The second feature for "Moon's" Duncan Jones is "Time Code," starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a once decorated solider who who wakes up in the body of a different, unknown man. What's going on? According to the official synopsis, he's part of a "mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train. In an assignment unlike any he's ever known, he learns he's part of a government experiment called the 'Source Code,' a program that enables him to cross over into another man's identity in the last 8 minutes of his life."  

Interesting.

For those intrigued, Yahoo has posted the first five minutes of the movie.

Watch here.

 

While I was enjoying a sold out showing of "Jane Eyre" Saturday night (Sold out! In Los Angeles. Go Charlotte Brontë!), the majority of American moviegoers were taking in "Battle: Los Angeles" -- the "action packed" alien vs. LA picture starring Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez. 

"Jane Eyre" has not opened wide yet, and it will doubtfully earn the box office of "Battle," but from where I sat, one would think it could. Saturday night at the Arclight, in the heart of Hollywood, "Jane Eyre" made audiences swoon, gasp and clap. Though it's not the best adaptation of "Eyre" (I'm still partial to the Orson Welles, Joan Fontaine version), it's a beautifully acted, gorgeously shot re-telling of the literary classic and perhaps audiences, so weary of "Twilight" style romance and annoying, exploding set pieces embraced the quiet gothic melodrama of "Jane" like a long lost love.

I thought the three women next to me were going to faint when Michael Fassbender simply smiled. Two men behind me actually uttered an ennui filled, "Awwww...." after an especially tender moment. A sunlit frolic provoked applause from half the audience. It was pleasing to experience such appreciation but almost bizarre. For a moment I thought -- where the hell am I? Overhearing a few Brontë inspired discussions spilling out into the lobby, I'm happy to report that people in Los Angeles not only attend smaller released movies, but actually do read books.

With that, here's the top five movies over the weekend (after the jump). Alas, "Jane Eyre" is not among them. But maybe if the studio released the film wide -- it could become a sleeper:

 

I don't know how I feel about this except ... Oh, why do I care so much? Still, I miss "The Smurfs" of my youth. Here's the trailer for the new (new generation) "Smurfs" movie:

 

Oh ... she loves it! Come on!

Also, Julianne Moore is playing her.

One of the most beautiful and talented actresses working in movies today. That has to be a compliment.

Though, Moore may be too talented.

Here's what Sarah Palin said about the planned movie, "Game Change," based on (of course) her life and bid for Vice President:

"In the wake of recent news that HBO Films has cast Julianne Moore to play Sarah Palin in its upcoming on-screen adaptation of the political tell-all 'Game Change,' the former Alaska governor claimed Thursday that she plans to simply 'grit [her] teeth and bear' the movie."

 

Sue Lyons' "Lolita" look ...

Pattty McCormack gets a basketful of hugs for her "Bad Seed" shades.

 

Though staying in for TCM pretty much rules my existence and alienates those around me ("Why get dressed? It's Gregory La Cava day!") I will re-think my position for tonight based on that other big screen adaptation from a girlhood favorite -- "Jane Eyre" -- opening today.

Though the reviews are mixed, the glowing notices are reassuring.

Here's a few:

"A splendid example of how to tackle the daunting duty of turning a beloved work of classic literature into a movie. Neither a radical updating nor a stiff exercise in middlebrow cultural respectability, Mr. Fukunaga's film tells its venerable tale with lively vigor and an astute sense of emotional detail."  -- A.O. Scott, The New York Times

"Sex is threatening, as Brontë knew, and Wasikowska and Fassbender make this particular dance look exceedingly dangerous."  -- Stephanie Zacharek, Movieline

 

I realize Vancouver Island was scary today, and that Tinsel Korey, who plays Emily in the "Twilight" movies, is feeling the fear due to the evacuation there, but perhaps we should calm the hell down and think about what we can do to help all those who are struggling in Japan right now?

You can donate your aid to Japan here.

(Thanks to D Listed for the link and picture.)
 

Oh my, it would appear few critics have anything nice to say about "Red Riding Hood," director Catherine Hardwicke's big screen adaptation of the classic fairy tale.

Here's a sample of reviews from Metacritic, in which not one positive take can be found.

"Ugly, dull, bloodless, dumb, and phony to its core. " -- Sean Levy, The Oregonian

"A lurid, loopy, utterly ludicrous enterprise." -- Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post

"A laughably inept series of adolescent poses trying to pass itself off as a movie."  -- Ty Burr, The Boston Globe