Arts & Entertainment

Originally adapted by director Paul Verhoeven in 1990, author Philip K. Dick’s classic sci-fi short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale returns to the big screen in this remake starring Colin Farrell, Bryan Cranston, and Kate Beckinsale, and directed by Underworld’s Len Wiseman. The planet has been decimated by nuclear war in the late 21st century, leaving only two nations — the United Federation of Britain and the Colony. Douglas Quaid (Farrell) is a factory worker with a stable job and a loving wife (Beckinsale), but upon learning that a company named Rekall could grant him the memory of the ultimate espionage adventure, he decides that a virtual vacation is better than no vacation at all. But in the midst of having the new memories implanted, something goes haywire. Still strapped to the chair as the system breaks down, he’s branded a spy as the authorities close in, and quickly flees for his life. Later, Quaid discovers that he has a secret identity, and he joins forces with rebel soldier Melina (Jessica Biel) on a mission to track down Matthias (Bill Nighy), the head of a fierce resistance movement that’s been labeled a terrorist organization by the tyrannical Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston). Cohaagen seeks to control the entire free world, and now the harder Quaid fights to defeat him, the clearer it becomes that his memory had been altered long before he walked into Rekall. Director: Len Wiseman. Cast: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Bokeem Woodbine. Rated: PG-13. Time: 1:49.

Transformed into a vampire and entombed for 200 years after betraying vengeful witch Angelique Bouchard, 18th century fishing magnate Barnabas Collins returns to Collinwood Manor in 1972, only to find his once proud estate in ruins and his family plagued by macabre secrets. It was the year 1752 when Barnabas’ parents came to America to expand their business empire. But after establishing the thriving New England fishing town of Collinsport, the family experienced a series of misfortunes when Barnabas fell for the gorgeous Josette DuPres and cast aside beautiful witch Angelique, who cursed him with eternal life and buried him deep in the earth. Returning home to Collinwood Manor after being dug up by a construction crew in 1972, Barnabas learns that Angelique has nearly driven his family out of business, and turned the townspeople against them. Determined matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard employs live-in psychiatrist Dr. Julia Hoffman and enchanting governess Victoria Winters to try and help young David Collins get over the mysterious death of his beloved mother, but as Barnabas gets acquainted with his distant ancestors — including Elizabeth’s black-sheep brother Roger and headstrong teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard — their suffering weighs heavily on his shoulders. Later, when Angelique learns that Barnabas has returned on a mission to restore his family to its former glory and fallen for the radiant Victoria (who is actually Josette reincarnate), she vows to make his suffering unimaginable if he should dare refuse her once again. Director: Tim Burton. Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley. Rated: PG-13. Time: 1:52.

A retired CIA spy and a fledgling FBI agent team up to investigate the murder of a U.S. senator and catch a notorious killer in this high-stakes political thriller. Back when he was an active operative, Paul Shepherdson devoted his every waking minute to capturing “Cassius” — an elusive Soviet hitman with a spectral reputation. Decades later, Shepherdson believes that Cassius has been taken out of the game. But when a U.S. senator is assassinated and all evidence links the killing to Cassius, Shepherdson’s former boss Tom Highland convinces his old operative to investigate. Meanwhile, FBI agent Ben Geary becomes positively certain that the high-profile murder is the work of the notorious Soviet hatchet man, and begins working with Shepherdson to crack the case. In the process of revisiting the entire case from top to bottom, the two uncover a clue that indicates Cassius may not be the prime suspect, but instead the last person anyone ever expected. Director: Michael Brandt. Cast: Richard Gere, Topher Grace, Martin Sheen, Tamer Hassan, Stephen Moyer. Rated: PG-13. Time: 1:38.

As children, Betty Anne Waters and her brother, Kenny, survived bad parenting and poverty by leaning on each other for support. Kenny grows up to be something of a troublemaker, eventually being convicted for a murder he swears he didn’t commit. His sister believes him and, without even a high-school diploma, sets about going to law school in order to figure out a way to free him. She gets a GED, then graduates law school with the help of her only friend. She eventually gets the attention of O.J. Simpson defense attorney Barry Scheck, who runs an organization devoted to overturning wrongful convictions by analyzing DNA evidence with tests that were unavailable at the time the cases were tried. When he agrees to help her — if she can find the old blood evidence — Betty plows her way through the legal complications that stand between her brother and his freedom. This drama is inspired by a true story. Director: Tony Goldwyn. Cast: Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo, Peter Gallagher. Rated: R. Time: 1:47.

Based on the short story The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs by author George Moore, centering on the experiences of a 19th century Irish woman who poses as a man in order to work as a butler at an opulent Dublin hotel for the upper class. Maintaining her elaborate ruse over the course of two decades, Albert suddenly finds her dedication to the role challenged by the unexpected arrival of a painter who turns out to understand Albert better than anyone she could have imagined. Meanwhile, Albert finds her attempts to help pretty hotel maid Helen thwarted when Helen becomes enamored with a charming but callous handyman. Director: Rodrigo García. Cast: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Janet McTeer, Brendan Gleeson, Aaron Johnson. Rated: R. Time: 1:53.

During a high-speed car chase with the U.S. Border Patrol and a bleeding body in his back seat, Driver (Mel Gibson) violently crashes his car into the border wall as he tries to outrun them.

Driver survives the crash only to land inside a hard-core Mexican prison where he enters the strange and dangerous world of “El Pueblito.” He finds unlikely guidance from a 10-year-old kid who shows him the ropes.

While many critics are panning this flick, foreign residents in Mexico will appreciate its down and dirty look at a Mexican prison.

Gibson’s character reminds one of  the crazy cop he played in the Lethal Weapon flicks 25 years ago. It’s an action movie with an attitude, so don’t expect anything deep.

Director: Adrian Grunberg. Cast: Mel Gibson, Roberto Sosa, Daniel Jiménez Cacho, Peter Stormare, Dolores Heredia. Rated: R. Time: 1:35.