Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • January 27, 2010 (continued from Restaurant page) critic John Rockwell. “Whip It” (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) stars Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar, a misfit in the town of Bodeen, Texas. Her mom, Brooke (Marcia Gay Harden), longs for Bliss to make an impression in the local Bluebonnet Southern Belles pageant, but Bliss is drawn to the Holy Rollers, a roller derby team from nearby Austin. Tired of being straitjacketed by her family’s expectations, Bliss eventually lands a spot on a roller derby team. “Whip It” marks actress Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, and she knows how to tell a fast-paced fairy tale of a young woman finding a niche in life. Barrymore appears briefly as Smashley Simpson, and Kristin Wiig stars hilariously as Maggie Mayhem, but Page and Harden are clearly the focus of “Whip It.” Their scenes ring true, and the viewer can understand Brooke’s desire to have her daughter fit in and Bliss’ rebellious streak. “Surrogates” (Walt Disney Home Entertainment) is a futuristic tale of divided identity, treachery, and murder. Based on the graphic novel by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele, “Surrogates” stars Bruce Willis as FBI agent Tom Greer, who lives in a world where robotic surrogates stand in for people, protecting them from violence, disease, and the appearance of aging. These picture-perfect replicants enable the population to experience life vicariously from the comfort of their own homes. Greer and partner Agent Peters (Radha Mitchell) are called in to investigate the mysterious death of a college student whose life ended DVDs when his surrogate was destroyed. When Greer’s surrogate is damaged in the investigation, he ventures out for the first time in decades. Despite the fact that “Surrogates” takes place in the future, the world depicted by director Jonathan Mostow resembles a contemporary city, but the combination of scifi, action flick, and mystery provide an entertaining ride. “The Escapist” (IFC Films) is a thriller about Frank Perry (Brian Cox), a tough lifer determined to bust out of a London penitentiary to see his terminally ill daughter before she dies. First, however, he will have to assemble a hardcore crew, battle the brutal prison kingpin, and pull off a daring escape. Prison films are not new, but “The Escapist” manages to make a familiar plot fresh thanks to well-written characterizations and a terrific performance by Brian Cox. The the film contains a climactic secret that is unexpected and actually works. “The Waltons: The Movie Collection” (Warner Home Video) contains six made-for-TV holiday and family celebration-themed movies in a three-disc set. “The Waltons,” which made its television premiere on Sept. 14, 1972 on CBS, followed the family as they ran a lumber mill in rural Virginia during the Great Depression. Created and narrated by author Earl Hamner Jr., the show reflected Hamner’s own upbringing, with his experiences retold from the point of view of aspiring writer John Boy (originally played by Richard Thomas). “The Waltons” ran for nine years, earning a total of 13 Emmy Awards. The films in the set aired originally between 1982 and 1997 and starred most of the original cast, including Ralph Waite (John Walton Sr.) and Michael Learned (Olivia Walton). big acting moments, they never materialize. Kunis, who got her start in the TV sitcom “That ‘70s Show,” is adequate as Solara, but her role seems more an excuse to add a hint of romantic tension than as essential ingredient to the plot. Hers is a standard-issue female in need of protection role in a testosterone-driven movie. Rated R, “The Book of Eli” is a good, if familiar, action movie. It’s not as much of a guilty pleasure as the loopy “2012,” and is far more peppy than the moribund “The Road.” The Act III revelation is supposed to elicit a “wow” moment from viewers, but never packs its intended wallop. Rod Serling would have told this story more economically in one of his “Twilight Zone” episodes. ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 ARIES - -Mar 21/Apr 20 You’ll have hand in too many projYou’ll have aahand in too many projects, Aries, leaving you frazzled and ects, Aries, leaving you frazzled and stretched too thin come the end of the stretched too thin come the end of the week. Next time, think before you bite week. Next time, think before you bite off more than you can chew. off more than you can chew. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 TAURUS - - Apr21/May 21 The weather has you feeling down, The weather has you feeling down, Taurus, so it’s important to surround Taurus, so it’s important to surround yourself with friends so that you can yourself with friends so that you can be boistered by their positive energy. be boistered by their positive energy. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 GEMINI - -May 22/Jun 21 Stop holding on to past memory that Stop holding on to aapast memory that is doing nothing but causing you pain. is doing nothing but causing you pain. Now is the time to let go and focus Now is the time to let ititgo and focus on the future and making many more on the future and making many more happy memories. happy memories. CANCER Jun 22/Jul 22 CANCER - -Jun 22/Jul 22 You are going to speed through this You are going to speed through this week like you’re driving race car, week like you’re driving aarace car, Cancer. This could actually be for the Cancer. This could actually be for the best because suprise visit awaits on best because aasuprise visit awaits on the weekend. the weekend. LEO Jul 23/Aug 23 LEO - -Jul 23/Aug 23 Don’t get so wrapped up in the planDon’t get so wrapped up in the planning that you fail to follow through on ning that you fail to follow through on the execution, Leo. Overthinking will the execution, Leo. Overthinking will not be for the best in this situation. not be for the best in this situation. VIRGO Aug 24/Sept 22 VIRGO - - Aug24/Sept 22 Monumental changes begin with Monumental changes begin with aa little step. Don’t be afraid to take that little step. Don’t be afraid to take that first step in situation that has been first step in aasituation that has been troubling you for some time. troubling you for some time. LIBRA Sept 23/Oct 23 LIBRA - -Sept 23/Oct 23 You just have too much on your plate You just have too much on your plate right now to be thinking clearly, Libra. right now to be thinking clearly, Libra. Therefore, leave big decisions, such Therefore, leave big decisions, such as financial matters or travel plans, for as financial matters or travel plans, for another time. another time. SCORPIO Oct 24/Nov 22 SCORPIO - -Oct 24/Nov 22 Things that once seemed terribly overThings that once seemed terribly overwhelming are now piece of cake, whelming are now aa piece of cake, Scorpio. This newfound attitude will Scorpio. This newfound attitude will only last so long -- make the most of only last so long -- make the most of now. ititnow. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS - -Nov 23/Dec 21 In troubling situation, those around In aatroubling situation, those around you look to you as the center of the you look to you as the center of the chaos, Sagittarius. To revise their chaos, Sagittarius. To revise their ways of thinking, remove yourself ways of thinking, remove yourself from the spotlight. from the spotlight. CAPRICORN Dec 22/Jan 20 CAPRICORN - -Dec 22/Jan 20 You have to pick your battles, CapriYou have to pick your battles, Capricorn, and situation that crops up this corn, and aasituation that crops up this week is not worth the energy. Focus week is not worth the energy. Focus on happier matters, such as redecoraton happier matters, such as redecorating or renovation plans. ing or renovation plans. AQUARIUS Jan 21/Feb 18 AQUARIUS - -Jan 21/Feb 18 The organizational bug bites you this The organizational bug bites you this week and you’re dead set on putting week and you’re dead set on putting all areas of your life in order. Start all areas of your life in order. Start with something small, such as cleanwith something small, such as cleaning your office, then move on. ing your office, then move on. PISCES Feb 19/Mar 20 PISCES - -Feb 19/Mar 20 If you are feeling creative, Pisces, If you are feeling creative, Pisces, dabble in the culinary arts. Loved dabble in the culinary arts. Loved ones will appreciate home-cooked ones will appreciate aa home-cooked meal that you whip up. meal that you whip up. ‘The Book of Eli’ (continued from Entertainment page) elderly couple who have adapted to the lawlessness of the environment, but still welcome strangers to sip tea presented in cracked cups and saucers. What surprised me most about “The Book of Eli” is the presence of Denzel Washington. There is little in the script that demands an Academy Award-winning actor. The role of Eli calls for a resolute, focused expression, which Washington manages easily. Though the audience waits for his Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle