Unattributed film synopses indicate movies not yet reviewed by HW staff.

Indicates films of particular interest

Opening

Edge of Darkness Mel Gibson stars in this sinister suspense flick evocative of a big-budget episode of Law & Order SVU–involving murder (duh), conspiracy theories and a plethora of phony Boston accents.

When In Rome, take a coin from the “fountain of love” and you steal someone’s heart. Not necessarily a bad thing–unless the suitors happen to be Danny DeVito, Jon Napoleon Dynamite Heder and a self-absorbed dweeb played by Dax Shepard, who all become entranced by the sugary Kristen Bell.

Crazy Heart A tragicomedy about Bad Blake, a 57-year-old, alcoholic country singer (Jeff Bridges), who finds an intimate connection with a young journalist (Maggie Gyllenhaal) hungry for a story. To no one’s surprise, Bridges won the Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Continuing

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel In which the alpha rodent-jock, with nerd and knucklehead in tow, enters an American Idol-esque music competition. Hearts squwoon and voices squoar, all without a hint of testosterone anywhere in squight.

Avatar The thing about Avatar is that the director basically created a cartoon. Yes, the proceedings are involving, rousing and occasionally heartbreaking, but so was The Princess and the Frog. But before we pan the thing, the movie gets undeniably exciting in its spear-versus-machine climax. –Ryan Senaga

The Book of Eli Of course, hot on the heels of The Road and 2012, there’s not much we don’t know about Armageddon…This time it’s in the form of Denzel Washington, a solitary figure wandering the bleak landscape 30 years after an apocalyptic event known as the “flash.” –Dean Carrico

It’s Complicated Meryl Streep used to be married to Alec Baldwin–now she’s having an affair with him while entertaining Steve Martin’s advances. Who knew the GILF-flick would become a full-fledged genre?

Daybreakers Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe star in this scary dystopian thriller about a world in which almost everyone is a vampire and we’re running out of blood.

Extraordinary Measures Inspired by the true story of John Crowley (Brendan Fraser), a biotech executive who had less than a year to finance a cure that would save his two youngest children, both afflicted with Pompe disease.

Legion See review on page 21.

Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle purists will totally lose their irregularities after seeing what happened to their beloved creation, but in a way, that’s part of this film’s excessive charm. –R.S.

The Spy Next Door An atypical Jackie Chan production: meaning for every cool kung-fu chop, Chan also gives us reason to giggle at his F.O.B. naiveté.

A Single Man Writer-director Tom Ford, making his helming debut, has done a credible, savvy version of the Christopher Isherwood novel, making it visually telling and guiding his actors to near-perfection. –Bob Green

Thomas and Friends: Thomas and the Runaway Kite If you’re looking for a way to kill a few hours with a 3-year-old, we’ve got you covered! Watch as America’s favorite anthropomorphic steam locomotive hunts down a kite.

Tooth Fairy Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson spends most of this children’s flick fluttering around in a pink tutu and fairy wings. It’s funny in the same “ironic” way the high school quarterback would dress up as a girl for Halloween. Which is to say, not very.

Up in the Air George Clooney gives a terrific performance in Jason Reitman’s equally terrific movie. –B.G.

The Young Victoria An accurate and historical account of the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert. Unfortunately, the film leaves the most important question unanswered: We never see the famous prince without his trousers.

Doris Duke Theatre

3rd Annual Bollywood Film Festival runs through March 2 and features 10 of Mumbai’s best. See [www.honoluluacademy.org] for showtimes and movie prices.

Movie Museum

Across the Hall (2009) A rare screening of this dark, atmospheric neo-noir set in a seedy hotel. In memory of Brittany Murphy, the singer/actor who died of cardiac arrest in December at the age of 32.

Thu 1/28, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm.

Mermaid (Russia, 2007) A fairy tale shot in the same whimsical vein as Amélie about Alisa, a 5-year-old introvert with green hair who refuses to speak. After being enrolled in a school for the disabled, she discovers that she can move objects with her mind. Winner of a directing award at Sundance.

Fri 1/29 & Mon 2/1, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm.

Departures (Japan, 2008) The film’s title refers to all kinds of departures: a failed cellist returning to his home town; a father who has abandoned his family when his son was 6 years old; a wife who leaves her husband because she is ashamed of his job; and, of course, death…beautifully made, sensitively acted and masterfully directed. –B.G.

Sat 1/30, 12:30, 3, 5:30 & 8pm.

Owning Mahowny (Canada/U.K., 2003) A true, timely story about addiction, manipulation and greed. An assistant manager at a bank, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, steals $10.2 million to feed his gambling addiction. Minnie Driver plays Hoffman’s helpless fiancée.

Sun 1/31, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm.

University of Hawaii

The Shaman’s Apprentice (2001) In the jungles of Surinam, ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin searches for plants that contain a cure for diabetes, which killed both of his grandmothers. Along the way, the beauty Plotkin discovers turns out to be more fascinating than medicine.

Sun 1/31, 5pm.

Bishop Museum

Under a Jarvis Moon (2001) Under government orders, between 1935 and 1942, 130 recent high school graduates from Hawaii were sent to colonize Howland, Baker and Jarvis Islands, with little resources and many life-threatening dangers. The men, many whom have since passed, offer an intimate glimpse into their experiences.

Fri 1/29, 6:30pm.