Make it 'Loud,' 'Soul,' 'Dad' or 'Extract'

 

(Courtesy:  Miramax Films)

The long Labor Day weekend makes for ample movie-viewing time.  Question is, what's worth seeing?

My top choice is "Extract," Mike Judge's witty bundle of blue collar, working man comedy.  Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig and Ben Affleck share the screen in a comedy that'll sneak up on you.

Click here to read the review, or click on the Movie Reviews link. 

I haven't gotten around to the futuristic action-thriller "Gamer," since it wasn't screened in advance for critics.  Gerard Butler ("300") plays a guy named Kable.  That's about all I know so far.  But on a scale of, let's say, 1 to "300," I'm guessing it's about a . . .

That's not fair.  Go see it if you must and report back to this Web site's Citizen Critic page.   First one to weigh in gets a four-jalapeño salute.

As much as I enjoy seeing Sandra Bullock on screen, though, I highly recommend passing on "All About Steve."  It's lame comedy at its best, and tough to take most of the time. 

If you feel like you simply must see it anyway, do yourself a favor and check my "All About Steve" review.

Click here, or navigate over to the Movie Reviews page.

Check your local listings for:

"Soul Power" -- The late James Brown opens and closes this documentary about the 1974 three-day-showcase of African and U.S. R&B talent in Zaire.  Click here for the review, or hop over to the Movie Reviews page.

"World's Greatest Dad" stars Robin Williams as a distraught single dad trying to connect with his lout of a son and hoping against hope that he'll finally be a published author someday.  This one's very bleak and strong, and written/directed by former comedian Bobcat Goldthwait.  Click here for the review, or cruise over to the Movie Reviews page.

"It Might Get Loud" does get loud.  And the documentary from "An Inconvenient Truth" producer/director Davis Guggenheim gets very close to brilliance as it brings together guitar virtuosos Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2) and Jack White (The White Stripes) to talk about their love of music and guitars.

Also, if you're in or near San Antonio, "Lemon Tree," an import from Israel, lights up a screen at the Santikos Bijou Theater.  Click here for the review, or head on over to the Movie Reviews page.