler’s 1997 novel, Paul Giamatti is the imperfect 60-something Barney, a touching study in contradictions — narcissistic tyrant of a Canadian television empire, unhappily divorced, estranged from his son, and the subject of a new book that accuses him of his best friend’s (Scott Steadman) murder. Minnie Driver as his jilted Jewish Princess second wife. Rosamund Pike as his love-at-first-sight third wife. Dustin Hoffman as his Focker-like blue-collar father.
Black Swan (R)
There’s innocence and madness as the dance-obsessed ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman), competes with Lily (Mila Kunis) for the lead role in “Swan Lake.” Nina succeeds, but at a cost to mind and body that borders on gothic as she strives for perfection. Barbara Hershey as her overly protective mother.
The Eagle (PG-13)
Historic action adventure set in second century Scotland. Marcus (Channing Tatum), a Roman soldier out to redeem his family name, and the Celtic slave Esca (Jamie Bell), who’s life he saved, face overwhelming odds as Marcus sets out to recover the Eagle, the emblem of the mysteriously missing Ninth Roman Legion. With Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong, and Denis O’Hare.
The Green Hornet (PG-13)
Actor Seth Rogen co-wrote this cluttered story, creating a hero in his own klutzy screen image. As Britt Reid, he and Kato (Jay Chou) become a bungling crime-fighting duo battling for the attention of Lenore (Cameron Diaz) and against the villainous Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz).
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (G)
The (3-D) documentary of 16-year-old pop phenomenon Justin Bieber, an ambitious kid from Stratford, Ontario who went from 12-year-old street singer to internet sensation, to global super star. Home movies and performance clips show a meteoric launch that winds up at a Madison Square Garden concert.
The King’s Speech (R)
The struggle of King George VI (an absolutely brilliant Colin Firth), with his stammer and his speech therapist Lionel (Geoffrey Rush). Stellar cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, and Guy Pearce as his brother, King Edward VIII, whose abdication forced him to ascend the throne and offer a speech that inspired.
The Mechanic (R)
Messy remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson film, but this bloody buddy film is way more violent and nastier. The solutions become the problems when elite assassin Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) makes the vengeful son of his late friend Harry, his protégé. Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn, Donald Sutherland.
The Social Network (PG-13)
Compelling award-winning film. The fascinating inside story of Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) who created Facebook in 2003. Justin Timberlake is perfect as Sean Parker, the flash-and-dash Napster creator who burrows in on Zuckerberg’s success.
True Grit (PG-13)
The Coen brothers’ version of this classic western with Jeff Bridges as the drunken Rooster Cogburn, Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie, the scrappy girl out for revenge on her father’s murderer. Matt Damon as the Texas Ranger, Josh Brolin, the bad guy.
