'Married Life,' Sleeping Walking' open
'Married Life'
Piece Brosnan's dumbed-down narration treats us like blind idiots in this darkly comic, post-World War II look at a middle-aged man (Chris Cooper) who decides to kill his wife (Patricia Clarkson) to spare her the pain when he leaves her for a younger woman (Rachel McAdams). Brosnan plays Cooper's best friend, who gets the hots for McAdams. Performances overcome the script.
Starts today at the Piper's Alley Theaters in Chicago, the Renaissance Place Cinema in Highland Park and the Evanston CineArts 6. Rated PG-13 (S). 90 minutes.
Rating: 2 stars
'Sleepwalking'
Producer Charlize Theron plays a small role in William Maher's leisurely paced domestic drama about an abused son (Nick Stahl) who, along with his sister's abandoned daughter (AnnaSophia Robb), returns to work at the Utah farm of his sadistic father (Dennis Hopper). Carefully observed, but plodding.
Opens today at the Piper's Alley Theaters in Chicago and the Evanston CineArts 6. Rated R (L, S, V). 101 minutes.
Rating: 2 stars
'Paranoid Park'
Writer/director Gus Van Sant plays with different music genres, depths-of-field and chronological narrative in this potent and immersive slacker drama about a charismatic Portland skateboarding teen (Gabe Nevins) dealing with the accidental killing of a railroad security guard. ...
Starts today at the Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St., Chicago. Rated R (L, S, V). 80 minutes.
Rating: 3 stars