filmland / By Charlie Myers

I Am Bland

Smith’s great in ‘I am Legend,’ but the sappy windup bites

(Dec. 20, 2007) Previews

The Christmas onslaught kicks into overdrive beginning this Friday, Dec. 21, and continues on Christmas day. Based on George Crile’s 2007 book of the same title as adapted by screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (TV’s The West Wingand the short-lived Studio 60) and helmed by veteran Mike Nichols, Charlie Wilson’s War is about how the swinging Texas Democratic congressman (Tom Hanks), with the help of Houston socialite Joanne Herring (a glammed-up Julia Roberts), conspired to give money and weapons to the Mujahideen to help the Afghans defeat the Russians in the 1980s. Co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and rising star Amy Adams (Enchanted). Rated R for strong language, nudity/sexual content and some drug use. 107 m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

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National Treasure: Book of Secrets is another entry in the dreary but popular Nicolas Cage series, directed again by Jon Turtletaub with the acting-challenged Diane Kruger reprising the role of Abigail Chase. Here, the duo is on the trail of 18 missing pages from the diary of John Wilkes Booth. Maybe the truth behind Kennedy’s assassination will also be revealed. Co-starring Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris and Harvey Keitel. Rated PG for some violence and action. 134 m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek, the Minor and Fortuna.

A potential multi-hankied romance/comedy/drama, P.S. I Love You, based on the novel by Cecelia Ahern, stars Hilary Swank as a young widow who discovers that her prematurely dead husband has left her a list of 10 things to do to get her life back on track. What a thoughtful guy. Co-starring Lisa Kudrow, Gerald Butler, Gina Gershon and Kathy Bates. Rated PG-13 for sexual references and brief nudity. 136 m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

Co-written by the indefatigable Judd Apatow, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is a country music mockumentary starring John C. Reilly as the singing star whose career we follow from childhood. Jenna Fischer (The Office) co-stars as his backup singer. Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language. 106 m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna.

Three additional films open Dec. 25. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (too much to hope for), whose connection to Christmas seems tenuous, is about a battle between a single predator and a group of aliens (are these fair odds?) in a small Colorado town following the crash of a Predator scout ship. A sequel to 2004’s AVP. Rated R for violence, gore and language. 96 m. At the Broadway, Fortuna and Mill Creek.

Another entry in the stand-and-deliver/underdog genre, The Great Debaters stars Denzel Washington (who also directs) as a professor at a small black college in Texas who coaches his debate team in lessons of life and argument, leading the team to challenge Harvard for the national championship. The story is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, who taught Speech and English at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. Rated PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality. 133 m. At the Broadway.

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep is a family fantasy about a Scottish boy named Angus (Alex Etel, Millions) who discovers an egg that grows into a friendly sea creature. Emily Watson, who might actually get me to see the film, plays Angus’ mother. Rated PG for some action/peril, mild language and brief smoking. 121 m. At the Broadway, Fortuna and Mill Creek

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