Northbrook Star

Movies opening this weekend, still in theaters

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Zoe Saldana and Bradley Cooper star in "The Words."

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Updated: September 10, 2012 11:22AM

OPENING FRIDAY

“Little White Lies”

Rated: No MPAA rating

Stars: Jean Dujardin, Marion Cotillard

When a central figure in a close group of friends (Dujardin) winds up in intensive care, the rest of the group goes for a shortened version of their annual summer getaway — and old interpersonal tensions rise to the surface. Guillaume Canet (“Tell No One”) directed the drama.

“The Words”

Rated: PG-13 for brief strong language and smoking

Stars: Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Jeremy Irons, Olivia Wilde

A writer who steals another man’s work (Cooper) has to cope with the fallout when the book becomes a critically hailed bestseller. Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal make their feature writing/directing debuts with the drama.

STILL PLAYING

“For A Good Time Call” ★★½

Rated: Rated R for strong sexual content throughout, language and some drug use

Stars: Lauren Miller, Ari Graynor, Justin Long

Following in the wake of last year’s “Bridesmaids,” this female raunch-empowered relationship comedy works reasonably well because of the chemistry of its leads — though its hardcore lewdness and its ideas about love and friendship both seem artificial and contrived. There’s plenty of polite hatred when college enemies Lauren and Katie (Lauren Powell and Ari Graynor) are forced to share an apartment (arranged by their mutually gay bff Long), but new appreciation for each other arises from their success as phone-sex entrepreneurs. And love, perhaps? Several male celebs (including Seth Rogen) make embarrassing appearances as special-guest pervs on the other end of the line.

“The Possession” ★★

Rated: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving violence and disturbing sequences

Stars: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra Sedgwick, Natasha Calis

Frequently funny, but unfortunately not a comedy. There’s lots of demonic mischief when a divorced father (Morgan, a good actor who can’t seem to catch a break) buys his little girl Em (Calis) a spooky old box carved with evil-looking, cryptic writing at a yard sale. Bad move, dad. Danish director Ole Bornedal (“Nightwatch”) keeps things atmospheric for the most part and builds to an interesting finale involving a Jewish exorcist. But the over-familiar shocks just come across as silly.





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