Movies Listed Alphabetically: A | B | C | D | E-G | H-I | J-K | L | M | N-O | P-R | S | T | U-Z
"The Jacket" (Warner Independent)
Dark and disjointed psychological thriller about an amnesiac Gulf War veteran (Adrien Brody) who is framed for the murder of a policeman and is sentenced to an asylum for the criminally insane where a psychiatrist (Kris Kristofferson) subjects him to mind-altering "treatment" -- involving being strapped into a straitjacket and locked in a morgue body drawer -- which enables him to see the future, including his own imminent death. Stylishly crafted by director John Maybury, the creepy atmospherics fail to conceal that, despite ending on a redemptive, life-affirming note, the formulaic film lacks any real emotion or logic. The film contains intense violence, including disturbing images of war, torture and a shooting; a sexual encounter with partial nudity; and recurring rough, crude and profane language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Jeepers Creepers 2" (United Artists)
Surprisingly canny chiller about a busload of high school students stranded on a lonely highway and besieged by a demonic creature (Jonathan Breck) hungry for human flesh. Director Victor Salva overcomes cardboard characterizations and effectively builds suspense through much of the film, resulting in some genuinely scary moments, before surrendering to a formulaic, shoot-by-numbers ending. Recurring gory violence, as well as much rough and vulgar language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Jersey Girl" (Miramax)
Generally appealing relationship comedy in which a celibate widower (Ben Affleck) living with his crusty dad (George Carlin) and winsome little daughter (Raquel Castro) meets a sexually aggressive female (Liv Tyler) and must also choose between family life or a workaholic career. Writer-director Kevin Smith's sweet-natured tale of family values triumphing over materialism and selfish interests is marred by one character's glib embrace of porn videos and sexual permissiveness. Recurring profanity, an instance of rough language, a few crass expressions and sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Jesus Camp" (Magnolia)
Fascinating and frightening documentary about an evangelical summer camp where children are trained to lead the fight in "reclaiming America for Christ" through a militant Christianity which critics claim has little to do with the Gospel. Co-directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady give voice to both those who charge that what is being done is harmful indoctrination and those who see it as instilling passionately held religious values. While it's understandable that many of the evangelicals interviewed earnestly feel alienated by the increasingly secular, materialistic and immoral culture -- and many of those same concerns may resonate with Catholics -- the picture painted is nevertheless sobering. Some emotionally intense images and mature discussions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Jet Lag" (Miramax)
Detained overnight at the Paris airport, two strangers -- an uptight French expatriate (Jean Reno) and an insecure cosmetician (Juliette Binoche) fleeing an abusive lover -- clash over their opposite approaches to life before admitting to mutual attraction and the possibility of fresh starts. Co-writer and director Daniele Thompson unreels an intelligent if talky relationship story in which the intersection of two people at a literal and metaphorical crossroads prompts them to seek the high road. Subtitles. Sexual references, flash of rear nudity and occasional rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Jet Li's Fearless" (Focus)
Action drama loosely based on the life of Chinese cultural hero Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li), an arrogant martial artist whose pursuit of street-fighting fame ends in tragedy, prompting a spiritual awakening that leads him to found a school to promote self-improvement and national pride during the foreign occupation of China at the turn of the 20th century. Director Ronny Yu's artful film delivers balletic fight choreography, elegant visuals and a solid story buttressed by Li's poignant performance and a redemptive theme about the futility of violence and revenge. Subtitles. Much stylized action violence and an instance of mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Jiminy Glick in LaLaWood" (MGM)
Lame improvised comedy about a clueless entertainment critic (a well-padded Martin Short), who is rocketed into the showbiz spotlight when he lands an exclusive one-on-one with a notoriously reclusive young megastar, while at the same time becoming involved in a Hollywood murder mystery. Despite some amusing mock interviews with real celebrities, director Vadim Jean's unnecessarily crude and mostly unfunny effort is another example of taking a TV comedy skit (Short's "Primetime Glick") and pointlessly stretching it into a feature-length film, here saddled with a silly whodunit subplot. Lewd sexual situations and humor, including a spoof lesbian love scene, brief violence and recurring rough and vulgar language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Jindabyne" (Sony Classics)
Meaty morality play, based on a Raymond Carver short story, reset in the visually stunning Australian Snowy Mountains about a weekend fisherman (Gabriel Byrne) and his three buddies who find the body of a murdered young women but fail to report the discovery immediately, leading to ostracism by his wife (Laura Linney) and community, forcing him to re-evaluate his good Samaritan duties. Beautifully realistic performances allow director Ray Lawrence to grittily explore the divide between the sexes, and unflinchingly examine the responsibility owed those outside one's own nuclear, religious and ethnic families. Murder (not shown), several disturbing images of a female cadaver with upper nudity, realistic fistfight with blood, a dead pet, rough and crude language and profanity, sexual language and groping, breast-feeding, discussion of abortion, discreetly depicted urination, alcohol use and domestic discord. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
"Johnny English" (Universal)
Silly spy spoof about a bumbling British agent (Rowan Atkinson) who must recover the stolen crown jewels and stop a loony Frenchman (John Malkovich) from usurping the English throne. Directed by Peter Howitt, the film's crude bathroom humor and slapstick sight gags are the comedic equivalent of English cuisine -- bland and unappetizing -- though Atkinson's blend of wry aloofness and physical zaniness provides some genuinely funny moments. Crude toilet and sexual humor, a blasphemous sight gag, comic rear nudity and some mild profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.
"Johnson Family Vacation" (Fox Searchlight)
Tiresome comedy in which a family patriarch (Cedric the Entertainer) piles his wife (Vanessa Williams) and kids (Bow Wow, Solange Knowles and Gabby Soleil) into a souped-up Lincoln Navigator and travels cross-country from California to Missouri for a family reunion, on the way sidelined by several obstacles. Director Christopher Erskin's film runs out of gas before it backs out of the driveway with contrived scenarios, jokes about as funny as a flat tire and an underused cast lost on the uneven script's road. A few sexual references, some scatological humor and fleeting drug content. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Juno" (Fox Searchlight)
Smart, funny and ultimately moving comedy-drama with a strong pro-life message about an unwed teen (an outstanding Ellen Page) who decides not to have an abortion, and promises the coming baby to a childless couple (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner) who long to adopt. The narrative has just the right moral wrap-up; performances are tops, including J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney as the girl's supportive parents and Michael Cera as the shy classmate responsible for her condition. Jason Reitman's direction strikes just the right piquant tone, though Diablo Cody's script contains a high expletive level for its appealing but sassy heroine. Crude language and at least one instance of the f-word, some crass expressions, an irreverent remark, a nongraphic premarital teen encounter with brief partial nudity, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexual talk and divorce. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults (though possibly appropriate for older teens).The Motion Picture Association of America rating is
"Kicking & Screaming" (Universal)
Mostly funny, if formulaic, comedy about a timid suburban soccer dad (Will Ferrell), who seeks to redeem his unathletic childhood by coaching his 10-year-old son's last-place team and finds himself in the championship game going head-to-head with his own supercompetitive father (Robert Duvall), who coaches the league's best squad. Directed by Jesse Dylan and dominated by Ferrell's manic presence, this farce inspired by "Bad News Bears" imparts a humorous critique of our hypercompetitive culture, but deserves a penalty flag for a crass running gag which makes it questionable fare for very young viewers. Some comic violence, a minor same-sex parent theme, as well as mildly crude language and humor, including some ethnically insensitive remarks. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.
"Kickin' It Old Skool" (Yari)
During a school dance contest in 1986, a 5-year-old break dancer does a wrong move, ends up in a coma, and 20 years later, he wakes up as a man (Jamie Kennedy) still thinking he is a child. Harv Glazer directs with an inconsistent tone, going from sentimental to silly slapstick in a flash, and all the actors mug shamelessly, save for the dry wit of Michael Rosenbaum. Suggestive dancing, drinking, brief male rear nudity, a comic scene of cross-dressing, numerous scatological gags, a brief reference to Internet pornography, one use of the f-word, frequent crude and crass language, an instance of profanity and mild sexual banter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Kill Bill -- Vol. I" (Miramax)
Ultraviolent tale about a female former assassin (Uma Thurman) gunned down and left for dead on her wedding day, who wakes up from a four-year coma revved up to exact revenge on her would-be killers -- the same hit squad which had previously employed her services. Buckets of blood flow in this first installment of Quentin Tarantino's mayhem-mired two-part opus, a film which, despite its slick pulp-noir veneer, is fueled by a sadistic killing-is-cool mentality that packages gratuitous gore as entertainment. Excessive graphic violence, twisted sexual references, as well as much rough and crude language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Kill Bill - Vol. 2" (Miramax)
Violent and vapid continuation of director Quentin Tarantino's sanguinary saga about a former female assassin (Uma Thurman) gunned down at her wedding rehearsal and left for dead by the assassin circle she had once been a member of, led by her former boss-lover, Bill (David Carradine). She has already dispatched two of her former hit squad associates in the first film; the second installment follows her on a roaring rampage of revenge as she slices and dices her way through her two remaining would-be killers, working her way up the chain of command in order to -- what else? -- kill Bill. While the more dialogue-driven "Vol. 2" is not as bloody as its much gorier predecessor, the superficiality of its hip, highly stylized savagery promotes a video-game attitude toward violence which seems to say killing is cool and, despite its pulp cinema references and flashes of visual brilliance, is fueled by a revenge-driven theme incompatible with the Christian understanding of forgiveness. Recurring gratuitous scenes of violence, much rough and crude language and drug content. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"King Arthur" (Touchstone)
Bold but brooding retelling of the Arthurian legend in which the once and future king (Clive Owen) is a Roman commanding an elite cavalry unit during the closing days of the Empire, who, along with Guinevere (Keira Knightley), reimagined here as a feisty female warrior, must fend off the savage barbarian hordes bent on conquering Britain. Full of dreary Dark-Age atmospherics and clashing chain-mailed armies, the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, strips the legend of its storybook romance in favor of gritty, historical realism, but in the process paganizes what has traditionally been a quintessentially Christian myth. Intense battlefield violence, a shadowy sexual encounter, negative representation of church figures and some crude humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"King Kong" (Universal)
Visually staggering remake of the 1933 classic about a giant ape smitten by a blonde-haired beauty (Naomi Watts), captured from his lost world island home by a maverick filmmaker (Jack Black) and taken in captivity to New York where, breaking free, his rampage climaxes atop the Empire State Building. Though the film runs too long, director Peter Jackson's strong storytelling masterfully blends stunning action sequences, humor and pathos-tinged emotion, paying reverent homage to the original while fleshing out the tragic story and raising the movie-magic bar to dazzling new heights. Intense action violence, some frightening and disturbing images, fleeting burlesque images and a few instances of profanity make it inappropriate for younger adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"King's Ransom" (New Line)
Dreadful comedy about a wealthy Chicago marketing mogul (Anthony Anderson) whose plan to fake his own abduction to avoid a costly divorce settlement hits a snag when it turns out that several others -- including his gold-digging soon-to-be ex-wife (Kellita Smith), a disgruntled employee (Nicole Parker) and a sad-sack slacker (Jay Mohr) -- also have plans to kidnap him. Full of raunchy, irreverent and mean-spirited humor and uniformly unappealing performances, this witless waste of 95 minutes, sloppily directed by Jeff Byrd, is a royal mess. The film contains crass language and humor, including implied sexual encounters and innuendo, as well as some comic violence and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"The Kingdom" (Universal)
Riveting but disturbingly violent drama in which a team of four FBI agents (Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) is dispatched to Saudi Arabia to investigate a major terrorist attack on Americans living there, a hunt they must pursue under the watchful and initially suspicious eye of a Saudi colonel (Ashraf Barhom). It's hard to tell the good guys from the bad in director Peter Berg's stylish, all-too-relevant film, and it's also difficult to know whether the use of force is being glorified or denounced. Sudden, bloody violence with gore, torture and much rough, crude and profane language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
"Kingdom of Heaven" (20th Century Fox)
Sweeping, if bloody and somewhat revisionist, historical drama set in the time of the Crusades about a disillusioned blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) elevated to knighthood who journeys to Jerusalem in search of redemption and becomes embroiled in the power struggle between the tolerance-advocating Latin king and a war-mongering would-be usurper, who threatens to disrupt the tenuous truce between the Christian and Muslim forces. Spectacularly directed by Ridley Scott and full of grand-scale battle scenes and period detail, the epic film takes license with the facts, but overall portrays both sides as a mix of vice and virtue (though in its skewed telling of the events Christians come off as the prime villains) and imparts a timely message of peaceful coexistence, as well as a strong condemnation of violence, ideological hatred and war. Recurring intense battlefield violence and associated gore, including decapitations, hacked limbs and flaming bodies, as well as a brief adulterous sexual encounter. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Kinsey" (Fox Searchlight)
Sober biopic about controversial sex researcher Alfred Kinsey (Liam Neeson), chronicling his life from his strict Methodist upbringing, to an obscure post teaching biology, to the publication of his landmark study on human sexual behavior in 1948 and his subsequent fall from grace during the 1950s. The movie will generate strong reactions from both those who admire Kinsey as a crusader and those who consider him a degenerate and blame him for igniting the sexual revolution by jettisoning traditional morality and redefining societal mores. Though many viewers will find much of the film offensive, writer-director Bill Condon takes a serious approach to his subject, painting Kinsey in neither overly heroic nor villainous shades. A relativistic view of sexual morality, explicit sexual images, including graphic straight and gay sexual encounters, full frontal nudity, several masturbation scenes, candid sexual discussions and recurring rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
"Kitchen Stories" (IFC)
Wryly poignant tale set in a remote 1950s Norwegian town where a Swedish loner (Tomas Norstrom) is hired to silently observe the movements of a taciturn bachelor (Joachim Calmeyer) in his stark kitchen for a government research study, but gradually the two men enjoy conversing, jeopardizing the project and sparking jealousy in the Norwegian man's resentful friend (Bjorn Floberg). Co-writer and director Bent Hamer's spare script and straightforward visuals capture awkward male friendships while bringing out the characters' humanity with abundant droll humor. Subtitles. An occasional crude expression and fleeting alcohol abuse. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.
"The Kite Runner" (Paramount Vantage)
Superb adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's bestseller about an Afghan writer (Khalid Abdalla) now living in the U.S. who recalls how as a boy (played by Zekiria Ebrahimi) in his native homeland, he failed to help and subsequently betrayed his best friend (Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada), and now finds he has a chance to atone for that misdeed. Under Marc Forster's sensitive direction , the beautifully acted film provides a fascinating portrait of pre- and post-Taliban Afghanistan; its fine human values, strong affirmation of friendship and family, and redemptive ending should move even the most stone-hearted. In Dari and English. Partially subtitled. A single profanity and use of the f-word, a brief rape scene with no nudity involving a small boy and a bully, two discreetly worded sexual references, illegitimacy theme, a violent beating and a woman's stoning. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults (though acceptable for older teens). The Motion Picture Association of America rating is
PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
"Knocked Up" (Universal)
Extremely raunchy romantic comedy about a slacker (Seth Rogen) and a fetching blonde (Katherine Heigl) who meet at a Los Angeles nightclub and then try to deal responsibly with the consequences. Director-writer Judd Apatow pushes the envelope on a number of fronts and while his beauty-and-the-geek story contains some genuine wit and positive sentiment, the amount of obscene material and the generally degrading tone of the discourse washes way any laudable message. Constant rough and crude language, pervasive coarse sexual and scatological humor, unmarried sex, frequent drug use and drug references, condom use, abortion discussion, rear male and upper female nudity, explicit shots of childbirth, and some ethnic slurs. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
"Kung Fu Hustle" (Sony Classics)
Stylish but unnecessarily violent martial arts movie set in China in the 1940s about a small-time crook (Stephen Chow) who transforms from street hustler to hero after one of his shakedown schemes inadvertently unleashes the wrath of a ruthless gang on the residents of a shantytown, triggering an all-out war between an army of underworld goons and the locals, several of whom are secretly kung fu masters. Written and directed by Chow as well, the film deftly combines slapstick comedy and "Matrix"-inspired fight sequences, which, though violent, are for the most part intentionally over the top and cartoonish in tone. Subtitles. Much stylized action violence with associated gore, a shooting, rear nudity, a crass scene of urination, as well as rough and crude language and humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.
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