Directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona Starring: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep Rated: R for some disturbing content. Parental Notes: This is not a child-friendly film, on several counts. For one, it’s subtitled. For another, it is very creepy, with the ghosts or corpses of dead children featuring prominently in many scenes, and one graphic car accident scene. This film deserves its R rating and is not at all for kids. Teenagers who can appreciate foreign cinema and love spooky films will likely enjoy it.
Directed by: Tim Burton Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener Rated: R for graphic bloody violence. Parental Notes: This film deserves its R rating — there is plenty of gore spraying about here, and lots of dead bodies, body parts, and gaping wounds. Not for youngsters or the faint of heart.
Directed by: Sidney Lumet Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney Rated: R for a scene of strong graphic sexuality, nudity, violence, drug use and language. Parental Notes: This movie definitely deserves its R rating and is not suitable for youngsters.
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Casey Affleck, Ellen Barkin, Scott Caan, Vincent Cassel, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Elliott Gould, Eddie Izzard, Eddie Jemison, Bernie Mac, Al Pacino, David Paymer, Brad Pitt, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner, Julian Sands Rated: PG-13 for brief sensuality. Parental Notes: This is a fairly straightforward caper film — all talk and scheming, little-to-no violence or sex. There’s some heavy breathing and innuendo in a few scenes, but that’s about it. It will likely go over the heads of youngsters, and it’s innocuous for older kids.
Directed by: Mark Forster Starring: Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, Dustin Hoffman Rated: PG-13 for some disturbing images, sexuality, brief language and nudity. Parental Notes: This is an interesting, thought-provoking film which teens and preteens may well find fascinating. It is a solid PG-13, which makes it unsuitable for youngsters.
Adapted/Directed by: Ryan Murphy Starring: Annette Benning, Brian Cox, Joseph Cross, Joseph Fiennes, Alec Baldwin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Evan Rachel Wood, Jill Clayburgh Rated: R for strong language and elements of sexuality, violence and substance abuse. Parental Notes: This isn’t a terribly strong R, but it does deserve the rating. It’s not graphic but the emotional violence makes it unsuitable for youngsters.
Directed by: Todd Phillips Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Matt Walsh, Horatio Sanz, Todd Louiso Rated: PG-13 for language, crude and sexual content, and some violence. Parental Notes: This is a safe movie for teens and mature preteens, though offhand mentions of rape may make it inappropriate for some.