“Broken Embraces”
**** (out of 4)
Lluis Homar plays director-turned-screenwriter Harry Caine, after a car crash that has robbed him of his vision, while dating an actress (Penelope Cruz) behind her director-boyfriend’s back. Director Pedro Almodovar creates a film-within-the-film, but what we see here is a sampler of comedy, noir, melodrama and luscious compositions. R. 2 hours, 8 minutes.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“Cold Souls”
** (out of 4)
Would an actor sell his own soul for a great performance? No, but he might pawn it. Paul Giamatti is struggling through rehearsals. His soul is weighed down; it tortures him; it makes his wife miserable. He hears about a new trend: People are having their souls extracted for a time, to lighten the burden. Dr. Flintstein’s Soul Storage service will remove the soul (or 95 percent of it, anyway) and hold it in cold storage. He’s the type of medical professional who focuses on the procedure and not the patient. Giamatti questions the procedure but signs up. PG-13. 1 hour, 41 minutes.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“Planet 51”
** 1/2 (out of 4)
The 1950s Hollywood tradition was that an alien spaceship landed on Earth and was surrounded fearfully by military troops. “Planet 51” is true to the tradition, but this time the ship comes from Earth, and it lands on a planet inhabited by little green men. It’s still the 1950s, however. It’s perfectly pleasant as kiddie entertainment, although wall-to-wall with pop references to the American 1950s. PG. 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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