filmland / By Charlie Myers

Ben Stiller, You Schmuck

‘The Heartbreak Kid’ broke my goddamn heart

(Oct. 11, 2007) Previews

For my money, the pick of the week has gotta be Elizabeth: The Golden Age, which, believe it or not, is a sequel to the great Cate Blanchett Elizabeth pic from a few years ago. (Sorry, Internet’s down.) Blanchett is back for the sequel, as is Geoffrey Rush as Walsingham, the devious Machiavelli-quoting proto-spy. Enter the dashing Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh, throw in some devious Spanish maneuvers and this little thing they call the Armada, and you’ve got yourself a genuine film pleasure, no guilt necessary. Again directed by Shekhar Kapur. Rated PG- 13 for violence, some sexuality and nudity. 115 m. At the Broadway.

We Own the Night is a promising Brighton Beach Russian mob drama. The director, James Gray, clearly knows the dark corners of N.Y.C., having previously helmed quality flicks like Little Odessaand The Yards. Here he arranges a boss cast, including Joaquin Phoenix, “Markie” Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall and Eva Mendes. Rated R for strong violence, drug material, sexual content and brief nudity. 118 m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

Another top-notch cast graces Michael Clayton, a legal thriller directed by Tony Gilroy (screenwriter for the Bourne movies). George Clooney is a raffish former prosecutor currently cashing checks at a big corporate law firm. He’s sold his soul, turned to sleaze. Then one of his colleagues sabotages a case, and he slowly comes back to life. Also starring Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton and Sydney Pollock. Rated R for language. 120 m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

Judging by the number of screens it’s opening on, the big new release is Seeker: The Dark is Rising, which aims for the lucrative goth teen market. Like I said, the Internet is down. Here’s the press release: “A young man learns he is the last of a group of warriors who have dedicated their life to fighting the forces of the Dark.” Good luck. Starring C. Eccleston, I. McShane. Only rated PG, surprisingly. 99 m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna.

Onward. 11th Hour is an enraged leftie documentary. Seems sort of unfocused, at least judging from the press. The filmmakers interview “50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders who discuss the most important issues facing our planet and people.” But it’s narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, and surely Leo will bring some focus to the thing. Rated PG for mildly disturbing images and “thematic elements.” So it does have some kind of thematic element, anyway. 95 m. At the Minor.

*Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? Four couples who were friendly in college get together every year; they all find out that one of them has been cheating and it throws the whole thing into a thirty-something find-yourself tizzy. Rated PG-13 for “mature thematic elements,” sexual references and language. 118. At The Movies.*

Final Season: Underdog baseball team, true story, tears, inspiration. Starring Powers Boothe, Rachel Leigh Cook (?!), Tom Arnold and Sean Astin, the fat hobbit. Rated PG for language, thematic elements and teen smoking. 118 m. At the Broadway.

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