Movies: Tom Hanks in 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' + 'Red Tails'

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Friday, January 20, 2012 A director's misguided 9/11 odyssey Ann Hornaday There's a fine line between precocious and insufferable, and it's a line continually crossed by "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," Stephen Daldry's extremely labored and in­cred­ibly crass adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's novel. [Read more] Deserving better The great achievement of the Tuskegee Airmen merits a great movie. "Red Tails" isn't it. [Read more] Also Opening 'The Flowers of War' Stephanie Merry Zhang Yimou's saga has a little bit of everything: action and romance, suspense and intrigue. The only thing missing is restraint. [Read more] 'Haywire' Ann Hornaday Steven Soderbergh's action flick gives audiences what they came to see: bruising fight sequences executed with economy, skill and one or two genuine jaw-dropping jolts. [Read more] 'A Separation' Ann Hornaday As the latest example of Iranian realism at its most gripping, Asghar Farhadi's film takes riveting hold from its first moments and doesn't let go even long after the lights have come on. [Read more] 'The Divide' Michael O'Sullivan Set in the aftermath of an apparent nuclear attack, this is a nasty story of inhumanity. [Read more] 'OKA!' Michael O'Sullivan Music is relegated to a minor role in this fictionalized account of ethnomusicologist Louis Sarno's relationship with the Bayaka Pygmies of Central Africa. [Read more] Celebritology Uggie, 'The Artist' dog, gets Golden Collar nods The talented Jack Russell has been nominated for an award given to the best dogs of the small and silver screen. Moviegoers demand refund for 'The Artist' The Telegraph reports that some British moviegoers have asked for their money back. Quentin Tarantino thinks 'The Three Musketeers' was one of the best movies of 2011 Either that, or he was joking when he included it on his list of the year's best. But enough about Ricky Gervais. Let's focus on what Billy Crystal might do at the Oscars The Golden Globes ceremony is now in the past. Let's look to the future and watch an Academy Awards promo video. Box Office 'Contraband' steals weekend box office The new release "Contraband," a smuggler movie starring Mark Wahlberg, ran away with the box office this weekend. New and popular DVDs Stephanie Merry Check out this week's new releases and see what Washington is watching. Family Filmgoer Kid-focused movie reviews Get the scoop on "Beauty and the Beast," "Red Tails," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" and more. Reader Reviews You review 'The Iron Lady' "As a Brit, I had reservations about a biopic of the most contentious and divisive of post-war PMs. But Streep's performance is amazing." That's one reader's take. Agree? Write a review and let your voice be heard. Get The Washington Post, your way. Want to stay on top of the latest news, features, commentary and more? Here's how: Mobile: Alerts: Social Media: Applications Web site E-mail SMS RSS Feeds Facebook Twitter SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE E-NEWSLETTER CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 ©2012 The Washington Post Privacy Policy