filmland / By Charlie Myers

Beowulf – Medieval Bores

Plus: With Bardem, ‘Cholera’ proves non-lethal

(Nov. 22, 2007) Previews

Okay, it’s the holiday season so sugar is the order of the day, and none will probably be more sickly sweet than Robin Williams in August Rush. Freddie Highmore plays the title character, who grows into a musical prodigy under the tutelage of Williams’ wizard character and then uses his musical gifts to locate his birth parents. Rated PG for some thematic elements, mild violence and language. 110 m. At the Broadway.

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Perhaps more palatable is the modern fairy tale from Disney, Enchanted, if for no other reason than Susan Sarandon plays an evil queen who banishes the princess from the past (Amy Adams from Talladega Nightsand Tenacious D) to modern day hell, a.k.a. Times Square, whereupon the animated princess becomes flesh and blood. Can she find romance without the pixels? Rated PG for some scary images and mild innuendo. 117 m. At the Broadway, Fortuna and Mill Creek.

Hitman is a based-on-the-video-game film about rogue Agent 47 (Timothy Olyphant) on the run in Europe from Interpol and Russian intelligence agents. Rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity, and strong bloody violence. 110 m. At the Broadway, Fortuna and Mill Creek.

Director Frank Darabont previously directed Stephen King’s The Green Mile and he returns to King territory with The Mist. Here, a mist rolls in after a freak storm in Maine and what emerges is not pretty for the citizens of the small town. Rated R for violence, terror and gore, and language. 137 m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

Cutting right to the holiday chase, This Christmas, directed and written by Preston A. Whitmore II, is a recreation of a Whitmore family Christmas starring Delroy Lindo (TV series Kidnapped), Loretta Devine (Dreamgirls) and Idris Elba (American Gangster). Rating pending. 127 m. At the Broadway.

The indie film Lars and the Real Girl may add a little acid to the sugar. The film tells the story of a guy (Ryan Gosling) who strikes up a romantic relationship with Bianca, who appears to be the woman of his dreams. Unfortunately, she’s only a mail-order life-size doll. Love life’s a bitch. Also starring Emily Mortimer. Rated PG-13 for some sex-related content. 116 m. At the Minor.

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