“Away From Her”
*** 1/2 Canadian actor Sarah Polley goes behind the camera for the first time, turning Alice Munro’s powerful short story about a couple facing the erasures of Alzheimer’s into a spare but emotionally generous film. Julie Christie is nonstop watchable as Fiona, who early in the tale insists it’s time for her husband, Grant, to take her to Meadowlakes. Munro’s story takes place in third person. Polley shifts the weight of remembrance and recounting to Grant, played with reserve and quiet ache by Gordon Pinsent. At the facility, Fiona seems to forget Grant and forge ahead with new friend Aubrey (Michael Murphy). As Aubrey’s wife, Marian, Olympia Dukakis demonstrates an astute awareness of her role.|PG-13|110 minutes |Released today|Lisa Kennedy
“Gracie”
** 1/2 The famous Shue family – actors Elisabeth and Andrew – plays out its childhood soccer drama on screen. Carly Schroeder stars as Gracie, a teenage girl struggling for attention in her soccer-obsessed, male-dominated family. When her older brother, the star of the family, dies in a car accident, Gracie tries to join the local boys’ high school team. Occasionally the screenplay needs a kick in the shorts – too many scenes of argument or training montage are repeated too often. But families with soccer-playing girls will be primed for the concept.|PG-13|95 minutes |Released Sept. 18|Michael Booth
“Georgia Rule”
*** Forget the hoopla surrounding Jane Fonda’s return to the screen two years ago for “Monster in Law,” where the movie’s best writing was in the title. “Georgia Rule” can rightly be celebrated as her comeback. As Georgia Wilcox – grandmother to Rachel and mother to Lilly – the actress pulls off strong, wise, unsure and certain, sometimes in the span of seconds. When she grabs a bat and starts swinging, it’s violent, authentic and amusing. This mix occurs often in director Garry Marshall and writer Mark Andrus’ feisty comedy about a city girl banished to Idaho’s high country. Lindsay Lohan and Felicity Huffman hold up their end of this bargain as the other Wilcox gals.|R|113 minutes |Released Sept. 4|Lisa Kennedy
