Capsule movie reviews

February 03, 2010

New releases



Edge of Darkness Mel Gibson returns to the screen after seven years as a veteran Boston homicide detective and single father whose daughter is murdered in front of his eyes. His assumption that he was the target proves wrong, and he tracks down and punishes the guilty parties. An above average revenge movie. (117 min., R) (Sam Allis)

Fish Tank British filmmaker Andrea Arnold’s second film, after 2006’s unnerving “Red Road,’’ is about a tough, angry teenage girl (the remarkable Katie Jarvis) drawn to her mother’s boyfriend (Michael Fassbender) while trying to dance her way out of the projects. The director’s eye for detail is at times magical but sentimental clichés start creeping in toward the end. (123 min., unrated) (Ty Burr)

Mystery Team An ultra-cheap comedy that takes a solid premise - three kid detectives grow up, hit high school, turn clueless - and tries like crazy to stretch it into a feature. It comes close enough to make you want to see what the members of the Derrick comedy troupe do next. A deeply dumb movie made by pretty smart people. (98 min., R) (Ty Burr)

Waiting for Armageddon A lucid, unnerving, perhaps too even-tempered documentary about Christian millennialists who expect the End of Days any day now and would be more than happy to help it along. Filmmakers Kate Davis, David Heilbroner, and Franco Sacchi show us the folks who are praying for the world to go to hell and fret about their impact on US foreign policy. (74 min., unrated) (Ty Burr)

When in Rome There’s actually not a lot of Rome in this movie. And not much creativity or entertainment either. It’s a predictable romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell as an American who disturbs the mojo in an Italian “fountain of love,’’ which invites the advances of suitors ranging from Josh Duhamel to Danny DeVito. Even that sounds a lot funnier than it actually is. (91 min., PG-13) (Janice Page)

Previously released

The Book of Eli

Denzel Washington plays a lone dude in post-nuclear America carrying a Very Important tome that frontier boss Gary Oldman wants. It’s basically “The Road’’ with twice the plot, four times the ammunition, and half the brains; it’ll probably make 10 times the money. Costarring Mila Kunis. (118 min., R) (Ty Burr)

Crazy Heart A familiar tale - fading country musician hits bottom, looks up - enlivened by a great, generous jewel of a performance by Jeff Bridges, our shaggiest of leading men. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a single mom who falls for him against her better judgment; Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall turn up, too. Songs by T Bone Burnett and the late Stephen Bruton. (111 min., R) (Ty Burr)

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