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Sortie releases may not be showing locally this week.
ANGELS & DEMONS (PG-13)
Angels & Demons, the Da Vinci Code
predecessor turned cinematic sequel,
otters the same lukewarm thrills as the
2006 blockbuster. Symbologist Robert
Langdon (Tom Hanks with a better
hairdo) is tasked by the Vatican with
solving a mystery involving a dead
pope, tour kidnapped cardinals and the
Illuminati, a legendary cabal suppos
edly wiped out by the Catholic church
centuries ago. Apparently, Langdon's
brainy brand ot non-action reads better
than it watches. I’d rather have spent
the afternoon plowing through Dan
Brown's compelling plotting and dis
posable prose than snoozing through
its plodding movie twin.
ANNIE HALL (PG) 1977. Cin6 is
encouraging movie lovers to “beat the
heat’ with a summer classic movie
series that kicks off with Woody Allen s
Oscar-winner. The Wood-man stars
as Alvy Singer, who recounts his woe
ful search for love in New York City.
Alvy thinks the free-spirited Annie
Hall (Oscar-winner Diane Keaton) is
the one, but love doesn't always go
as planned.! used to pettily begrudge
Annie Hall for nabbing Star Ward Best
Picture trophy; now I simply appreci
ate Allen’s most accessible film, a
well-read romantic comedy melding
humor, loads of heart and a large dose
ot neuroses.
BEN X (NR) 2007. A bullied autistic
teen, Ben (Greg Timmermans), retreats
into an online game where he meets
a friendly gal named Scarlite (Laura
Verlinden). The trailer portends an
intriguing film. Winner of three awards
from the Montr6al World Film Festival
(including the top prize, Grand Prix
des Ameriques), a Heineken Red
Star Award from the Palm Beach
International Film Festival, and two
prizes from the Sedona International
Film Festival. Part of the ACC Library’s
iFilms series.
CHINATOWN (R) 1974. Including
Roman Polanski’s Oscar-winning ode
to film noir, incest and everything Jack
(Nicholson) in Cin^s summer series
of classic movies was a no-brainer.
On a run-of-the-mill adultery case, PI.
Jake Gittes (Oscar-nominee Nicholson)
discovers a murder scheme that has
something to do with water. With a
classy cast including Oscar-nominee
Faye Dunaway, John Huston and Diane
Ladd. Chinatown remains not only
the most revered film in Polanski's
worshipped oeuvre but Robert Towne's
most quotable script. Nominated for 11
Academy Awards.
CRANK; HIGH VOLTAGE (R)
Seemingly invincible hitman Chev
Chelios (Jason Statham) survived fall
ing from a helicopter at the end of the
first movie Scooped off the road with
a giant shovel, he’s taken immediately
to a makeshift operating theater. The
Triads want Chev's Timex-tough ticker,
which they replace with a battery-
powered artificial heart, meant to keep
him alive until they can harvest the rest
of his organs. Fans of the first Crank
will not be disappointed. The ante is
upped considerably in what is possibly
the most implausible movie *'ve ever
seen. However, the film, no matter how
depraved and immorally monotonous,
is injected with far more creativity than
the generic Hollywood action flick (see
12 Rounds).
THE CURIOUS CASE OF
BENJAMIN BUTTON (PG-13) A
baby born in a tiny octogenarian body,
Benjamin confounds everyone around
him, besides his adopted mother,
Queenie (Taraji P. Henson). The magic
of Benjamin Button lies in its new
fangled effects andold-fashioned sto
rytelling. Pitt looks and acts terrific as
the tiny old Benjamin. He captures the
gait of the elderly and, with the help of
Fincher's digitized genius, their creased
visage as well. Sporting a pleasant
sense of humor and an enormous,
genuine heart, Benjamin Button is a
curious case indeed.
DANCE FLICK (PG-13) The humon-
gous Wayans clan (namely, Keenan
Ivory, Marlon, Shawn, Kim and Damon,
Jr.) returns with another genre parody.
A street dancer from the wrong side
of the tracks, Thomas Uncles (Damon
Wayans. Jr.), teams up with the gor
geous Megan White (Shoshana Bush)
in order to win the big dance competi
tion. I'm a little ashamed to admit how
much I laughed at the trailer the first
time I saw it. Maybe Dance Flick will be
more "In Living Color" and less White
Chicks.
DRAG ME TO HELL (PG-13) While
trying to get a promotion, sweet
loan officer Christine Brown (Allison
Lohman) shames an old gypsy hag,
Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver). After a
rousing attack in a parking garage.
Christine is cursed. The demon Lamia
will stop at nothing to torture her and
carry her soul to hell for all eternity.
Raimi digs deep into his bag of fre
netic camerawork and joyously revels
in revolting foley work (an oft mis/
underutilized horror device) in the most
scary fun I’ve had at a horror film in a
long time.
FANBOYS (PG-13) Four guys (Sam
Huntington, Chris Marquette, Dan
Fogler, Jay Baruchel) and their gal pal
(Kristen “Veronica Mars' Bell) travel
across the country to steal a copy of
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom
Menace Uom Skywalker Ranch.
However, their larceny is more grand
than greedy as they plan to screen it
for their dying friend. Kevin Smith and
George Lucas have both contributed
creatively to the final product. Fanboys
should be fun for a game of spot the
Star Wars alum.
FAST & FURIOUS (PG-13) The
fourth model of the Fast & Furious
franchise knows exactly what it is and
doesn’t try to be anything else. It is
graphic vehicular pornography with
the ultra-softcore sexuality of a bikini-
filled car mag. On the lam con Dominic
Toretto (Vin Diesel) and FBI agent Brian
O’Conner (the inexplicably appealing
Paul Walker) are reunited by the death
of a friend as they seek revenge against
the drug lord responsible for her death
No one should mistake this article-less
edition of F&Ffor a work of cinematic
art; it’s upfront and honest about its
lowbrow ambitions.
GOODBYE SOLO (R) The third fea
ture from writer-director Ramin Bahrani
was shot in Winston-Salem, NC, where
Bahrani was born. But the American
South depicted in Goodbye Solo bears
few of the standard hallmarks usually
trotted out in films set in the region:
there is not a trace of “redneck” culture,
little evidence of racism, and almost no
country music on the soundtrack. The
film opens with William (Red West) in
the back of a taxicab, trying to hire the
driver for a one-way trip to a mountain
landmark called Blowing Rock later that
week. The driver, Solo (Soul6ymane
Sy Savan6), a gregarious and sensitive
Senegalese immigrant, immediately
voices his concern that William intends
to commit suicide by jumping oft the
mountain, but William doesn’t respond.
As the two men fall into a tense and
unlikely friendship, Solo's dogged
attempts to discern what is troubling
William, and William’s sometimes
ferocious resistance to Solo's attempts
to help him, form the dramatic heart of
the story.
THE HANGOVER (R) See Movie Pick.
IMAGINE THAT (PG) Eddie Murphy
returns with another summer family
film. It’s got to do better than last July’s
Meet Dave, right? The preview, while
cloying, implies “yes." The former fun
nyman stars as a father whose financial
planning career takes an upswing
thanks to his daughter’s imaginary
world of princesses and the like. The
behind-the-scenes talents know funny.
Director Karey Kirkpatrick previ
ously helmed the animated Over the
Hedge, and writers Ed Solomon and
Chris Matheson planned Bill & Ted's
Excellent Adventure.
IS ANYBODY THERE? (PG-13)
Ten-year-old Edward (Bill Milner, who
was a little charmer in Son of RamboW)
lives in an old folks home. The reasons
aren’t that strange. His parents own
it. But Edward's a strange, lonely kid
who is obsessed with the afterlife and
tape records the residents. Fortunately,
Edward befriends the newest tenant,
retired magician Clarence (Michael
Caine), and their burgeoning relation
ship benefits both the young boy and
the old man. Directed by John Crowley
(Intermission, Boy A).
LAND OF THE LOST (PG-13) On a
routine expedition, Dr. Rick Marshall
(Will Ferrell), his comely assistant
Holly (Anna Friel, "Pushing Daisies"),
and.uncouth mystery cave proprietor
Will (Danny McBride) travel through
time where they befriend Chaka (Jorma
Toccone) and do battle with a brilliant
T-Rex and lizardmen called Sleestacks.
The comical, quirky Land of the Lost
proves one thing. Big screen, bigger
budget updates of the cult universes
conceived by brothers Sid and Marty
Krofft ("H.R. Pufnstuf") are best left
as cheesy, campy and bizarre as the
grown-up fans, all hopped up on nos
talgia, remember them.
MY LIFE IN RUINS (PG-13) This
super-size sitcom stars a dazzling Nia
Vardalos, who blew the mega-success
of My Big Fat Greek Wedding on a
failed television show, as Georgia, a
tour guide looking for love among the
ruins of ancient Greece. Saddled with
an unimaginatively dieted gaggle
of American, British and Australian
tourists (including Rachel Dratch and
Harland Williams), Georgia does battle
with a rival guide and, thanks to the
oracular Irv (a vacationing Richard
Dreyfuss). finds love with hottie bus
driver, Poupi (Alexis Georgoulis).
Mired in plot devices most hackneyed
and jokes most stale (example: Poupi's
nephew is named Doudi), this gor
geous travelogue certainly knows
its audience, all hyped up on Greek
dreams fueled by multiple viewings of
Mamma Mia! The tacky romcom held
its small throng of older viewers in
enchanted thrall. Anyone immune to its
Siren song will see its naturally craggy,
un-humorous visage and steer far, far
away to safer, funnier waters.
NEXT DAY AIR (R) Whoever ordered
Next Day Air got exactly what they
wanted, but the crime comedy (it's not
very funny) is no special delivery. Leo
(Donald Faison, “Scrubs’), a stoner
who works as a delivery man, leaves
a package at the wrong apartment.
Eventually, the supposedly comedic
mix-up leads to a bloody shootout.
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM; BATTLE
OF THE SMITHSONIAN (PG)
Spending a second Night at the
Museum with former security guard
Larry Daily (Ben Stiller) and the come-
to-life exhibits isn’t the creatively bank
rupt. money-grubbing experience you'd
expect, largely thanks to talented new
guests Amy Adams, Hank Azaria and
Bill Hader (“SNL" and Superbad), a trio
that breathes hilarious life into Amelia
Earhart, Kahmunrah and General
George Armstrong Custer. Everything
about NatM:BotS improves on the life
less original, especially the thankful
lack of monkey antics of which there
are a mere toned down few.
OPEN SEASON (PG) As the voice of
Elliot, an obnoxious mule deer exiled
from his herd, Ashton Kutcher goofs
around the woods for an hour and
a half, making up silly songs about
flatulent elves that pee a lot. Elliot and
his reluctant pal, a grizzfy bear named
Boog (v. Martin Lawrence), must do
battle with poacher Shaw (v. Gary
Sinise) after being released into the
wild by Boog’s keeper, a moon-faced
park ranger (v. Debra Messing). Open
Season, with its paranoid nutter of a
hunter and anthropomorphical emo
tive animals, is rabidly anti-hunting.
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN (PG) I
loved Escape to Witch Mountain and its
sequel, Return from Witch Mountain,
when I was a kid. Watching Disney's
franchise reboot didn't exactly conjure
up wispy nostalgia like I’d hoped. The
filmmakers were kidding themselves
if they thought they could replace the
1975 cast. Besides the stunt driving
and the charmer formerly known as the
Rock, Race to Witch Mountain pos
sesses few other noticeable traits.
STAR TREK (PG-13) Director J.J.
Abrams brings Gene Roddenberry's
idyllic, stodgy creation to warp speed.
Abrams and writers Roberto Orci and
Alex Kurtzman revive the franchise
with a breezy, action-packed matinee
abandon never before seen in this often
sober universe. Amazingly, an entirely
new, unknown Star Trek universe lies
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
Ben X (NR) 7:00 (Th. 6/11)
BifCHWOOD (706-546-1011) *
Due to production deadlines, Beechwood movie times are
only accurate through June 11. Visit www.Flagpole.com for
updated times.
Angels & Demons (PG-13) 12:45, 3:50, 7:00, 10:00
Dance Rick (PG-13) 4:20,10:00
Drag Me to HeU (PG-13) 12:10, 2:45, 5:05, 7:25, 9:50
The Hangover (R) 1:30, 4:00, 7:05, 9:40
LaiKl of the Lost (PG-13) 12:15, 2:35, 4:55, 7:20, 9:50
My Life In Ruins (PG-13) 12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:25,
10:00
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
(PG) 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:55
Open Season (PG) 10:00 a.m. (Th. 6/11)
Star Trek (PG-13) 1:00, 4:15, 7:05, 9:55
Terminator Salvation (PG-13) 1:45, 4:30, 7:10, 10:05
Up (PG) 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
Up (30) (PG) 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PG-13) 1:15, 7:20
CARMINE 12 (706-364-0016)
Due to production deadlines, Carmike movie times are
only accurate through June 11. Visit www.Flagpole.com for
updated times.
Angels & Demons (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00
Dance Rick (PG-13) 12:15, 2:45, 5:10, 7:40, 10:10
Drag Me to HeU (PG-13) 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:40, 10:05
The Hangover (R) 12:40, 1:10, 3:05, 3:35, 5:30, 5:55,
7:50, 8:20, 10:15
Land of the Lost (PG-13) 12:30, 2:55, 5:20, 7:45,
10:10
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
(PG) 12:45, 1:45, 3:15, 4:30, 5:45, 7:15, 8:10, 9:55
Star Trek (PG-13) 1:20, 4:10, 7:00, 10:10
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (R) 1:45, 4:30, 7:15,
9:40 (starts F. 6/12)
Terminator Salvation (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:35
Up (3D) (PG) 12:15, 12:45, 2:40, 3:10, 5:05, 5:35,
7:30, 8:00, 9:55
CINi (706-353-3343)
Annie HaU (PG) 8:15,10:15 (ends 6/11)
Chinatown (R) 8:30 (add! time F. 6/12-Sa. 6/13:
11:00) (starts F. 6/12)
Goodbye Solo (R) 6:30, 8:30,10:30 (new times F.
6/12: 6:15) (adrfl time F. 6/12-Su. 6/14: 4:15)
Is Anybody There? (PG-13) 6:15 (ends 6/11)
Sugar (R) 7:00, 9:30 (addT time F. 6/12-Su. 6/14:
4:30) (no 9:30 show Su. 6/14) (starts F. 6/12)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Due to production deadlines, Georgia Square Five movie
times are only accurate through June 11. Visit www.Flagpole.
com for updated times.
Crank: High Voltage (R) 12:50, 3:10, 5:15, 7:35, 9:55
Fast & Furious (PG-13) 12:55, 4:10, 7:25, 9:50
Next Day Air (R) 12:45, 3:05, 5:10, 7:30, 9:45
Race to Witch Mountain (PG) 12:40, 3:00, 5:20,
7:40, 10:00
State of Play (PG-13) 1:00, 4:05, 7:20,10:05
TATE CENTER THEATER (706-542-6396)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (PG-13) 10:00
(W. 6/10)
Fanboys (PG-13) 8:00, 10:00 (M. 6/15 & W. 6/17)
uncharted, to be mapped, one hopes,
by Captain Abrams and his creative
crew. Space may be the final frontier,
but Star Trek should just be the first
of many missions for this particular
talented team
STATE OF PLAY (PG-13) State of
Play may not be the best film of the
year, but it is a well-made political
thriller starring actual actors, some of
whom own Oscars. Newspaper reporter
Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) is a
dinosaur on the verge of extinction. But
when a sex scandal rocks the political/
personal boat of his college roommate.
Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben
Affleck). Cal gets another shot at glory
and uncovers a deeper conspiracy,
one full of twists and turns too juicy to
spoil here.
SUGAR (R) 2008. Half Nelson duo
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s second
collaboration has far less buzz and no
Ryan Gosling to earn a buzz-generating
Oscar nom. Miguel “Sugar" Santos
(newcomer Algenis Perez Soto) is a
Dominican baseball star who dreams of
playing in the big leagues. While train
ing at a baseball academy, the 19-year-
old is finally recruited to play in the
minor leagues here in the States.
THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3
(R) How many times can John Godey’s
novel be made into a movie? Walter
Matthau and Robert Shaw played
cops and robbers in a 1974 ver
sion, and Edward James Olmos and
Vincent D’Onofrio took over in a 1998
TV movie. Now megastars Denzel
Washington and John Travolta hop on
this express thriller about a hijacked
subway train.
TERMINATOR SALVATION (PG-13)
The ultra-grim fourth installment of
the time-bending franchise makes
minor improvements on the frivolous
third film. Finally, we get to witness
the epic battles between man and
machine. Humanity's savior, John
Connor (Christian Bale), is waylaid
from his mission to defeat Skynet, the
self-aware, computer-based defense
system attempting to cleanse the planet
of all mankind As unkillable as the
Terminators are. it might be time to
unplug a franchise that’s two movies
and a failed TV show past its 72 prime.
TETRO (NR) Bennie (Alden
Ehrenreich, who resembles a raven
haired young Leo) travels to Buenos
Aires to find his long-lost older brother
(the infamous Vincent Gallo). Bennie
hopes to find the key to understanding
his sibling in the once promising writ
er’s nearly finished play. Its monochro
matic style conjures comparisons with
FFC's underrated Outsiders follow-up,
Rumble Fish.
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE
(PG-13) In a post-/ran Man/Dark
Knight/Watchmen world, X-Men
Origins: Wolverine is an unevolved
comic caveman. The X-Men trilogy
has been going downhill since X2, and
since 20th Century Fox's rights predate
Marvel’s new and improved property
handling, no one should expect great
things from subsequent Origins pics.
Wolverine merely fills in the pre-X team
gaps in the hairy, tri-clawed mutant's
long, long life.
UP (PG) While kid-friendly, the latest
Disney-Pixar film, Up, deals with some
serious issues upfront (infertility, old
age, death) before unleashing a most
fantastical adventure film. Seventy-
eight-year-old Carl Fredricksen (v.
Edward Asner) and his late wife, Ellie,
always dreamed of traveling to South
America. After Elite's death, Carl floats
his house to the fabled Paradise-Falls
via several thousand helium balloons.
Up is bound to be the year’s most
unconventional blockbuster. Every
minute of the film, co-directed by Pete
Docter (Monsters, Inc.) and Peterson,
bursts with creativity and ingenuity.)
Drew Wheeler