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Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week!

Hemingway and Gellhorn
Starring: Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman
Synopsis: If I told you I was making a pensive 2.5 hour biopic on Ernest Hemingway, would you be excited to watch it? If the answer is yes, then "Hemingway and Gellhorn" is for you. It focuses on Hemingway's affair and marriage to Martha Gellhorn, which began when they traveled to cover the events in war-torn Spain. The pair had chemistry, as played by Owen and Kidman, but also a toxic relationship that probably wasn't healthy for either of them. Like so many tortured artists, both found too much consolation in the bottom of a bottle. You also can't help escape the feeling that the filmmakers are indicating that Gellhorn was a bit of an adrenaline junkie, which is why she traveled from war site to war site to write first-hand accounts for the bulk of her career. That constant pursuit of danger and action both attracted and wore on Hemingway, according to the film. HBO films usually does a nice job of putting productions together, and this film is no exception. The performances are solid, the production way solid, and the film flowed pretty well. But it's not the kind of movie that leaves you warm and fuzzy, and it's not the kind of production you want to watch again. That's been my problem with HBO films and mini-series' the past few years, they seem to be massively depressing. Whether it's a biopic on the Palin-McCain ticket, a re-make of "Mildred Pierce," or a biopic on the financial crisis, the productions are well-made and entertaining, but boy are they a downer. This film is a downer too, and at 2.5 hours it feels overly long. It's well-made but it's a bit of a snoozer.
Rating: TV MA for violence, language, sexual content, and nudity.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Snow White and the Huntsman
Starring: Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, and Chris Hemsworth
Synopsis: The character of Snow White has been around for a long time, but it’s fair to say she’s never been more popular. On the small screen, Snow White is an integral part of the ABC fantasy show “Once Upon a Time.” On the big screen, Snow White has appeared in two feature films this year — the comedy take “Mirror, Mirror,” which opened in March, and the more serious “Snow White and the Huntsman,” which opened on Friday. You wouldn’t normally think of a Snow White film as the ideal fodder for a summer movie Friday, but then again, you haven’t seen this Snow White. As played by Kristen Stewart (“Twilight,” “Adventureland”), Snow White knows how to wield a sword and get in a few scrapes if it furthers her cause. More “Braveheart” than Disney animated fantasy, this Snow White packs the kind of punch you’d expect in an effects-driven summer blockbuster. It’s not hard to guess what will happen in the film or how it will end, the only real mystery is how the pieces will fall together. In March, “Mirror, Mirror” told the tale as a romantic comedy, with Julia Roberts winking at the camera as the evil queen. This version is grittier, turning the epic showdown into a fierce battle epic. The gambit works, to a certain extent. This version of Snow White is mildly more entertaining than the earlier film, and is certainly more visually appealing. Rupert Sanders, making his feature film debut, finds a number of beautiful shots and sequences. The use of color, the depictions of the dark forest and the realm of the faeries all add to the wonder of the production. The strong visuals — which are apparent in the trailer and expanded upon in the film — are one of the best things about “Snow White and the Huntsman.” But it’s not a great film. The performances, by and large, are OK. Hemsworth is good as the Huntsman, Theron has good moments are the queen, and the rest of the cast is solid as well. However, the story is too drawn out, overly melodramatic, and a little too dark at times. By now everyone is familiar with the Snow White story, so stretching the film to more than two hours and waiting until the final 30 minutes to deliver the epic battle is a bit of a let down. Too much of the story feels muddled and poorly paced. That, too, could be a product of a first-time director. Theron is a talented actress and she does some wonderful things in embodying the character, but the character is drawn too over-the-top. She screams; she scowls; you’re bored after 30 minutes. The actress and the audience deserved better. The film is pretty to look at, and it’s fairly well put together, but it misses the mark just enough to fail to be memorable. It’s OK. Some summers that would be enough, but in a year where even marginal ideas have been executed well, this one is a miss.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sensuality.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, June 8 — "Prometheus," "Madagascar 3"

Friday, June 15 — "Rock of Ages," "That's My Boy," "The Woman in the Fifth"

Friday, June 22 — "Brave," "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World"

Friday, June 29 — "Magic Mike," "Ted," "Madea's Witness Protection"