Jan. 8-14 new releases
(release dates are subject to change)
Buddy (star) (star) 1/2
Caroline Thompson’s real-life beauty-and-beast drama about wealthy ’20s animal enthusiast Trudy Lintz (Rene Russo) and her tormented gorilla pet/protegee, Buddy. (Columbia TriStar) PG
Career Girls (star) (star) (star) 1/2
From Mike (“Secrets & Lies”) Leigh: A rich, true, very funny and sad portrayal of friendship between two young women (Katrin Cartlidge and Lynda Steadman) in London, from the ages of 18-30. Tart-tongued Cartlidge, who improvised much of her part, is terrific. (20th Century Fox) R
Children of the Revolution (star) (star)
Bizarre political/romantic comedy about Australian leftists and Stalin’s illegitimate child. Doesn’t work despite a top cast: Judy Davis, Sam Neill, F. Murray Abraham and Geoffrey Rush.(Buena Vista) R
No Way Home (star) (star)
Ex-con Tim Roth and debt-ridden tough guy James Russo are good and bad brothers in this gritty mean streets tale. (LIVE Entertainment) R
Soul Food (star) (star) (star) 1/2
George Tillman Jr.’s wonderful ensemble comedy-drama shows how an emotionally diverse South Side Chicago family gathers, communes, fights and re-bonds over the Sunday dinners of matriarch Mother Joe (Irma P. Hall). (20th Century Fox) R
Temptress Moon (star) (star) (star) 1/2
Upper-class China in the 1920s, a time of decadence and upheaval, becomes the backdrop for a complex and tragic triangle drama, sumptuously realized by director Chen Kaige and his “Farewell, My Concubine” stars, Gong Li and Leslie Cheung. (Buena Vista) R
– Death and Desire R (MTI Home Video)
– Grizzly Mountain G (LIVE Entertainment)
– Mojave Moon R (Trimark Home Video)
– moneytalks R (New Line Home Video)
– Picture Perfect (star) 1/2 PG-13 (20th Century Fox)
– The Real Thing R (Trimark Home Video)
– Wishmaster (star) 1/2 R (LIVE)
Compiled by Heather M. Lajewski
