filmland / By Charlie Myers

Teen scenes

Witty ‘Juno’ soars above the usual melodrama; ‘Missed Call’ horrifies

(Jan. 10, 2008) Previews

Just in time for a possible Academy Awards nomination, Atonement opens locally Friday, Jan. 11. Based on the fine 2001 novel by Ian McEwan, Atonement stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy as young lovers whose relationship is torn asunder by the false accusations of a younger sister (played by Saoirse Ronan at age 13, later by Romola Garai). Beginning in 1935 in the British countryside, the story extends past WWII as the younger sister finds atonement hard to come by. Rated R for disturbing war images, language and some sexuality. 140 m. At the Broadway.

The controversial film The Kite Runner is a coming-of-age story set in Afghanistan. Based on the best-selling novel by Khaled Hosseini, the story follows Afghan refugee Amir (Khalid Abdalla, United 93) who returns as an adult to his native country to help a friend and to recover his own childhood. The film’s release was pushed back, presumably to protect the young actors because of the film’s depiction of a child rape. Rated PG-13 for strong thematic material including the rape of a child, violence and brief strong language. 132 m. At the Minor.

In a change of pace, The Bucket List is a geezer buddy comedy starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, who escape from a hospital cancer ward to take off on a final fling to complete the things they’ve never gotten around to (the “bucket list”). I assume the film rests on the by-play between the two stars. Rated PG-13 for language, including a sexual reference. 107 m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

In I’m Not There, director Todd Haynes (Far from Heaven), who also co-wrote, gives us a riff on the life of Bob Dylan where a variety of actors, including Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger and Richard Gere, play various visions of Dylan (although none of the incarnations are actually called Dylan). Clearly not a standard biopic. Rated R for language, some sexuality and nudity. 135 m. At the Minor.

In the Name of the King, whose tagline is “A Dungeon Siege Tale,” is apparently based on a PC game franchise. German director Uwe Boll brings us a fantasy story about Farmer, who seeks revenge on the Kings, who seem to have kidnapped his wife and killed his son. I mean, what’s a guy to do? Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences. 160 m. At the Broadway.

First Sunday is a comedy starring Ice Cube (who also produced) as a petty criminal who has to turn to robbery to pay off a debt. As the film’s title suggests, the caper involves a church. Rated PG-13 for language, some sexual humor and brief drug references. 108 m. At The Movies.

The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie is an animated family comedy aimed primarily toward a young audience about three “veggie pals” who want to put on a pirate play and find themselves back in the 17th century. It must be January. Rated G. 95 m. At The Movies.

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