The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Christopher Nolan’s third Batman movie is forgettable entertainment that keeps going for 2 hours, 44 minutes. Christian Bale’s Batman voice and villain Tom Hardy (Bane) are nearly inaudible. As Catwoman, Anne Hathaway is no Michelle Pfeiffer.

d: Christopher Nolan | imdb.com | trailer

Red (2010)

Morgan Freeman sums up the spy game, saying “we’re getting the band back together,” and it’s a likeable bunch — Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren (with a machine gun) and Brian Cox — in a likeable movie. It’s likeable but not much more.

d: Robert Schwentke | imdb.com | trailer | Dunning

The Dark Knight (2008)

Christian Bale’s Batman voice veers toward self-parody, Heath Ledger’s Joker sounds like he has peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth and the action is a loud mess. The most unbelievable part: An attorney (Aaron Eckhart) is the city’s supposed savior.

d: Christopher Nolan | imdb.com | trailer | Crying on the inside.

Bruce Almighty (2003)

The third film from director Tom Shadyac and Jim Carrey, a TV reporter who hates his life and thus God (Morgan Freeman). Shadyac wants to say something about selflessness and free will but doesn’t know how. “Liar Liar” suffered from similar failed aspirations.

d: Tom Shadyac | imdb.com | trailer

Clean and Sober (1988)

Michael Keaton adeptly uses his kinetic energy to play an alcoholic and drug addict who enters rehab to hide from his problems. Keaton is dark and comic and angry all at once. Morgan Freeman plays Keaton’s counselor and Kathy Baker his love interest.

d: Glenn Gordon Caron | imdb.com | trailer |