Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • August 5, 2009 ‘Orphan’ (continued from Entertainment page) Fuhrman is a terrific choice as enigmatic Esther. It is clear from the outset that something is not quite right with her. She wears clothing for school more suitable to an octogenarian, misrepresents facts about herself, and is constantly at the center of misfortune when it strikes others. Her sweetness and charm are veneers. With much of the movie resting on Fuhrman’s performance, she ably handles the responsibility, sending shivers whenever she appears. Vera Farmiga (“The Departed,” “Nothing but the Truth”) has appeared in many films but never had such a large role before. She is outstanding here. David Johnson’s script permits Farmiga’s Kate to have a background, imperfections, and inner conflict, which all come to bear in her relationship with Esther. In a well balanced perfor- mance, Farmiga shows motherly affection, passion, fear, and courage -- all believably. At a few minutes shy of two hours, “Orphan” allows time for the story to unfold. There are intense moments, to be sure, but there are also scenes of the family’s gradual breakdown once Esther has entered their lives. “Orphan” is rated R, which is the right rating for a genuine horror film. Those PG-13 flicks masquerading as horror films want it both ways -- they want to be perceived as frightening movies but are sucked dry of all gruesome images, graphic violence, and strong language so teenagers can buy tickets. Make no mistake: There is nothing gratuitous about “Orphan.” Plot points build naturally to climactic crescendos. This isn’t exactly the kind of movie in which everyone lives happily ever after. “Orphan” is among the best horror films of the last five years. Made for a modest budget, without superstars, it tells a creepy story with style, assumes intelligence on the part of viewers, and makes viewers care about characters caught in a family maelstrom. Mountain uncovers its long-hidden secrets, Jack discovers that his passengers are the only key to saving mankind. Alfred Hitchcock loved this theme: an innocent person becomes entwined in a dangerous, often frightening situation. Here, director Andy Fickman gives the theme a lighter treatment and shores up the plot with dazzling special effects. Johnson is extremely appealing, believable, and sympathetic as the average Joe in whose hands the future of mankind lies. The hi-def combo pack contains Blu-ray, DVD, and digital versions of the movie. Extras include deleted scenes, bloopers, and, on the Blu-ray disc, a featurette on hidden references to the original 1975 movie. “Shadowheart” (Anchor Bay) is a drama patterned on Hollywood’s Western epics. As a boy, James Conners (Justin Ament) saw his preacher father murdered. As a soldier, he witnessed the atrocities of the Civil War. Now, as a bounty hunter, Conners has returned to the town of Legend, New Mexico, to marry the beautiful woman he left behind and to bring to justice the psychotic land baron (Angus Macfadyen, “Braveheart,” “Saw III - V”) who destroyed his childhood. Ambushed and left for dead, Conners discovers a Native American world where justice has no name. The film lacks the star power of a “Dances with Wolves” or “Unforgiven,” and is too long. Action, a prime ingredient of Westerns, is lacking. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 20 You’re given an opportunity to really You’re given an opportunity to really show your business skills this show off off your business skills this week, Aries. Higher-ups will be week, Aries. Higher-ups will be im-impressed with your presentation. Use pressed with your presentation. Use thethe exposure your advantage. exposure to to your advantage. TAURUS - Apr 21/May TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 21 A tough situation gets even tougher A tough situation gets even tougher for for you, Taurus. Unfortunately, it’ll you, Taurus. Unfortunately, it’ll take a few weeks to reach a resolutake a few weeks to reach a resolution. low until then, and then face tion. LieLie low until then, and then face thethe problem head on. problem head on. GEMINI - May 22/Jun GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 21 Stop meddling, Gemini. Although Stop meddling, Gemini. Although you may think your opinion means you may think your opinion means something (and it usually does), stop something (and it usually does), stop offering unwanted advice to you offering unwanted advice to all all you meet. meet. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 22 Relationships at home continue to Relationships at home continue to getget more stressed, Cancer. You’re being more stressed, Cancer. You’re being very needy lately, and others very needy lately, and others areare no no longer willing cave in to your longer willing to to cave in to your demands. demands. LEO - 23/Aug 23 LEO - JulJul 23/Aug 23 A party you’re planning will turn A party you’re planning will turn outout to be a success, Leo, so don’t worry to be a success, Leo, so don’t worry at Just be be sure to enlist as much at all.all. Just sure to enlist as much help as possible in execution of help as possible in thethe execution of thethe event. event. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 22 You’ve made a move in in your You’ve made a bigbig move your personal life, it’s not what you personal life, butbut it’s not what you thought it would Be patient and thought it would be.be. Be patient and things sure to to work themselves things areare sure work themselves out. Otherwise, pack and move on. out. Otherwise, pack up up and move on. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 23 A newfound responsibility you A newfound responsibility hashas you feeling heat, Libra. Take a muchfeeling thethe heat, Libra. Take a muchneeded break and focus birthday needed break and focus on on birthday festivities instead. Clearing your festivities instead. Clearing your mind will wonders. mind will do do wonders. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 22 You’re ready to make a deciYou’re ready to make a bigbig decision in your personal life, Scorpio. sion in your personal life, Scorpio. It It could be time to move to to greener could be time to move on on greener pastures, especially current relapastures, especially if aif a current relationship isn’t gelling like it should. tionship isn’t gelling like it should. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 21 A former friend resurfaces and wants A former friend resurfaces and wants to rekindle friendship. After a to rekindle thethe friendship. After a not-so-nice breakup, you’re sure not-so-nice breakup, you’re notnot sure if you should oblige. Think it over if you should oblige. Think it over before acting, Sagittarius. before acting, Sagittarius. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 20 You’re putting much stress on You’re putting tootoo much stress on yourself to be perfect, Capricorn. yourself to be perfect, Capricorn. This week, go of of some of This week, let let go some of thethe responsibilities you take and enjoy responsibilities you take on on and enjoy yourself a change. yourself for for a change. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 18 You’re ready to change scenery, You’re ready to change scenery, Aquarius. Start scoping new Aquarius. Start scoping outout new home locations and make a of home locations and make a listlist of what features you desire in a new what features you desire in a new residence. It’ll help you greatly. residence. It’ll help you greatly. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 20 A health concern will turn to A health concern will turn outout to be a minor blip the radar. Don’t be a minor blip on on the radar. Don’t overstress, because you’ll through overstress, because you’ll getget through it with flying colors. it with flying colors. DVDs (continued from Restaurant page) falls for a sculptor (Charles Boyer) as he works on a statue of her late husband. Loretta Young plays a feminist writer forced to pretend she’s married to Ray Milland (whom she loathes) in “The Doctor Takes a Wife.” In “A Night to Remember,” Young and her mystery-writer husband (Brian Aherne) take an apartment in Greenwich Village and end up in the middle of a genuine murder case. “Race to Witch Mountain” (Walt Disney Home Entertainment), available in a two-disc extended edition and a three-disc hi-def Blu-ray combo pack, stars Dwayne (“The Rock”) Johnson as Las Vegas taxi driver Jack Bruno, who embarks on an incredible sci-fi adventure when two mysterious teenagers ask him to drive them deep into the Nevada desert. Jack agrees to take siblings Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) to Witch Mountain, a government installation devoted to studying inexplicable phenomena, including UFO sightings. Jack’s passengers are no ordinary teens. With a dangerous adversary on their trail, Sara and Seth reveal astonishing supernatural abilities and Jack becomes a reluctant hero as he helps them evade their pursuer. Once Witch Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle