Arts & Entertainment

This Week at the Movies

"Green Lantern" is a Standard Comic Book Picture, But "Beginners" is a Charming, Character-Driven Film

One day, Hollywood is going to run out of comic book films to adapt. But not yet.

So far, this summer has seen the likes of “Thor,” “Priest” and “X-Men: First Class.” Next month’s selection is “Captain America: The First Avenger,” while next year’s roster includes as many as five major superhero movies.

That’s a lot of Spandex tights.

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This past weekend saw the release of “Green Lantern,” which stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, a cocky pilot who is chosen by a purple alien from a distant planet to act as a galactic crime fighter.

Peter Sarsgaard is on board as Hector Hammond, a scientist who dissects the alien’s body and becomes the film’s villain after becoming infected and his head swells to unnerving proportions.

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Blake Lively is Hal’s love interest and Tim Robbins is Hammond’s father, a United States senator who considers his son to be a disappointment.

“Lantern” follows a familiar storyline: hero gains his powers, he grapples with them, he faces off against the villain and he learns about responsibility throughout the course of the story.

The film, directed by Martin Campbell (“Goldeneye”), looks expensive and its special effects are obviously the selling point. Sarsgaard deserves credit for his commitment to his role.

But the movie is formulaic to the point that it is interchangeable with any of the summer’s other mediocre action offerings.

This weekend, I finally caught up with Mike Mills’ acclaimed dramedy, “Beginners,” and I found the picture to be a charmer.

Ewan McGregor stars as Oliver, a lonely artist who draws album covers and lives with an adorable Jack Russell Terrier whose thoughts are occasionally transmitted via subtitles.

Part of the film’s narrative is told through flashbacks. Oliver’s 78-year-old father, Hal (Christopher Plummer), has recently died, and a significant portion of the picture follows the final year of his life after he has notified his son that he is gay.

The film’s present is set in the month’s following Hal’s death as Oliver meets and courts and the romantically-cautious Anna (Melanie Laurent, of “Inglourious Basterds”).

“Beginners” is filled with lovely performances, especially Plummer, and the writing is frequently sharp. The film fully develops its characters, including some minor supporting roles, and is funny without resorting to cutesy quirkiness.

It’s one of the stronger films in a summer filled with solid independent pictures.

Stop by Douglaston Patch every Monday morning for “This Week at the Movies.” Next week’s reviews will include “Cars 2” and “Bad Teacher.”


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