Movie Minis

By

Originally published 10:10 p.m., May 30, 2007, updated 12:00 a.m., May 31, 2007

• Print
• [-][+] Font Size
• E-Mail Alerts
• Tell a Friend
• Got a Question?
• You Report
• Click-2-Listen

OPENING

• Even Money (2007) (PG-13). A saga of compulsive gamblers, written by Robert Tannen and directed by Mark Rydell, who attracted an intriguing cast: Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, Kim Basinger, Danny De Vito, Carla Gugino, Nick Cannon, Kelsey Grammer and Jay Mohr.

• Gracie (2007) (PG-13). An inspirational sports tearjerker set in the late 1970s and said to be a semi-autobiographical memoir from the girlhood of actress Elisabeth Shue, who portrays the mother of the title character, a New Jersey teenager. Gracie (Carly Schroeder) crusades to join a boys' high school soccer team after the accidental death of her older brother, a star player. Also a family affair behind the scenes, the movie was directed by Miss Shue's husband, Davis Guggenheim, and co-produced by her actor brother, Andrew Shue. The cast includes Dermot Mulroney as Gracie's father.

• Killer of Sheep (1977) (No MPAA rating: Adult subject matter). A 30th-anniversary revival of Charles Burnett's slice-of-life feature about the struggles of a Watts family man (Henry Gayle Sanders) whose despondent moods owe something to an allegorically dead-end job at a slaughterhouse. Made on a shoestring budget, the movie never attracted a theatrical distributor but slowly built a reputation among critical and festival admirers. Exclusively at the Landmark E Street Cinema.

• Knocked Up (2007) (R: Adult language, sexual situations, drug use and mature themes). Writer-director Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") strikes again with this very adult comedy. A mismatched pair (Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl) hook up one drunken night and later learn they're going to be parents.

• Mr. Brooks (2007) (R: Strong violence, sexuality, gore, nudity and adult language). Kevin Costner is Mr. Brooks, a mild-mannered businessman by day, reluctant serial killer by night. William Hurt plays Mr. Brooks' murderous id, the voice in his head that implores him to kill. Demi Moore makes a rare screen appearance as a detective hot on the murderer's trail.

• Severance (2007) (R: Strong violence, gore, nudity, adult language and drug use). This British horror/comedy follows a group of defense contractors who travel to Hungary for some team bonding exercises. Turns out the locals don't like how the company's weapons have impacted their lives, and it's time for a bit of revenge.

NOW SHOWING

• Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2007) (R: Crude and sexual humor, violent animated images and language) — ***. Based on the successful television series that's part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim animation block, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" follows Master Shake, Frylock and Meatwad as the fast-food items try to save their neighbor Carl. The surreal cartoon isn't for everyone, but those who appreciate this kind of humor will find an easy transition from the small to the big screen. — Kelly Jane Torrance

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?