Ancient Rome, middle-aged Kevin Costner, open this weekend

A couple of scenes from the trailer for “Pompeii” jumped off my iPad screen. I thought he gladiator stadium in the ancient city of Rome looked pretty darn spectacular. In all, the action peppered throughout by Kit Harington was very dramatic. And, the film is offered in 3D. Still, though, I perhaps am more drawn…

‘Winter’s Tale’ requires too much of a leap

A horse is a horse, of course, of course. Except that in ‘Winter’s Tale,’ the evil Pearly, played with true darkness by Russell Crowe, calls it a dog. And so it goes in this fantasy that also stars Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay as fated lovers in chase of a miracle. The story jumps…

For Valentine’s Day, spring for the large popcorn

The mere mention of the titles of this weekend’s roster of opening movies brings to mind hand-holding between the popcorn-munching. Coming to a theater near you are “Endless Love,” “About Last Night” and “Winter’s Tale.” Romantic drama, romantic comedy, romantic fantasy (no, not that kind of fantasy.) Oh, yeah, throw in the futuristic action of…

In ‘Labor Day,’ Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin fall quickly

Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin can look at each other and understand so much. In “Labor Day,” they play a mother and an escaped convict who meet under much duress. After a day of circling each other warily — but compassionately, considering the circumstances — the stars’ characters pack two lifetimes’ worth of drama into…

A monster and good deeds come to our theaters this weekend

The two movies opening this weekend couldn’t be more opposite. In ‘I Frankenstein,’ we will have the latest incarnation of the scary, zipper-necked fellow, taken from the pages of a graphic novel, by the creators of “Underworld.” I am scared already. And then there’s the Hindi-language film “Jai Ho,” a remake of a Telugu movie,…