Capsule reviews, by Standard-Examiner movie critic Steve Salles, of next week's releases:
EASY A ***1/2 (PG-13) Mature thematic elements involving teen sexuality, language and some drug material. Nobody notices Emma Stone in high school. Yeah? Is it a school for the blind? That's the premise, and until she develops a fantasy tramp reputation, she's largely ignored. But what to do when her classmates believe her pretend exploits are real? It's much more interesting and intelligent than I thought it would be. This is a great teen comedy. 92 minutes.
WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS *** (PG-13) Brief strong language and thematic elements. Michael Douglas returns 23 years later to his Oscar-winning role as Wall Street tycoon Gordon Gekko. He's been in prison, but now he's out and hopes to right some wrongs. Or does he? It's a fitting sequel that begged to be made after the stock market collapse of 2008. Shia LaBeouf, Carey Mulligan, Josh Brolin and Susan Sarandon also star. 133 minutes.
DEVIL ** 1/2 (PG-13) Violence and disturbing images, thematic material and some language including sexual references. A handful of people are stuck in a high-rise elevator and start dying off, one by one. When the lights go off, bad things happen. When the lights come back on, somebody's usually dead. Who's doing it and why? It's not half-bad, this frightening little movie. 80 minutes.
SALT ** 1/2 (PG-13) Intense sequences of violence and action. Angelina Jolie keeps us guessing -- is she a gifted Russian assassin or a loyal, but framed, CIA agent? Whatever she is, she's pretty good at wading through impossibly violent scenarios without a lipstick smear (not true -- she's actually pretty tough). It's whether you buy it or not that will determine your enjoyment of "Salt." 100 minutes.
STEP UP 3-D ** (PG-13) Brief strong language. Good music and dance moves are woven into a threadbare plot that's as old as the original "Fame." Add the annoyance of lots of in-your-face 3-D and you have the makings of another dance-sploitation film that gasps for air when the music stops. 97 minutes.
* * *
Also being released:
THE HEAVY (R) Graphic violence, profanity. London enforcer "Boots" Mason discovers that he's got a bounty on his head. 102 minutes.
INJURY SLIGHT (Not rated) This documentary relays the harrowing story of Charles "Sully" O'Sullivan, an ace fighter pilot shot down in the jungles of New Guinea during World War II. 80 minutes.
RIVERS WASH OVER ME (Not rated) The death of his mother means more than just grief and sorrow for 15-year-old Sequan Greene. Now the gay teen must move from the progressive streets of New York City to his closed-minded extended family's home in North Carolina. 85 minutes.
Steve Salles can be reached at films@standard.net.
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