Film Clips: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, The First Grader and more

• Courtesy Screen Media Films
• Peter Riegert and Nick Thurston in White Irish Drinkers

OPENING FRIDAY
THE FIRST GRADER (PG-13) Naomie Harris and Oliver Litondo star in this feature film about an octogenarian in Kenya who seeks to take advantage of his country’s guarantee of an education by joining a classroom of six year-olds in an effort to learn to read.

FORKS OVER KNIVES (PG) This documentary examines how to change American eating habits to enjoy the health benefits plant-based diets as opposed to meat lovers’ meals.

THE LION OF JUDAH
The Easter story is told from the perspective of animals; the faint-hearted horse, the motherly cow, the lamb with the heart of a lion and many more. The movie is sweet enough for kids, witty enough for adults and funny enough for the whole family.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES 2 stars (PG-13) Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) leads a race to the Fountain of Youth between his old nemesis Barbosa (Geoffrey Rush), swashbuckling hottie Angelica (Penelope Cruz), fearsome, magical Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and some random Spanish guys. Chicago director Rob Marshall takes the helm for another loud, wearying romp on the high seas. McShane makes a reliably entertaining bad guy, but On Stranger Tides struggles to establish Penelope Cruz as Jack’s abiding love interest, but they don’t seem to particularly like or trust each other. The franchise should drop anchor now before the Tides get any lower.

WHITE IRISH DRINKERS 2 stars (R ) In 1975 Brooklyn, two brothers — Brian the would-be artist (Nick Thurston) and Danny the petty thief (Geoff Wigdor) — clash with each other and their hard-drinking father (Stephen Lang) while looking for a way out. Writer/director John Gray, creator of “The Ghost Whisperer” TV series, nicely captures the seedy period detail of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods, particularly as a run-down movie theater hopes to host a surprise rock concert from The Rolling Stones. The film’s clichés about brawling, working-class families and love among the uncouth feel ancient, however. — Holman

DULY NOTED
CARBON NATION (NR) An upbeat documentary about the achievable steps people can take to inhibit the impending climate crisis. Mon., May 23, 7 p.m. Cinefest Film Theatre, Georgia State University, 66 Courtland St., Suite 240. 404-413-1798. www2.gsu.edu/~wwwcft.

FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! (1965) (R ) Blast-Off Burlesque pays tribute to the late Tura Santana with this screening of one of John Waters’ favorite films, in which three go-go dancers go on a crime-spee in the desert. Taboo La-La, Sat., May 21, 9:30 p.m. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com.