Friday movie roundup – Sept. 11

I can’t imagine anyone’s thrilled at having their movie released on Sept. 11. Maybe that’s why the studios weren’t very conscientious about screening them for critics — they were hoping we wouldn’t notice the movies were actually opening.

“Whiteout,” which screened for critics in some cities but not in others, is based on a graphic novel and was shot 2 1/2 years ago. It’s about a murder at a research facility in Antarctica. Kate Beckinsale stars and takes a shower. It (the movie, not the shower) is rather dull and suspense-less.

Tyler Perry’s latest, “I Can Do Bad All by Myself” (also his business motto), did not screen at all, as has become Perry’s custom. Some theories hold that I will be reviewing this film this weekend.

Then there’s “Sorority Row,” a college-based slasher film, that had Thursday-night screenings in some markets. I didn’t attend the one here, as I had an offer to see another movie that turned out to be almost certainly better than “Sorority Row.”

The animated film “9” came out Wednesday, but I don’t have a review of it. I can tell you that it is very dark and bleak and not for young kids.

Catching up on some others, here are reviews of “All About Steve,” “The Final Destination” and “Extract.”

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