BIG BUDGET FILMS

Dear John (PG-13 for sensuality and violence) Channing Tatum stars in the title role of this bittersweet romance drama about a soldier who comes to regret reenlisting after 9-11 when the high school sweetheart (Amanda Seyfried) who promised to wait for him instead sends him a letter informing him that she’s engaged to another guy (Henry Thomas). With Richard Jenkins, Luke Benward and Scott Porter.

From Paris with Love (R for graphic violence, pervasive profanity, drug use and brief sexuality) Political potboiler about an American spy (John Travolta) who joins forces with a low-level employee (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) of the U.S. embassy to prevent a terrorist attack in Paris. (In English and French with subtitles)

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS

Ajami (Unrated) Ethnic tensions abound in this “Crash”-like, slice-of-life ensemble drama examining around the deteriorating state of Palestinian-Jewish relations in the ancient, Israeli seacoast city of Jaffa. Cast includes Fouad Habash, Nisrine Haban and Elias Saba. (In Arabic and Hebrew with subtitles)

District 13: Ultimatum (R for profanity, violence and drug use) David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli buddy-up for another futuristic adventure featuring action-packed, acrobatic hijinks in an impoverished Parisian ‘hood. This installment revolves around the pair’s attempt to breakup a heroin ring being protected by corrupt cops and high powered politicians. (In French with subtitles)

(more...)