Now Playing

Here's a look at the new movies I saw last week.

Dolphin Tale

Starring: Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, and Nathan Gamble

Synopsis: This film, based on a true story, is family entertainment of the highest order. The film centers on the story of a dolphin that lost its tale and struggled to move forward, and the people whose lives that dolphin impacted at just the right time. Winter, the dolphin that overcame the loss of a tale, becomes a symbol of overcoming obstacles in our lives. The film creates kind of a beautiful narrative of how the humans in this film overcome their own obstacles. It's a strong tale of friendship, faith, and perseverance. Connick, Jr. does a nice job in the lead role, with veterans Judd and Freeman adding their talents to the mix as well. Gamble, who fills the lead role as the young Sawyer, has a nice screen presence and does a nice job in his role as well. The best thing about "Dolphin Tale" might be the fact that it's the rare non-animated film that provides good entertainment for audiences of all ages. In an age and time of year when family films are in short supply, this is a good one.

Rating: PG for some mild thematic elements

Verdict: Three stars out of four

Ides of March

Starring: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Evan Rachel Wood, Paul Giamatti, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Marissa Tomei

Synopsis: When most people here the term Ides of March, they think of the famous moment of betrayal when Roman Emperor Julius Cesar, at the height of his political power, was betrayed by those closest to him, leading to his death. In some ways, that’s a fitting image to coincide with “Ides of March,” a new political thriller from George Clooney. In 2005, Clooney directed “Good Night and Good Luck,” a fantastic and fascinating film that dug into the journalistic process, and what it meant to stand up for something against a rising tide of faux patriotism. That’s an interesting juxtaposition to “Ides of March,” which takes a gritty look at the dark under side of the American political process. In the early 2000s, “The West Wing” offered an idealized vision of the American political process on television. It was inspiring — not so much for the political ideals espoused by characters — but for the fact it offered some hope for the men and women that work in professional politics. If “The West Wing” offered the idealized vision, “Ides of March” offers the brutal truth. There is something powerful about a story that shows how someone is tempted and eventually succumbs to that temptation. It’s not uplifting, but it can be a powerful reminder of the way we’d like to see the world and the way the world really is. Watching Stephen succumb to that temptation and slip further down that path is a little like watching Michael Corelone slowly get sucked into the family business. It’s heartbreaking, but somehow seems inevitable. That is the power of “Ides of March,” a well-constructed film based on the stage play “Farragut North” by Beau Willimon. Willimon worked to adapt his play to the screen with co-writers Clooney and his partner Grant Heslov. The film retains a theatrical intensity and crisp dialogue while beautifully capturing the cinematic aspects of a new medium. And the production is blessed with the steady, artful hand of Clooney behind the camera. Clooney knows how to capture the raw emotional power of a moment. Some of the quiet, wordless moments in “Ides of March” are its best. The director artfully captures the depth and complexity of the story, coaxing great performances out of his talented cast and adding some nice moments in front of the camera as well. In Gosling, he finds an ideal lead. Gosling has had quite a year — from loud and larger-than-life characters like the one he played in “Stupid, Crazy, Love” to the nearly dialogue-free role he had in “Drive” — the actor has showed his range. He has to do a mixture of the two styles with “Ides of March,” delivering some larger-than-life speeches and also retaining the ability to say as much with his facial expressions as with pages of dialogue. The opening and closing shots of the film, in fact, say as much about the arc of the character without any dialogue as anything else in the film, and that’s a credit to the way Gosling brings the character to life. The film boasts some strong supporting performances as well. Giamatti, Seymour Hoffman, Tomei, and Wood all do a nice job with their roles, helping to round out the story and add dramatic tension. “Ides of March” will likely be a contender this awards season, and for good reason. It’s a fascinating and engrossing film that is easily one of the best released in 2011. Gosling is great, and so is the storytelling and craftsmanship of Clooney — both on the page, in front of the camera, and behind the camera. “Ides of March” isn’t an uplifting film, but it’s a powerful one.

Rating: R for pervasive language. Enter with caution.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Real Steel

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, and Dakota Goyo

Synopsis: This is a film, set in the future, where boxing has changed from man on man to robot on robot. The concept of this film and the trailers were unimpressive, so I had low expectations going in. But this movie has a bit more depth and is a bit more interesting than expected. I think that's a common reaction based on some of the overly high ratings handed out for this film. It's much better than I thought it would be, but that being said it's not incredible. It is a more engrossing father-son film than expected, with Jackman and Goyo developing a nice rapport on the screen and doing well together. The film becomes kind of an interesting family dynamic and sports film. Jackman does a nice job in the lead role, and Goyo is strong as the catalyst for change in his father's life. Lilly, who was a big part of the success of "LOST" on the small screen, does a nice job in a supporting role as well. This film is entertaining, the special effects aren't bad, and there is plenty of depth to the human story. That's a credit to director Shawn Levy. This isn't a great film, but it's a good one and an entertaining one, which might surprise some people that weren't sure what to make of it based on the marketing campaign.

Rating: PG-13 for some violence, intense action and brief language

Verdict: Three stars out of four

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, Oct. 14 — "The Thing," "Footloose," "The Skin I Live In," "A Big Year," "The Texas Killing Fields"

Friday, Oct. 21 — "Paranormal Activity 3," "The Three Musketeers," "Margin Call," "Red State," "Johnny English Reborn"

Friday, Oct. 28 — "In Time," "Anonymous," "Puss in Boots," "The Rum Diary"