Drama/USA (2009)

Directed by Jonas Pate

Starring Kevin Spacey, Saffron Burrows, Dallas Roberts and others

As one could expect from a movie starring Kevin Spacey, “Shrink” is not a mainstream Hollywood-type of flick, but rather a film mocking the Hollywood scene shown through the life of a celebrity psychologist, Henry Carter (Spacey) and his patients – agents, screenwriters, actors and Hollywood wannabes. After his wife committed suicide for unknown reasons, Carter spends most of the time high on marijuana, booze and cigarettes. He’s also a best-selling author of pop psychology books. But now he feels that his job is useless and he can’t do anything for his patients. Because his character is mostly in a near-lethargic state lacking energy even for cynicism, Spacey delivers a much less memorable performance than usual, while his patients, including those played by well-known celebrities(Robin Williams, Saffron Burrows) are too sketchy to make a lasting impression.

Enfin Veuve (A Widow At Last)

Language: French

Comedy/France (2007)

Directed by Isabelle Mergault

Starring Michele Laroque, Jacques Gamblin, Tom Morton and others

Ann-Marie lives with a rich plastic surgeon husband in a big house filled with expensive furniture. She has a cleaning lady and a dog, but it all doesn’t make her happy any longer. In fact, she can hardly stand her husband and is already having an affair, so when he suddenly dies in a car accident – she’s finally happy. She plans to live with her lover, Leo, but before she can realize her plans, her well meaning family, including her own son, arrive to the villa to comfort the poor grieving widow. Now she feels more like a prisoner than when her husband was alive.

Zhovten

26 Konstyantynivska, 205-5951, www.zhovten-kino.kiev.ua

Shrink – Dec. 28-30 at 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:50p.m.,

Efin Veuve – Dec. 29-30 at 12:50 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 9:40 p.m.,