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Some releases may not be showing locally this week.
17 AGAIN (PG-13) Mike O’Donnell
(Matthew Perry) is an unhappy
37-year-old on the verge ot divorce.
So, when a mystical janitor (Brian
Doyle-Murray) offers Mike a chance to
return to his hotshot days as a teenage
basketball star who looked like Zac
Efron, he savs yes. 17 Again has noth
ing new to offer the body-switching
canon but Efron. Make your ticket
buying decisions accordingly.
ANGELS & DEMONS (PG-13)
Angels & Demons, the Da Vinci Code
predecessor turned cinematic sequel,
offers the same lukewarm thrills as
the 2006 blockbuster. Symbologist
Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is tasked
by the Vatican with solving a mystery
involving a dead pope, four kidnapped
cardinals and the Illuminati, a legend
ary cabal supposedly wiped out by
the Catholic church centuries ago.
Apparently, Langdon's brainy brand of
non-action reads better than it watches.
AWAY WE GO (R) See Movie Pick.
BRUNO (R) Like a modern day
Rabelais, Sacha Baron Cohen, creator
of the infamous Borat, unleashes
his latest satirical persona, flamboy
ant Austrian fashionista Brflno, on
America. Bruno is as clueless and
self-unaware as Borat, and like Borat,
Bruno is as shockingly, graphically
hilarious and feels fresh, not reheated.
Flaunting homosexuality in the faces of
those who fear and hate it most, SBC
literally and figuratively proves how
big a pair he's got. Only the brilliantly
talented, even clad in a shiny mesh tee
and butt-less lederhosen, could dream
up farcical garbage like this.
CH^RI (R) In 1920s Paris, a young
man, Cheri (Rupert Friend, The Boy
in the Striped Pajamas), retreats into
a fantasy world after being forced to
end his affair with the older woman,
Lea de Lonval (Michelle Pfeiffer), who
taught him how to love. Oscar-winning
screenwriter Christopher Hampton
(Dangerous Liaisons) adapted the nov
els by Colette for two-time Academy
Award-nominated director Stephen
Frears (The Grifters, The Queen).
Nominated for the Berlin International
Film Festival Golden Bear.
DAYS AND CLOUDS (NR) 2007.
A formerly well-off couple, Elsa and
Michele (Margherita Buy and Antonio
Albanese), copes with financial, marital
and social trials and tribulations after
Michele loses his job. I’m surprised a
Hollywood remake starring Michelle
Pfeiffer and Paul Giamatti isn’t in the
works. Winner of two Davids (Best
Actress and Best Supporting Actress)
and nominated for 13 more. Directed
by Golden Berlin Bear-winner Silvio
Soldini (Burning in the Wind, Bread
and Tulips) Part of the ACC Library's
iFilms series.
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.
EXAMINED LIFE (NR) Astra Taylor's
film follows influential contemporary
intellectuals, including Peter Singer,
Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek and Cornel
West, as they share their thoughts and
ideas. Screening will be followed by a
Q&A with the filmmaker.
G-FORCE (PG) A specially trained
team of guinea pigs must stop a
James Bond-ian billionaire aiming to
take over the world. Even with a cast
that includes Bill Nighy, Will Arnett,
Zack Galifianakis, Loudon Wainwright
III and the voices of Nicolas Cage.
Sam Rockwell. Penelope Cruz, Steve
Buscemi and Tracy Morgan, G-Force
might be the waste of a summer
afternoon I dread most. Directed by
Hoyt Yeatman, an Academy Award-
winner for the visual effects in James
Cameron's The Abyss.
GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST
(PG-13) Fashion photographer Connor
Mead (Matthew McConaughey) is the
definition of a lady-killer. The most
beautiful supermodels in the world
swoon and fight over this caddish
hunk of beefcake. But Connor gets his
comeuppance at his younger brother’s
(Breckin Meyer) wedding when he's
visited by the ghost of dead Uncle
Wayne (Michael Douglas).
THE HANGOVER (R) The summer’s
most relentlessly funny comedy may
have arrived. When three buddies—
married schoolteacher Phil (Bradley
Cooper), emasculated dentist Stu
(Ed Helms) and strange Alan (Zack
Galifianakis)—take their pal, Doug
(Justin Bartha). to Las Vegas for his
bachelor party, all hell breaks loose.
Too bad none of these guys can
remember one moment of it. Peppered
with familiar funny faces, The Hangover
is a perfect comedic convergence that's
funnier than it deserves to be.
HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE
(G) It's highly doubtful any Hannah
Montana fans will leave this super
sized. big screen episode of the hit
Disney series unsatisfied. As hard as it
might be to believe, Hannah Montana:
The Movie is a charmer.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-
BLOOD PRINCE (PG) In his sixth
year at Hogwarts. young wizard Harry
Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his pals.
Ron and Hermione (Rupert Grint and
Emma Watson), must contend with
Death Eaters, a puffed-up new Potions
prof and love potions. In his second
Potter film, director David Yates gets
what makes the books so special and
translates that quality to the big screen
unlike any of his predecessors; five
time screenwriter Steve Kloves has
perfected extracting only the essentials
from Rowling's doorstops. Half-Blood
Prince is the prettiest Potter film as
vnIL '
I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER
(PG-13) Nerdy valedictorian Denis
Cooverman (Paul Rust) has the night
of his high school life after confessing
his love for head cheerleader, the titular
Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere).
Soon, Denis and his closeted gay
best friend, Rick Munsch (Jack T.
Carpenter), are being pursued by Beth's
steroidal Marine boyfriend (Shawn
Roberts) and his two squad mates.
I Love You, Beth Cooper is not as
forlornly unfunny as its trailer, but it is
summer; why don’t you read the book?
ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE
DINOSAURS (PG) Don’t expect any
surprises in the third installment of the
mammoth animated franchise that isn’t
Shrek or produced by Pixar. If you've
got to see it. be sure to pay a little extra
for the 3D version. It's worth it.
MONSTERS VS. ALIENS (PG)
Rather than tying the knot with self-
involved local TV weatherman, Derek
Dietl (Paul Rudd), Susan becomes the
49 foot, 11 inch (get it?) Ginormica.
The wonderfully animated MvA may
be remarkable for its major action set
pieces but lacks the charm and wit of
more memorable family films.
MOON (R) Filmmaker Duncan Jones
(David Bowie's kid) surprises with his
feature debut. Moon constantly enter
tains; it's a little scary, a little funny,
and a little thoughtful. An obvious
fan of '70s science fiction, Jones' film
acknowledges its forebears without
strictly following any of their narrative
paths; sometimes, those referents are
cunningly used for narrative sleight-
of-hand. The robotic assistant, GERTY,
smoothly voiced by Kevin Spacey,
leads one to jump to HAL-like conclu
sions. And the effects—CG. digital
matte paintings, etc.—are spxtacular,
appearing more tangible than digital.
The out-of-this-world film orbits in
the good company of cult faves, Silent
Running or Dark Star.
MY SISTER’S KEEPER (PG-13) A
teenage girl, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva),
is dying. Her 11-year-old sister, Anna
(Abigail Breslin), was genetically engi
neered to save her older sister. Now
Anna doesn't want to be poked, prod
ded and cut any more so she hires law
yer Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin)
to sue her parents, Kate and Brian
(Cameron Diaz and the undervalued
Jason Patric), for medical emancipa
tion. An overstuffed pepper of melo
drama (a dyslexic brother, a grieving
judge, etc.), My Sister's Keeper never
lets one tragic ingredient overwhelm
the tear-inducing whole.
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.
A ORPHAN (R) Another Omen!
Bad Seed rip-off that seems shock
ingly similar to summer 2007's blah
Joshua, Orphan stars Vera Farmiga
(the aforementioned blah Joshud) and
Peter Sarsgaard as grieving parents
who adopt a sweet little nine-year-old,
Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman, the contro
versial, little-seen Hounddotf), who
might just be evil incarnate. Director
Jaume Collet-Serra previously helmed
House of Wax so he’s no safe bet, and
Orphan is writer David Johnson's first
produced screenplay. With three-time
Emmy-nominee CCH Pounder (The X
Files," “ER" and “The Shield").
PAUL BLART: MALL COP (PG) Paul
Blart: Mall Cop delivers mild, unobjec
tionable humor. The movie is as likable
and funny (more the former than the
latter) as its star.
THE PROPOSAL (PG-13) I was
worn out by the trailer for this Sandra
Bullock-Ryan Reynolds romantic
comedy way back in April. An unlikable
career woman, Margaret Tate (Bullock),
is about to be deported to her native
Canada. Her quick fix requires her
put-upon assistant, Andrew (Reynolds,
whom I can't help but like), to marry
her. Naturally, a trip to meet his
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
Days and Clouds (NR) 7:00 (Th. 7/23)
BfECNWOOD (706-546-1011)
Due to production deadlines, Beechwood movie times are
only accurate through July 23. Visit www.FIagpole.com for
updated times.
Brflno (R) 12:20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:40
The Hangover (R) 1:30, 4:15, 7:10, 9:35
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (PG) 11:45,
12:30, 3:00, 3:45, 6:15, 7:00, 9:30,10:15
I Love You, Beth Cooper (PG-13) 12:05, 2:30, 4:55,
7:20, 9:50
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG) 4:00, 6:15
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (3D) (PG) 11:45,
2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45
My Sister's Keeper (PG-13) 1:40, 4:30, 7:20, 9:55
Paul Blart: MaU Cop (PG) 10:00 a.m. (Th. 7/23)
The Proposal (PG-13) 1:10,4:10, 7:10. 9:55
Public Enemies (R) 1:05, 4:05, 7:05. 10:05
The Tale of Despereaux (G) 10:00 a.m. (Th. 7/23)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13) 12:15,
12:45, 3:30, 6:45, 8:30, 10:00
CARMJKi 12 (706-354-0016)
Brflno (R) 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:55
G-Force (3D) (PG) 12:20, 1:15, 2:35, 3:30, 4:50,
5:45, 7:05, 8:00, 9:20, 10:15 (starts F. 7/24)
The Hangover (R) 12:40. 3:05, 5:30, 7:50, 10:15
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (PG) 12:30,
1:30, 3:45, 4:45, 7:00, 8:00, 10:15
I Love You, Beth Cooper (PG-13) 12:00, 2-25, 4:55,
7:25, 9:55 (ends Th. 7/23)
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG) 1:10, 3:20,
5:30, 7:40, 9:50
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (3D) (PG) 12:40,
1:35, 2:50, 3:45, 5:00, 5:55, 7:10, 8:10, 9:30 (new
times F. 7/24: 12:40, 2:50, 5:00, 7:10, 9:30)
Orphan (R) 12:45*. 3:10, 5:25, 7:40, 10:00 (starts F.
7/24)
The Proposal (PG-13) 12:15, .2:45, 5:15, 7:45. 10:10
Public Enemies (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00,10:00 (ends
Th. 7/23)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13) 12:30,
3:45, 7:00. 8:00, 10:15 (new times F. 7/24: 12:30,
3:45, 7:00, 10:15)
The Ugly Truth (R) 12:25, 2:40, 4:55, 7:10, 9:25
. (starts F. 7/24)
Up (30) (PG) 12:15, 2:40, 5:05 (ends Th. 7/23)
CINt (706-353-3343)
Away We Go (R) 5:15, 7:15, 9:15 (new times F. 7/24:
5:15, 7:15) (addT time Sa. 7/25-Su. 7/26: 3:15)
(no 7-15 show Su. 7/26 or W. 7/29) Ino 5:15 show
Su. 7/26)
Ch<rl (R) 5:30, 7:30, 9:30 (add! time Sa. 7/25: 3:30)
(no 9:30 show Su. 7/26) (no 5:30 or 7:30 show W.
7/29) (starts F. 7/24)
Examined Life (NR) 7:30 (W. 7/29)
Moon (R) 7;45, 9:45 (new times F. 7/24: 9:45) (no
shows Su. 7/26)
Steamboat Bill Jr. (NR) 4:00, 7:00 (Su. 7/26)
Whatever Works (PG-13) 5:30 (ends Th. 7/23)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Due to production deadlines, Georgia Square Five movie
times are only accurate through July 23. Visit www.Flagpole.
com for updated times.
Angels ft Demons (PG-13) 12:50, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00
Drag Me to HeU (PG-13) 12:45, 3:05, 5:25, 7:45,
10:05
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (PG-13) 7:40,10:10
Hannah Montana: The Movie (G) 12:40, 3:00, 5:20
Monsters vs. Aliens (PG) 12:30, 3:00, 5:15, 7:35, 9:55
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
(PG) 12:35, 3:00, 5:25, 7:50. 10:15
TATE CENTER THEATER (706-542-6396)
17 Again (PG-13) 8:00, 10:00 (M. 7/27 & W. 7/29)
Monsters vs. Aliens (PG) 8:00, 10:00 (W. 7/22)
I told you we could tape your head back on.
family—Mary Steenburgen, “Coach*
Craig T. Nelson and Betty White as
the loopy grandma—in Alaska is the
next step.
PUBLIC ENEMIES (R) Michael
Mann's latest crime drama, Public
Enemies, is the biggest cinematic dis
appointment of 2009 to date. Starring
Johnny Depp as infamous bank robber
John Dillinger and Christian Bale as
pioneering G-Man Melvin Purvis,
this film musters less intrigue about a
fascinating period of American history
than a History Channel documentary
The film isn't a massive epic about the
'30s crime spree that led to the creation
of the FBI. It could be. All of the pieces
have been placed on the board, but the
gangland games never begin
STEAMBOAT BILL. JR. (NR) 1928
Legendary silent comedian Buster
Keaton—thought by some to be supe
rior in every way to the more popular
Little Tramp, Charlie Chaplin—is
William Canfield, Jr. the weakling son
of burly riverboat captain Steamboat
Bill (Ernest Torrence) When Bill, Jr.
arrives from Boston, ho falls in love
with the daughter (Marion Byron) of
his father’s rival (Tom McGuire) before
having to rescue his father during a
hurricane. Scored live by local jazz
ensemble Kenosha Kid.
THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX (G)
In the kingdom of Dor, soup and rats
are forbidden. Enter Despereaux,
exiled from Mouseworld. In Ratworld,
Despereaux meets Roscuro (v. Dustin
Hoffman), the rat responsible for
the banning of soup and rats. If only
the princess (v. Emma Watson, the
Harry Potter series’ Hermione) could'
meet a rat and see how nice they are.
Featuring an excellent voice cast that
includes a regal Sigourney Weaver as
the narrator, The Tale Oi Despereaux is
an admirable effort.
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF
THE FALLEN (PG-13) The millions
trekking to the theater to witness over
two hours of robotic mayhem are
going to get their sxks rocked by
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
The only people who won't like it prob
ably didn't really want to gorge on a
gigantic robot civil war anyway.
THE UGLY TRUTH (R) The Ugly
Truth is Katherine Heigl's most recent
attempt to escape “Grey's Anatomy"
by way of box office stardom. Heigl
stars as a TV producer. Abby Richter,
challenged by her macho on-air talent,
Mike Alexander (the extremely charm
ing Gerard Butler). He bets her he can
guide her into a lasting relationship; if
she wins, the lug’ll quit. I bet they fall
in love; what do I win when I'm right?
The movie from Legally Blonde director
Robert Luketic is amazingly rated R.
UP (PG) Seventy-eight-year-old Carl
Fredricksen (v Edward Asner) and
his late wife, Ellie, always dreamed •
of traveling to South America. After
Elbe's death, Carl floats his house to
the fabled Paradise Falls via several
thousand helium balloons. With its
odd old protagonist, 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 creativ
ity and ingenuity.
WHATEVER WORKS (PG-13) Woody
Allen returns to the May-December
romances he favors. "Curb Your
Enthusiasm"^ Larry David stands in
for the Woodste; as he woos Marilyn
Manson’s girlfriend, Evan Rachel
Wood. After the Oscar-nominated
Match Point and the Oscar-winning
Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Allen’s hot
again. Hopefully, Whatever Works
leans more toward those films than the
recent Cassandra's Dream and Scoop.
With Henry Cavill (“The Tudors’) and
Patricia Clarkson as the mother of
Wood's Melodie.
Drew Wheeler
10 , FLAGPOLE.COM JULY 22,2009
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