By Rob Lowman, Staff Writer

 

 

Persepolis>

"Persepolis," based on the graphic novel memoirs of Marjane Satrapi, ultimately posits that age-old question faced by many people who immigrate: Do you live where you can be free or do you return to a home where you face repression?

That may seem like a no-brainer to some of us, but the pull of one's homeland is powerful.

Satrapi, who co-wrote and co-directed the film, grew up in Iran during the years of the Islamic Revolution. But being a strong-willed young girl (she was nearly arrested for wearing makeup)from a family of left-leaning intellectuals, she was eventually sent to Austria to live with her grandmother.

Like the graphic novel, "Persepolis" tells its coming-of-age story with a series of essentially simple black-white-and-gray drawings with an occasional splash of color. While this may seem to lack pizazz in this day of glitzy animation, its starkness works to enhance Satrapi's tale. "Persepolis" is serious, of course, but Satrapi, who now lives in Paris, has a sense of humor and her wit is often self-directed, giving the film its humanity.

Originally, the film was released in French and subtitled in English with the voice talents of Catherine Deneuve and Chiara Mastroianni. The DVD includes a second version in English with Deneuve and Mastroianni reprising their roles along with the voices of Sean Penn, Gena Rowlands and Iggy Pop.

 

 

In Bruges>

Though hit-man movies have long lost their fascination, "In Bruges" - the film debut from Irish playwright Martin McDonagh - manages to ignite a few sparks. This is thanks mostly to the acting and some witty lines and setup.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) have been sent by their unhappy mob boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) to the picturesque medieval city of Bruges, Belgium, to lay low after a botched killing. Ray not only got his target (a priest), but also a young boy.

The younger Ray is a bit guilt-ridden, and Bruges - with its many historic churches and lovely canals - is making him depressed. Ken, on the other hand, is happy to see the sights and becomes philosophical about his line of work.

Making the circumstances even more surreal is the fact that a movie with a dwarf (Jordan Prentice) as one of the leads is being shot there, and the woman that Ray thinks is a beautiful actress, Chloe (Clemence Poesy), turns out to be a petty grifter.

"In Bruges" goes off kilter a bit in the end, but before than McDonagh gives his killers some interesting touches. Farrell is somewhat sympathetic in his role as not a nice guy. Gleeson even brings some sweetness to his part, and Fiennes' Harry is so warped in his own strange code of ethics that it's oddly comical - like much of the movie.

 

 

The Spiderwick Chronicles>

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" is a fairly entertaining family film. Freddie Highmore plays the twins Jared and Simon Grace. Jared has anger issues because his recently separated mom (Mary-Louise Parker) has relocated the family to a creepy old house in the country. It turns out that the structure is surrounded by invisible fairies, goblins and an especially mean ogre played by Nick Nolte. The discovery by Jared of a book - "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You" - by his great-uncle (David Strathairn) opens his eyes to what is really happening at the place and the ogre Mulgarath's real plan. "The Spiderwick Chronicles" is not up there with the "Harry Potter" fantasy realm, but it has its own modest magical charms. A Nickelodeon production, it aims smaller though it manages to nicely incorporate a story about the effect of separation. Mark Waters' direction is a bit crammed, but young ones probably will be more taken by the CGI creatures.

 

 

Charlie Bartlett>

A high-school dramedy, "Charlie Bartlett" scores with a winning performance by Andre Yelchin as a rich kid given a last chance at a public school.

Not popular among the students at first (he gets beaten up), the fact that Yelchin's Charlie can get his hands on prescription drugs because he has duped a number of psychiatrists soon changes that.

But Charlie also thinks he's smart enough to give out psychiatric advice along with the medication, and that leads to trouble. Plus, Charlie has his own problems at home. His mother (Hope Davis) is disconnected and depressed, and his father is in prison for tax evasion.

"Charlie Bartlett," which has a nice turn from Robert Downey Jr. as the alcoholic principal, could have been a terrific movie but never quite gets there. Still, it's worth a look.

 

 

Also out>

"Futurama: The Beast With a Billion Backs" is the conclusion to the previous direct-to-DVD release of "Futurama: Bender's Big Score."

The animated series created by Matt Groening, which ran on Fox from 1999-2003 but never quite got past cult status, perhaps because it's not as consistently funny as Groening's "Simpsons." But "Futurama," set at the turn of the 31st century, has the same smart satirical bent and there's plenty to enjoy. Fans will also enjoy the extras, including Groening's commentary.

"Definitely, Maybe" stars heartthrob Ryan Reynolds as a separated father trying to explain to his young daughter (Abigail Breslin) the facts of life in a definitely not R-rated sort of way. Somehow, this includes telling her about the three women he dated before she was born - his college sweetheart (Elizabeth Banks), a journalist (Rachel Weisz) and a co-worker (Isla Fisher).

A bit of a too-precious idea, "Definitely, Maybe" manages to have its share of moments that ring close to the truth when it comes to romantic relationships.

John Sayles' fictional "Honeydripper" is set in the rural South around 1950, when blues started to go electric and became rock 'n'roll. Like many of Sayles' movies, "Honeydripper" tells a small story that's meant to represent a larger cultural picture. And, like the time and the area, the film unfolds at a leisurely pace. Maybe if Sayles, who is a fine writer, had taken on a true story, it might have been more compelling. As it is, "Honeydripper" never rocks, but just rolls along.

I know critics lambasted Roland Emmerich's "10,000 B.C." for all its mixing of history, but I just took it as a silly fantasy. Unfortunately, it takes itself too seriously to be fun. One thing the filmmakers did imagine that was amusing: that the ancients had a really good dental plan. Everyone had shiny white teeth.

 

 

Television>

"Wide Sargasso Sea" is a 2006 BBC production of the erotically charged novel by Jean Rhys. A "prequel" to Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," it features Timothy Spall as the young Englishman Edward Rochester, who travels to Jamaica in the 1830s to find his fortune. There he falls for a beautiful Creole heiress, Antoinette Cosway (Rebecca Hall). Less sensational than the 1993 film version, "Sea" manages to be both sensual and harrowing as Antoinette descends into madness.

"The Ruth Rendell Mysteries - Set 3" offers up five more psychological mysteries from the British crime writer.

Rob Lowman (818) 713-3687 robert.lowman@dailynews.com

 

out tuesday>

 

NEW FILMS

"Futurama: The Beast With a Billion Backs" $29.99

"10,000 B.C." $28.98 and $35.99 Blu-ray

"The Hammer" $19.98

"In Bruges" $29.98

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" $34.98 and $39.99 for two-disc special edition or Blu-ray

"Definitely, Maybe" $29.98

"Persepolis" $29.95 and $38.96 Blu-ray

"Charlie Bartlett" $27.98

"Priceless" $26.98

"Honeydripper" $27.98

"Bonneville" $27.98

 

 

TELEVISION

"The Ruth Rendell Mysteries - Set 3" $49.99

"Wide Sargasso Sea" $24.99

"Early Edition - The First Season" $49.99

"The Real McCoys - Season 3" $39.98

"The New Adventures of Old Christine - The Complete Second Season" $39.98

"Evening Shade - Season One" $44.49

"Dogfights - The Complete Season 2" (History Channel) $49.95

 

OLDER FILMS

"The Furies - Criterion Collection" $39.95

"Xanadu - Magical Musical Edition" (With Complete Soundtrack CD) $19.98

"Journey to the Far Side of the Sun" $19.98

"Man of a Thousand Faces" $19.98

 

IN CONCERT

"Rita Rudner: Live From Las Vegas" $14.98

"ZZ Top: Live From Texas" $14.98 and $24.98 Blu-ray