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BECAUSE I SAID SO (PG-13) You
can call this flick Demeaning Diane,
considering Diane Keaton, one of
Hollywood’s grandest dames, had
to endure two cakes in the face, two
Internet sex searches, laryngitis-in
duced tomfoolery, and a squeamish
fake orgasm with Rev, Cam of ‘7th
Heaven.” Keaton is 60-year-old single
mom Daphne, who wants so badly
to see her youngest, Milly (Mandy
Moore), find happiness Because I
Said So's wasting of Keaton's immense
talents is more than disappointing; it's
heartbreaking (Beechwood. Carmike)
BREACH (PG-13) Based on the true
story of the greatest security breach in
U S history. Breach traces the career
of young FBI agent Eric O'Neill (Ryan
Phillippe) after he is handpicked by
agent Robert Hanssen (Oscar winner
Chris Cooper) Flightplan screenwriter
Billy Ray s follow-up to his well-re
ceived directorial debut, Shattered
Glass, sports one terrific trailer With
Laura linney Opens Friday (Carmike)
BRIDGE TO TEREBITHIA (PG) Will
the Walden Media production please
those who grew up on Katherine
Paterson's 1978 Newbury Award win
ning book about two bullied preteens
creating a magical kingdom as a means
of escaping reality? Also starring Zooey
Deschanel and Robert Patrick. Opens
Friday (Carmike)
CATCH AND RELEASE (PG-13) Why
Susannah Grant, the Oscar-winning
screenwriter of Erin Brockovich, chose
to make her directorial debut with this
distasteful romantic comedy about a
woman dealing with the death of her
lying, cheating fiance is beyond me. As
Gray Wheeler, Jennifer Gamer (‘Alias’)
wheels from manic to depressive as
she deals with dead fiance Grady's
hideous mother (Fiona Shaw) and not-
quite-a-cad best friend Fritz (Timothy
Olyphant. ‘Deadwood’). (Beechwood)
CHILDREN OF MEN (R) Prophetic
filmmaker Alfonso CuarPn conjures
the immensely sad weight of a hope
less world without children in his
nightmarish yet agile Children of Men
In 2027, humanity is infertile and has
been for 18 years before Theo Faron
(Clive Owen, radiating world-weary
humor and reluctant heroism) is tasked
with protecting a pregnant illegal teen
called Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) The
breathtaking Children adds several
intelligent counterpoints to the post-
apocalyptic filmic conversation A rare
example of smart, sharp filmmaking.
Ends Thursday (Carmike)
DADOY'S LITTLE GIRLS (PG-13)
I'm skeptical of Tyler Perry's newest
Though Perry wrote and directed
Daddy's Little Girls, he does not ap
pear as the madcap matriarch Instead.
Daddy's Little Girls concerns itself with
the romance between a wealthy young
attorney (Gabrielle Union) and a blue
collar, single father of three (Idris Elba).
With Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr
and Tracee Ellis Ross of ‘Girlfriends'
Opens Friday (Carmike)
DEJA VU (PG-13) This sci ft/ action/
romance is never as tricky as it thinks
it is, but it's not a bad way to spend
an evening, either ATF agent Doug
Carlin (Denzel Washington) joins a top
secret government task force, led by
Val Kilmer, to stop the explosion he's
currently investigating from ever hap
pening. (Georgia Square 5)
THE DEPARTED (R) Adapted from
the Hong Kong actioner Internal Affairs,
The Departed straddles the law with
the parallel lives of mob mole Colin
Sullivan (Matt Damon) and police rat
Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio).
Though Colin and Billy's intense game
of rat-and-mouse dominates the film.
Jack Nicholson rules it. Intelligent and
taut, The Departed is Martin Scorsese's
most purely entertaining film.
Nominated for five Academy Awards
(Georgia Square 5)
DREAMGIRLS (PG-13) Glitzy and
glamorous, the Golden Globe-win
ning Dreamgirls, chronicling the
Supremes-like rise of Deena (BeyoncS
Knowles). Effie (“American Idol' finalist
Jennifer Hudson), and Lorrell (Anika
Noni Rose), never shies away from
its Broadway roots Writer-director
Bill Condon's script is near perfect,
but no one would notice were it not
for the cast Jamie Foxx and Knowles
are good, but it's Eddie Murphy and
Hudson who earned their Golden
Globes. The former Beverly Hills Cop
delivers an Academy-approved, showy
performance from a diminished star,
and though newcomer Hudson's acting
may be a bit rough, her booming voice
drums out such thoughts Dreamgirls
has both the rhythm and the blues
Nominated for eight Academy
Awards (Beechwood). Ends Thursday
(Carmike)
EPIC MOVIE (PG-13) Epic Movie is
a new pile of stinking poo that stinks
of everything but the sweat of actual
hard, creative labor A game cast can't
find a single laugh in these blunt 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's blinding amidst the rest of
this myopic muck masquerading as
merriment This crap's not amusing.
it's depressing (Beechwood). Ends
Thi sday (Carmike); Shows Friday.
2/16-Sunday. 2/18 (Highway 17
Theatres)
ERAGON (PG) I can t remember
hatching a movie so disrespectful of
its source material, the bestselling
novel by Christopher Paolini Eragon
(Edward Speleers). an orphaned farm
boy. discovers he's destined for 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's still better than
most cartoons, though After 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)
A GHOST RIDER (PG-13) Ghost
Rider, Marvel Comics' second tier
vengeful spirit with a flaming skull,
had a triumphant rebirth during
my most formative comics heyday
Unfortunately, that renaissance has left
me with a soft spot for Johnny Blaze
even if the stunt cyclist whose deal
with the devil calls for him to literally
become Hell on wheels is played by
the increasingly grating Nicolas Cage
Why any producer would hire Mark
Steven Johnson, the man who ruined
Daredevil's big screen debut, to helm
another comic-to-screen transition is
anybody's guess? Also starring Eva
Mendes, Sam Elliott. Donal Logue and
Peter Fonda as Mephistopheles. Opens
Friday (Carmike); Shows Friday, 2/16-
Sunday, 2/18 (Highway 17 Theatres)
HANNIBAL RISING (R) See Movie
Pick and Flick Skinny. (Beechwood,
Carmike); Shows Friday. 2/16-Sunday.
2/18 (Highway 17 Theatres)
HAPPY FEET (PG) Mumble the pen
guin (voiced by Elijah Wood) takes an
eye-popping, breathtaking journey from
dropped egg to societal savior Happy
Feet laps out a fresh rhythm to which
you can dance when it's not delivering
pat lessons on religious intolerance
and environmental destruction Not
until the Amigos appear led by the in
fectious Ramon (Robin Williams), does
this cold film thaw somewhat Thinking
visually, the musically gifted Happy
Feet\a\\s to act narratively Shows
Friday. 2/16-Sunday, 2/18 (Tate)
THE HOLIDAY (PG 13) Cameron
Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack
Black discover that deal movie love
while clad in expensive duds and romp
ing through gorgeous homes Holiday
reminds us Hollywood still has some
romantic magic left. (Georgia Square 5)
THE LAST SIN EATER (PG-13)
Directed by Michael Landon Jr from
the bestseller by FrancmePivers The
Last Sm Eater is the latest Chnstian-
themed release from FoxFaith Movies
a distribution arm of Twentieth Century
Fox, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdochs
NewsCorp (just wanted to make sure
you knew) In 1850s Appalachia 10-
year-old Cadi Forbes (Liana Liberato)
feeling responsible for the death of her
little sister, seeks out her towns Sin
Eater (Soren Fulton), a mythical figure
who can absolve a person of their
transgressions by literally devouring
them (the intriguing concept figured in
Brian Helgeland's disappointing The
Orderstarring Heath Ledger) Before
you can say ’only Christ can forgive
sins,* Cadi has brought the truth of
Jesus to a community committed to
their pagan rite For name recognition.
Academy Award winner Louise Fletcher
appears as mysterious Miz Elda,
and Henry Thomas shows up on the
back nine as a traveling Man of God
I have nothing against the creation
and release of movies targeted at a
particular audience, but until FoxFaith
stops bilking folks of their hard-earned
eight bucks with made-for-TV quality.
Hallmark Hall of Fame flicks. I refuse to
acknowledge their high-minded profes
sion of purpose (Carmike)
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (R) Clint
Eastwood's Japanese- language accom
paniment to last October's Flags of Our
Fathers has already won numerous film
awards, including the Golden Globe
for Best Foreign Language Film, and is
nominated for four Oscars Starring Ken
Watanabe, Letters ponders the Battle of
Iwo Jima from the Japanese perspec
tive Opens Friday (Carmike)
LOOK AT ME (PG-13) 2004 The sixth
annual University of Georgia French
Film Festival continues with Comme
une image Gifted with a lovely voice.
Lolita (Marilou Berry) must defeat her
own self-image demons while seek
ing a foothold in her celebrity father's
world Director Agnes Jaoui and writ
ing partner Jean-Pierre Bacri received
the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes.
Each of the festival selections will be
introduced by Dr Richard Neupert
Sponsored by UGA Cinematic Arts and
the Department of Theatre and Film
Studies Shows Monday. 2/19 (Tate)
THE MESSENGERS (PG-13) The
Pang Brothers, Danny and 0\ide, made
their mark on Japanese horror back in
2002 with The Eye. Now they've come
to Hollywood with The Messengers,
an obvious yet foreboding ghost
story. The Solomons (including Dylan
McDermott. Penelope Ann Miller,
and Kristen Stewart) have just moved
to North Dakota to escape cinematic
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
A Simple Curve (NR) 7:00 (Th. 2/15)
BEECHWOOD (706-546-1011)
Beechwood's new schedule was unavailable at press time
Listings are only accurate through Th. 2/15 Please visit
www flagpole.com for updated information.
Because I Said So (PG-13) 4:15, 7:15, 9:35
Catch and Release (PG-13) 7:05
Dreamgirls (PG-13) 3:55, 6:50, 9:40
Epic Movie (PG-13) 5:20, 7:35, 10:00
Hannibal Rising (R) 4:10, 7:10, 9:50
The Messengers (PG-13) 4:45, 7:25, 9:40
Norbit (PG-13) 4:30, 7:00, 9:30
Notes on a Scandal (R) 4:40, 7:30, 9:50
Off the Black (R) 9:25
The Painted Veil (PG-13) 4:00, 6:55, 9:40
Pan's Labyrinth (R) 4:05, 7:00. 9:35
The Queen (PG-13) 4:20, 6:55
Smokin' Aces (R) 4:25, 9:50
CARMIKE 12 (706-354-0016)
Because I Said So (PG-13) 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:30
Breach (PG-13) 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:45 (opens F. 2/16)
Bridge to TerabHhia (PG) 1:05, 3:20, 5:35, 7:45,
9:55 (opens F. 2/16)
Children of Men (R) 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 9:55 (ends Th.
2/15)
Daddy's Little Girls (PG-13) 1:00, 3:15, 5:20, 7:25,
9:35 (opens F. 2/16)
Dreamgirls (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 (ends
Th. 2/15)
Epic Movie (PG-13) 1:00, 3:15, 5:20, 7:25, 9:35 (ends
Th. 2/15)
Ghost Rider (PG-13) 1:00, 1:30, 3:25, 4:15, 5:50,
7:00, 8:15, 9:30 (add! times F. 2/16 & Sa. 2/17:
10:40) (opens F. 2/16)
Hannibal Rising (R) 1:45, 4:30. 7:10, 9:50
The Last Sin Eater (PG-13) 1:00, 4:20, 7:30 (new
times F. 2/16: 9:35)
Letters From Iwo Jima (R) 1:05, 4:30, 7:45 (opens
F. 2/16)
The Messengers (PG-13) 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30. 9:40
Music and Lyrics (PG-13) 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 9:35
(opens F. 2/16)
Norbit (PG-13) 1:00, 1:30, 3:25, 4:15, 5:50, 7:00,
8:15, 9:30 (new times F. 2/16: 1:30, 4:15, 7.00. 9:30)
The Painted Veil (PG-13) 1:15, 4:15. 7:15. 9:55 (ends
Th. 2/15)
Smokin' Aces (R) 1:25, 4:20, 7:10, 9:50 (new times F.
2/16: 1:25, 4:20, 7:00)
Stoop the Yard (PG-13) 1:15, 4:15. 7:15, 9:45 (ends
Th. 2/15)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Georgia Souare Five's new schedule was unavailable at
press time Listings are only accurate through Th. 2/15.
Please visit www.flagpole.com for updated information
D*ji Vu (PG-13) 4:10, 7:10, 9:55
The Departed (R) 5:15, 9:20
Eragon (PG) 4:20, 7:20, 9:50
Rushed Away (PG) 5:15, 7:25, 9:40
The Holiday (PG-13) 4:00, 7:00, 9:45
HWY 17 DRIVE-IN THEATERS (706-213-7693)
Epic Movie (PG-13) 8:00 (F. 2/16-Su. 2/18)
Ghost Rider (PG-13) 8:00 (F. 2/16-Su. 2/18)
Hannibal Rising (R) 8:00 (F. 2/16-Su. 2/18)
TATE CENTER THEATER (706-542-6396)
Happy Feet (PG) 3:00, 5:15, 7:30. 9:45 (F. 2/16-Su.
2/18)
Look at Me (PG-13) 8:00 (M. 2/19)
Spirited Away (PG) 8:00 (Th. 2/15)
UGA STUDENT LEARNING CTR. (706-542-7000)
Mojados: Through the Night (NR) 7:00 (W. 2/21)
Peaceable Kingdom (NR) 7:30 (M. 2/19)
Ghost Rider meets Easy Rider. Get it?
familial drama The idyllic escape
doesn t last long as teenage daughter
Jess (Stewart) begins sensing the
creepiness that lurks inside the most
clearly haunted house ever Her appar
ently clueless parents then hire a weird
nomadic guy with a gun (John Corbett)
to help harvest their picturesque sun
flower crop Messengers nonsensical
gomgs-on lead to genuinely terrifying
scenes (I'll never carry a baby down a
dark hallway the same way again) when
the brothers smartly allow the audi
ence to imagine the horror waiting just
outside of the light But with its limp
climactic twist, the flick finishes most
unsatisfymgly Still, for about an hour
there Hollywood properly translates
the illogical, scary language of J-hor-
ror (Beechwood, Carmike)
MOJADOS: THROUGH THE NIGHT
(NR) 2004 Going five for five on the
southwest film festival circuit. Mo/ados
delivers a first-person look into illegal
border crossing Director Tommy Davis
follows a family on the dangerous
120-mile trek from their small Mexican
village, risking dehydration, hypo
thermia and discovery by the Border
Patrol, in pursuit of a better life in the
United States Moiados is a true tour
de force by Davis, who wrote, directed
produced shot, edited and narrated the
film Mojados will be accompanied by
a discussion led by John Chamblee
Sponsored by the Latin American and
Caobbean Studies Institute Shows
Wednesday. 2/21 (UGASLC)
MUSIC & LYRICS (PG 13; V
like Hugh Grant a bit too much Why
else would I be so excited about a
toothless romantic comedy starring
Grant and Drew Barrymore as song-
writing collaborators who fall in love
while writing a hit song for a Britney-
wannabe 7 Still, the sight of Grant as
the member of a Wham-lite '80s band
brings joy to my overworked critical
brain Written and directed by Two
Weeks Notices Marc Lawrence With
Brad Garrett and Kristen Johnston
Opens Friday (Carmike)
NORBIT (PG-13) I feel calling Norbit.
Eddie Murphy's latest latex-heavy joke-
light comedy, a live-action cartoon
is insulting to cartoons everywhere
some of my best friends are toons
Applying the same Nutty Professor
formula—impressive effects by Rick
Baker (six-time Academy Award winner
for Best Makeup), language and humor
just below R-rated. family-unfriendly
radar—will probably supply Murphy
with his biggest non-Shrek h\\ since
that other mean-spirited flick construct
ed completely out of fat jokes, the awful
Klumps Nice guy Norbit (Murphy) is
married to Rasputia (Murphy again), a
large woman as hideous on the outside
as she is within When Norbit's soul
mate, former orphan Kate (Thandie
Newton), returns, the mild-mannered
nebbish must find a backbone and
fight for his and Kate's happiness I
could have blindly scripted Norbits
entire dramatic arc with 90-percent
accuracy; the story by Murphy and his
brother Charlie is that prescribed, and
that's before addressing the intensely
stereotypical caricatures, like Mr.
Wong (Murphy times three), a Chinese
restaurateur who never met an T
he couldn't replace with an “r.* After
watching Murphy regain his respect
with the detoxifying Dreamgirls. it's sad
to see him slumming again so soon
(Beechwood, Carmike)
NOTES ON A SCANDAL (R) The
titular scandal involves new art teacher
Sheba Hart (Oscar nominee Cate
Blanchett), whose affair with a 15-year-
old student is meticulously detailed in
the notes kept by ancient history teach
er 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's novel is as delightfully twisted
16 FLAGPOLE.COM • FEBRUARY 14,2007
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