Some reviews originate at other newspapers that do not award star ratings. Ratings range from zero to four stars.
OPENING THIS WEEK
“Vanishing on 7th Street”Reviewed on Page 8D
“Secret Sunshine” Reviewed on Page 6D
“The Housemaid” Reviewed on Page 6D
“Hall Pass” Reviewed on Page 6D
“The Grace Card” Reviewed on Page 8D
“We Are What We Are” Reviewed Thursday
“Drive Angry”
Unavailable for critic screenings by press time
CONTINUING
Here are selected mini-reviews of films in theaters, listed alphabetically.
“Barney’s Version”Dramedy R. Barney (played by Paul Giamatti) is a foul-mouthed, bad-tempered, inconstant TV producer who spends most of his life not knowing how good he has it. (Chris Hewitt, St. Paul Pioneer Press) 134 minutes
“Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son”Comedy PG-13. Martin Lawrence & Co. hit Tyler Perry where he lives. They take the black-man-in- drag wars into Madea country — Atlanta — for this cross-dressing sequel. (Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel) 105 minutes
“Blue Valentine”Drama R. Derek Cianfrance’s romantic drama moves back and forth between young marrieds Dean and Cindy’s stagnating present and their full- of-hope courtship. (Kennedy) 114 minutes
“Cedar Rapids”Comedy R. Ed Helms is Tim Lippe, a Wisconsin naif sent to an insurance conference where he will wise up. And how. (Kennedy) 86 minutes
“The Chaperone”Muscle tussle PG-13. Pro wrestler Paul “Triple H” plays an ex-con who tries to leave his getaway-driver past behind so that he can get to know the daughter (Ariel Winter) who grew up while he was doing time. (Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel) 103 minutes
“The Eagle”Historical drama PG-13. The flat-footed script for this sandals-and- swords history does not help Channing Tatum soar as Marcus Aquila, son of the commander whose Ninth Legion went missing in action in A.D. 120. (Kennedy) 114 minutes
“Gnomeo & Juliet”Animated love G. A daft and generally deft British animated retelling of the star-crossed romance set in adjacent English backyard gardens. (Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel) 84 minutes
“I Am Number Four”Science fiction PG-13. Nine aliens who resemble humans flee to hide on Earth. They are each provided a guardian and develop superhuman powers as they become adults. (Robert Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times) 110 minutes
“The King’s Speech”Period bromance R. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush play brilliantly off each other as stammering Prince Albert, the man who will be King George VI, and his Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue. (Kennedy) 118 minutes
“Oscar Nominated Shorts 2011; Live Action and Animation”
Not rated but some mature themes in live action and tween-appropriate and up material in animation. Live Action: 100 minutes; Animation, 81 minutes.
“Rabbit Hole”
Drama R. Months after their 4-year-old son was killed in an accident, Howie and Becca still struggle with the lonesomeness of grief. Their portrayers Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, however, find stalwart company in director John Cameron Mitchell and David Lindsay-Abaire’s adaptation of the latter’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. (Kennedy) 92 minutes
“Sanctum”Scenic suspense R. The fact- based film follows a team of underwater cave divers on a treacherous expedition, the latest from executive producer James Cameron. (Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel) 109 minutes
“True Grit”Western redo PG-13. For their flinty and spare version of the classic Western, Joel and Ethan Coen return to the source — Charles Portis’ 1968 novel, not the 1969 John Wayne flick. Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld puts the Methodist starch back in 14-year- old Mattie Ross. Jeff Bridges plays Marshal Rooster Cogburn, the man she hires to help track her father’s killer. (Kennedy) 110 minutes
“The Unknown”
Suspense PG-13. Liam Neeson arrives in Berlin for a biotech conference. A car accident leaves him in a coma for four days, and his sense of disorientation grows when his colleagues and even his wife (played by January Jones) don’t recognize him. (Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post) 109 minutes
