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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 of divorce.
So. when a mystical janitor (Brian
Doyle-Murray) offers Mike a chance
to return to his hotshot days as a teen
age basketball star who looked like
Zac Efron, he says yes. Alas, 17Again
has nothing new to offer the body
switching canon but Efron. Make your
ticket-buying decisions accordingly.
ADAM (PG-13) The handsome
Adam (Hugh Dancy) has Asperger's
Syndrome. His new upstairs neighbor,
Beth (Rose Byrne. “Damages"), is a
beautiful writer damaged by a past
lover. The two pursue a complex rela
tionship. Writer-director Max Mayer
last directed a feature in 1998. (It was
called Better Living. I’ve never heard of
it, but it has a good cast that includes
Oscar-winner Olympia Dukakis and the
late Roy Scheider.) Nominated for the
Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Adam won
the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize.
With Peter Gallagher.
ALEX RIDER: OPERATION
STORMBREAKER (PG) Based on
Anthony Horowitz’s popular series of
teen novels (the author contributed the
screenplay), Stormbreaker sounds a
lot like the James Bond, Jr. cartoon.
Fourteen-year-old Alex Rider (Alex
Pettyfer) must replace his late uncle,
spy Ian Rider (Ewan McGregor), if
MI6 is to discover what a billionaire
(Mickey Rourke) is planning to do with
the supercomputers he's donating to
every school in the country. At least the
cast is decent.
> ALIENS IN THE ATTIC (PG) A
family moves to Maine and discovers
the top floor of their new home has
been invaded by aliens. The cast is
all over the place. First, there’s High
School Musical alum Ashley Tisdale;
then you've got ‘SNL’ vets Kevin
Nealon and Tim Meadows. Fan-favorite
Andy Richter's in the house, as is
five-time Emmy-winner Doris Roberts
(“Everybody Loves Raymond").
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 with a better
hairdo) is tasked by the Vatican with
solving a mystery involving a dead
pope, four kidnapped cardinals and the
Illuminati, a legendary cabal suppos
edly wiped out by the Catholic church
centuries ago.
AWAY WE GO (R) Burt and Verona
(John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph),
a couple of self-described “fuck-ups,“
are searching for a place to raise their
yet-to-be-born child after Burt's selfish
parents (Catherine O'Hara and Athens-
born Jeff Daniels) announce their plan
to move to Belgium. Away We Go,
written by novelists Dave Eggers and
his wife, Vendela Vida (co-founder and
co-editor of The Believer), reads like
a quirky, literarily humorous National
Book Award finalist.
BRUNO (R) Like a modern day
Rabelais, Sacha Baron Cohen, creator
of the infamous Borat, unleashes
his latest satirical persona, flamboy
ant Austrian fashionista BrOno, on
America. BrOno is as clueless and
self-unaware as Borat, and like Borat,
BrOno 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 tae
and butt-less lederhosen, could dream
up farcical garbage like this.
CHlrRI (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).
Yeah, well you’re no Drew Barrymore.
Nominated for the Berlin International
Film Festival's Gelden Bear. With Kathy
Bates.
THE COLLECTOR (R) Cettain horror
fans might be excited about the direc
torial debut of Marcus Dunstan, one
half of the writing duo behind the Feast
flicks and Saw IV, Vand the upcoming
VI. When a desperate ex-con plots a
heist of his new employer’s country
home, he doesn't plan on a second
criminal who has rigged the house with
deadly traps a la Jigsaw. Connections
to Saw are fitting as the movie is
reportedly an aborted prequel to the
horror juggernaut.
THE COVE (PG-13) Director Louie
Psihoyos used state-of-the-art
technology to capture the injustice
and abuse an activist group led by
dolphin trainer Richard O’Barry (he
worked on “Flipper' until one of the
dolphins, Kathy, died in his arms) find
in a hidden cove near Taijii, Japan.
The website describes the film as “an
intelligent/action/adventure/OceanS
Eleven-Wbe horror film.’ Nominated for
the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, The
Cove won the Audience Award for best
documentary. You'll best remember
producer Fisher Stevens from his Short
Circuit days.
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..
MOVIE LISTINGS
Theater schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
Eldorado (NR) 7:00 (Th. 7/30)
BEECHWOOD (706-546-1011)
Due to production deadlines, Beechwood movie times are
only accurate through July 30. Visit www.Flagpole.com for
updated times.
Alex Riden Stormbreaker (PG) 10:00 a.m, (Th. 7/30)
BrOno (R) 12:20, 2:50, 5:10, 7:30, 9:40 (no 5:10,
7:30 or 9:40 shows W. 7/29)
G-Forte (PG) 12:45, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
G-Forte (3D) (PG) 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45
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
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG) 12:00, 2:25,
4:50, 7:25, 9:40-Kung Fu Panda (PG) 10:00 a.m.
(Th. 7/30)
Metropolitan Opera: II Barbiere di Siviglia (NR) 7:00
(W. 7/29)
Orphan (R) 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 10:05
The Proposal (PG-13) 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 9:55
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13) 12:15,
3:30, 6:45, 10:00
Ugly Truth (R) 12:05, 2:30, 4:55, 7:20, 9:50
CARMIKE 12 (706-354-0016)
Due to production deadlines, Carmike 12 movie times are
only accurate through July 30. Visit www.Flagpole.com for
updated times.
Bruno (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
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
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,
2:50, 5:00, 7:10, 9:30
Orphan (R) 1:30, 4:20, 7:10, 10:00
The Proposal (PG-13) 12:15, 2:45, 5:15, 7:45, 10:10
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13) 12:30,
3:45, 7:00, 10:15
The Ugly Truth (R) 12:25, 2:40, 4:55, 7:10, 9:25
CINl (706-353-3343)
Away We Go (R) 5:15, 7:15 (no 7:15 show W. 7,29)
(new times F. 7/31: 5:15, 9:30) (add! time Sa.
8/1-Su. 8/2: 3:15)
Chiri (R) 5:30, 7:30, 9:30 (no 5:30 or 7:30 show W.
7/29) (ends Th. 7/30)
East of Eden (PG) 5:00, 7:30 (starts F. 7/31)
Examined Life (NR) 7:30 (W. 7/29)
Moon (R) 9:45 (no show Su. 8/2)
Summer Hours (NR) 7:15 (addl time Sa. 8/1-Su. 8/2:
3:00) (starts F. 7/31)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Due to production deadlines, Georgia Square Five movie
times are only accurate through July 30. Visit www.Flagpole.
com for updated times.
Angels & Demons (PG-13) 12:50, 4:00, 7:00.10:00
Dance Rick (PG-13) 12:45, 3:10, 5:10, 7:45,10:05
Drag Me to HeU (PG-13) 12:30, 5:15, 9:55
Land of the Lost (PG-13) 12:40, 3:00, 5:20, 7:40,
10:10
Monsters vs. Aliens (PG) 3:00, 7:35
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 (FG-13) 8:00, 10:00 (W. 7/29)
DRAG ME TO HELL (PG-13) While
frying to get a promotion, sweet
loan officer Christine Brown (Allison.
Lohman) shames an old gypsy hag,
Mrs. Ganush (Loma Raver). After a
rousing attack in a parking garage,
Christine is cursed. The demon Lamia
will stop at notfiing to torture her and
carry her sou! to hell for all eternity.
Raimi digs deep into his bag of frenetic
camerawork and joyously revels in
revolting foley work in the most scary
fun I've had at a horror film in a long
time.
EAST OF EDEN (PG) 1955. Now
playing is James Dean's first feature.
Elia Kazan's adaptation of the John
Steinbeck classic. Dean was nominated
for an Academy Award for his portrayal
of the tonured Caleb “Cal’ Trask, who
is always competing with his brother
Aron (Richard Davalos) for the love
and approval of their father (Raymond
Massey).
ELDORADO (NR) 2008. When Yvan
(writer-director Bouli Lanners) finds a
burglar inside his home, he takes the
young man home to his parents rather
than call the cops. Extraordinary events
transpire and interesting people are met
while the duo travel across Belgium
in Lanners's road comedy. Eldorado
was chosen for the Directors' Fortnight
at Cannes and was nominated for the
C6sar for Best Foreign Film (it lost to
Waltz With Bashir).
EXAMINED LIFE (NR) Astra
Taylor, the director of 2itek!, hits
the streets with some of today’s
premier thinkers—K. Anthony Appiah,
Judith Butler. Michael Hardt, Martha
Nussbaum, Avital Ronell, Peter Singer,
Sunaura Taylor, Cornel West and Slavoj
ZlZek. From Fifth Avenue, the streets of
Manhattan, San Francisco's Mission
District, and a garbage dump, these
great minds wax philosophical while
visiting places of great personal reso
nance. The screening will be followed
by a Q&A with the filmmaker.
FUNNY PEOPLE (R) Though Judd
Apatow has seemingly been involved
with every comedy released in the
past few years, he's only directed
two films of his own. Funny People,
Apatow's third writing and directing
effort, looks to have that expected right
dose of heart and raunchy humor.
Veteran comic, George Simmons
(Adam Sandler), has an inoperable,
fatal illness. Seeking a real, human
connection, George takes a fledgling
performer, Ira (Seth Rogen), under his
wing. With Leslie Mann and Eric Bana.
G-FORCE (PG) G-Force is being
touted as uber-producer Jerry
Bruckheimer's first 3-D and family film.
The heroes may be furry, well-animated
guinea pigs voiced by Sam Rockwell,
Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan and
Nicolas Cage, but the loud, busy
action movie definitely hails from
Bruckheimer’s gated Hollywood neigh
borhood. It's as good—or as bad—as
any old Bruckheimer production.
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
well.
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. Ice Age:
DotD is just for the kiddies. If you've
got to see it, be sure to pay a little extra
for the 3D version. It’s worth it.
KUNG FU PANDA (PG) 2008. Kung
Fu Panda is actually one of the best
martial arts films to gracefully flip,
kick and chop across the big screen
in some time. Po the Panda and the
Furious Five, not to mention the
sinister Tai Lung, kick ass like Bruce
Lee used to do it. Just because the
fights are animated rather than cho
reographed doesn't mean they must be
any slower or less violent.
LAND OF THE LOST (PG-13) 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 Kroflt (“H R
Pufnstuf) are best left as cheesy,
campy and bizarre as the grown-up
fans, all hopped up on nostalgia,
remember them.
METROPOLITAN OPERA: IL
BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (NR) Tenor
Juan Diego Flores and mezzo-soprano
Joyce DiDonato star in this beloved
operatic comedy. Tony Award-winning
director Bartlet Sher’s The Barber of
Seville was first presented on the big
screen in March.
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 obviQus
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 out-of-this-world film orbits
in the good company of cult faves,
Silent Punning or Dark Star.
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).
ORPHAN (R) See Movie Pick.
THE PROPOSAL (PG-13) An unlik-
able 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 family—Mary Steenburgen,
“Coach’ Craig T. Nelson and Betty
White as the loopy grandma—in
Alaska is the next step.
SUMMER HOURS (NR) The death
of their mother strains the bonds of
three siblings—two brothers (Charles
Berling and J6r6mie Renier) and a
sister (a distractingly blonde Juliette
Binoche)—as they divvy up not only
her prized possessions but also their
own memories. An official selection
of the Toronto, New York and AFI Film
Festivals, Summer Hours didn't snag
any prizes, but it did pick up some
good notices. Written and directed by
three-time Palme d’Or nominee Olivier
Assayas.
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 money's worth and
their socks rocked by Transformers:
Revenge of the Fallen. The only people
who won't like it probably didn’t really
want to gorge on a gigantic robot civil
war anyway.
THE UGLY TRUTH (R) Why does
anyone care whether or not an unap
pealing neurotic beauty (Katherine
Heigl) and a charming, Neanderthalish
brute (Gerard Butler) fall in love?
Seriously, it's a valid question. A dirty
version of Cyrano de Bergerac where
Cyrano falls in love with Roxane while
helping her woo Christian, The Ugly
Truth cashes in on the naughty comedy
trend with some f-bombs and mastur
bation gags yet keeps censoring itself
so as not to actually offend the old
people for whom Judd Apatow is akin
to Lenny Bruce or Larry Flynt.
Drew Wheeler
ft? FLAGPOLE.COM - JULY 29.2009!