Screenwriters Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers have adapted and expanded Jeffers’ short story “Ghost Walker,” and their repeated attempts to ascribe deeper meanings to the proceedings are occasionally heavy-handed, but the effort is sincere and...

(Elizabeth Banks), whose last jumper did just that. But it soon transpires that Nick’s desperate action is merely a diversion, for across the street, Nick’s younger brother Joey (Jamie Bell) and girlfriend Angie (Genesis Rodriguez, in her screen...

Mark Wahlberg, also a producer, stars as Chris Farraday, now a legitimate businessman (security systems) after a long and lucrative turn as a smuggler.

Shortly thereafter, however, with silents being phased out and talkies taking over, Valentin finds his career — and his personal life — in tatters. Peppy’s career, on the other hand, has grown and grown. She’s the new queen of movies, while Valentin is yesterday’s news.

Foster and Reilly play Penelope and Michael Longstreet, who have invited Nancy and Alan Cowan (Winslet and Waltz) to their apartment to discuss a recent altercation between their sons Ethan and Zachary. It’s all very civilized, with an increasing tendency toward cynicism.

Gary Oldman stars as George Smiley, a veteran spy charged with ascertaining whether there’s a traitor in the midst.

The motion-capture animation used to depict Tintin’s adventures is more lifelike than in earlier films that used the technology, which sometimes bears an inevitable question: Why not do it live-action? Given the advancements in special effects across the board, it likely wouldn’t be impossible.

In order to clear the organization’s good name — and save the world along the way — this impossible mission involves a good number of white-knuckle thrills and spills, a gaggle of gadgets and gizmos, and the obligatory, if sleekly spectacular, destruction of people and property.

Filmmaker Alexander Payne specializes in grown-up comedies that are strong on character (Election, Sideways, About Schmidt), and his latest film The Descendants ( ) is no exception. It’s a seamless combination of comedy and drama, a superb adaptation of the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings and one of the year’s best movies.

Given that his own mother (Kathy Baker) was diagnosed with schizophrenia years before, Curtis worries that the affliction may be hereditary. Yet as the visions intensify, Curtis becomes consumed by doubt. Is he losing his mind, or is he actually seeing the future?.

The catalyst for this Muppets reunion is Walter, a die-hard Muppets fan (understandable, as he’s a Muppet himself) who accompanies his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles to celebrate Gary and Mary’s 10th anniversary.

J. Edgar is an honorable, if not entirely satisfying, attempt to delve into the life of arguably the most consistently powerful man in the United States for over 40 years and unarguably one of the most compelling political figures of the 20th century.

Both Theseus and Hyperion are on the hunt for the sacred Epirus Bow, with which the bearer can conquer the world. Or something like that. Rourke’s growling, glowering, swaggering performance is seemingly a threat to civilization (or at least civilized behavior) in and of itself.

The breezy, enjoyable Tower Heist ( ) ranks as one of director Brett Ratner’s best, most purely pleasing films to date. It’s neither deep or profound, but it allows its 24-karat cast to mine every laugh — and maybe a few extra — from the self-titled concept.

Puss in Boots ( ) is pure entertainment for all ages. Not only does it successfully spin off the animated character introduced in Shrek franchise — with Puss adding considerable life to the later installments — but it successfully establishes a potential, and palpable, screen franchise in its own right.

Having a little-known cast adds to the story’s paranoia. Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays an American paleontologist drafted into assisting the Norwegian scientists who have discovered the alien spacecraft in Antarctica. She soon wishes she hadn’t, but once “things” start happening she proves her mettle and her ability with a flamethrower.

Vera Farmiga makes a strong impression, both as star and director of Higher Ground ( ), an adaptation of Carolyn S. Briggs best-selling memoir This Dark World. Not surprisingly, Farmiga allows her fellow actors considerable opportunity to shine, but it certainly pays off here, as the performances alone make the film worthwhile.

The films mounting cynicism (undiluted in the screenplay by Willimon, Grant Heslov and producer/director George Clooney), may not endear it to some audiences, yet this is an intelligent and trenchant tale, almost an updating of Gore Vidals classic The Best Man.

Cancer is not a topic typically conducive to comedy, so 50/50 earns immediate attention by approaching the topic with a different point-of-view. The film takes chances throughout, and the surprise is that the vast majority of them pay off beautifully. 50/50 is one of the best films of the year and a surefire Oscar contender.

If a sports movie doesnt properly convey the sport its about, that movie is likely not going to work. Moneyball works, because Moneyball knows its baseball and thats what this story is all about.