Screens

Epic Films, Oscar Buzzzzz

The loooong shot: Casey Affleck in the 160-minute "Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." (By Kimberley French -- Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Sunday, October 21, 2007

Our tushies have been tingling at movie theaters this fall, and it's not just all that Pilates. It's that time of year when Hollywood sends out its Oscar bait and tests our endurance with a batch of bloated releases.

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

Running Time:160 minutes

The Gist: The story of legendary outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt). In theaters.

Why So Long?: With such a mouthful of a title, a long film is only fitting.

"SOUTHLAND TALES"

Running Time:160 minutes

The Gist: Imagines the apocalypse on July 4, 2008, in Los Angeles and stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, Cheri Oteri, Jon Lovitz, Kevin Smith, John Larroquette . . . shall we go on? Opens Nov. 9.

Why So Long?: Too much ambition. Variety calls it "a pretentious, overreaching, fatally unfocused fantasy about American fascism, radical rebellion, nuclear terrorism and apocalypse." (We're hoping for a 90-minute reduced DVD version that just stars Cheri Oteri in a wacky tale of nuclear terrorism.)

"SWEENEY TODD"

Running Time:160 minutes

The Gist: Johnny Depp stars as the demon barber of Fleet Street in this musical, based on Stephen Sondheim's stage version. Opens Christmas Day.

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