09/15/11 Film clips

OPENING FRIDAY

"DRIVE" — A Hollywood stunt driver, who moonlights as a wheelman during robberies, discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong. Stars Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"). (Rated R for strong, brutal, bloody violence, language and some nudity.)

"I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT" — A comedy centered on the life of Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker), a finance executive who is the breadwinner for her husband (Greg Kinnear) and two kids. A new account adds another layer to her already-packed schedule — and it includes temptation in the form of business associate Jack Abelhammer (Pierce Brosnan). (Rated PG-13.)

"THE LION KING" (3-D and digital) — The lovable Disney adventure about the journeys of a guilt-ridden lion cub returns to theaters, this time in 3-D. Starring the voices of Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones. (Rated G, with some scenes that may be too intense for youngsters.)

"SARAH’S KEY" — In modern-day Paris, a journalist (Kristen Scott Thomas) finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in 1942. (Rated PG-13 for thematic material including disturbing situations involving the Holocaust.)

"STRAW DOGS" — A Los Angeles screenwriter moves with his wife to her hometown in the deep South. Once there, tensions build in their marriage and old conflicts re-emerge with the locals, leading to a violent confrontation. (Rated R for strong, brutal violence including a sexual attack, menace and some sexual content, and pervasive language.)

HELD OVER

"APOLLO 18" — Documentary-style thriller follows two astronauts confronted by a dangerous life form while on a covert mission to the moon. Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego. (PG-13 for some disturbing sequences and language.)

"BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR" — After learning that his parents were 1970s porn stars, a nerdy guy leaves his Iowa home for Hollywood and hoped-for porn stardom. Starring Nick Swardson, Don Johnson and Christini Ricci. (Rated R for pervasive crude sexual content, language and some nudity.)

"CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER" — After being deemed unfit for military service during World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteers for a top-secret research project that turns him into Captain America. His first mission: Beat the Nazis. Also starring Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving and Stanley Tucci. Directed by Joe Johnson. (PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action.)

"THE CHANGE-UP" — After a drunken night out, family man Jason Bateman and swinging single Ryan Reynolds, who envy each other’s lifestyles, discover they have switched bodies. Also starring Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde and Alan Arkin. Directed by David Dobkin. (R for pervasive strong crude sexual content and language, some graphic nudity and drug use.)

"COLOMBIANA" — A top-tier assassin looks to settle with the Colombian drug lord who executed her parents when she was 10 years old. Starring Zoe Saldana, Michael Vartan and Callum Blue. Directed by Olivier Megaton. (PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, intense sequences of action, sexuality and brief strong language.)

"CONTAGION" (digital) — The Centers for Disease Control dispatches an international team of doctors to stop an airborne virus from spreading around the world. With an all-star cast including Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Jude Law. (Rated PG-13 for disturbing content and some language.)

"COWBOYS & ALIENS" — Jon Favreau, the director behind "Iron Man," turns his sights on a genre-melding effort that pits 1870s cowboys against galactic baddies. Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell. (PG-13 for intense sequences of Western and sci-fi action and violence, some partial nudity and a brief crude reference.)

"CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE." — A happily married man’s world unravels when he finds out his wife is cheating on him, leaving him to navigate the treacherous waters of the dating pool with the help of an overeager wingman. Starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore and Emma Stone. Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. (PG-13 for coarse humor, sexual content and language.)

"THE DEBT" — A thriller centered on Israeli spies tracking down a notorious Nazi doctor who’s responsible for the torture and death of countless Jewish prisoners. Starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas and Tom Wilkinson. Directed by John Madden. (R for some violence and language.)

"DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK" — Guillermo del Toro wrote and produced this big-screen remake of a 1973 made-for-TV horror film about a little girl whose parents don’t believe her when she tells them there all sorts of nasty creatures in their new home. Starring Bailee Madison, Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes. Directed by Troy Nixey. (R for violence and terror.)

"FINAL DESTINATION 5" (3-D) — Once again, a bunch of teenagers who were supposed to die but didn’t start getting visits from the Grim Reaper, resulting in spectacularly elaborate deaths. In 3-D! Starring Nicholas D’Agosto, Emma Bell and Arlen Escarpeta. Directed by Steven Quale. (R for strong violent/gruesome accidents, and some language.)

"HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2" — The battle between good and evil spins the Wizarding world into full-scale war as The Boy Who Lived and the good wizards take on He Who Must Not Be Named and his minions in the climax to the series of films based on J.K. Rowling’s immensely popular books. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman and Michael Gambon. (PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.)

"THE HELP" — A white writer in 1960s Mississippi bucks convention by giving voice to black domestic workers. Based on Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel. Starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard and Sissy Spacek. (PG-13 for thematic material.)

"OUR IDIOT BROTHER" — A comedy starring Paul Rudd as a hopelessly optimistic and possibly simple-minded brother who barges into the lives of his three ambitious sisters. Also starring Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel and Emily Mortimer. Directed by Jesse Peretz. (R for sexual content including nudity, and for language throughout.)

"RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES" (digital and 35mm) — In this origin story for the "Planet of the Apes" franchise, a scientist conducts genetic experiments on primates that lead to them developing intelligence and eventually battling humans for supremacy. Starring James Franco, Freida Pinto, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow and Tom Felton. Directed by Rupert Wyatt. (PG-13 for violence, terror, some sexuality and brief strong language.)

"SHARK NIGHT" (3-D) — A lake-house retreat on the Louisiana Gulf Coast turns into a nightmare for a group of vacationers when they are subjected to fresh-water shark attacks. Starring Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack and Katharine McPhee. Directed by David R. Ellis. (PG-13 for violence and terror, disturbing images, sexual references, partial nudity, language and thematic material.)

"THE SMURFS" — The little blue guys (and Smurfette!) from Smurf Village find themselves stranded in our world in this blend of animation and live action. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara and Hank Azaria, with the voices of Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Fred Armisen and Anton Yelchin. Directed by Raja Gosnell. (PG for some mild rude humor and action.)

"WARRIOR" — The Oscar buzz has already begun for this "Rocky"-like drama about two brothers (Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy) competing for the title of mixed martial arts world champion. Nick Nolte co-stars as the two men’s father for director Gavin O’Connor. (Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense mixed martial arts fighting, some language and thematic material.)

"ZOOKEEPER" — When an animal-loving zoo caretaker (Kevin James) quits his job in pursuit of a woman, the animals try to teach him the ways of courtship, jungle style. Also starring Rosario Dawson, with animal voices provided by Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Cher and Nick Nolte. Directed by Frank Coraci. (PG for some rude and suggestive humor, and language.)

— Compiled by the Yakima Herald-Republic