filmland / By Charlie Myers

A Coot in Love

Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson lift Last Chance Harvey

(Feb. 26, 2009) Note: My Supporting Actress pick didn’t pan out, so congratulations to Ryan Burns who bested me in our Oscar picks, which appeared last week in this column. Fortunately, my separate, friendly Oscar contest was more successful.

Previews

GALLERY >

It didn’t win the Foreign Language Oscar, but happily local viewers will get to see Waltz with Bashir anyway as it opens on Friday, Feb. 27. An animated documentary from Israel, the film follows a 1982 Lebanon war veteran, film director Ari Folman, as he tries to remember the awful events of the conflict. The film’s confrontation with history has been somewhat controversial, particularly the ending. Rated R for some disturbing images of atrocities, strong violence, brief nudity and a scene of graphic sexual content. 90m. At the Minor.

Based on the video game, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li stars Kristin Kreuk (TV’s Smallville) in the title role, a fighter on a quest for justice. Maybe you can actually find justice in a video game. The film also features Neal McDonough (Traitor; 88 Minutes) and Black Eyed Peas singer Taboo. Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and martial arts action, and some sensuality. 97m. At the Broadway.

Round up the teenage woo girls … Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience opens this Friday for all the young music lovers to enjoy. The film follows the Jo-bros as they cross the nation on their “Burning Up Tour.” Plus, there’s footage of the bros kickin’ it backstage and a brand new song for gettin’ your groove on. Rated G for good times. 106 m. At Fortuna.

Review

LAST CHANCE HARVEY: Viewers may initially think they are watching a contemporary secularized version of the Biblical Job story with Last Chance Harvey. After all, our protagonist Harvey (Dustin Hoffman, in a geezer version of his character in The Graduate) suffers a series of major setbacks as this film opens.

We first see Harvey playing a jazz composition on a piano, but soon discover that his actual job as a musician is writing jingles for TV ads. But his boss thinks he’s over-the-hill even at that task and urges Harvey, who is off on a quick trip to London for his daughter’s wedding, to stay there as long as he wants while a younger guy takes over.

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