OUT OF TIME
RATING: PG-13
STARRING: Denzel Washington, Sanaa Lathan, Dean Cain, Eva Mendes, and Alex Carter
DIRECTOR: Carl Franklin
PRODUCERS: Neal H Moritz and Jesse B’Franklin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Kevin Reidy, Jon Berg, Damien Saccani, and Alex Gartner
WRITER: Dave Collard
DISTRIBUTOR: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
GENRE: Film Noir/Police Thriller
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Teenagers and adults
SUMMARY: Out Of Time stars Denzel Washington as Matt Lee Whitlock, the Chief of Police in Banyan Key, Fla., with a great career but a weak marriage. Chief Whitlock has an adulterous relationship with a married woman, Anne, whose suspicious husband obviously hates him. When Anne finds out that she has terminal cancer, Whitlock decides to take the money from a drug bust and give it to her for her treatment. He’s caught, though, and soon Whitlock finds himself under suspicion for obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, and a couple counts of murder. Time is rapidly running out as the Chief frantically stays one step ahead of the investigation conducted by his very own cops, the DEA, and even his beautiful wife detective as the clock ticks down to the surprising conclusion.
Out Of Time has all the elements necessary for a successful movie, including timing, comedic moments, and great acting. However, the filmmakers did not completely eliminate foul language, and the director saw the need to include a couple totally unnecessary sex scenes. Also, the hero is not a good role model for moral audiences. Movieguide therefore advises extreme caution.
CONTENT: Secular pagan worldview with redeeming elements such as an affirmation of marriage and some politically correct social comments; six obscenities and four profanities; violence includes murder by shooting; implied intercourse, couple in bed together, and depicted adultery; implied but no depicted nudity; alcohol use; smoking; and lying and cheating.
THE STATION AGENT
RATING: R
STARRING: Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale, Raven Goodwin, Paul Benjamin, and Michelle Williams
DIRECTOR: Tom McCarthy
PRODUCERS: Robert May, Mary Jane Skalski, and Kathryn Tucker
WRITER: Tom McCarthy
DISTRIBUTOR: Miramax Films/Walt Disney Company
GENRE: Drama
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Older teenagers and adults
SUMMARY: The Station Agent is the story of a dwarf named Finn, played by Peter Dinklage, who works at a quiet train/hobby shop with an older black gentleman. Finn is shy and sensitive to people’s stares and snickers, so he keeps to himself in life. One day he finds out that the black man has died and left him some property somewhere in New Jersey. It is a train station on about half an acre, abandoned for years but next to a running, active track. Finn moves in and sets up house, happy to finally be left alone to read books in peace.
The Station Agent won several awards at the Sundance Film Festival, and its direction, cinematography, acting, and story deserve recognition. The filmmakers did a good job of the "show it, don’t say it" rule, and the movie certainly draws audiences into the mood immediately. A bittersweet story is sprinkled with moments of light, fun humor, just exactly when it’s most needed.
The movie shows the profound isolation that comes when one’s spirit exists apart from God. Because of the foul language and marijuana references, however, the movie gets an R-rating from the MPAA, and extreme caution from Movieguide.
CONTENT: Humanist worldview portraying the profound isolation of the spirit apart from God, some moral, biblical elements with a friend, representing life, leading prayers at mealtime and praying to God, albeit sprinkled with some obscenities; strong language with 22 lighter obscenities, 16 strong obscenities, and four profanities; some violence.
