new movie reviews

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007 | 10 p.m.

“Death Sentence” (R, 99 minutes) K

Kevin Bacon stars as a man whose (spoiler) is killed, and gets a gun and seeks revenge. Kelly Preston is his wife, and John Goodman and Garrett Hedlund play the creepiest father-and-son pair outside the Chainsaw Family. Directed by James Wan (“Saw”) and effective at getting the job done, if this is the kind of job you like to see done effectively.

(Reviewed by Roger Ebert.)

Playing at Brenden Theatres Las Vegas 14, Century Orleans 18, Century 16 Santa Fe Station, Century 16 South Point, Century Suncoast, Galaxy Cannery, Regal Cinemas Boulder Station, Regal Cinemas Colonnade 14, Regal Cinemas Red Rock 16, Regal Cinemas Sunset Station, Regal Cinemas Texas Station 18, UA Showcase 8.

“Halloween” (R, 97 minutes)

“Halloween” has everything you could want in an updated slasher movie, as long as you're not a homicidally slavish purist. Writer-director Rob Zombie spends the first third of the remake immersing us in the dreadful childhood of Michael Myers (played as a boy by eerie newcomer Daeg Faerch), then copies most of the plot and some of the key moments from John Carpenter's original chiller -- but not all of them, and the hard-rockin' director puts his own spin on many of the classic bits.

(Reviewed by Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News.)

Playing at Brenden Theatres Las Vegas 14, Century Cinedome 12 Henderson, Century Orleans 18, Century 16 Santa Fe Station, Century 16 South Point, Galaxy Cannery, Galaxy Neonopolis, Las Vegas Drive-In, Regal Cinemas Boulder Station, Regal Cinemas Colonnade 14, Regal Cinemas Red Rock 16, Regal Cinemas Sunset Station, Regal Cinemas Texas Station 18, UA Rainbow Promenade 10, UA Showcase 8.

“Ladron que Roba a Ladron” (Not rated) Not reviewed

Two former thieves reunite to rob the biggest thief they know -- Moctesuma Valdez, a TV infomercial guru who's made millions selling worthless health products to poor Hispanic immigrants. When none of their affiliates wants to go undercover as day laborers to pull off the heist, the two men turn to the real thing for help. In Spanish.

Playing at Century Orleans 18, Century 16 South Point, Century Suncoast, Galaxy Neonopolis, Regal Cinemas Boulder Station, Regal Cinemas Colonnade 14, Regal Cinemas Texas Station 18.

“Self-Medicated” (R, 107 minutes)

Monty Lapica, at 24, wrote, directed and stars in the story of a drug-abusing Las Vegas teenager who is committed by his mom against his will to a “treatment facility” from hell. Strongly seen, made with conviction, fairly enlightened about drug abuse. With Diane Venora as the pill-popping mom.

(Reviewed by Roger Ebert.)

Playing at Regal Cinemas Green Valley Ranch 10, Regal Cinemas Village Square 18.

“Vitus” (PG, 120 minutes)

A sentimental, crowd-pleasing “Pinocchio” fable that turns the child prodigy movie on its ear a bit. The title character (pronounced “Vee-toos”) is a budding piano genius who, like Pinocchio, wants nothing more than to become a real boy. So, the movie isn't so much about the kid triumphing over adversity and realizing his artistic and competitive potential; it's about how he longs to be someone else: a normal kid. Enjoyable performances by all, particularly Bruno Ganz and the two piano prodigies who play Vitus: Fabrizio Borsani at age 6 and Teo Gheorghiu at age 12.

(Reviewed by Jim Emerson, editor of rogerebert.com, the Web site of Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert. Emerson is helping Ebert review movies as Ebert recovers from surgery.)

Playing at Regal Cinemas Village Square 18.