'Another Year'review: Lesley Manville pitiably human moments balanced with Mike Leigh's compassion

Drama about middle-aged friends. WithJim Broadbent,Lesley Manville. Director:Mike Leigh(2:09). PG-13: Language.

If only we could all approach life with the tranquil acceptance of Mike Leigh's longtime marrieds in his tender new drama,"Another Year."

Leigh stays true to his title, following Gerri (Ruth Sheen) and Tom (Jim Broadbent) through several rather ordinary months. They work (Tom as a geologist, Gerri as a counselor to patients includingImelda Staunton). They play, often with their affectionate adult son (Oliver Maltman). And they weather grief, when faced with death, disappointment, and the other inevitables of aging. But their equilibrium remains steady.

It's no wonder, then, that their home is the port for those who can't handle rocky seas. Most in danger of capsizing is Mary (Lesley Manville), a middle-aged divorcee whose loneliness has come to define her.

Mary is incapable of hiding a single thought, andManvilleensures we witness every painful moment of insecurity and desperation. It's a daring, if occasionally overthought, performance, and a challenging one to watch. But Mary is so pitiably human that even her most maddening moments are tempered by compassion and empathy.

The entire film, in fact, is built on those two qualities, making Leigh a host as generous as Gerri and Tom. In this wise, open-hearted picture he's created the perfect haven from the cheap ironies and cruel indifference we all have to field both in life and, far too often, at the movies.

eweitzman@nydailynews.com

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Sofia Coppola's'Somewhere'at the Chateau Marmont recalls several'Lost in Translation'scenes

The plot toSofia Coppola's new film,"Somewhere,"reads a lot like the premise to her 2003 hit"Lost in Translation."A veteran actor starts to re-examine his life after spending time with a younger woman. A blonde one. In a hotel.

Though the movies have seven years between them, a closer look reveals they share a large number of moments -- large and small -- which begs the question: Is Coppola recycling her own ideas?

In any case, there's a strange sense of déjà vu at work when you see"Somewhere,"which revolves around Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) and his daughter, Cleo (Elle Fanning), who moves in with him and causes him to re-think his existence. Consider the following moments that arise in both Coppola's latest film and in "Lost in Translation":

Late-night snack with foreign TV as company
Charlotteand Bob's insomnia is a theme throughout"Lost in Translation"and one night they meet up in Bob's room for some late-night drinking in front of a Japanese version of"La Dolce Vita."Trade the Italian film for the American sitcom"Friends"(dubbed in Italian, in an odd meta-twist) and sub the alcohol for ice cream and you've gotJohnny Marcoand his daughter Cleo bonding in an Italian hotel in"Somewhere."

Inaudible conclusion to heros' relationship
Bob's inaudible whisper into Charlotte's ear at the end of"Lost in Translation"elicited more chatter than the film as a whole. I nher new film, Coppola allows the viewer to hear what Johnny yells at the end of"Somewhere,"even if his daughter doesn't. Over the sound of a helicopter, he shouts,"Cleo, I'm sorry I haven't been around,"as his blissfully unaware daughter simply waves in response.

Foreign TV show confounds hero with madcap antics
While Bob makes a last-minute decision to take part in a nutty Japanese variety show that has him miming invisible hearts and watching the candy-colored host dancing while speaking lightning-fast Japanese, Johnny Marco has a slightly easier go of it on an Italian awards show. As he accepts what is presumably an acting award, Johnny is suddenly thrown into confusion when, without warning, he is joined on stage by dancers in skimpy gold outfits singing in Italian (see below).

Slightly off-kilter sex worker entertains hero
Slightly tamer than Bob facing a rape-fantasy in his hotel room (not to mention an acrobatic stripper at a bar), Johnny's run-ins involve two former Playmates twirling around collapsible poles in his bedroom. 

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A karaoke face-off
Guitar Herois a lot less intimate than karaoke but it is still a variation on the art form. Charlotte and Bob trade tunes -- she singsChrissie Hynde's"Brass in Pocket,"he singsNick Lowe's"Peace, Love and Understanding"-- with a group of friends late one night.  In"Somewhere,"Johnny and his daughter rock out to The Police's"So Lonely"as one of his old friends looks on.

Hero's one-night stand makes younger woman angry
Cleo may be Johnny's daughter but that doesn't mean she can't be jealous when he shacks up with some Italian floozy. She reacts in the same petulant manner as Charlotte does -- pouting over the dinner table -- when Charlotte finds out Bob has slept with the lead singer of Sausolito.

Hero makes crying phone call about not knowing what to do with his/her life
OK, these phone calls occur on opposite ends of each film. But at the beginning of"Lost in Translation,"Charlotte calls a friend back home and cries while talking about how she feels unhinged inJapan. She claims she doesn't"feel anything"despite being in inspiring surroundings. At the end of"Somewhere,"Johnny has a virtually identical conversation. He is reduced to tears as he tells the woman on the other end of the line that he is"nothing,""not even a person."

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Andrew Garfield feels'like a kid in pajamas'in his'Spider-Man'costume

With all the controversy surrounding"Spider-Man"on Broadway, it's easy to forget there's a brand-new film version in the works.

In fact,ColumbiaPictures' andMarvel Entertainment's"Spider-Man"reboot has already started filming with"The Social Network"starAndrew Garfieldin the title role, oppositeEmma Stoneas his pal and love interest,Gwen Stacy.

Garfield revealed toThe Guardianthis week that he's already had to wear the classic red-and-blue costume, which made for a surreal experience.

"I feel like a kid in my pajamas,"he told the paper'sJason Solomons, before giving a more serious response.

"I can only say how it feels and it feels pretty special. It feels like a dream realized and a fantasy realized,"Garfield, 27, said."I don't take it lightly and I feel incredibly lucky that I get to wear spandex for the next few months."

Garfield also discussed the challenge of playing a high-school version of the character. The prior film series, starringTobey Maguirein the title role, also began in high school but progressed into college.

"I think Spider-Man needs strength, butPeter Parkeris still a teenager, you know? That's a very tender balance to figure out,"he explained."It's very specific what we're trying to achieve in terms of body type and the feeling of that."

While production has stopped in observance of Christmas, Garfield said he expects the shoot to last"at least four or five months."

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Spike's peak: A sharp new look at Spike Lee's 1989 film'Do the Right Thing'

Spike Lee's"Do the Right Thing"exploded onto screens in the summer of 1989, and nothing the Fort Greene-based filmmaker had done prior was any preparation for it."She's Gotta Have It"and his sophomore movie,"School Daze,"each were warmups for Lee's drama about love, hate, racial strife and moral outrage on a Bed-Stuy block during a sweltering New York summer.

The movie, with its depiction of police brutality, a riot and dialogue that name-checked Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Eleanor Bumpers and Howard Beach, lit up editorial pages and sparked conversations about Lee's political intentions. It wound up on many critics' lists of that decade's best films.

Cameramen follow Lee, as Mookie, as he heads to Sal's Famous Pizzeria.

Written and directed by Lee, who co-starred along with veterans (Danny Aiello, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis) as well as talented then-newcomers (Samuel L. Jackson, Rosie Perez, John Turturro, Bill Nunn),"Do the Right Thing"is still as incendiary, savvy and visually dazzling as it was 21 years ago, when it was hatched, partly as Lee read Daily News headlines and mulled over his masterpiece.

Danny Aiello and Giancarlo Esposito, who played Buggin' Out, the neighborhood revolutionary, work out a scene in rehearsal with Lee.

Now a new coffee-table book takes readers back to those Brooklyn streets."Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing"(AMMO Books, $39.95), by Lee and Jason Matloff, showcases gorgeous behind-the-scenes photos by David Lee (the filmmaker's brother), along with a reproduction of Lee's handwritten script, lively interviews with cast and crew— including the film's great cinematographer, Ernest Dickerson, who crafted its memorable look — and stills from the movie, which was nominated for two Academy Awards.

In his introduction, Lee writes about how he still gets shouts of"Hey Spike, do the right thing!"on the street and notes that the goal"was to make a bold film, not just with subject matter, but how it looked, sounded, and quality.

"We did what we intended to do. That's what I call a winner."

jneumaier@nydailynews.com

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New on DVD:'Salt,''Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,''Devil,''Easy A'

The truth is, once you've eaten and opened presents, there's not always a whole lot to do onChristmas Day���and that's assuming you'll be celebrating the holiday in the first place. Our suggestion: stock up on reasons to stay home.

You might start with"Salt"(PG-13, $28.96), a straightforward but energetic thriller starringAngelina Jolieas aCIAagent with a big secret. Subterfuge also has its place in"Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"(PG-13, $29.98) a sleek sequel to the 1987 classic.Shia LaBeoufmakes a fine protégé, but you'll be glad to seeMichael Douglasreturn as the one-and-onlyGordon Gekko.

For late-night thrills, there's always theM. Night Shyamalan-produced horror flick"Devil"(PG-13, $29.98), about a bunch of strangers trapped in a hellish elevator. And yes, you can expect a Shyamalanian twist at the end. As for arthouse options, your best choice is the funky, slightly edgy farce"Soul Kitchen"(NR, $24.98), about the ongoing trials of a German restaurant owner.

More fun, though, is"Easy A"(PG-13, $28.95), a modern adaptation of"The Scarlet Letter."A fantasticEmma Stoneplays the notoriously fallen woman as a high school virgin, but don't let that fool you; this witty teen comedy will be appreciated by any adult who'll recognize it as theJohn Hughestribute it really is.

We can't really say the same about the hip-hop threequel"Step Up 3"(PG-13, $29.99), which only comes in the original 3D on Blu-ray ($49.99) and is definitely geared toward teens and twentysomethings."The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Five"(NR, $39.99) may also require some patience from older viewers. But surely any right-thinking person will recognize that"Mega Shark vs Crocosaurus"(NR, $24.95)—starring erstwhile Urkel Jaleel White—will put even the recent"Sharktopus"to shame. Stocking stuffer, anyone?

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Short reviews:'Night Catches Us,''Bhutto,''Queen of the Lot'

Night Catches Us***
Racial tensions surround two activists. At Cinema Village,Magic JohnsonHarlem(1:30). R: Language, violence.

An undeniably admirable effort,Tanya Hamilton's debut offers a fine showcase for leadsKerry WashingtonandAnthony Mackie.

But the unusual structure of her screenplay presents an ultimately insurmountable obstacle.

The film is set in 1976, when Marcus (Mackie) returns home toPhiladelphiato find his reputation tattered. The rumor is that he collaborated with police years earlier, to set up a fellow Black Panther. His only remaining friend is the victim's wife (Washington), who has her own secrets to protect.

Hamilton and her cast treat the material with respectful intelligence. But since the primary events occurred before the movie even begins,"Night"never quite coalesces into the forceful drama it hopes to be.Elizabeth Weitzman

Bhutto ***
Chronicle ofPakistan's political history. At Cinema Village (1:51). Not rated: Mature themes.

Just as it would be impossible to fully relay the tangled history of the Kennedy family in two hours, the same is true for Pakistan's most complex political dynasty. Still,Duane BaughmanandJohnny O'Harado make a commendable attempt to document the intricacies of the Bhutto legacy.

Their primary focus is onBenazir Bhutto, who served two terms as Pakistan's prime minister before her assassination in 2007. Her rise to power is directly linked to her father and brothers, while their combined experiences continue to reverberate worldwide. It's a fascinating story, and too epic to be contained here. But the directors certainly capture our interest, even as they leave us wanting to know more. E.W.

Queen of the Lot **
An actress embraces scandal. At the Quad (1:54). R: Language, sexuality.

IfHenry Jaglomis determined to push museTanna Frederickon us, he really ought to give her more than the self-congratulatory vanity projects they keep churning out together.

This superfluous sequel to Frederick's first Jaglom film,"Hollywood Dreams,"once again finds her overplaying her role as an insecure actress obsessed with fame. The only grace notes come fromNoah WyleandPeter Bogdanovichas the two characters who refuse, in different ways, to buy the industry line. There are a few mildly funny moments, but Jaglom's satire ofL.A.narcissism would make a greater impact if the movie didn't reflect that quality quite so well itself. E.W.

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'All Good Things'review: Ryan Gosling's performance anchors unglued Robert Durst-based pic

A wealthy real-estate heir falls into criminal activity. WithRyan Gosling,Kirsten Dunst. Director:Andrew Jarecki(1:40). R: Violence, language, nudity. At theParisand Angelika.

A true-crime tale can be its own worst enemy, damned to a mix of half-constructed facts and odd conjecture, but even with that in mind,"All Good Things"suffers from an unusual dilemma: The truth it's working from really is stranger than fiction. The film ends up wrestling itself into a corner, though it's saved by a corrosive central performance from Ryan Gosling and a disconcertingly hypnotic feel.

Director Andrew Jarecki's lightly fictionalized drama is based on the case ofRobert Durst, scion of a powerfulNew Yorkreal-estate family and subject of a parade of sensational headlines since his wife went missing in 1982. Here,Robert Marks' (Gosling) history of unsettling behavior stems from witnessing his mother kill herself when he was 7.

In 1973, the twentysomething Marks meetsKatherine McCarthy(Kirsten Dunst), a working-classLong Islandgirl in every way the opposite of the world Marks knows. After attempting to shake his past by marrying Katherine and opening a health-food store inVermont, Marks is drawn into shady business dealings by his father (a serpent-likeFrank Langella). The result is an uncorking of his demons: Marks becomes increasingly erratic and violent, while Katherine, hiding bruises under her sunglasses and shuttling between the couple's three homes, lives mostly in denial.

In the early '80s, Katherine disappears, yet her well-connected husband is never considered a suspect in the missing-persons case. Twenty years go by, and another woman is murdered -- a crime committed by Malvern Bump (Philip Baker Hall), an antisocial retiree who did the job for his neighbor Marks, by then living inGalveston,Tex., disguised as a mute ... and a woman. Only when Marks cuts up Bump's body and dumps it in a river is he arrested and put on trial.

The film tries to keep this tangled web straight, though it's often overwhelmed by simply trying to present what happened. (Durst was acquitted in a 2003 case for killing an elderly Texas neighbor, but served nearly three years on a charge of improper disposal of a body.) Still, Jarecki ("Capturing the Friedmans") and cinematographerMichael Seresinbeautifully evoke grubby disco-eraTimes Squarewith a few choice details, and work hard to give the whole movie a quietly creepy tone.

Dunst lets a vacant quality fill in for Katherine's confusion once Marks' inner switch gets turned, but it works as a nice mirror for Gosling, whose edgy manner and angular intensity is the film's anchor. He helps us stick with the movie even when it can't help but become unglued.

jneumaier@nydailynews.com

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Reese Witherspoon's Hollywood Walk of Fame star celebrated by children, dog

Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon has been saluted with a star on Hollywood Boulevard.

The"Walk the Line"actress unveiled her Hollywood Walk of Fame honor on Wednesday outside the W Hollywood Hotel. It's the 2,425th star dedicated on the celebrated avenue.

The ceremony was designed to coincide with the Dec. 17 release of Witherspoon's latest movie,"How Do You Know,"co-starring Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson, and written and directed by James L. Brooks.

Witherspoon's kids Ava (l.) and Deacon (r.) also accompanied her. (Dovarganes/AP)

In 2006, Witherspoon won the best-actress Academy Award for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in"Walk the Line."

Her credits also include"Pleasantville,""Cruel Intentions,""Sweet Home Alabama"and"Legally Blonde."

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'Winter's Bone'leads Independent Spirit Awards with seven nominations

LOS ANGELES(AP)— The rural crime thriller"Winter's Bone"earned a leading seven nominations Tuesday for theSpirit Awardshonoring independent film, including best picture and acting honors forJennifer Lawrence,John HawkesandDale Dickey.

Also nominated for best picture wereJames Franco's survival tale"127 Hours,"Natalie Portman's ballet drama"Black Swan,"Ben Stiller's dark romance"Greenberg"andAnnette Bening's lesbian family drama"The Kids Are All Right."

The awards will be presented Feb. 26, the day before theAcademy Awards.

"Winter's Bone,"which won the top prize at last winter'sSundance Film Festival, also earned a best-actress nomination for Lawrence, who stars as anOzark Mountainsteen on a desperate search through the region's criminal underbelly to find her missing father and save her family home.

The film also picked up supporting-acting slots for Hawkes and Dickey, a directing nomination forDebra Granik, a screenplay honor for Granik and co-writerAnne Rosellini, and a cinematography nomination.

"The Kids Are All Right"was second with five nominations, including a best-actress honor for Bening and a supporting-actor slot forMark Ruffalo. Co-starJulianne Mooremissed out on a nomination for the comic drama about lesbian parents whose teenage children make contact with their sperm-donor father.

Along with Lawrence, Bening and Portman, best-actress nominations went toGreta Gerwigfor"Greenberg,"Nicole Kidmanfor the grief drama"Rabbit Hole"andMichelle Williamsfor the marital tale"Blue Valentine."The category had six nominees instead of the usual five.

Besides Franco and Stiller, best-actor nominees wereRonald Bronsteinfor the fatherhood story"Daddy Longlegs,"Aaron Eckhartfor"Rabbit Hole"andJohn C. Reillyfor the romantic comedy"Cyrus."

Along with Granik, the best-director field includes"127 Hours"filmmakerDanny Boyle, who won best picture and director Oscars for 2008's"Slumdog Millionaire."Also competing for the directing honor areDarren Aronofskyfor"Black Swan,"Lisa Cholodenkofor"The Kids Are All Right"andJohn Cameron Mitchellfor"Rabbit Hole."

Nicole Holofcener's"Please Give"was selected to receive theRobert AltmanAward honoring a film's director, casting director and ensemble cast. The film starsCatherine Keener,Oliver Platt,Amanda PeetandRebecca Hallin the tale of a couple clashing with the granddaughters of a woman living in an apartment they own.

Low-budget films such as those honored at the Spirit Awards have gained more and more weight at the Oscars, filling a void left as Hollywood studios increasingly concentrated on mainstream blockbusters.

Recent Spirit Awards winners such as"Precious,"''TheWrestler"and"Juno"have been major Oscar contenders.

Bening, Franco and Portman are considered strong Oscar prospects, while the Spirit Awards nominations could help draw Oscar attention to films with lesser-known stars such as"Winter's Bone."

Presented by the cinema group Film Independent, the Spirit Awards honor movies that cost less than $20 million to make. Other criteria include films' originality, provocative subject matter and percentage of funding from independent sources outside the Hollywood studio system.

Joel McHale, star of the TV comedy"Community,"will be host of the Spirit Awards, airing on IFC.

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Halle Berry:'Frankie and Alice'stripper role was'easy...you just take your clothes off!'

Forget all those stars who claim it's hard work playing a stripper,Oscar-winningactressHalle Berrythinks it's a joke.

"{There's} not much research to play a stripper -- you just kind of take your clothes off!"she toldAccess Hollywoodat the premiere of"Frankie and Alice.""It's kind of easy!"

In the film, Berry plays a character with a multiple personality disorder, torn between her stripper persona and a racist alter ego. The 44-year-old actress said she read"thick dense medical books"and spoke to people who suffered from the disordered.

This is not the first time Berry, who recently revealed on"The Ellen DeGeneres Show"that she often walks around her house naked, has stripped off on the big screen. She previously went fully nude in an explicit sex scene for 2001's"Monster's Ball"alongsideBilly Bob Thornton.

Berry later became the first African American woman to win the Best Actress Academy Award for her efforts.

"Frankie and Alice"premieres on Dec. 17.

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Gotham Awards 2010:'Winter's Bone'wins best feature film

"Winter's Bone,"a stark tale of a young woman trying to keep her family together, won best feature film on Monday night at the Gotham Awards, a key event for independent movies.

The film revolves around a small group of people living in the rural mountains of southernMissouriwho are involved in making a form of crystal methamphetamine, commonly called"crank."It also won best ensemble performance at theNew York-based awards.

The best documentary trophy was given to"The Oath,"which tells parallel stories aboutAbu Jandal,Osama bin Laden's former bodyguard and a free man who drives a taxi inYemen, andSalim Hamdan, a formerGuantanamo Bayprisoner caught up in a legal battle to win his release.

The Gotham Awards are held annually by the Independent Feature Project, an nonprofit organization founded in 1979 that supports independent filmmaking. The awards give film fans an indication of the top independent movies of the year heading into Hollywood's film award season.

Ronald Bronsteinwas named breakthrough actor for his work in"Daddy Longlegs,"playing a divorced father of two young boys whom he sees only a couple of weeks a year.

Kevin Aschwon the breakthrough director category for his debut feature,"Holy Rollers,"which starredJesse Eisenbergas a young man from an Orthodox Jewish community who is lured into dealing drugs.

"Littlerock,"was named best film without a distribution deal, while special tribute awards were given to actorRobert Duvall, actressHilary Swank,"Black Swan"directorDarren Aronofskyand producer and screenwriterJames Schamus.

The documentary"Waiting for Superman,"which examines problems in theU.S.school system, won the festival genius audience award, a new Gotham Awards category this year. To be eligible, a film must have won an audience award at a U.S. or Canadian film festival from November 2009 to October 2010.

Movies and performances singled out at the Gothams are often similar to those nominated forIndependent Spirit Awards, another key set of honors for indie movies that is organized byLos Angeles-based group, Film Independent.

"Winter's Bone"was made for a budget of around $2 million and also won the top award at theSundance Film Festivalearlier this year.

At last year's Gotham Awards,"The Hurt Locker"won best feature and went on to win best film atthe Oscars.

(Reporting byChristine Kearney, editing byBob Tourtellotte)

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George Lucas: Irvin Kershner,'Empire Strikes Back'director, was my mentor

Though he's been seemingly a long time ago and a galaxy far, far away removed from his last film, 1990's"RoboCop 2,""Star Wars"fans are mourning the loss of"Empire Strikes Back"directorIrvin Kershner, who died Saturday at the age of 87.
 
And that includes"Star Wars"creatorGeorge Lucas.
 
"The world has lost a great director and one of the most genuine people I've had the pleasure of knowing,"Lucas said in a statement."Irvin Kershner was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
 
"I knew him from USC -- I attended his lectures and he was actually on the festival panel that gave the prize to my 'THX' short. I considered him a mentor."
 
After feeling burnt out directing the first"Star Wars"himself, Lucas desperately wanted another person to direct the sequel, fast-tracked after the enormous success of the 1977 blockbuster.
 
"Following Star Wars, I knew one thing for sure: I didn't want to direct the second movie myself,"said Lucas."I needed someone I could trust, someone I really admired and whose work had maturity and humor. That was Kersh all over."
 
ThePhiladelphia-born Kershner, who had cut his teeth as a TV director in the '50s, broke into film aunder producerRoger Cormanwith 1958's"Stakeout on Dope Street."He enjoyed moderate success in the '60s and '70s, directingSean Conneryin"A Fine Madness"and earning anEmmy nominationfor the 1976 television movie,"Raid onEntebbe."
 
"I didn't want Empire to turn into just another sequel, another episode in a series of space adventures,"Lucas said in the statement."I was trying to build something, and I knew Kersh was the guy to help me do it."
 
The box office success of"Empire Strikes Back,"could have launched him into a different stratosphere, but Kershner turned down the chance to direct the final film in the"Star Wars"trilogy,"Return of the Jedi."
 
The film had proved to be a physically grueling shoot for Kershner, who told starwars.com he had to wear a gas mask filming the swamp scenes onYoda's planet of Dagobah.
 
"After working for two years and nine months doing Empire, and having it take so much out of my life and having given me so much, I felt that it was a complete experience and it was time to move on,"Kershner toldVanity Fairin October.
 
Instead, he directed just two more films after that, the 1983James Bondfilm,"Never Say Never Again"and"RoboCop 2"seven years later.
 
Kershner, who died inLos Angelesafter battling a long illness, is survived by two sons, a family friend, actressAdriana Santini, told theAssociated Press.

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