Seen and reviewed (July 1 and 3)
New films in theaters this week:
– “Cheri” (rated R), a period drama starring Michelle Pfeiffer as a retired “courtesan.”
– “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (rated PG), a “three-quel” to the popular, prehistoric animated features.
– “Public Enemies” (rated R), a crime drama/thriller starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger.
– “Whatever Works” (rated R), Woody Allen’s latest, a comedy starring Larry David.
The highly divisive David (HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) is a horrible actor, and the unpleasant “Whatever” should have remained mothballed. (Apparently it’s based on a script Allen wrote for Zero Mostel, years ago.)
And even though “Cheri” re-teams Pfeiffer with the director and screenwriter of “Dangerous Liaisons,” it’s a less-than-successful reunion. She and co-star Kathy Bates are better than the material.
As for the third “Ice Age,” it’s a slight improvement on the second film (the ironically titled “The Meltdown”). But it’s inferior, compared to the first movie and Disney-Pixar’s magnificent “Up.”
Poster art courtesy Universal Pictures
The week’s best film is the lengthy but enthralling “Public Enemies,” which actually looks at the public perceptions of the semi-folk hero Dillinger and Melvin Purves, the FBI agent who pursued him tirelessly. (Christian Bale plays the intrepid G-Man.)
Which, if any, of these movies fit into your weekend viewing plans?