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Some releases may not be showing locally this week.
AMERICAN SPLENDOR (R) 2003.
This adaptation ot Harvey Pekar’s
(Paul Giamatti) underground comic
book series, an account of his work
ing class Cleveland life that includes
his wife Joyce's (the always splendid
Hope Davis) battle with cancer, is a
nice change of pace from the pen-and-
ink superheroes clogging up the big
screen.
AUSTRALIA (PG-13) An epic
romance inspired by the films of David
Lean, a war movie not far removed from
Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor, and most
surprisingly, a Western that might make
John Ford a little jealous. Australia
tries to be all things to all audiences,
succeeding often enough to cover up
the numerous blemishes that pock its
nearly three-hour visage.
BOLT (PG) Perfect puppy Bolt (v.
John Travolta) stars as a superpowered
pooch in a sci-fi/action series that the
Disney Channel has probably con
sidered airing in th&past. 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. An
effective reverse fairy tale where there
are no happily ever afters. The Boy in
the Striped Pajamas is the most har
rowing Holocaust film I've seen in quite
a while.
CHRISTMAS ON MARS (NR) See
Movie Pick.
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 DAY THE EARTH STOOD
STILL (PG-13) “Klaatu barada nikto.’
The 1951 sci-fi classic gets an update.
Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) comes to Earth
with a warning about global domina
tion. Jennifer Connelly stars as Dr.
Helen Benson, the Earth lady who takes
Klaatu on a tour of the nation’s capital.
How little or how much the new film
differs from the Robert Wise's film
remains to be seen, but do yourself a
favor. Watch the original first. Directed
by Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of
Emily Rose), The Day the Earth Stood
Stilialso features Jon Hamm ("Mad *
Men"), Kathy Bates and a hilarious
John Cleese.
DELGO (PG) The first feature from
Atlanta's Fathom Studios, this
computer-animated fantasy follows
Delgo (v. Freddie Prinze, Jr.) as he tries
to unite the warring factions of the land
of Jhamora. Magical creatures abound
as the Lockni teenager fights for his
star-crossed romance with a Nohrin
princess (v. Jennifer Love Hewitt).
THE FAMILY THAT PREYS (PG-13)
Perry's latest may be his best film to
date. Perry's continued efforts to diver
sify 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) Four
Christmases may be the funniest holi
day movie since National Lampoon's
Christmas Vacation. It remains comi
cally nimble, never staying with one
family for too long. Spending an entire
film with any of these households
would be too much for any viewer
to bear. However, another disastrous
familial encounter with Jon Favreau.
Tim McGraw, Kristen Chenoweth or
Dwight Yoakum is never more than
20 minutes away. Four Christmases
should amuse anyone but those
Grinches and Scrooges incapable of
enjoying a salty, sweet Christmas treat.
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY (R) Thirty-year-
old, primary schoolteacher Poppy
(Sally Hawkins) is London's most
incorrigibly, dangerously upbeat
woman. Mike Leigh's meandering
film simply goes where Poppy goes,
and she goes to a lot of random
places. During the joyously pleas
ant Happy-Go-Lucky, Leigh’s rifling
through Poppy's pocketbook of life,
trying to figure out how she remains
so optimistic in a world that's gone to
shit. Poppy trudges on. determined to
make everyone happy, and that dogged
determination fascinates Leigh, who
passes that interest along through his
winning film.
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 Hairspraf) 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 fantastically
creative idea.
LADIES IN LAVENDER (PG-13)
2004. Dames Judi Dench and Maggie
Smith partner up to play sisters Ursula
and Janet Widington. whose staid
Cornwall existence changes forever
when a young Pole, Andrea (Daniel
Briihl), is washed ashore during a
violent storm. The ladies do their best
to care for the man, an accomplished
violinist, but an ensuing friendship with
a Russian artist (Natasha McElhone),
conducted in their common language
of German, breeds suspicion in pre-
World War II Britain.
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.
A credible potboiler. Lakeview Terrace
simmers with polarizing depth. This
mainstream thriller is a tough watch.
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 gets
the best lines, and the penguins garner
the most laughs. The animal antics are
cute, and the PG jokes are harmless.
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. Rumors of
Nick and Norah’s favorite band, Where's
Fluffy?, playing a mystery show, and
Norah's serendipitous decision set the
stage for a night that will involve Nick's
Yugo constantly being mistaken tor a
cab, Jesus, the nastiest piece of gum
in NYC, and sweet, sweet love. Nick
and Norah's Infinite Playlist may 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.
NOBEL SON (R) A twisty pulp thriller,
Nobel Son is like any of the dozens
of over-stylized, pos\-Pulp Fiction
knockoffs that appeared in theaters
and on video throughout the 1990s:
too hip, precious and serendipitous for
its owrrover-plotted good. Cowriter-
director Randall Miller (the better Bottle
Shock) must be a hell of a salesman
to sell Rickman, Mary Steenburgen,
Bill Pullman, and Danny Devito, on his
and partner Jody Savin's script. Eliza
Dushku's nutty poetess, City Hall, is the
best reason to see the movie besides
Rickman and a handful of ciever
scenes. Nobel Son is exactly the movie
I don't want Charlie Huston's Caught
Stealing^ become.
NOTHING LIKE THE HOLIDAYS
(PG-13) 2008's second holiday-themed
release, Nothing Like the Holidays
peeks in on a Rodriguez family
Christmas when all their children,
including the youngest son, who
recently returned from overseas com
bat, are present. The cast is friendly
(John Lc-guizamo, Debra Messing,
Freddy Rodriguez, Alfred Molina. Jay
Hernandez, Luis Guzman. Melonie
Diaz, Vanessa Ferlito and Elizabeth
Peha), and the trailer is appealing.
Washington Heights award-winning
director Alfredo De Villa could have a
mainstream hi* to his credit after this
holiday season.
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. Instead, it's 2008;
Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, and Noah
Emmerich (Little Children) are Ray,
Jimmy and Franny, respectively, and
Gavin O’Connor (Miracle) is directing.
Hollywood has probably released at
least one similar cop melodrama a year
since Serpico in 1973, and Pride and
Glory isn't one of the worst. It beats
down last year's close narrative cousin,
We Own the Night, like Jimmy would
an uncooperative Cl.
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE (R) The
third big-screen incarnation of Marvel
Comics’ vigilante hero. Punisher: War
Zone is one goopy, gory, violent flick.
After witnessing the murder of his
family, Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson)
dedicated his life to punishing those
responsible. And then he kept punish
ing the criminals of New York City.
In War Zone, the Punisher must take
down disfigured mobster Jigsaw
(Dominic West) and save the wife
and child (Julie Benz and Stephanie
Janusauskas) of an FBI Agent he
regretfully murdered. Punisher: War
Zone won't make anyone forget The
Dark Knight, but fans of blood or
Marvel's avenger will think it a kick.
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. The most strapping Bond,
Daniel Craig brings the cold virility
wrote about by Fleming in the original
novels. The brief Quantum of Solace
just whet my appetite.
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
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (705-613-3650)
American Splendor (R) 3:00 (Su. 12/14)
Ladies in Lavender (PG-13) 7:00 (Th. 12/11)
BEECHWOOD (706-546-1011)
Oue to production deadlines. Beechwood movie times are
only accurate through December 11. Visit www.Flagpole.com
tor updated times.
Australia (PG-13) 4:35, 8:05
Bolt (PG) 5:15, 7:45, 10:00
Bolt (3D) (PG) 4:30, 7:00, 9:15
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (PG-13) 5:05, 7:20,
9:35
Four Christmases (PG-13) 4:40, 7:10, 9:25
Madagascan Escape 2 Africa (PG) 4:45, 7:20, 9:35
Nobel Son (R) 4:10, 7:15, 9:50
Punishen War Zone (R) 4:40, 7:30, 9:55
Quantum of Solace (PG-13) 5:00, 7:30, 10:00
Transporter 3 (PG-13) 5:15, 7:35, 9:50
Twilight (PG-13) 4:15. 7:05, 9:45
CARMIKE 12 (706-354-0016)
Australia (PG-13) 1:00, 4:30, 7:45
Bolt (3D) (PG) 12:30, 1:15, 2:45, 3:30, 5:00, 5:45,
7:15, 8:00, 9:30, 10:15 (new times F. 12/12: 12:30,
2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (PG-13) 12:30, 1:00,
2:50, 4:00, 5:10, 7:00, 7:30, 9:45, 10:00 (starts F.
12/12)
Delgo (PG) 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 (starts F.
12/12)
Four Christmases (PG-13) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45,
10:00
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G! 1:15 (ends
Th. 12/11)
Madagascar. Escape 2 Africa (PG) 1:30, 3:40, 5:55,
8:00, 10:10 (new times F. 12/12: 1:30, 4:30)
Nobel Son (R) 1:15, 4:20, 7:00, 10:00 (ends Th.
12/11)
Nothing Like the Holidays (PG-13) 12:45, 3:00,
5:15, 7:30, 9:45 (starts F. 12/12)
Punishen War Zone (R) 1:00, 4:20, 7:00, 9:45
Quantum of Solace (PG-13) 1:45, 4:20, 7:00, 9:40
(new times F. 12/12: 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. 10:00
• (new times F. 12/12: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45)
Twilight (PG-13) 1:30, 4:15, 4:45, 7:00, 7:30, 9:45,
10:15 (new times F. 12/12: 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:45)
CINE (706-353-3343)
Christmas on Mars (NR) 7:00, 9:00 (ends Th. 12/11)
Happy-Go-Lucky (R) 4:15, 6:30. 8:45 (new times F.
12/12: 5:00, 7:30) (no 7:30 show W. 12/17)
Religulous (R) new time F. 12/12: 9:55 (add! time
Sa. 12/13-Su. 12/14: 2:30) (no show W. 12/17)
Synecdoche, New York (R) 4:30, 7:15, 9:45 (add'l
time Sa. 12/13-Su. 12/14: 2:00) (no 9:45 show Su.
12/14) (starts F. 12/12)
Tell Me Do You Miss Me (NR) 7:30. 9:30 (W. 12/17)
The Universe of Keith Haring (NR) 5:00 (ends Th.
12/11)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Due to production deadlines, Gec r gia Square Five movie
times are only accurate through December 11. Yisit www.
Flagpole.com for updated times.
The Dark Knight (PG-13) 4:10, 7:45
The Family That Preys (PG-13) 4:10, 7:10, 9:45
Igor (PG) 7:20
Lakeview Terrace (PG-13) 4:05, 0:50
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (PG-13) 4:15, 9:40
Pride and Glory (R) 4:00, 7:05, 9:55
WALL»E (G) 7:15
HWY 17 DRIVE-IN THEATERS (706 213-7693)
Delgo (PG) 7:00 (F. 12/12-Su. 12/14)
Twilight (PG-13) 7:00 (F. 12/12-Su. 12/14)
leaders and followers. 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.
ROLE MODELS (R) RoleModels\s
so laugh out loud funny you'll have to
see it twice to hear all the jokes you
missed from laughing too loud, too
hard and too long.
SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK (R)
Oscar-winning screenwriter Charlie
Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind) finally makes his direc
torial debut with a film that took two
months from its Cannes debut to find
a distributor. I don’t care. I can't wait to
see what Kaufman does with the story
of theater director Caden Colard (Philip
Seymour Hoffman) who attempts to
build a life-size set of New York City
for his new play while dealing with his
careening personal life. With Samantha
Morion, Michelle Williams, Catherine
Keener. Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest.
Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Hope Davis.
TELL ME 00 YOU MISS ME (NR)
Former Athenian filmmaker Matthew
Buzzell's documentary about the much
loved New York band Luna. Buzzell was
granted a truly personal viewpoint of
Luna's poignant and difficult final tour,
accompanying the band as it played its
way around the world, feted by adoring
fans and press but not really making
any money. Both he and the guitarist,
Sean Eden, will be in attendance for
Q&As. [Marr]
TRANSPORTER 3 (PG-13) The
Transporter flicks, all three of them,
but especially the third, know exactly
what they are. They are guilty pleasures
meant to while away an afternoon, not
to win awards or critical accolades.
Filled with the chopsocky, MMA
action we’ve come to expect from that
strangely charismatic Neanderthal,
Statham, and some wicked stunt driv
ing, Transporter 5 will please franchise
diehards as well as those action fans
who’ve yet to realize the 1980s are over.
I just hope Audi's paying out the wazoo
for these feature-length A8 ads.
TWILIGHT (PG-13) Fortunately.
Twilight isn't the unmitigated disaster
I anticipated. Director Catherine
Hardwicke (Thirteen, Lords of Dogtown
and The Nativity Storf) and screen
writer Melissa Rosenberg (Step Up)
have made the best film they could
from the source material provided by
Meyer. Thanks to a writer and direc
tor that took the Romeo and Juliet
courtship of a vampire and a human
seriously, the film rises above giggle-
inducing dialogue, groan-inducing
vampire super-speed and strength, and
a simplistic makeup-and-snarl depic
tion of its central monsters.
THE UNIVERSE OF KEITH HARING
(NR) On the heels of the Annual
World AIDS Day Film Festival, Cin6
is screening Christian Clausen’s
documentary on Keith Haring. Haring
was a world-renowned artist and
fixture of the downtown New York
scene of the 1980s that featured the
likes of Madonna. Andy Warhol and
Jean-Michel Basquiat. The Universe of
Keith Haring was an official selection
of Outfest International Film Festival,
the Rome International Film Festial
and Tribeca International Film Festival.
Featuring interviews with Fab 5 Freddy
and Yoko Ono.
WALL*E (PG) Leave it to Finding
Nemo writer/director Andrew Stanton
to rocket Pixar back to the animated
heavens. With WALL»E, a deeply
human siory wiih only minimal human
interaction and maximum entertain
ment value. Pixar again pulls off their
most stunning feat, making the rare
creation of an animated masterpiece
look so easy.
Drew Wheeler
20 FLAGPOLE.COM • DECEMBER 10,2008