Capsule reviews: 'Up in the Air' and others

Capsule reviews of films opening this week:"Brothers" — Jim Sheridan's remake of the acclaimed 2004 Danish film "Brodre," has aspirations for "Deer Hunter" territory — a minor-key examination of the cost blue-collar families pay for war. Where "Deer Hunter" was epic in its reach, "Brothers" never really leaves the front yard. While Captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) is held prisoner by the Taliban in Afghanistan, his wife (Natalie Portman), thinking he's dead, befriends Sam's brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal). When Sam returns, damaged from a traumatic experience, his rage boils over. It's a simple story and "Brodre" had a lyrical quality, a poetry lacking in Sheridan's sleeker, more sentimental film. "Brothers" can't preserve the intimacy of the original, and the loosened characters slide into cliche despite noble intentions. R for language and some disturbing violent content. 110 minutes. Two stars out of four._ Jake Coyle, AP Entertainment Writer___"Everybody's Fine" — For those weary of the cuddly Robert De Niro, the gentle uplift of his latest film probably isn't going to be tonic for the soul. Playing a retiree looking to reconnect with his adult children, De Niro does offer a master class of minimalist acting. If writer-director Kirk Jones ("Waking Ned Devine") had allowed his lead actor a bit more room to roam into the dark corners of his character, the movie's fast path toward late-life insight would have felt more earned. Still, De Niro's work possesses such a quiet power that Jones' well-crafted film disappoints only in the sense that it could have delivered more. With Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell as the grown children. PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language. 100 minutes. Three stars out of four._ Glenn Whipp, For The Associated Press___"The Last Station" — In Michael Hoffman's historically based film about Tolstoy's last days, the great Russian writer's legacy is seemingly up for grabs. On one side are the Tolstoyans (Paul Giamatti plays t

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