“The Men Who Stare at Goats”
** 1/2 | There are some truly funny moments in this adaptation of Jon Ronson’s nonfiction book about a military operation that trained soldiers in paranormal warfare. But, given the context of wars the U.S. remains embroiled in, the audience is right to expect more pointed, poignant insights — paranormal or otherwise. Jeff Bridges, George Clooney and Kevin Spacey star as the founder of the New Earth Army and his two most talented conscripts. Ewan McGregor plays the reporter who stumbles upon their much-weirder- than-fiction story. R. 1 hour, 35 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
** 1/2 | What a delightful outing director-writer Wes Anderson provides in his (and Noah Baumbach’s) adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s tale. When the 0h-so-clever and dapper title character takes on three gluttonous (and increasingly infuriated) farmers by the names of Boggis, Bunce and Bean, it’s quite the adventure. George Clooney and Meryl Streep provide the voices of Mr. Fox and his no-bull Missus. Jason Schwartman plays their sulky son, Ash, who gives in to the stuff of kid anxieties when his near-perfect cousin Kristofferson (Eric Anderson) arrives. A vivid example of stop-motion animation, “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is yet another sign we’re living in an animation heyday. PG. 1 hour, 28 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
“Red Cliff”
**** | Set in A.D. 208, and describing the storied battle between a power-mad general and an uneasy alliance of two warlords and their clans, John Woo’s “Red Cliff” is an awesome and compelling spectacle. The film teems with immense conflagrations, generals plotting strikes and counterstrikes, brilliant deceptions and clanging swordplay, missiles of fire, a rain of arrows, balletic combat and brute force. From landscape shots that have the serene beauty of a Han Dynasty watercolor, to its dramatic naval engagements and thundering cavalry charges, this is a magnificent film. R. 2 hours, 28 minutes. Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
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