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Some releases may not be showing locally this week.
AIDS ATHENS SHORT FILM
FESTIVAL Cin6. the Athens-Banner
Herald, and Athens AIDS, Inc. are
sponsoring the first annual World
AIDS Day Film Festival. The event* as
described on the AIDS Athens website,
“is the first HIV/AIDS film festival held
in Athens, GA. The film festival show
cases international and local documen
tary and short-films on HIV/AIDS to
build awareness and understanding of
the disease. It highlights people living
with HIV, their challenges and victories,
vaccine research, prevention and activ
ism throughout the globe.”
> AUSTRALIA (PG-13) A sweeping
romantic epic set in an exotic land,
Australia cannot help but generate
comparisons to the Oscar-winning Out
of Africa, though Sydney Pollack’s film
wasn't nearly as exciting as Australia's
trailer. An English aristocrat (Nicole
Kidman) and a drover (Hugh Jackman)
fall in love in the land of Oz amid the
buildup to World War II. Conceived
and directed by Moulin Rougefs Baz
Luhrmann, Australia could look like no
only film this year, but will that sump
tuous visual originality, coupled with
grand, old-fashioned storytelling, be
enough come Oscar time?
BOLT (PG) Disney has done it.
Working hand-in-hand with their
younger sibling, Pixar, Walt Disney
Animation Studios has produced their
most affecting, entertaining animated
feature since their renaissance in the
1990s. Perfect puppy Bolt (v. John
Travolta, who sounds youthfully inno
cent for a 54-year-old) stars as a super-
powered pooch in a sci-fi/action series
that the Disney Channel has probably
considered airing in the past. On a
weekly basis, he must rescue Penny (v.
Miley Cyrus) from the green-eyed man,
Dr. Calico (v. Malcolm McDowell). But
Bolt doesn't know it's fake. He thinks
he has powers, like a Super-Bark, and
Penny is really in danger. Escaping
after a cliffhanger, Bolt must go on
an incredible journey, accompanied
by a wiseacre cat, Mittens (v. Susie
Essman), and a hyper hamster named
Rhino (v. Mark Walton), to get back
to Hollywood and his person. Penny.
Bolt is better than Madagascar and
should please the whole family. The
sharply animated, directed and written
flick is the closest Disney has gotten to
. achieving Pixar-like quality, possibly
due to the presence of Pixar founder
John Lasseter as executive producer
and Cars writer Dan Fogelman. Let's
hope this becomes the studio's rule,
not just a one film exception.
THE BOY IN THE STRIPED
PAJAMAS (PG-13) John Boyne's.
Holocaust novel for kids is movingly
adapted for the big screen by Little
■Voice writer-director Mark Herman.
After his father (David Thewlis) gets
a new job, eight-year-old Bruno (the
frighteningly excellent, young Asa
Butterfield) must move to a new house
in the countryside. Bored and without
any friends. Bruno turns to Shmuel
(the film's other great young performer.
Jack Scanlon), a boy, strangely clad
in pajamas, who lives on a fenced-
in farm nearby. Neither Bruno nor
Shmuel grasp the harsh realities of the
Germany in which they reside. Bruno
believes his father, an SS officer in
charge of the work camp where Shmuel
is imprisoned, to be a brave soldier.
Neither boy can comprehend the night
marish future awaiting them. They don’t
know why awful-smelling smoke fills
the air. They don't know what Shmuel
did wrong. When Bruno’s mother (Vera
Farmiga) decides he should live some
where that isn't near a concentration
camp, the young boy makes the fateful
decision to help Shmuel find his father.
An effective reverse fairy tale where
The watering ban is off!
there are no happily ever afters, The
Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the most
harrowing Holocaust film I've seen in
quite a while.
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.
THE DARK KNIGHT (PG-13) A comic
book-based film has never been so
dark, so real, so mystifying, and so
deep, rich with characterization, nimble •
plotting, and intricate set pieces.
THE FAMILY THAT PREYS (PG-13)
Perry’s latest may be his best film
to date. Two matriarchs, Alice Pratt
(the always great Alfre Woodard) and
Charlotte Cartwright (Academy Award
winner Kathy Bates, sporting a notice
ably fake southern accent), share family
woes as their grown-up children’s
unethical affairs—private and profes
sional-come to light. Alice's married
daughter, Andrea (Sanaa Lathan), is
sleeping with Charlotte's equally mar
ried son, William (a particularly sleazy
Cole Hauser), whose business dealings
aren’t on the up and up as he attempts
to wrestle control of the family busi
ness from mommy. Perry’s continued
efforts to diversify his characters—and
presumably audience—needs work,
but this juicy melodrama is just the
right amount of overcooked for those
with a taste for the auteur's dishes.
FOUR CHRISTMASES (PG-13)
Is it Vince Vaughn’s goal to become
Hollywood’s newest Christmas star?
Two Christmas movies in two years
place the comedian at the top of a
short list of holiday specialists. A
married couple (Vaughn and Reese
Witherspoon) must celebrate four •
separate Christmases to please their
divorced parents. Directed by The
King of Konrfs Seth Gordon, Four
Christmases features a familiar cast
that includes Jon Favreau, Kristen
Chenoweth, Mary Steenburgen, Sissy
Spacek, Dwight Yoakum, Carol Kane,
Tim McGraw and Robert Duvall.
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY (R) Five-time
Oscar nominee Mike Leigh (Secrets
&Lies, Topsy-Turvy and Vera Drake)
was nominated for a Golden Bear at the
Berlin International Film Festival for his
new film about a colorful North London
schoolteacher, Poppy (Silver Berlin
Bear winner Sally Hawkins), whose
Poilyanna nature maddens those who
meet her. This comic exploration of that
elusive emotion, happiness, must be
quite a change of pace from past Leigh
films; the Naked filmmaker nabbed
a Bringer of Joy Award for Most
Enjoyable Film from the Norwegian
International Film Festival.
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 Hartley is 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.
IGOR (PG) A Frankensteinian com
puter animated monster stitched
together from spare parts pilfered from
the labs of Tim Burton and Pixar, Igor
bungles the execution of a fantasti
cally creative idea. In the evil land of
Malaria, residents are destined for
one of two professions: Mad Scientist
or Igor. One switch-pulling, "Yes,
Master"-ing Igor (voiced by John
Cusack with the wonderful richness of
a master bedtime storyteller) dreams of
becoming a mad scientist. lgor \s much
better than most of the bush league •
computer animated kids movies out
there (Space Chimps and Fly Me to the
Moon 3D), but it is far below the high
standards set by Pixar and Shrek.
LAKEVIEW TERRACE (PG-13)
Director Neil LaBute (In the Company
of Men, Your Friends & Neighbors)
again plumbs the dark, dark depths of
the human psyche in Lakeview Terrace.
Chris and Lisa Mattson (Patrick Wilson
and Kerry Washington) are newlyweds
who just bough! their first home.
However, their next door neighbor, Abel
Turner (Samuel L. Jackspn), doesn't
think the house or the neighborhood
is right for the Mattsons. The LAPD
officer keeps hinting that the inter
racial couple (Chris is white; Lisa is
black) might fit in better somewhere
else. Those hints become taunts; those
taunts become threats; and those
threats become overt acts of violence
as Abel, a widower trying to raise two
kids, melts down. A credible potboiler,
Lakeview Terrace simmers with polariz
ing depth. This mainstream thriller is a
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
BEICHWOGD (706-546-1011)
Australia (PG-13) 4:35, 8:05 (add'l time W. 11/26-Su.
11/30: 1:05) (starts W. 11/26)
Bolt (PG) 5:15, 7:45, 10:00 (add'l times W. 11/26-Su.
11/30: 12:45, 3:00)
Bolt (3D) (PG) 4:30, 7:00, 9:15 (add'l times W.
11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:00, 2:15)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (PG-13) 5:05, 7:25,
9:50 (add'l times W. 11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:25, 2:45)
Changeling (R) 6:55, 9:55 (ends Tu. 11/25)
Four Christmases (PG-13) 4:40, 7:10, 9:25 (add'l
times W. 11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:10, 2:25) (starts W.
11/26)
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G) 4:10, 7:10,
9:45 (ends Tu. 11/25)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG) 4:45, 7:20, 9:35
(add'l times W. 11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:15, 2:35)
Quantum of Solace (PG-13) 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 (add'l
times W. 11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:00, 2:30)
Role Models (R) 4:40, 7:20, 9:40 (add'l time W,
11/26-Su. 11/30: 1:40) (no 7:20 & S:40 shows W.
12/3)
Transporter 3 (PG-13) 5:15, 7:35, 9:55 (add'l times W.
11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:35, 2:55) (starts W. 11/26)
Twilight (PG-13) 4:15, 6:30, 7:15, 9:30, 10:15 (add’l
times W. 11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:30, 1:15, 3:30)
CARMIKE 12 (706-354-0016)
Australia (PG-13) 1:00, 4:30, 7:45 (starts W. 11/26)
Bolt (3D) (PG) 12:30, 1:15, 2:45, 3:30, 5:00, 5:45,
7:15. 8:00, 9:30 (add'l time F. 11/28-Sa. 11/29:
10:15)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (PG-13) 12:30, 3:00,
5:20, 7:40, 10:00 (starts W. 11/26)
Four Christmases (PG-13) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45,
10:00 (starts W. 11/26)
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G) 1:15, 4:00,
7:15,10:00 (new times W. 11/26:1:15)
Madagascan Escape 2 Africa (PG) 1:30, 3:40, 5:55,
8:00, 10:10
Quantum of Solace (PG-13) 1:45, 4:20, 7:00, 9:40
Role Models (R) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00
Transporter 3 (PG-13) 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
(starts W. 11/26)
Twilight (PG-13) 12:30, 1:30, 3:10, 4:15, 4:45, 5:55,
7:00, 7:30, 8:40, 9:45, 10:15 (add'l time F. 11/28-Sa.
11/29: 11:20)
CINE (706-353-3343)
AIDS Athens Short Film Festival (NR) 4:00, 8:30 (M.
12/1)
Happy-Go-Lucky (R) 5:00, 7:30, 9:45 (add'l time Sa.
11/29-Su. 11/30: 2:30) (no 9:45 show Su. 11/30)
(starts F. 11/28)
Rachel Getting Married (R) 5:00, 7:30, 9:45 (ends
Th. 11/27)
Religulous (R) 9:30 (new times F. 11/28: 9:55) (add'l
time Sa. 11/29-Su. 11/30: 3:00) (no 9:55 show Su.
11/30)
W. (PG-13) 4:15, 7:0G (ends Th. 11/27)
What Just Happened? (R) 5:15, 7:45 (starts F. 11/28)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
The Dark Knight (PG-13) 4:10, 7:45 (add'l time W.
11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:45)
The Family That Preys (PG-13) 4:10, 7:10, 9:45 (add!
time W. 11/26-Su. 11/30: 1:10) (starts W. 11/26)
Igor (PG) 5:10, 7:15, 9:30 (add'l times W. 11/26-Su.
11/30: 1:00, 3:05) (starts W. 11/26)
Lakeview Terrace (PG-13) 4:05, 9:50
Max Payne (PG-13) 4:15, 9:45 (ends Tu. 11/25)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (PG-13) 5:20,
7:30, 9:40 (add'l times W. 11/26-Su. 11/30: 12:50,
3:00) (starts W. 11/26)
Righteous Kill (R) 5:30, 7:50, 10:10 (ends Tu. 11/25)
Sex Drive (R) 4:00, 7:25, 9:55 (ends Tu. 11/25)
WALL*E (G) 7:15 (add'l time W. 11/26-Su. 11/70:
1:05)
HWY 17 DRIVE-IN THEATERS (706-213-7693)
The Haunting of Molly Hartley (PG-13) 7:00 (F.
11/28-Su. 11/30)
Zack and Mlri Make a Porno (R) 7:00 (F. 11/28-Su.
11/30)
lough walch. Provocation is rarely this
entertaining; then again, Hollywood
thrillers are rarely this bravely thought-
provoking.
MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2
AFRICA (PG) Former New York City
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.
Will.i.Am), looking 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. The animal
antics are cute, and the PG jokes are
harmless. Still, the Madagascar fran
chise was built on an underwhelming
but popular foundation, and the second
story is no different.
MAX PAYNE (PG-13) Max Payne is a
hard boiled cop with a haunted past. He
will stop at nothing to take revenge on
the murderer of his wife and son, even
if it means unraveling a conspiracy
larger than he could ever imagine. If
that sounds really lame and generic,
that’s just because Max Payne sucks.
NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE
PLAYLIST (PG-13) Nick (Michael
Cera) had his heart broken by Tris
(Alexis Dziena), but when Norah (Kat
Dennings), shepherding her drunk best
friend, Caroline (Ari Graynor), desper
ately asks Nick to be her boyfriend for
five minutes, the pieces start to pick
themselves up—eventually. Nick and
Noran's Infinite Playlist my be full
of teenage hipsters, but its passion
ate, humorous tune will appeal just
as equally to old fogies on the wrong
side of 20.
QUANTUM OF SOLACE (PG-13)
From the opening sequence—a car
chase on a twisty, scenic Italian high
way—the 22nd James Bond film feels
more like a traditional Bond movie
than its immediate predecessor. Casino
Royale. Every new Bond film, good or
bad. leaves me hungry for another. One
more is never enough. Twenty-two isn't
enough. How many other 46-year-old
franchises can I say that about? None.
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
(R) Weddings can be tough to plan,
tough to attend, and tough to watch.
The wedding of Rachel (an excellent
Rosemarie DeWitt) is no different,
especially the arrival of her fresh out
of rehab sis, Kym (surefire Oscar
nominee Anne Hathaway). With the
assistance of her doting father. Paul
(Tony Award winner Bill Irwin, whose
value to the film is immeasurable),
Kym attempts to takeover the weekend.
In his best film since The Silence of
the Lambs, director Jonathan Demme
has organized an Altman-ian affair that
is less a narrative film than a wedding
video with high production values.
With a handheld camera, the direc
tor Invites the audience to Rachel’s
big multicultural soiree. Demme and
first-time screenwriter Jenny Lumet
(yes. she is Sydney’s daughter) mine
this family's dark, grief-filled cave for
small chunks of raw emotion. Rachel
Getting Married reveals as much about
the long-term effects of familial grief
as Ordinary People and with no big
tissue moments. Demme has done an
extraordinary job engagingly translates
these often darkly tragicomic common
experiences to the big screen without
sacrificing any of the joy or the pain.
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
12 FLAGPOLE.COM • NOVEMBER 26,2008