Duplex (star) (star) 1/2
In New York City, renting can be hell–as director Danny DeVito tries to show us in this almost dark comedy about a likable yuppie couple and the little old lady upstairs. The movie has promise: top performances from Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore and some sharp jokes, but it gets too mean and flat. PG-13. — Michael Wilmington
Luther (star) (star) 1/2
The transformation, disillusionment, defiance and persecution of the founder of the Protestant Reformation. A little overheated, but sturdy enough. PG-13. — Tribune Newspapers
Hotel (star) (star)
Burt Reynolds, John Malkovich and Lucy Liu all pop out of the woodwork in this parody of pretentious art films. But in juggling a multiple-film format, along with themes of infidelity and cannibalism, “Hotel” serves as a parody of not only art films, but ultimately, itself. Unrated. — Robert Elder
Ikiru (star) (star) (star) (star)
One of the greatest of all films, Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 Japanese masterpiece is about a man who discovers he will die within a year and tries desperately to find some meaning in his last few months. Sound sentimental? Not in the hands of the brilliant Kurosawa. Unrated. — M.W.
Suddenly (‘Tan de Repente’) (star) (star) (star)
Sheltered Marcia is taken on a road trip by Mao and Lenin, a pair of punk lesbian lovers. But this isn’t exactly “Crossroads”: No one hoots out of a sunroof or comes of age in this tale of power, sex and friendship. Unrated.
— Alison Benedikt
Coming up:
The Chicago International Film Festival returns with nearly 100 films from 50 countries, including “The Human Stain,” an adaptation of the Philip Roth novel starring Nicole Kidman. Oct. 2-16. 312-902-1500. Check on metromix.com for a complete listing.
