Thursday, we reviewed four fine films. And “Valkyrie.” Just kidding. Sort of. We’re not kidding, however, about encouraging you in your holiday moviegoing. Full reviews of the following can be found online at .
“Marley & Me”: Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston play John and Jen Grogan, who adopt the marked-down pup of a yellow Lab litter. Bless them for their thrift. (Area theaters)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”: Director David Fincher wows and Brad Pitt stars in this magical American fable based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who ages backward. (Area theaters)
“The Reader”: Kate Winslet and David Kross get their searing close- ups in this stunning and spare adaptation of Bernhard Schlink’s novel about desire, secrecy and German guilt. (Chez Artiste)
“Gran Torino”: The real muscle car here is Clint Eastwood. He directed and stars as Walt Kowalski, a bigoted, growling retired autoworker who finds kinship with the Hmong teen who tried to steal his prized possession. (Area theaters)
“Valkyrie”: Don’t blame Tom Cruise. Or don’t only blame the star for this World War II thriller’s flaws. After all, the script never figures out what to make of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg who, along with a number of German officers, plotted to kill Adolf Hitler. (Area theaters)
