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Next 72 Hours THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012 A5 THE ADVOCATE-MESSENGER WWW.AMNEWS.COM NEXT 72 HOURS ‘There was never just one.’ ReBourne Popular series is rejuvenated with Renner in the lead THE BOURNE LEGACY (2012/A-/Directed by Tony Gilroy/Starring Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach, Scott Glenn/Universal/Rated PG- 13/Action/135 minutes): he “Bourne” films have long challenged viewers to consider the ethical ramifications of constructing supersoldiers. In this Tfourth installment, the examination continues through the eyes of a new protagonist. He is Aaron Cross, a recent recruit for an off-the-books CIA ex- In the MOVIE THEATER periment known as Treadstone. Cross, played — REVIEW BY LISA MILLER — by Jeremy Renner, glistens with the rough pol- ish of a young Charles Bronson while making his bones on an Alaskan odyssey — an “Outward Bound” for spies. To accomplish feats such as overpowering a wolf using his bare hands, or leaping a 20-foot gap separating mountain ledges, Cross, like all of the latest generation of Treadstone ops, “chems” daily. His regimen of blue pills, green pills and fre- quent self-sampling of his blood is enough to make Alice’s head spin. Once he arrives at his mountain cabin destination, Cross briefly connects with another Treadstone spy. He wants to exchange information, but his coworker’s ex- treme paranoia prohibits doing so. at paranoia is justified because unbeknownst to both men, Treadstone’s supervisor, the Ret. Col. Eric Byer (Edward Norton), has learned Treadstone’s existence may be exposed. To protect him- self and his cronies, Byer orders the ter- mination of Treadstone’s five operatives and of the several scien- tists who routinely examine the spies to compile project data. By faking his own death, Cross is able to escape drones sent to bomb him into oblivion, but in order to make that escape perma- nent he must retain his enhanced skills, and to do that he’ll require a new source of “chems.” In a parallel story, Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) is the sole survivor at Treadstone’s Labs after her coworker mysteriously goes postal. Cross arrives in time to save Shearing from Byer’s plot to finish the job, thus compelling her to help him if she wishes to live. Compared to previous Bourne movies — films that are no slouches in the action department — this chapter’s mile-a-minute chases and gun battles are fiercer and almost maniac. What sets this saga apart from others featuring similar levels of action is its smart ad- herence to barely-plausible realism. Director Tony Gilroy, a writer for all three earlier movies, maintains an intimate connection with his pro- tagonist, showing and telling us just enough backstory to justify Cross’s surprising perspective on the program. While most of the audience was riveted from start to finish, a young woman several seats to my left, spent the entire film either texting or snoozing. Obviously it wasn’t her kind of movie. ose who enjoyed the earlier Bourne films are likely to appreciate this one, although it’s more strongly related to “Ronin” or “ree Days of the Condor.” I’d welcome the making of more “Bourne” films in the style pio- neered by Matt Damon along with directors Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass, but this take on the conspiracy flick is the one that makes my heart skip a beat. COMING TO THEATERS THIS WEEKEND MOVIE PREVIEWS up with a music producer, battling her in- Jensen (Lundgren), and other team members played by creasing dependence on drugs while mar- Hemsworth, Couture and Crews. Barney’s team briefly butts heads THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN (Opened Wednes- ginalizing her two singing costars. In the with rival operative Trench (Schwarzenegger) and mercenary con- day/2012/Predicted rating: B-/Directed by Peter Hedges/Starring Jennifer mid 1990s, Whitney Houston secured the tractor Mr. Church (Willis), but at the end of the day, it’s all hand Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, Odeya Rush/Disney/Rated PG/Fan- remake rights from Warner Bros., and on deck to save the world while reinvigorating the careers of these tasy/104 minutes): Cindy and Jim Green (Gar- planned to star singer Aaliyah as Sparkle aging action stars. ner and Edgerton) attempt to make peace until Aaliyah was killed in a 2001 plane PARANORMAN (2012/Consensus rating: B/Directed by Chris with their inability to have a child by writing a crash. Ten years later, Houston revived the Butler, Sam Fell/Voices of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christo- list of the exceptional qualities their offspring remake, executive producing and appearing pher Mintz-Plasse, Tucker Albrizzi, Casey would surely possess. Several glasses of wine as Sparkle’s troubled, single mother. Hous- Affleck, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine later, they put their list “to rest” in a box they ton’s fans will be glad to know she does Stritch, Jodelle Ferland/Focus bury in their backyard. The next morning, 10- sing, in this, her final film performance. Features/Rated PG/Animated/96 minutes): year Timothy (CJ Adams) appears on their THE EXPENDABLES 2 (2012/Predicted rating: C/Directed by Creepy, snarky and humorous, “ParaNor- doorstep covered in mud. The pair soon real- Simon West/Starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph man” focuses on young Norman Bab- ize the boy has sprung from their garden and Lundgren, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Liam Hemsworth, Jet Li, cock’s (Smit-McPhee) relationship with exhibits all the qualities they’d hoped for. Scott Adkins, Jean-Claude Van Damme, ghosts that he alone can see and hear. More importantly, Timothy teaches Cindy and Bruce Willis, Yu Nan, Chuck Norris, Arnold Considered a freak by classmates, Norman Jim the secrets of being good parents, while Schwarzenegger/Lionsgate/Rated R/Ac- is equally misunderstood by his well- the child brings out the best in everyone he meets. Sure it’s sappy — tion/103 minutes): Sylvester Stallone co- meaning parents (Mann and Garlin) and is but this fantasy is also sufficiently whimsical and humorous to satisfy writes another chapter featuring a group of singled out for persecution by the school those seeking a feel-good movie experience in the vein of “Nanny over-the-hill action heroes intent on prov- bully (Mintz-Plasse). He remains close to McPhee.” ing they’ve still got what it takes to defeat his grandmother’s spirit (Stritch), so he heeds her warning that a SPARKLE (2012/Predicted rating: B-/Directed by Salim Akil/Starring unstoppable villains. Van Damme steps in witch’s curse is about to bring a zombie plague upon their small Jordin Sparks, Carmen Ejogo, Whitney Houston, Derek as a European baddie plotting to wreak town. Hoping to stop the invasion, Norman teams up with friendly Luke/Sony/Rated PG-13/Drama/116 minutes): This remake of a havoc using five tons of plutonium cached restless spirits, his chubby classmate Neil (Albrizzi) and his older mediocre 1970s film should improve upon the original with a better in an abandoned Russian mine. Explosions brother Mitch (Affleck), to fend off an undead army uprising in an script, better music and a winsome cast. The story is a thinly veiled, fic- and gunfights are nearly as integral to the adjacent, dark forest. Filmed in stop-motion 3D, the animation is too tionalized account of Diana Ross and the Supremes, an all-girl group film as is the constant bickering between spooky for the littlest ones, but should entertain the preteen set formed during the Motown era. Sparkle, played by Jordin Sparks, hooks mercenary team leader Barney Ross (Stallone), his second-in-com- while spoofing parental memories of favorite horrors from their mand Lee Christmas (Statham), their dimwitted underling Gunner youth..
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