Carrie [2013]

Director Kimberly Peirce’s remake of Brian DePalma’s 1976 classic includes more blood, more whatever, but it seems perfunctory. Chloe Grace Moretz, 16, is the right choice and right age for the title role. Sissy Spacek was 27 when she was in the original.

d: Kimberly Peirce | imdb.com | trailer

The Descendants (2011)

George Clooney, looking as weathered as he can, mourns the loss of his comatose wife through ponderous voice-over and discovers her recent affair in a soapy comedy set in Hawaii. Clooney and teenager Shailene Woodley are excellent, but the film is cold.

d: Alexander Payne | imdb.com | trailer | Charlie Rose
Mom was cheating on you. | Stalking. | We’ll surprise your sister.