Bloglander

ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART I
A low-budget, no-stars project spurred by proponents of Ayn Rand’s beliefs favoring unfettered capitalism and individual rights and excoriating big government. (And please, no communists.) A railroad executive quests to find out just who this John Galt fellow is, and why he’s organizing the world’s most creative minds. (MB) Rated PG-13 | SHOWTIMES

THE CONSPIRATOR
With a stunning cast (Robin Wright, James McAvoy, Tom Wilkinson, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood) and a director of no less fame than Robert gat-damned Redford himself, you’d expect this story of the trial of the only female conspirator in the plot to kill Lincoln to be rousing cinema. Critics are weighing in, though. Early reports? Limp. Moist. Bore. (LB) Rated PG-13 | SHOWTIMES

THE GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE EVENT
Dancing bears and jester skeletons: Are you having a flashback? (No, the good kind.) It's a smoke-enshrouded rockumentary, and Jerry Garcia talks on camera. (Bootleg tapes may have played a part.) This footage hasn't been seen since '77, man. (MB) Wed 4/20 7:30 pm, NorthTown and Riverstone | SHOWTIMES

[turkey] RIO
Another soulless piece of animation from the folks who gave us the Ice Age series. This one involves exotic birds (voices of Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway) who end up getting together for some adventure and romance during Carnival in Brazil. Poachers and monkeys are the bad guys, while (most) birds are the good guys. But the story is by-the-numbers, and the performances range from flat to over-the-top. Very young viewers will enjoy the action and all the bright colors. Everyone else will be annoyed by the songs and bored by the movie. (ES) Rated PG | SHOWTIMES

SCREAM 4
Neve Campbell has experience dealing with knife-wielding, masked bad guys. In the original Scream, her boyfriend killed her mom. Then all her college friends got hacked and slashed. It's been a decade now since the third installment, but boy, does she remember her evil half brother! Now she's returning to Westboro to hang with David Arquette and Courtney Cox, just so everybody can get splattered with the crimson corn syrup again. (MB) Rated R | SHOWTIMES

WIN WIN
Paul Giamatti playing yet another schmuck of a loser? Ah, but it gets complicated: Into his life walks a teenage boy with exceptional athletic talent and a nightmarish family life. Soon Giamatti starts playing the inspiring life coach. With Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale and Jeffrey Tambor. (MB) Rated R | SHOWTIMES