Films
Opening Today:
The Reader
A law student’s former lover (Kate Winslet) stands trial for Nazi war crimes. Running time: 2:03 Rating: R (nudity, sexuality)
River Park Square: 11:45 a.m., 3, 6:40, 9:35.
Continuing:
Australia
••1/2 Baz Luhrman’s epic film has all the sweep of a Broadway musical and just as many clichés, both visual and thematic. It also boasts at least two storylines too many. Running time: 2:45 Rating: PG-13 (sensuality, language, violence)
Spokane Valley Mall: 9:30. Village Centre: 10:40 a.m., 9:10.
Bedtime Stories
While babysitting his niece and nephew, Skeeter (Adam Sandler) discovers that the stories he tells are coming true! Running time: 1:39 Rating: PG (language, rude humor)
NorthTown Mall: 11:20 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 2:05, 2:35, 4:35, 5, 7, 7:30, 10:05. Post Falls: 1, 3:30, 6:05, 8:20. River Park Square: 11 a.m., 12:20, 1:30, 2:45, 3:55, 5:15, 6:25, 7:50, 9, 10:10. Riverstone: 12:10, 12:40, 3:50, 4:20, 7:15, 9:35. Spokane Valley Mall: 11 a.m., 1:20, 1:50, 4, 4:30, 6:40, 7:10, 9:45. Village Centre: 11:30 a.m., 12:15, 1:45, 2:30, 4, 4:45, 6:15, 7, 8:30, 9:15.
Bolt
••• Though he’s just a star in a television show, intrepid pooch Bolt (voice by John Travolta) thinks he’s an actual superdog. After getting loose, he works his way back to the human girl (Miley Cyrus) who loves him, learning lessons on the way. Running time: 1:36 Rating: PG (peril)
River Park Square: 11:15 a.m., 1:35, 3:50. Spokane Valley Mall: 12:50. Village Centre: 11:30 a.m., 1:50, 4:30.
Bolt in Disney Digital 3D
NorthTown Mall: 11:05 a.m., 1:30, 4:20. Riverstone: 12:30, 4:15.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
••• Born an old man, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) lives his life backward, has an on-again/off-again relationship with Daisy (Cate Blanchett) but, like all of us, still progresses inexorably toward death. Director David Finsher’s glowing visuals are hampered by Eric Roth’s awkward script. Running time: 2:47 Rating: PG-13 (war violence, language, sexual content)
NorthTown Mall: 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30, 3, 6:10, 6:40, 9:45, 10:15. Post Falls: 12:30, 4, 7:30. River Park Square: 10:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 2:15, 3, 6:15, 7, 9:55. Riverstone: 12:05, 3:35, 5:05, 8, 9:15, 12:35. Spokane Valley Mall: 12:25, 3:45, 4:10, 7:30, 8. Village Centre: 11:15 a.m., 2:40, 6:10, 9:30.
The Day the Earth Stood Still
••1/2 An alien named Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) comes to Earth with a message for humankind: Change your wasteful ways … or else! This remake of the 1951 original boasts better special effects but lacks that film’s grandeur. Running time: 1:44 Rating: PG-13
IMAX (Riverfront Park): 12:20, 2:45, 5:10, 7:35, 10:05. NorthTown Mall: 12:05, 2:50, 5:25, 8, 10:30. River Park Square: 11:35 a.m., 2:15, 5, 7:35, 10:10. Riverstone: 12:15, 4:55, 7:50, 10:25. Spokane Valley Mall: 1:45, 4:45, 7:25, 10:05. Village Centre: 11:40 a.m., 2, 4:20, 6:40, 9.
Doubt
•••1/2 John Patrick Shanley adapts his own stage play that centers on the principal of a Catholic middle school (Meryl Streep), the parish priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and the suspicion that sets the two against one another. Superb acting carries the day. Running time: 1:44 Rating: PG-13
River Park Square: 11:20 a.m., 1:55, 4:30, 7:10, 9:45. Riverstone: 6:50, 9:30.
Four Christmases
•• Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn star in this comedy about a couple doomed to spend Christmas with their divorced parents. There are as many laughs evoked as lessons learned, but none are particularly inspired. Running time: 1:28 Rating: PG-13 (language, sexual humor)
River Park Square: 11:40 a.m., 1:55, 4:15, 7:20, 9:50. Riverstone: 6:55, 9:25. Village Centre: 1:30, 3:20, 5:10, 7:15.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
••• Taking up where the 2005 original left off, our heroes – a lion (voice by Ben Stiller) and his New York Zoo friends – crashland in their Africa homeland.
Running time: 1:28 Rating: PG (crude humor)
IMAX (Riverfront Park): 10:30 a.m. Village Centre: 10:45 a.m.
Marley & Me
After they adopt an obstreperous dog, a couple (Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson) learn lessons in love from their cuddly canine. Running time: 1:56 Rating: PG (language, suggestive content)
NorthTown Mall: 10:55 a.m., 1:40, 4:25, 7:05, 10. Post Falls: 12:55, 3:15, 5:35, 7:55. River Park Square: 10:15 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 1:10, 2:10, 4:15, 4:55, 7:10, 7:40, 9:50, 10:20. Riverstone: noon, 4, 4:30, 7, 7:30, 9:45, 10:15, 12:45. Spokane Valley Mall: 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9:35. Village Centre: 11 a.m., noon, 1:25, 2:20, 3:50, 4:50, 6:20, 7:20, 8:50, 9:45.
Milk
•••1/2 Sean Penn portrays Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, whose work was cut short by troubled Dan White (Josh Brolin). Penn’s powerful performance anchors Gus Van Sant’s look at Milk’s life and times. Running time: 2:08 Rating: R (violence, language, sexual content)
River Park Square: 10:20 a.m., 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 10:05.
Quantum of Solace
••1/2 Our man 007 (Daniel Craig) tracks down the killers of his lover (see “Casino Royale”), at times going against his own agency and boss (Judi Dench as M). Craig is fine, but too much action tends to make Bond a dull boy. Running time: 1:45 Rating: PG-13 (violence, sexual content)
River Park Square: 12:45. Riverstone: 9:40. Village Centre: 5, 9:35.
Seven Pounds
A man (Will Smith) with a fateful secret must redeem himself by changing seven strangers’ lives. Running time: 2:04 Rating: PG-13 (language, sexual humor)
NorthTown Mall: 12:20, 3:40, 6:30, 9:20. River Park Square: 10:45 a.m., 1:45, 3:40, 4:45, 6:35, 7:45, 9:30, 10:30. Riverstone: 12:25, 3:45, 7:20, 10:05. Spokane Valley Mall: 12:40, 3:40, 6:45, 9:50. Village Centre: 11 a.m., 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:45.
Slumdog Millionaire
•••1/2 A kid from the slums on Mumbai uses his lessons from his hard life to answer questions on India’s version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” British director Danny Boy has created the perfect Hollywood-Bollywood fantasy blend. Running time: 1:56 Rating: R (disturbing images, language, violence)
River Park Square: 11:05 a.m., 1:45, 4:25, 7:15, 10.
The Spirit
Rookie cop Denny Colt returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces in Central City. Running time: 1:42 Rating: PG-13 (brief nudity, violence, sexual content)
NorthTown Mall: 11:40 a.m., 2:15, 5:10, 7:40, 10:20. River Park Square: 11:25 a.m., 2:05, 4:40, 7:25, 9:55. Riverstone: 12:50, 4:40, 7:45, 10:20. Spokane Valley Mall: 1:30, 4:40, 7:20, 10:15. Village Centre: 12:45, 3, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50.
The Tale of Despereaux
An outcast mouse (Matthew Broderick) must rescue a kidnapped princess. Running time: 1:34 Rating: G
NorthTown Mall: noon, 2:20, 4:50, 7:20, 9:40. Post Falls: 12:25, 2:15, 4:10, 6:05. River Park Square: 11:35 a.m., 2:05, 4:25, 6:55, 9:25. Riverstone: 1, 4:25, 6:45. Spokane Valley Mall: 11:15 a.m., 2, 4:35, 7:05. Village Centre: 10:40 a.m., 12:40, 2:50, 5, 7:10, 9:20.
Twilight
••1/2 Despite the clever way it reworks the vampire/teen romance genre, this adaptation of Stephenie Meyers’ novel suffers by trying to pass puppy love off as breathless passion of the ages. Running time: 2:00 Rating: PG-13 (sensuality, violence)
NorthTown Mall: 7:15, 10:10. River Park Square: 6:45, 9:40. Riverstone: 12:20, 4:10, 7:10, 10. Spokane Valley Mall: 12:45, 3:50, 6:50, 10. Village Centre: 7:10, 9:35.
Valkyrie
••1/2 Based on the real-life story of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, a conspirator in the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler, Bryan Singer’s movie is a well-meaning and reverential look at some brave men who, ultimately, failed themselves, their country and the world. Running time: 2:00 Rating: PG-13 (language, violence)
NorthTown Mall: 12:30, 3:30, 6:50, 9:50. Post Falls: 12:40, 3:10, 5:45, 8:20. River Park Square: 11:05 a.m., 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, 10:15. Riverstone: 12:05, 4:05, 7:05, 9:55. Spokane Valley Mall: 1, 4:15, 7:15, 10:10. Village Centre: 10:50, 1:30, 4:10, 6:50, 9:25.
Yes Man
A man (Jim Carrey) tries to change his life by saying yes to everything. Running time: 1:44 Rating: PG-13 (nudity, crude sexual humor, language)
NorthTown Mall: 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 7:50, 9:25, 10:25. Post Falls: 12:45, 2:45, 4:45, 6:45, 8:45. River Park Square: 10:30 a.m., 12:15, 1:15, 2:45, 3:45, 5:20, 6:30, 7:50, 9:15, 10:15. Riverstone: 12:55, 4:50, 7:40, 10:10. Spokane Valley Mall: 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:25. Village Centre: 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:50, 2:45, 4:10, 6:30, 7:15, 9.