filmland / By Charlie Myers

Buscemi’s Chatty Side

Plus: Jodie Foster is one badass mofo

(Sept. 20, 2007) Previews

David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence was one of my top films of 2005. Now he’s back with Eastern Promises, again starring Viggo Mortensen, who is here teamed with the excellent Naomi Watts. Crime and violence are now centered in London, as we follow the stories of crime family member Nikolai (Mortensen) and midwife Anna (Watts), who accidentally becomes involved with him. A Charlie pick of the week, if not the year. Rated R for strong brutal and bloody violence, some graphic sexuality, language and nudity. 110 m. At the Broadway.

Jessica Alba in her underwear has no such pull for me, though. In the comedy Good Luck Chuck, Charlie (Dane Cook, Employee of the Month) is cursed to have all the women he sleeps with marry someone else — get a clue, Charlie! — so what can he do with Cam (Alba) so he doesn’t lose her? Seems the very definition of brain-dead. Rated R for sequences of strong sexual content including crude dialog, nudity, language and some drug use. 106 m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

Then there’s the third in the tired series Resident Evil: Extinction, which finds Alice (Milla Jovovich) saving the world from becoming undead. The singer Ashanti puts in an appearance as well. Rated R for strong horror violence throughout and some nudity. 104 m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

It gets better. Sydney White uses the story of Snow White as the basis for this comedy about sorority life during the first year of college. Starring Amanda Bynes (Hairspray) as Sydney, who discovers her mom’s sorority ain’t what it used to be. What is? Rated PG-13 for some language, sexual humor and partying. 100 m. At the Broadway.

The documentary Manufactured Landscapes follows Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky as he travels to China taking pictures of grotesque industrial sites, making art out of environmental disasters. Shot in 16mm, the film is directed by Jennifer Baichwal. In English and Mandarin with English subtitles. Not rated. 100 m. At the Minor.

Reviews

THE BRAVE ONE: It’s virtually impossible for me not to enjoy watching a performance by Jodie Foster, and in the case of The Brave One Terrence Howard is equally effective. But this film is far from Foster’s best film. Or perhaps I’m already tired of the recent spate of vigilante flics.

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