Director Edward Berger’s adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel about the election of a new pope is shot and acted as a Serious Movie: all those muted reds and saturated blacks in those lingering shots of the Sistine Chapel ceiling overhead and the embattled Cardinals below, all that anguish and intellection …
This, the fourth of the Airports, continues the steady climb into thinner and thinner air. It concerns a billionaire arms manufacturer who launches repeated midair attacks on the Concorde airliner, en route from Washington to Moscow, in order to eliminate one of its passengers, his girlfriend, who is in possession …
From a cast and crew of virtual unknowns — only producer Rose Troche (Go Fish) rang a bell — comes a curious quest to restore passion. A youngster accidentally beans one of his two mommies with a ball and the shock of the impact is enough to engender a lifestyle …
A corpse-whispering sawbones from Nigeria who “exemplifies everything it means to be an American” (Will Smith, giving it his syllable-distending Sidney Poitier best) effectively jerks what could have been a Super Bowl–winning punt out of the place-kicker’s path when he calls into play the scientific burden of evidence needed to …
The age-old struggle of a personal honor code against an imposed social code has been placed in a remote Kipling-esque setting -- a British military outpost in 19th-century India -- so that (a) the issues stand out boldly, (b) we know which side we're supposed to be on, and (c) …
Jon Hamm stars as the roguishly charming and endlessly troublesome Fletch, who becomes the prime suspect in a murder case while searching for a stolen art collection. The only way to prove his innocence? Find out which of the long list of suspects is the culprit - from the eccentric …
Costa-Gavras's nose for the irresistible subject (the Communist Party purges in Czechoslovakia) and Yves Montand's eagerness to participate (he drops enough pounds to appear impressively emaciated) yield a credible drama of historical speculation, done, in prison and courtroom mainly, with far fewer cars and tighter reins than normal for Mr. …
Two worlds collide when a young Amish girl discovers she was adopted by a wealthy family. As she seeks her birth mother, overcomes the obstacles of a lost fiancé, and a crafty gold-digger who seeks the fortune of her birth mother. Starring John Schneider, Chonda Pierce, and Caitlin Borek.
An Italian monk (Toni Servillo) is invited to attend a G8 summit, ostensibly to hear the confession of his host, global economist Daniel Roché (Daniel Auteiul). Later, the bigwig is found in his hotel room with a plastic bag around his head. Suicide or murder? The monk — a prime …
An adaptation of the "unauthorized autobiography" of Chuck Barris, TV game-show producer -- The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, et al. -- and moonlighting CIA hit man. Says him. We meet the protagonist (played with maximum smarm and supreme sleaze by Sam Rockwell) holed up, Manson-haired, naked, close to catatonic, …
The addiction nightmare played as comedy, very frothy and formulaic and materialistic comedy: a dozen maxed-out credit cards of an aspiring fashion writer, and rapacious consumer, in Manhattan (“They said I was a valued customer. Now they send me hate mail!”). The effervescent Isla Fisher dives into the role as …
Her Highness is exiled from the island of Manhattan to the cultural wilderness of Dellwood, New Jersey, a new world to conquer. The adult perspective (i.e., sardonic condescension, campy ornamentation) doesn't broaden the appeal beyond girls only -- little ones. With Lindsay Lohan, Adam Garcia, Glenne Headly, Alison Pill, and …
A British brides' magazine runs a contest, with the grand prize of a half-million-pound dream home, for the Most Original Wedding of the year. The themes of the three finalists: Hollywood musicals, tennis, and naturism, i.e., nudism. Shot, plausibly enough, in the mockumentary style (the magazine would naturally want a …