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AKEELAH AND THE BEE (PG) 2006
With the support ot a stuffy professor
(Laurence Fishburne), 1t-year-old
Akeelah (Keke Palmer) winds up com
peting in the Scripps National Spelling
Bee Akeelah and the Bee is just good
old-fashioned sentimentalism and feel
good cinema Part ot the 2nd Annual
African American Film Festival Shows
Saturday. 2/3 (Lay Park)
► BECAUSE I SAID SO (PG-13)
A nearly-60 single mom (the always
intriguing, still beautiful Diane Keaton)
conspires with her oldest daughters
(Head ‘Gilmore Girl* Lauren Graham
and Piper Perabo) to find love for her
baby girl (Mandy Moore). Directed
by Michael Lehmann Opens Friday
(Beechwood. Carmike)
BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES (NR)
' 006. Inspired by his brother s death,
Citedor Andrew Shapter crisscrossed
he nat on to teU me story of real
American music The music world's
b.ggest talents—Fnc Clapton. Dave
Matthews. Elvis Costello. Erykah
Ca:u Bmnford Marsalis. Bonnie Raitt
3nc more—look at their industry at a
:rc sroads Shows Tuesday. 2vt> (GA
Theatre)
8EYOND BEATS AND RHYMES
NRi 2006 Beyond Beats and Rhymes
•' Hip Hop Head Weighs in on
Masculinity in Rap Music, anti-sexism
activist and filmmaker Byron Hurt looks
to deconstruct all the hyper aggression,
m sogyny and violence marring one of
A nericats most viable—creativety and
Lnancially— lorms ol entertainment
With LL Cool J. Wyclef Jean, Busta
Rhymes. Fat Joe, Chuck D. Jadakiss.
Tahb Kweti. Mos Del and Russell
Simmons Shows Thursday. 2/1 (ACC
Library)
BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE (PG-13)
Predictable, sub- Underworld pseudo
horror, Blood and Chocolate, based
on emo-goth pop lit by Annette Curtis
Klause. shoutdnT offend its target
audience Prophesied to lead her
pack into an age of hope. 19-year-old
lycanthrope Vivian (Agnes Bruckner.
The Woodd) is betrothed to Gabriel
(Olivier Marline*. Unfaithful), the father
of her insouciantly cotffed cousin
Rafe (Brian Dick) Then she meets a
young graphic novelist. Aiden (Hugh
Dancy. Elizabeth /), with whom she
truly falls in love But he's human, the
natural enemy ol her people and the
killer of her family Sexy m a teasing!)
overt PG-13 kind ol way Blood and
Chocolate is the true lycan Romeo and
.Met that Underworld produced by the
same folks, purported to be. a literary
heritage that gives B+C an edge eve-
its older, cooler, leather-dad sibling
Director Katia von Garn«er {Iron Jawed
Angels) could have devised a more
maiestic transformation process than
boring magical dives, aod once her
real wolves appeav me flick looks a to!
like a nature doc (Carmike)
B0 RAT (R) Armed to the teeth with
uncomfortable malapropisms and
anti-Semitism. Borat Sagdiyev (Golden
Globe winner Sacha Baron Cohen)
travels across the United States,
unmasking inner bigotry wherever he
goes Cohen isn't laughing with tte
us. he’s laughing at the us. a distinc
tion too tine tor an America as stupid
as the one he exposes to make Ends
Thursday (Georgia Square 5)
CATCH AND RELEASE (PG-13) Why
Susannah Grant, the Oscar-winning
screenwriter ol Erin Brockovichas
well as the surprising In Her Shoes
and Charlotte* Web. chose to make
her directorial debut with this distaste
ful romantic comedy about a woman
dealing with the death ot her lying,
cheating fianeft is beyond me You can
almost hear the pauses she left in the
film so the audience can recover trom
the fits of laughter that never come As
Gray Wheeler. Jennifer Garner (‘Alias*)
wheels from manic to depressive as
she deals with dead fiance Grady's hid
eous mother (Fiona Shaw), annoying
child by a chi-obsessed massage ther
apist (Juliette Lewis), and nof-quite-a-
cad best friend Fritz (Timothy Olyphant.
‘Deadwood*) Though Kevin Smith, as
Grady's suicidal friend Sam, has some
smart comic timing, there's a reason he
cast himself as Silent Bob That Grant
would think it proper lor Gray to lind
love so soon after her fiance's death
and with his friend left me with a most
bitter taste m my mouth (Beechwood.
Carmike)
CHARLOTTE’S WEB (G) E B. White*
classic gets a makeover. Fern (Dakota
Fanning) still saves Wilbur (v Dominic
Scott Kay. The Wild) Charlotte (v
Julia Roberts) and her erudite webs
still enable Wilbur to see December's
snow The idyllic film balances humor,
heart and cinematic beauty Charlottes
Web. some terrific, radiant, humble
tamity film, wins the blue ribbon Ends
Thursday (Carmike)
CHILDREN OF MEN (R) Prophetic
filmmaker Allonso Cuardn conjures the
immensely sad weight of a hopeless
world without children in his nightmar
ish yet agile Children of Men in 2027.
humanity is infertile and has been lor
18 years before bureaucrat and former
activist Theo Faron (Clive Owen, radi
ating world-weary humor and reluctant
heroism) is tasked with protecting the
world* one seed of hope, a pregnant
illegal teen called Kee (Clare-Hope
Ashitey) The breathtaking Children
adds several intelligent counterpoints
to the po$t-apoca!ypbc filmic conver
sation A rare example ot smart, sharp
filmmaking (Carmike)
DARIUS GOES WEST: THE ROLL
OF HIS LIFE (NR) Fifteen-year-old
Clarke Central student Darius Weems,
confined to a wheelchair by Ouchenne
Muscular Dystrophy, had never left
Athens until some local college stu
dents. including Darius Gees West di
rector Looan Smalley, took the boy on
a cross-country trip to lest the nation*
accessibility Don! miss this encore
showing All proceeds go to Charley*
Fund to fight DMD Shows Tuesday.
2/6 (Tate)
OklA VU (PG-13) This sci fi/ action/
romance is never as tricky as it thinks
it is. but it* not a bad way to spend
an evening, either ATF agent Doug
Carlin (Denzel Washington) joins a top
secret government tas* torce. led by
Val Kilmer, to stop the explosion he*
currently investigating from ever hap
pening. (Georgia Square 5)
THE DEPARTED (R) Adapted from
the Hong Kong actioner Infernal Affairs.
The Departed straddles the law with
the parallel lives ol mob mote Colin
Sullivan (Matt Damon) and police rat
Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCapno).
Though Colin and Billy's intense game
ot rat-and-mouse dominates the film.
Jack Nicholson rules it. Intelligent
and taut. The Departed \s Martin
Scorsese* most purely entertaining
film Nominated lor five Academy
Awards (Beechwood). Ends Thursday
(Carmike). Shows Friday. 2/2-Sunday.
2/4 (Tate)
OREAMGIRLS (PG-13) Glitzy and
glamorous, the Golden Globe-winning
Dreamgiris. chronicling the Supremes-
like rise of Deena (Beyonce Knowles).
Effie (Jennifer Hudson), and Lorreli
(Anika Noni Rose), never shies iway
from its Broadway roots Jamie Foxx
and Knowles are good, but it* Eddie
Murphy and Hudson who earned
their Golden Globes Dreamgiris
has both the rhythm and the blues
Nominated for eight Academy Awards
(Beecfrwood Carmike)
EPIC MOVIE
trom the criminals who perpetrated
the Scary Movies and Date Movie, is
a new pile of stinking poo !ha» stinks
ot everything but the sweat of actual
nard, creative labor A game cast can t
tmd a single laug* in these D*unt stabs
at The Chronicles of Narnia Snakes
on a Plane and Harry Potter Wasted
is impersonation impresario Darrell
Hammonds' Johnny Depp as Jack
Sparrow Hammonds mimicry is so
brilliant it* blinding amidst the rest ot
this myopic muck masquerading as
merriment This craps not amusing, it's
depressing (Beechwood. Carmike)
ERAG0N (PG) I can! remember
watching a movie so disrespectful ol
its source material, the bestselling
novel by Christopher Paolmi Eragon
(Edward Speleers), an orphaned farm
boy. discovers he* destined tor great
ness as the last Dragon Rider What
was innocent awe on paper is hokey on
celluloid (Georgia Square 5)
FLUSHED AWAY (PG) Expecting
Aardman Animations' first fully-CGI
feature to be as good as Wallace and
Gromit is unfair, it* still better than
most cartoons, though Alter being
flushed from his plush home, ’society
mouse* Roddy (v Hugh Jackman)
enters an under-London world, which
he and pal Rita (v Kate Winslet) battle
the villainous Toad (v Ian McKellan)
(Georgia Square 5)
FREEDOM WRITERS (PG-13)
Freedom Writers, based on the true
story of Erin Gruweil and her students,
bucks the trend ol D OA January re
leases As a first-year teacher. Gruweil
(Hilary Swank) enters a hellish envi
ronment populated with gang bangers,
recent parolees and any other teen
deemed ‘unteachable* by a system not
willing to adapt Swank is a perfect hire
tor the small but steely Gruwetl. whose
growth as a teacher is as significant
to the film as the transformation ol her
students Ends Thursday (Carmike)
THE HITCHER (R) The new Hitcher
does the remake thing right tt Hitcher
reminded me just how slick and effec
tive writer Eric Red* cautionary tale is
(its moral is simple, leave those thum-
bers on the side ot the road). On this
trip. Ryder chooses to play his game
with two lovebirds (‘One Tree Hill**
Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton).
(Highway 17 Theatres); Ends Thursday
(Beechwood. Carmike)
THE HOLIDAY (PG-13) Cameron
Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and
Jack Black discover that ideal movie
love white clad m expensrve duds and
romping through gorgeous homes
Holiday reminds us Hollywood still has
some romantic magic left Starts Friday
(Georgia Square 5)
HUKKLE (NR) 2002 Hungarian writer-
director Gyorgy Paifl won 14 worldwide
awards for his uncategonzable film
Without almost no dialogue the resi
dents ot a small rural Hungarian town
conceal a secret Shows Wednesday.
1/31 (GMOA)
L'ENFANT (R) 2005 Jean-Pierre
and Luc Dardenne* Palme d Or win
ner about a young couple. Bruno and
Sonia (Jfr6mie Renter and Deborah
Frangois) who find a new. Swiftian
means to support themselves selling
their newborn baby Introduced by film
professor Dr Richard Neupert Shows
Monday. 2/5 (Tate)
LETTERS FROM tWO JIMA(R)
Clint Eastwoods Japanese-language
accompaniment to last October’s Flags
of Our Fathers has already won numer
ous film awards, including the Golden
Globe for Best Foreign Language Film,
and is nominated for four Oscars
Starring Ken Watanabe. Letters pon
ders the Battle of iwo Jima from the
Japanese perspective Opens Friday
(Carmike)
MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION
(PG-13) 2006 Even with actor-writer -
producer Tyler Perry taking over direct
ing duties. Madeas Family Reunion
is little changed from Diary of a Mad
Black Woman Part of the 2nd Annua
African American Film Festival Shows
Saturday 23 (Lay Park*
THE MESSENGERS
its ‘kids are the only ones who can see
rhe ghosts* premise The Messengers
sounds like every horror movie in every
respect but one its directed by Tne
Pang Brothers (The Eye) With Kristen
Stewart Opens Friday < Beech wood.
Carmike)
ANIGHT AT THE MUSEUM PGi
After taking a job as a n.ght guard at
the Museum ot Natural History. Larry
(Ben Stiller) discovers the displays
come to life when the sun goes down
Night at the Museum is a barely amus
ing romp due in large part to everyone
but its star (Carmike. Highway 17
Theatres). Ends Thursday (Beechwood)
NOTES ON A SCANDAL (R) The
titular scandal involves new art
teacher Sheba Hart (Oscar nominee
Cate Bianchett). whose affair with a
15-year-otd student is meticulously
detailed in the notes kept by ancient
history teacher Barbara Covett (Oscar
nominee Judi Dench) Notes really has
three stars, and Dame Judi is the only
traditional one of the bunch Patrick
Marber s Oscar-nominated adaptation
of Zoe Heller* novel is as delightfully
twisted a piece of work as Closer He
amuses with puckish adjectives and
cynical nettles that narrator Barbara
twists deeper and deeper until they
can! be removed without furthering
the damage Barbara, whose obses
sion is at once Sapphic, platonic and
dangerous, is like a desiccated Tom
Ripley, and the film has the haughty,
suspensetul air ot Patricia HiQhsmith
Like Highsmith. Marber is a master ol
crafting horridly unsympathetic char
acters But unlike Highsmith and her
dedicated anti-hero. Notes provides us
with no one to pull for The third sta* ot
Richard Eyre* film is the Oscar-nomi
nated score, another instant classic by
Philip Glass (The Hoard) Notes on a
Scandal is one mesmerizing, creepy
thriller. (Beechwood)
OFF THE BLACK (R) The Athens pre
miere of local-boy-made-goco James
PondsokJt* new feature film, starring
Nick Nolle. Trevor Morgan and Timothy
Hutton Read ail about it on p 16
Opens Friday (Beechwood)
OFF THE CHAJN (NR) 2005 How
did the American Pit Bull Terrier
go from family pet to tamity threat 7
Writer-director Bobby J. Brown blames
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deodline. Please colt ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
Beyond Beats and Rhymes (NR) 7:00 (Th. 2/1)
BEECHWOOD (706-546-1011)
Because I Said So (PG-13) 4:15. 7:15. 9:35 (addT
times F. 2/2-Su. 2/4: 1:15 (opens F. 2/2)
Catch and Retease (PG-13) 4:25. 7:05. 9:50 (add!
times F. 2/2-Su. 2/4: 1:45)
The Departed (R) 6:45 (new times F. 2/2: 9:25)
Dreamgiris (PG-13) 3:55. 6:50. 9:40 (addT times F.
2/2-Su. 2/4: 1:00)
Epic Movie (PG-13) 5:20, 7:35. 10:00 (addT times F.
2/2-Su. 2/4: 1:10. 3:15)
The Hitcher (R) 4:20. 9:55 (ends Th. 2/1)
The Messengers (PG-13) 4:45, 7:25. 9:45 (addT times
F. 2/2-Su. 2/4: 2:15) (opens F. 2/2)
A Night at the Museum (PG) 3:55. 7:00. 9:30 (ends
Th. 2/1)
Notes on a Scandal (R) 4:40, 7:30, 9:50 (add! times
F. 2/2-Su. 2/4: 2:10)
Off the Black (R) 4:10. 7:30, 9:55 (add! times F.
2/2-Su. 2/4: 1:35) (opens F. 2/2)
Pan's Labyrinth (R) 4:05. 7:05. 9:35 (add! times F.
2/2-Su. 2/4: 1:30)
The Queen (PG-13) 4:45. 7:25. 9:55 (new times F.
2/2: 4:20. 6:55) (ad<rt times F. 2/2-Su. 2/4: 1:40)
Smokin' Aces (R) 4:35, 7:10. 9:40 (addT times F.
2/2-Su. 2/4: 2:00)
Stomp the Yard (PG-13) 4:30. 7:05. 9:45 (addT times
F. 2/2-Su. 2/4:1:50)
Votver (R) 4:15. 6:55, 9:45 (ends Th. 2/1)
CARMIKE 12 (706-364-0016)
Because 1 Said So (PG-13) 1:30, 4:15. 7:00. 9:30
j (opens F. 2/2)
Blood and Chocolate (R) 1:20, 4:15, 7:15. 9:55
Catch and Release (PG-13) 1:45. 4:30. 7:00. 9:40
Chartotte's Web (PG) 1:05 (ends Th. 2/1)
Children of Men (R) 1:10, 4:10. 7:10. 9:55
The Departed (R) 4:00. 7:30 (ends Th. 2/1)
Dreamgirts (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00. 7:00. 10:00
Epic Movie (PG-13) 1:00. 3:15. 5:20, 7:25. 9:35
Freedom Writers (PG-13) 1:05. 4:05. 7:05, 9:40
The Hitcher (R) 1:10, 3:15, 5:20. 7:25. 9:35 (ends
I Th. 2/1)
Letters From Iwo Jima (R) 1:25, 4:35, 7:45 (opens
F* 2/2)
The Messengers (PG-13) 1:00. 3:10. 5:20. 7:30. 9:40
(opens F. 2/2)
A Night at the Museum (PG) 1:20. 4:20. 7:20, 10:00
Pursuit of Happyness (PG-13) 1:10. 4:10. 7:05, 9:40
Smokin' Aces (R) 1:25. 4:20. 7:10. 9:50
Stomp the Yard (PG-13) 1:15. 4:15. 7:15. 9:45
GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (706-642-4662)
Hukkle (NR) 7:00 (W. 1/31)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 ( 706-648-3426)
Borat (R) 7:15. 9:35 (ends Th. 2/1)
D*Ji Vu (PG-13) 4:10. 7:10. 9:55 (addT times Sa. 2/3
& So. 2/4: 1:10)
Eragon (PG) 4:20. 7:20. 9:50 (addT times Sa. 2/3 &
Su. 2/4: 1:20)
Rushed Away (PG) 5:15. 7:25. 9:40 (addT times Sa.
2/3 & Su. 2/4: 1:05. 3:10)
The Holiday (PG-13) 4:00. 7:00, 9:45 (addT times Sa.
2/3 & Su. 2/4: 1:00) (starts F. 2/2)
Open Season (PG) 5:10 (ends Th. 2/1)
Stranger Than Fiction (PG-13) 4:05, 7:05, 9:45 (new
times F. 2/2: 7:05. 9:45)
Unaccompanied Minors (PG) 4:15 (addT times Sa.
2/3 & Su. 2/4: 1:15) (starts F. 2/2)
GEORGIA THEATRE (706-649-9918)
Before the Music Dies (NR) 8:00 (Tu. 2/6)
HWY 17 DRIVE-IN THEATERS (706 213 7693)
The Hitcher (R) 8:00
A Night at the Museum (PG) 8:00
Rocky Balboa (PG) 8:00
LAY PARK (706-613-3696)
Akeelah and the Bee (PG) 2:00 (Sa. 2/3)
Madea's Family Reunion (PG-13) 4:00 (Sa. 2/3)
TATE CENTER THEATER (706-642-63%)
Darius Goes West (NR) 7:0b (Tu. 2/6)
The Departed (R) 3:00. 6:00. 9:00 (F. 2/2-Su. 2/4)
L’Enfant (R) 8:00 (M. 2/5)
The Sandtot (PG) Midnight (F. 2/2)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (PG-13) 8:00 (Th. 2/1)
UGA STUDENT LEARNING CTR, (706 642 7000)
Off the Chain (NR) 7:30 (M. 2/5)
Botox works!
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