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In "Charlie Wilson's War," Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) convinces Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) to get involved in a conflict between Aftghanistan and the Soviet Union.

Movie Reviews

By: David Coley

Posted: 1/14/08

December brought us the usual glut of family films, would-be blockbusters and of course, Oscar bait. Here's a rundown of five that stood out:

Atonement

Based on a popular novel, "Atonement" is a sprawling epic at times and a quiet mystery at others. But for those expecting a simple World War II drama, be warned: the period trappings initially mask an engaging discussion of truth, perception and guilt. In short, don't take anything in the story for granted.

The film stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy as lovers who find themselves separated by the actions of a young girl who cannot understand their passion. Vanessa Redgrave also appears and lends weight to the film's final tragic moments. Joe Wright's direction delivers clues to that tragedy along the way, but also impresses with the beauty and grace that made his "Pride and Prejudice" such a success.

Charlie Wilson's War

If there's one message the viewing public has made clear to Hollywood this year, it's that they don't want to see political films. "Charlie Wilson's War" is about the U.S. masterminding of the uprising against the Soviets in Afghanistan. So what makes this film different from the rest? It makes international relations fun!

The film takes a satirical approach in telling the story of how one man started his own covert war. It's got plenty of Hollywood pedigree, but Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts have nothing on their co-star Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who generates lots of laughs in one of his three stellar performances of the season.

Juno

When I first saw this film, I did not care for it. It had too much smug dialogue that reminded me of the 20 or so minutes of "Gilmore Girls" that I've been unfortunate enough to have seen. But then a curious thing happened: The buzz surrounding it enticed me to see it again. What I found on the second viewing, having already been prepared for screenwriter Diablo Cody's verbal universe, was a comedy of surprising depth and emotional complexity.

Ellen Page delivers a performance as the title character that will most likely result in an Oscar nomination. Without strong performances, the dialogue would completely derail the film, but luckily skilled actors like Page appear throughout, including a surprising career-best role for Jennifer Garner.

The Savages

The trailer for "The Savages" bills it as a "serious comedy." I find that to be an accurate description of this story of a brother and sister (Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney) who are forced to take care of their father as he descends into dementia. The dialogue is often funny, but there is a real tragedy going on here, as both siblings, especially the sister Wendy, find themselves dealing with familial emotions long buried.

I've been of the mind that it's a tragedy that Laura Linney doesn't have an Oscar yet, and this film confirms that feeling. While Hoffman delivers another outstanding performance, this is Linney's show, and her range here is stunning.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

For me, a film adaptation of my favorite musical is a tall order to fill, but I'm happy to say that Tim Burton's adaptation met my standards, maybe even exceeded them. Stephen Sondheim's revisionist melodrama tells the story of a barber (Johnny Depp) whose life is ruined by a government official. He returns from exile to get revenge, taking up the persona of "Sweeney Todd" and slitting countless throats in the process, working his way up the class system.

His cohort is Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), who finds an economic way of disposing of the corpses. Blood by the bucketful abounds, but luckily it doesn't overpower the beautiful music and great performances, all of which are bound together by Burton's dark and macabre vision, appropriate as always.

dcoley@unews.com