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Some releases may not be showing locally this week.
BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA (PG)
I have lo give credit to Beverly Hills
Chihuahua, it's not as appallingly awful
as its premise or its trailer portend.
Disney has foisted worse talking
animal movies on the world. Children
and adult animal lovers who think pets
dressed in tiny people clothes are cute
will love the misadventures ol Chloe (v.
Drew Barrymore), a pampered Beverly
Hills Chihuahua lost in Mexico.
THE CHANGELING (R) On a Saturday
in 1928, switchboard supervisor
Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie)
goes to work, leaving her nine-year-
old son, Walter, home alone. When
she returns that evening, Walter has
disappeared, but Christine’s nightmare
has just begun. Five months later, the
L.A.P.D., represented by the forced
cheerful grin of Captain J.J. Jones
(Jeffrey Donovan), return Walter to
his distraught mother amid popping
flashbulbs and scribbling reporters.
But Christine doesn't recognize this
new, shorter, circumcised boy. Captain
Jones keeps insisting the child is
Christine's son, but a mother knows.
Christine’s story soon comes to the
attention of Reverend Gustav Briegleb
(John Malkovich), a local activist
crusading against police corruption. He
convinces Christine to take her story
to the media, an act that leads Captain
Jones to commit the poor woman to
the psychiatric ward. If director Clint
Eastwood didn't insist upfront that
the story was true, you’d think writer
J. Michael Straczynski had made this
crazy-creepy tale up. Unsurprisingly,
The Changeling is another superb
notch in the ever-expanding, ever-
elegant belt that holds up Eastwood's
directing slacks.
CHOKE (R) Victor Mancini (Sam
Rockwell) proclaims himself to be a
pretty bad guy. He's a sex addict who
cruises sex addiction recovery meet
ings to pick up chicks. By day, he
reenacts history as the backbone of
Colonial America, an Irish indentured
servant. By night, he chokes on food
so he can financially leach off the kind
ness of his saviors. First-time director
Clark Gregg’s film perfectly mimics
the absurd, anarchic tone of Chuck
Palahniuk’s novel. Like the novel, the
film unfolds in an episodic, uncon
nected way that doesn't quite build to
anything. The “aha!" moment never
arrives. But Victor's various misadven
tures are as funny on the big screen
as on the page. Gregg's film version
of Choke fails to accomplish any goal
larger than humorously and bawdily
tweaking society, at which it succeeds.
A CHRISTMAS STORY (PG) 1983.
Relive Ralphie Parker's all-American
Christmas yet again.
THE EXPRESS (PG) The Express
comports itself with the unexciting,
politically correct decorum expected
from an inspirational sports film about
racial barrier breaking a la Remember
the Titans and Glory Road. Syracuse
running back Ernie Davis (a very good
Rob Brown) was the first African-
American to win the Heisman Trophy.
Joining the Orangemen the year after
Jim Brown, who many think should
have won the Heisman, Davis broke
many of his predecessor’s rushing
records as well as college football's
glass ceiling. The Express is a laud
able, formulaic inspirer that pats
modern audiences on the back for how
much more enlightened they are than
those racist old fogies from the past.
FIREPROOF (PG) Despite its non
professional acting, clunky dialogue
and uninspired direction, Fireproof
will please its congregation. Watching
Fireproof is like watching a feature-
length infomercial about God.
FLASH OF GENIUS (PG-13) Robert
Kearns (Greg Kinnear) takes on the
Detroit automakers who he claims stole
his idea for the intermittent windshield
wiper.
THE HAUNTING OF MOLLY
HARTLEY (PG-13) This pitiful excuse
for a scary movie might have been
more entertaining had it been The
Haunting of Nina Hartley, then again,
that would have been another type
of movie altogether. The Haunting of
Molly Hartleys exactly what some no
talent moneybags thinks a teen horror
flick is. Pretty faces, nonsensical plot,
telegraphed jump scares, and a “twist"
ending.
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3:
SENIOR YEAR (G) As the title
reveals, HSM3 chronicles senior year
for the familiar faces of East High.
Basketball star and drama king Troy
Bolton (Zac Efron of Hairspray) and
his singing sweetie, Gabriella Montez
(Vanessa Hudgens), sense the impend
ing, long-distance doom of their high
school romance. Every routine shows
creative vitality light years ahead of
the familiar story. The songs aren't
bad either; they simply suffer from that
factory-crafted sound that makes so
much radio-driven pop disposable and
forgettable. Alas, that same fate may
await High School Musical 3. despite
how easily my inner teen caved to its
cheesy charm.
HOUSE (R) This flick is not a remake
of the 1986 horrorcom. It’s another
bestselling novel from Christian
authors Ted Dekker (Thr3e) and Frank
Peretti (The Visitation) brought to
the big screen under the direction of
Robby Henson. While traveling through
Alabama, two couples are stranded at
the Wayside Inn where a killer known
Ss the Tin Man (he claims he killed
God) forces them to choose to kill one
of their own if they want to survive.
With Michael Madsen and Rob Zombie
alums Leslie Easterbrook, Bill Moseley,
and Lew Temple.
THE HOUSE BUNNY (PG-13)
Beautiful, bubbly Anna Faris has made
a nice career out of hilarious vapidity.
In The House Bunny, The Scary Movie
star shows off her assets—humorous
and otherwise—as former Playboy
bunny Shelley, who, after getting
booted from the Mansion, finds a
home amongst the ZETAs, the misfits
of sorority row. The House Bunny may
set feminism back a few thousand
years (moral: it's better to be hot than
yourself, but the real you better be a
super hottie), but considering itls pro
duced by the House of Sandler, Happy
Madison Productions, what can one
expect? So long as Faris is in charge of
the ZETA House, I'd consider rushing
them on DVD and pay cable.
IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT
KISS (NR) 29-year-old Wilson (Scoot
McNairy) just wants to spend the rest
of a horrible year in bed, but after
his buddy convinces him to place a
personal ad on Craig'sList, Wilson
is whisked away to spend a chaotic .
New Year's Eve with Vivian (Sara
SimmondsT. The trailer for writer-
director AlexJHoldridge's film, winner of
the Grand Jury Prize at the Florida Film
Festival, evokes memories of American
independent cinema before it became
another well Hollywood drilled for big
box office and Academy Awards.
INVISIBLE CHILDREN FILM
FESTIVAL (NR) Three young filmmak
ers document the lives of child soldiers
in Uganda.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF
THE EARTH (3D) (PG) Brendan
Fraser goofs around as tectonic physi
cist Trevor Anderson, who takes his
13-year-old nephew, Sean (the always
welcome Josh Hutcherson, Zathuraand
Bridge to Terabithia), on a search for
the mythical lost world underneath the
earth’s crust. 3D may not make Journey
a better movie, but it does make the
jovial action more entertaining.
MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA
(PG) Former NYC Zoo residents Alex
(v. Ben Stiller), Marty (v. Chris Rock),
Gloria (v. Jada Pinkett Smith), and
Melman (v. David Schwimmer) are
jazzed to finally leave Madagascar, but
their plane, piloted by those psycho
penguins, crash lands in Africa. On
the beautiful savannas of an animal
reserve, these not-so-wild animals get
in touch with their roots Alex meets
his parents (v. Bernie Mac and Sherri
Shepard); Marty learns zebras share a
strange collective mind; Gloria finds a
hippo, Moto Moto (v. WilUAm), look
ing for some big loving; and Melman
becomes a witch doctor. Sacha Baron
Cohen's King Julien again gets the
best lines, and the penguins garner
the most laughs. T he animal antics are
cute, and the PG jokes are harmless.
Still, the Madagascar franchise was
built on an underwhelming but popular
foundation, and the second story is no
different.
MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER
EMPORIUM (G) Despite the living
toys and a staff that includes Dustin
Hoffman, Natalie Portmarfand Jason
Bateman, Mr. Magorium's Wonder
Emporium is about as magical as
Toys“R"Us. Edward Magorium (a trea
cly sweet Hoffman), the proprietor of
the Wonder Emporium, has decided it's
time to retire. However, he hopes the
store will profit on under the watchful
eye of store manager Molly Mahoney
(Portman).
PAPRIKA (R) 2006. Satoshi Kon, the
writer-director of Tokyo Godfathers,
wowed audiences with this reality
blurring anime about a world where
doctors use machines to enter the
dreams of their patients. When the
prototypes of this device are stolen, Dr.
Chiba and her dream avatar, Paprika,
frantically lead the search to recover
it. Nominated for the Venice Film
Festival's Golden Lion, Paprika won
prizes from the Chlotrudis Awards,
Fantasporto, Montreal Festival of New
Cinema, and the Newport Beach Film
Festival. Part of the ACC Library's
iFilms series.
PLATOON (R) 1986. A winner of
four Academy Awards, including Best
Picture and Best Director, Platoon
remains director Oliver Stone's best
film. A young recruit, Private Chris
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
Paprika (R) 7:00 (Th. 11/13)
BiECHWOOD (706-546-1011)
Due to production deadlines. Beechwood movie times are
only accurate through November 13. Visit www.Flagpole.com
for updated times.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (PG) 4:30, 7:05
Changeling (R) 4:00, 6:55, 9:55
The Haunting of Molly Hartley (PG-13) 5:15, 7:25,
9:35
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G) 4:10, 7:10,
9:45
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG) 4:30, 5:15, 7:00,
7:45, 9:15, 10:00
Pride and Glory (R) 9:25
Role Models (R) 5:10, 7:30, 9:50
Saw V (R) 4:40, 7:30, 9:50
The Secret Life of Bees (PG-13) 4:20, 6:50, 9:20
Soul Men (R) 4:55, 7:15, 9:40
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (R) 4:45, 7:35, 10:05
CARMINE 12 (706-354-0016)
A Christmas Story (PG) 7:00 (Tu. 11/18)
Changeling (R) 1:30, 4:30, 7:45 (new times F. 11/14:
1:00, 7:00) (no 1:00 show Sa. 11/15) (no 7:00 show
Tu. 11/18)
Fireproof (PG) 4:00, 9:45 (new times F. li/14: 4:00,
10:00)
Flash of Genius (PG-13) 1:20, 4:20, 7:00, 9:45 (ends
Th. 11/13)
The H iuntinq of Molly Hartley (PG-13) 1:10, 3:20,
5:30, 7:40, 9:50 (ends Th. 11/13)
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G) 1:15, 4:00,
7:15, 10:00
House (R) 1:30, 4:30, 7:15, 9:50 (ends Th. 11/13)
Madagascan Escape 2 Africa (PG) 1:00,1:30, 3:10,
3:407 5:20, 5:55, 7:30, 8:00, 9:40, 10:10
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G) 1:00 (Sa.
11/15)
Quantum of Solace (PG-13) 12:00, 12:30, 1:45, 2:30,
3:00, 4:20, 5:00, 5:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 9:40, 10:00
(addT times F. 11/14-Sa. 11/15:10:30, 12:10) (starts
F. 11/14)
RocknRolla (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 (starts F.
11/14)
Role Models (R) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00
Saw V (R) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00
Scrooged (PG-13) 7:00 (Tu. 11/11)
The Secret Life of Bees (P.G-13) 1:30, 7:00 (no 7:00
show Tu. 11/11) (ends Th. 11/13)
Soul Men (R) 1:15, 4:30. 7:15, 10:00
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (R) 1:30, 4:30, 7:15,
9:45
CINE (706-353-3343)
Choke (R) 9:55 (new times F. 11/14: 11:15) (no
shows Su. 11/16)
In Search of a Midnight Kiss (NR) 5:15, 7:15 (starts
F. 11/14)
Invisible Children Film Festival (NR) 4:00 (F. 11/14-
Su. 1-1/16) (addT time F. 11/14: 7:00)
Rachel Getting Married (R) 5:00, 7:30, 9:45 (add'l
time Sa. 11/15-Su. 11/16: 2:30) (no 9:45 show Su.
11/16)
Religulous (R) 5:30, 7:45 (new times F. 11/14: 9:15)
(add'l time Sa. 11/15-Su. 11/16: 3:00) (no 9:15 show
Su. 11/16)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Due to production deadlines, Georgia Square Five movie
times are only accurate through November 13. Visit www.
Flagpole.com for updated times.
The Express (PG) 4:05,-7:05, 9:55
The House Bunny (PG-13) 4:00, 7:00, 9:40
Journey to the Center of the Earth (3D) (PG) 7:20
Traitor (PG-13) 4:10, 7:10, 9:45
WALL«E (G) 4:20, 9:35
The Women (PG-13) 4:15, 7:15, 9:50
HWY 17 DRIVE-IN THEATERS (706-213-7693)
The Haunting of Molly Hartley (PG-13) 7:00 (F.
11/14-Su. 11/16)
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (R) 7:00 (F. 11/14-Su.
11/16)
TATE CENTER TNEATER (706-542-6396)
Platoon (R) 8:00 (Th. 11/13)
Tropic Thunder (R) 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 (F. 11/14-
Su. 11/16)
I thought Epps Bridge Crossing would last longer.
Taylor (Charlie Sheen), not only must
face the horrors of war; he also must
confront the moral dilemma of choos
ing between his two superiors, the
angry Sergeant Bob Barnes (Academy
Award nominee Tom Berenger) and
the agreeable Sergeant Elias Grodin
(Academy Award nominee Willem
Dafoe).
PRIDE AND GLORY (R) in between
its slow burning beginning and its
silly, simplistic climax, Pride and Glory
harkens back to the heyday of the cop
opera. It’s not hard to imagine this
film in 1970s garb with Al Pacino as
Ray Tierney, a lone wolf seeking the
truth, Harvey Keitel as Ray’s evilly cor- *
rupt brother-in-law Jimmy Egan, and
Robert De Niro caught in the middle as
older brother and commanding officer
Francis Jr. Naturally. Sidney Lumet
would direct. Co-written by Nards Joe
Carnahan, P&G refreshingly, if grimly,
plumbs the well-combed depths of
loyalty—blood and badge—with
meaty performances by Norton and
Farrell. Plus, not many movies outside
of Takashi Miike’s extreme oeuvre have
the balls to threaten an infant with a hot
iron. Pride and Glory works these well-
trod genre streets like an old pro.
< QUANTUM OF SOLACE (PG-13)
Quantum of Solace, the first true sequel
in Bond history, picks up right where
Casino Royale left off. James Bond's
betrayal by his late lover. Vesper Lynd,
has left 007, again played by Daniel
Craig, a cold, empty, angry missile
that M (Judi Dench) is having dif
ficulty aiming. In his search for Lynd’s
betrayer, Bond targets Dominic Green
(The Diving Bell and the Butterflfs
Mathieu Amalric). a ruthless business
man looking to control the world's
most precious resource, water. The Kite
Runner director Marc Forster continues
to pad Hollywood's most versatile
resume, and judging from the breath
taking trailer, he has excelled again.
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED (R)
See Movie Pick.
RELIGULOUS (R) Smug comedian
Bill Maher usually has a lot of answers,
but in the irreverent, funny Religulous,
he has a lot of questions. As offensive
as Maher can get. he never comes off
as mean-spirited during his cross
country querying of several religious
leaders and followers. He allows his
subjects to indict themselves with
fallacious biblical claims and state
ments that sometimes betray stupidity
like an “Idiot on Board" placard. (The
witty subtitles help.) Notorious Borat
director Larry Charles doesn't resort
to the same “Gotcha!" tactics; instead,
he cleverly utilizes film clips and titles
like Michael Moore. Believers blindly
clinging to their faith will probably have
a hard time hearing Maher’s doubt
laden conclusions, but anyone with an
open mind should walk away with a few
complex questions where once existed
simple answers.
ROCKNROLLA (R) Millions of
pounds attract the attention of London's
toughest toughs like One Two (Gerard
Butler) and his pal. Mumbles (Idris
Elba) and the underworld's biggest
fish, Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson), in
writer-director Guy Ritchie’s latest.
Ritchie's been more worried about his
marriage than his movies recently, but
word is the gangster maven’s fifth film
is a return to Lock, Stock form. With
Thandie Newton as One Two's accoun
tant girlfriend, Stella, and Jeremy
Piven and Chris “Ludacris" Bridges as
Roman and Mickey.
ROLE MODaS (R) See Movie Pick.
SAW V (R) Five Sawflicks in five
years might be one too many, li’s
getting harder for the screenwriters,
Saw IVs Patrick Melton and Marcus
Dunstan, to convincingly justify the
extra innings. The strong points of
every entry since the first are the origi
nality of the increasingly bloody kill
ings. Saw ^commits the cardinal sin
12 FLAGPOLE.COM • NOVEMBER 12,2008