Last updated 02/03/2012 4:10 PM

National and World News

Movie Review Capsules

By Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Click here for more reviews)

"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (Warner Bros.)

Devastated by the sudden loss of his devoted father (Tom Hanks), a victim of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, an introverted grade schooler (Thomas Horn) sets out to identify the purpose of a mysterious key he discovers among his dad's belongings. His quest gains him the friendship of the traumatized German immigrant (Max von Sydow) who lodges with his grandmother and ultimately brings him closer to his seemingly grief-paralyzed mom (Sandra Bullock). Director Stephen Daldry's grim drama, adapted from the best-selling novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, focuses on community, shared suffering and familial solidarity as it upholds positive, humanistic values. But the main character's eccentricities -- he may or may not have a mild form of autism -- and the diffuse nature of his search, which brings him into contact with a whole series of strangers, makes it difficult for viewers to establish a sense of connection with his plight, and renders his story, for the most part, more emotionally trying than cathartic. Mature themes, some disturbing images, a transvestite character, a couple of crude terms, occasional vulgar wordplay. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Grey" (Open Road)

Survival story set in the Alaskan wilderness has an oil-rig worker (Liam Neeson) struggling to lead six other victims of a plane crash in their battle against marauding wolves. As directed and co-written by Joe Carnahan, the chases, killings and feats of courage are brisk but routine while the script (written in collaboration with Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, and based on Jeffers' short story "Ghost Walker") includes attempts at profundity and spiritual reflection that are wildly uneven. Given the meager rewards of trekking through it, even most adults would be well advised to decline this grueling cinematic journey altogether. Troubling themes -- including suicide and one character's blasphemous expression of despair -- frequent gory animal attacks, at least one use of profanity, pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Iron Lady" (Weinstein)

Touching dramatization of the life of Margaret Thatcher (a glorious Meryl Streep), Britain's first female prime minister, and arguably its most important post-World War II politician. Shuttling between the present day, with Thatcher suffering from dementia and short-term memory loss, and flashbacks recounting significant passages in the handbag-wielding ex-leader's life -- including her romance with future husband Denis (Jim Broadbent) -- director Phylidda Lloyd's film is sympathetic yet fair, Despite a few historical inaccuracies and moments of overemotional fluff, her portrait is both intimate and educational. Viewers of faith will appreciate its explicitly pro-family celebration of Thatcher's successful marriage as well as its implicitly pro-life vindication of her dignity (and enduring perceptiveness) despite mental frailty. Two scenes of terrorist attacks, documentary footage of real-life violence, a glimpse of upper female nudity, a few instances of crass British slang. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Underworld: Awakening" (Screen Gems)

In this fourth installment of the horror-fantasy series, Kate Beckinsale squeezes into the black vinyl tights again as Selene, avenging warrior of the Vampire clan. She battles werewolves called Lycans as well as predatory human scientists, and learns she has a daughter (India Eisley). Co-directors Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein serve up a familiar and somewhat dreary formula of neck-bitings, stabbings, martial-arts kicks and more gunfire than Custer's last stand. Stylized gun, knife and martial-arts violence, brief, shadowy upper female nudity. The Catholic News Service rating is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

From last week:

"Big Miracle" (Universal)

In 1988 Barrow, Alaska, a television reporter (John Krasinski) stumbles on a hole in the offshore ice and discovers a family of gray whales. Trapped five miles from open water, they'll drown unless something is done to free them. The story of their plight is broadcast around the world, and soon a varied host of people -- including a Greenpeace activist (Drew Barrymore), an oil magnate (Ted Danson), a local Inupiat boy (Ahmaogak Sweeney) and even President Reagan (Quinn Redeker) -- join in offering assistance. Director Ken Kwapis' screen adaptation of the real-life events recounted in Thomas Rose's 1989 book "Freeing the Whales" makes an inspiring and uplifting feature suitable for all but the youngest viewers. A few mild oaths, one semi-profane expression. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"Man on a Ledge" (Summit)

Tedious thriller about an ex-cop (Sam Worthington) wrongly convicted of stealing a fabulously valuable diamond from a morally stained millionaire (Ed Harris). His convoluted plan to vindicate himself involves distracting a crowd of New Yorkers -- as well as the police negotiator (Elizabeth Banks) who's trying to coo him down -- while his brother (Jamie Bell) and his brother's girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez) crack open the moneybags' vault and prove the putatively purloined jewel is still in situ. As director Asger Leth's wronged-innocence caper piles conspiracy on top of collusion, with dull consequences, the Lord's name is under constant assault in screenwriter Pablo F. Fenjves' risibly bad dialogue. Occasional action violence, an implied premarital situation, much profanity, at least two uses of the F-word, considerable crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"One for the Money" (Lionsgate)

Forgettable fish-out-of-water comedy in which an unemployed New Jersey department store saleswoman (Katherine Heigl) takes a job as a bail bondsman, and an old high school boyfriend (Jason O'Mara) for whom she still carries a torch -- despite his having spurned her -- becomes her first target for recapture. As the two go from rivalry to cooperation in trying to solve the crime of which he's accused, she gains the protection of a formidable colleague (Daniel Sunjata) and encounters representative denizens of the wrong side of town (most prominently John Leguizamo and Sherri Shepherd). Director Julie Anne Robinson's slack adaptation of the first of Janet Evanovich's popular series of mystery novels -- which also features Debbie Reynolds as the protagonist's breezily eccentric grandmother -- tries to get by on jauntiness but fails to charm. An attempt to capitalize on sexual tension, and such gags as an elderly exhibitionist that the heroine takes into custody, and a surfeit of profane dialogue are further deficits. Some action violence, brief rear and partial nudity, an instance of blasphemy and at least 20 uses of profanity, much sexual humor, frequent crude and crass language, a couple of obscene gestures. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Woman in Black" (CBS)

This big-screen version of Susan Hill's popular 1983 horror novel -- previously adapted for radio, television and the London stage -- headlines Daniel Radcliffe as a British barrister struggling to unravel the mysteries of a remote mansion and battling the vengeful ghost (Liz White) who inhabits it. Director James Watkins aims for a classic horror feel. But a high body count and a story line involving kids taking their own lives make his chillfest unsettling in all the wrong ways. Numerous scenes of suicide by children and occasional gore. The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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