filmland / By Charlie Myers

Welcome Back, Cronenberg

Ultra-violent ‘Eastern Promises’ leads the pack

(Sept. 27, 2007) Previews

Opening Friday, Sept. 14, The Kingdom is about an F.B.I. team that investigates an act of terrorism in Saudi Arabia. See review below.

GALLERY >

Written and directed by Paul Haggis ( Crash ), In the Valley of Elah stars Tommy Lee Jones as a career officer and Susan Sarandon as his wife. They try to find out why their son disappeared after returning from Iraq, aided by a police officer played by Charlize Theron. The film has garnered very positive reviews, and what a great cast. Rated R for violent and disturbing content, language and some sexuality/nudity. 134 m. At the Broadway.

Based on the novel by Charles Baxter about the mysteries of love, Feast of Love explores the topic among a group of friends in Portland, Ore. Directed by Robert Benton ( The Human Stain and screenwriter for Bonnie and Clyde ), the film has an interesting cast, including Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell and Selma Blair. Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language. 112 m. At the Broadway.

Have you missed The Rock? Then you’re in luck, as he stars in the comedy The Game Plan as a big time QB who discovers, inopportunely, that he has a 7-year-old daughter he didn’t know about. Where are these scripts coming from — is there a screenwriter’s strike going on? Rated PG for some mild thematic elements. 109 m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna.

Speaking of love, or at least desire, French director Pascale Ferran adapts a less well-known version of D.H. Lawrence’s famous novel with Lady Chatterley , a film that won five César awards in France. Lady Chatterley is portrayed by Marina Hands ( The Barbarian Invasions ; Tell No One ). Not rated, but the film contains sex and nudity. 178 m. At the Minor.

The low-budget disaster film Right At Your Door , a first feature from Chris Gorak, is about a dirty bomb set off in Los Angeles, leaving residents to face a toxic atmosphere. Pass the duct tape. The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Festival. Rated R for pervasive language and some disturbing violent content. 106 m. At the Minor.

Launching the Gay Pride weekend in Arcata, Trained in the Ways of Men , a documentary about the murder of transgender teen Gwen Araujo, will screen at the Minor on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. The running time is 98 minutes.

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