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By Joe Neumaier AND Elizabeth Weitzman
DAILY NEWS MOVIE CRITICS
Friday, February 5th 2010, 4:00 AM
District 13: Ultimatum
3 stars
Action sequel about a rogue cop and his partner. At the Village East (1:41). R: Violence, language, drugs. In French with subtitles.
Here’s an odd coincidence: The 2004 French thriller “District 13″ came from Pierre Morel and Luc Besson, who also made this week’s “From Paris With Love.” And “District 13’s” sequel, “Ultimatum,” happens to be out today, too (though directed by Patrick Alessandrin).
Which to see? If you want authenticity, go for the energetic “Ultimatum,” which reunites Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle, charismatic masters of parkour, the French martial arts discipline. Their vigilantes team up once again to help a grim housing project abandoned by the government.
There’s little difference between the first and second movies â both written by Besson â so the perfunctory story line will feel familiar to fans. But the action, and the head-spinning stunts of those agile lead actors, will never get old.
The Red Riding Trilogy
5 stars
Corruption, murder and immorality engulf northwest England in the ’70s and ’80s. Directors: Julian Jarrold, James Marsh, Anand Tucker. At the IFC Center. Three films â “1974″ (1:45), “1980″ (1:36) and “1983″ (1:44). Not rated: Violence, sexuality.
These three films (adapted from David Peace’s novels by different directors), each a singularly gripping work, together form a towering and emotionally complex achievement.
The first, set in 1974, involves a crime reporter (Andrew Garfield) delving into child abductions in Northern England. The second begins in 1980 and details an investigator’s (Paddy Considine) analysis of the case of the Yorkshire Ripper, who terrified the county’s West Riding district for half a decade. The last follows an attorney (Mark Addy) in 1983 as he interviews a mentally damaged man convicted of earlier crimes, while a cop (David Morrissey) eyes the shadowy connection the police force has to a land developer (Sean Bean).
No one in “The North” is unaffected as a dozen characters weave through the narrative. Though David Fincher’s “Zodiac” is an easy comparison, each “Red Riding” film has a different style â and all contain haunting, mesmerizing performances. Simply stunning.
Ajami
4 stars
Violence infects an Israeli neighborhood. At Film Forum (2:00). Not rated: Violence, drugs. In Arabic and Hebrew with subtitles.
The work of Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani would be notable under any circumstances, given that this, their first film, was just nominated for an Oscar. That Copti is Palestinian and Shani Jewish simply adds to the weight of their partnership.
