New movies showing in Minneapolis
By Wendy Schadewald (Rating system: 4=Don’t miss, 3=Good, 2=Worth a look, 1=Forget it)
See related: Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
“Born to Be Blue” (R) (2.5)
[Drug use, language, some sexuality, and brief violence.] — After a Hollywood producer gets legendary, heroin-addicted jazz musician Chet Baker (Ethan Hawke), who is called the father of West Coast swing and is estranged from his parents (Stephen McHattie and Janet-Laine Green) in Oklahoma, out of an Italian jail in 1966 to star in a film to promote his comeback and then loses his front teeth when he was brutally beaten by his drug dealer in this factually inspired, engaging, well-acted, 97-minute loosely biopic film, he struggles with the help of his girlfriend (Carmen Ejogo) to get back on his feet to begin playing the trumpet again.
“The Boss” (R) (2.5)
[Sexual content, language, and brief drug use.] — After a mean-spirited, foul-mouthed, unlikable businesswoman (Melissa McCarthy), who is ranked the 47th wealthiest woman in the United States, is turned into the SEC by her revenge-driven former lover (Peter Dinklage) in Chicago and loses everything when she spends five months in prison in this raunchy, intermittently funny, star-dotted (Kathy Bates, Ben Falcone, Margo Martindale, Kristen Schaal, Gayle King, Tyler Labine, and Dave Bautista), 99-minute comedy, she ends up concocting a harebrained scheme to make money by having Girl Scout-type troops sell delicious brownies made by her skeptical ex-employee (Kristen Bell) who has a precocious daughter (Ella Anderson) to support.
“Demolition” (R) (2.5)
[Language, some sexual references, drug use, and disturbing behavior.] — After a well-to-do investment banker (Jake Gyllenhaal), who works for his father-in-law (Chris Cooper) at a New York City investment firm, loses his wife (Heather Lind) in a tragic car accident due to severe head trauma in this unusual, unrealistic, unevenly paced, well-acted, dark, 100-minute film, his life begins to quickly fall apart as his incessant urge to take random objects apart increases when he desperately tries to cope and then begins an awkward, offbeat relationship with a vending machine customer service representative (Naomi Watts) and her troubled, teenage son (Judah Lewis).
“God’s Not Dead 2” (PG) (3)
[Some thematic elements.] — When a passionate, Christian, history teacher (Melissa Joan Hart) cites scripture in her classroom in response to a troubled, grieving high school student (Hayley Orrantia), who tragically recently lost her brother, in this biblical-based, compelling, thought-provoking, stat-studded (Ray Wise, Robin Givens, Pat Boone, Ernie Hudson, David A.R. White, and Fred Dalton Thompson), 121-minute sequel, she hires a non-believing union attorney (Jesse Metcalfe) to represent her at trial as she struggles to keep her job as teacher of the year while maintaining her strong faith.
On DVD
“Georgia Rule” (R) (2.5)
[Sexual content and some language.] [DVD only] — A well-paced, realistic, down-to-earth, 113-minute film, 2007 film about a sexy, rebellious teenager (Lindsay Lohan) who stirs up gossip and controversy in a small Idaho town when she reaches out to a widowed veterinarian (Dermot Mulroney) and a handsome virgin (Garrett Hedlum) after her alcoholic mother (Felicity Huffman) and abusive stepfather (Cary Elwes) send her to live with her estranged, regimented grandmother (Jane Fonda) for the summer.
“Human Nature” (R) (2)
[Sexuality/nudity and language.] [DVD only] — An off-the-wall, 96-minute, 2001 satirical comedy about the discord and mayhem that ensues when a horny and hairy nature writer (Patricia Arquette) and her uptight researcher husband (Tim Robbins), along with a seductive lab assistant (Miranda Otto), begin to educate a primate-raised man (Rhys Ifans) they discover in the woods.
“I’ve Been Twelve Forever, Parts 1 and 2” (NR) (2)
[Partially subtitled] [DVD only] — A wacky, hodge-podge, eclectic, 77-minute, 2004 documentary that explores the creative process of filmmaker Michel Gondry by showcasing brief film clips from some of his animated and music video work, by reminiscing with family members about his childhood and his work, and by discussing his dreams and life experiences in relationship to his art.
“Lucky You” (PG-13) (2)
[Some language and sexual humor.] [DVD only] — Thinly developed characters and poor pacing mar this 124-minute, 2007 film about a compulsive, high-stakes gambler (Eric Bana) who jeopardizes his new relationship with a Las Vegas lounge singer (Drew Barrymore) when he continues to follow in the footsteps of his cardshark, poker-playing father (Robert Duvall).
“The Valet” (PG-13) (3.5)
[Sexual content and language.] [Subtitled] [DVD only] — Jealously runs rampant in this delightfully funny, 85-minute, 2006 French farce when a billionaire CEO (Daniel Auteuil) hires a nerdy, kindhearted parking attendant (Gad Elmaleh) whose roommate (Dany Boon) just moved home with his drunken mother and his bookstore owner girlfriend (Virginie Ladoyen) declined his marriage proposal to pose as the unlikely boyfriend of his supermodel mistress (Alice Taglioni) in an attempt to keep his shrewd wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) from finding out about his affair.
See related: All film on MinnyApple.com
©1986 through 2016 by Wendy Schadewald. The preceding films were reviewed by Wendy Schadewald, who has been a Twin Cities film critic since 1986. To see more of her film reviews, log on to 60-Second Film Reviews.
The post 60-Second Film Reviews appeared first on .