Newspaper Page Text
■
$ 4 N
ms*
;
Some releases may not be showing locally this week.
127 HOURS (R) Academy Award
winner Danny Boyle's newesi film is
based on the true story of mountain
climber Aron Ralston (the increasingly
interesting James Franco), who resorts
to doing anything to survive after he is
trapped under a boulder. For five days,
he lies trapped before summoning the
courage and will to scale a 65-foot wall
and hike eight miles to be rescued.
Think Cast Away except James Franco
a lot more desperate than Tom Hanks.
With Lizzy Caplan. Kate Mara. Amber
Tamblyn and Treat Williams.
AFTERSHOCK (NR) This Chinese
domestic smash (it is China's highest
grossing locally made film) chronicles
the 1976 earthquake in Tangshan
that claimed 240,000 lives. Director
Xiaogang Feng has won several inter
national awards, including one from the
Venice Film Festival, for his features
A Sign, A World Without thieves, The
Banquet and Assembly. Aftershock is
the first major commercial IMAX film
shot outside of the United States. The
film is also the official Chinese admis
sion for the Academy Award for Best
Foreign Language Film.
ALL GOOD THINGS (R) Capturing
the Friedmans director Andrew Jarecki
turns to fiction features with this mur
der mystery based on New York's most
notorious unsolved cases. A detective
(Jeffrey Dean Morgan) investigates a
missing persons case involving the
heir to a real estate dynasty (Ryan
Gosling) and a young woman from
the wrong side of the tracks (Kirsten
Dunst). Another late 2010, Ryan
Gosling film vying for Oscar love. With
Kristen Wiig, Frank Langella, Diane
Venora and Philip Baker Hall.
ALPHA AND OMEGA (PG) Two
young wolves at opposite ends of their
pack's social order find themselves in
a foreign land. They must rely on each
other in order to find their way home.
BLACK SWAN (R) I don't know
whether or not I’m going to like it.
but I cannot wait for Black Swan, the
new film from Darren Aronofsky {Pi,
Requiem tor a Dream. The Fountain,
The Wrestler). A veteran ballerina,
Nina (Natalie Portman), vies with
a promising new dancer, Lily (Mila
Kunis), for the lead role in Swan Lake
but instead begins a twisted friendship
with her.competitor, a relationship that
ultimately could destroy Nina. With
Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder and
Barbara Hershey
BURLESQUE (PG-13) What
Showgirls was to All About Eve,
Burlesque is to Showgirls. Not
nearly as awfully entertaining as
Paul Verhoeven's glitzy Vegas crass-
terpiece, Burlesque stars Cher as the
proprietor of a struggling Sunset Strip
burlesque club and Christian Aguilera
as the dancing diva with a voice
strong enough to save it. I'll never
understand why the filmmakers would
have assembled the cast they did and
then underuse Stanley Tucci and Alan
Cumming so criminally.
CAIRO TIME (PG) 2009. Magazine
editor Juliette (the criminally under- •
rated Patricia Clarkson) is supposed
to meet her husband, a U.N. official
working in Gaza, for a getaway in
Cairo. When the harried hubby cannot
attend, he sends his friend and long
time security officer Tareq (Alexander
Siddig). Against the romantic backdrop
of Cairo. Juliette and Tareq fall in love
Writer-director Ruba Nadda* film won
Best Canadian Feature Film at the
Toronto International Film Festival as
well as Best Picture from the Director’s
Guild of Canada
CASINO JACK (R) This docudrama
recounts the rise and fall of super
lobbyist Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey,
who is sure to garner Oscar buzz) and
his business partner, Michael Scanlon
(Barry Pepper), who wheeled and
dealed with Washington’s most power
ful players. The uh-oh comes when a
mob-connected associate (Jon Lovitz)
brings everything crashing down in
scandal. Alex Gibney released a docu
mentary about Abramoff called Casino
Jack and the United States of Money
back in May. Directed by George
Hickenlooper (Factory Girt).
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:
THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN
TREADER (PG) I would really rather
not return to Narnia for The Silver
Chair if that's OK with you. Twentieth
Century Fox. Fox* first entry since
snatching up the rights to the popular
C.S. Lewis franchise after Walt Disney
dropped it. The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Voyage ot the Dawn Treader,
hereby known as Narnia 3. continues
the series’ downward spiral since the
first entry. The Lion, the Witch, and the
Wardrobe. Lucy and Edmund Pevensie
MOVIE LISTINGS
Schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead.
ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650)
Welcome (NR) 7:00 (Th. 12/16)
CINt (706-353-3343)
Cairo Time (PG) 5:00/7:16 (ends Th. 12/16)
Conviction (R) 8:15 (ends Th. 12/16)
Fair Game (PG-13) 7:30, 9:45 (starts F. 12/17) (addl times Sa. 12/18
& Su. 12/19: 3:15) (no 9:45 show Su. 12/19)
Feeders 2: Slay Beils (NR) 8:00 (W. 12/15)
The Girt Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (R) 5:15 (ends Th. 12/16)
Monsters (R) 9:15 (new time F. 12/17: 9:30) (ad<fl times Sa. 12/18 &
Su. 12/19: 3:00) (no 9:30 show Su. 12/19)
My Dog Tulip (NR) 5:30 (starts F. 12/17)
Tamara Draw* (R) 5:00, 7:15 (starts F. 12/17)
Accurate movie times for the CANMMI 12 (706-354-0016),
EMMVM 11 (706-546-1011) and «OMU
S (706-548-3426) cinemas are not available by press
time. Visit www.flagpole.com for updated times.
(Georgie Henley and Skandar Keynes)
escape WW1I England for Narnia, sans
older siblings Peter and Susan, and
again join forces with Prince Caspian
(Ben Barnes). Nothing really works in
the tedious Narnia 3. which makes this
magical kingdom the least interesting
fantasy world I’ve visited in some time
(maybe since Eragon).
CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF
ELIOT SPITZER (R) Academy Award
winning documentarian Alex Gibney
(he won the Oscar lor Taxi to the Dark
Side but also helmed Enron: The
Smartest Guys in the Room, Gonzo:
The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S.
Thompson, and Casino Jack and the
United States of Mowtf charts the rise
and fall of former New York Governor
and present CNN anchor Eliot Spitzer.
Featuiing interviews with the scandat-
rocked former politico. Client 9s poster
claims to tell “the real story ‘
THE COMPANY MEN (R) TV mega
producer John Wells (‘ER,‘ “The West
Wing') makes his feature film debut
with this timely drama Three men—
Bobby Walker. Gene McClary and
Phil Woodward (Oscar winners Ben
Affleck. Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee
Jones)—deal with losing their jobs in
the present recession and the effects
on their wives, lives and communities.
Talk about a cast. Besides the three
stars. Kevin Costner. Craig T. Nelson,
Maria Bello and Rosemarie Dewitt are
also Company Men.
CONVICTION (R) Single mother Betty
Anne Waters (two-time Academy Award
winner Hilary Swank) puts herself
through law school in order to get her
brother's (Sam Rockwell) wrongful
conviction for murder overturned. It's
hard to tell Irom the trailer whether
or not this inspirational, based on a
true story drama—starring one mul
tiple Oscar winner and several Oscar
nominees (Juliette Lewis. Minnie
Driver, and Melissa Leo)—has award
potential. With Ari Graynor, Clea DuVall
and Peter Gallagher. Directed by Tony
Goldwyn (the bad guy from Ghost who
now directs).
DUE DATE (R) After the big-time
breakthrough ot The Hangover, direc
tor Todd Phillips (Road Trifi returns
with this comedy about a soon-to-be
father, Peter Highman (Robert Downey,
Jr.), who must hitch a ride with
aspiring actor, Ethan Tremblay (Zack
Galifinakias), if he wants to make it to
his child* birth on time. Something
feels off in the trailer for this seem
ingly funny comedy. With Michelle
Monaghan, Juliette Lewis. Danny
Mc8ride, Jamie Foxx, RZA and ASan
Artdn.
EASY A (PG-13) This second movie
from director Will Gluck and first-time
feature writer Bert V. Royal accom
plishes a rare feat for teen-aimed funny
flicks. It starts with-a fun concept that
it treats respectfully and with genuine
humor in a tightly written script good
enough to attract a talented cast that
includes Emma Stone. Stanley Tucci,
Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Haden
Church, Lisa Kudrowand Malcolm
McDowell.
FAIR GAME (PG-13) Doug Liman
(The Bourne Identify) directs this drama
based on the government* outing ol
CIA Operative Valerie Ptame. Naomi
Watts stars as Plame, whose Identity
was leaked while investigating WMOs .
in Irafl after her husband, Joseph
Wilson (Sean Penn), wrote a 2003 New
York Times op-ed piece critical ol the
Bush administration. With Ty Burrell
(so funny on ‘Modern Family’), Bruce
McGill (you’ll know him when you see
him). Sam Shepard and Brooke Smith
(the awesome reality TV satire Series 7:
The Contender.s).
FEEDERS 2: SLAY BELLS (NR)
1998. Cirte continues its Bad Movie
Night tradition with a holiday entry.
Feeders 2: Slay Bells (Did anyone see
the first Feeder# Did anyone know that
an original Feeders existed? It does and
actually sounds worse than its sequel.)
When aliens invade planet Earth, it's up
to Santa Claus and his elves to save
the world. First, it was Santa Claus
Conquers the Martians. No Jolly Old
Saint Nicholas has to lace oh against a
horde of papier-mache aliens with only
a plastic ray gun to defend us ali.
THE FIGHTER (R) Mark Wahlberg
stars as boxer ‘Irish’ Micky Ward,
whose brother. Dick Eklund (Christian
Bale), helped him train before going
pro in the 1980s. Seeking to rehab
his image after that awful I Heart
Huckabees footage went viral a few
years back David 0. Russell took over
this project that Darren Aronofsky was
prepping prior to The Wrestler. I won
der how welcoming the set was, with
the combination of notorious hotheads
Russell and Bale. With Amy Adams and
Melissa Leo.
THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE
HORNET’S NEST (R)The cinematic
tale of Lisbeth Salander (Noomi
Raoace) concludes with this adaptation
of Stieg Larsson’s third and final novel.
Trapped in the hospital, recovering
from life-threatening injuries. Lisbeth
and her allies, including Mikael
Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), must
outwit a secret section of the Swedish
government that just wants her dead.
The Girl Who Played with Fire direc
tor Daniel Alfredson returns. With an
English-language adaptation of the
first novel on the way. wilt an American
audience exist for the Swedish climax?
HARRY POTTER AND THE
DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 /
(PG-13) As much as I still cherish
this series of books. I just have never
been as invested in the film versions.
That lack of true, heartfelt engagement
has never shown as brightly as it does
now. as the end we all Imow by heart
approaches. I cannot find fault with
this flawless penultimate installment of
the stalwart franchise. The three young
leads have matured tremendously as
actors; Emma Watson has improved
vastly since the game-changing third
film. Director David Yates continues
to bring Rowling's magical world to
rousing, tangible life. The landscapes
ol the hopeless, doomed, lonely HP7.1
resembled a post-apocalypse and con
jured up the highest possible praise; it
reminded me of Peter Jackson* Lord of
the Rings anti The Empire Strikes Back.
HOW DO YOU KNOW (PG-13) An
aging (2771) athlete Lisa Jorgenson
(Reese Witherspoon) stars feeling her
age and winds up getting Involved in
a love triangle witti her baseball player
boyfriend (Owen Wilson) and a crisis-
ridden corporate guy (Paul Rudd).
I'm a big fan of Oscar-winning writoF-
director James L Brooks (terns of
Endearment. Broadcast News, As Good
As ft Gets), who hopefully will get back
on track after the pretty btah Spanglish
With Brooks regular Jack Nicholson as
Rudd*dad. -f
I LOVE YOU PHILUP MORRIS (R)
Scam artist and former police officer
Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) plots the
big con to escape his second stint in
prison and win the heart and freedom
of Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor).
Bad Santa scsigtes Glenn Ficarra and
John Requa make their directorial
debut with this adaptation of a true
story; their comedic presence alone
piques my curiosity. Carrey against
type just increases my interest. With
Leslie Mann and Rodrigo Santoro
(Raul Castro in both parts of Steven
Soderbergh's epic Chef).
JACK GOES BOATING (R) In Philip
Seymour Hoffman* directorial debut,
the Academy Award winner goes with
something comfortable. He devel
oped and starred in an Off-Broadway
production of the Bob Glaudino play
Limo driver Jack (Hottman) goes on a
blind date with Dr. Bob’s Funeral Home
employee Connie (Amy Ryan), while
the relationship of another working
class couple, Clyde and Lucy (John
Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega). hits a
rough patch. Hoffman, Ortiz and Rubin-
Vega all reprise their roles from the
stage production
THE KING’S SPEECH (R) To. combat
a nervous stammer. King George VI
(Colin Firth), AKA Bertie, works with
an unorthodox speech therapist, Lionel
Logue (Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush).
Director Tom Hooper helmed HBO's
excellent ‘John Adams' and Elizabeth I.
This historical picture is shaping up to
be Firth’s best Oscar shot yet; the trailer
predicts a winner. With Helena Bonham
Carter as Georges daughter Queen
Elizabeth II. Guy Pearce as Edward VIII.
Michael Gambon as King George V and
Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill.
LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS:
THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE (PG)
Unfortunately, the film, based on the
first three books in Kathryn Lasky*
bestselling childrens series (I made it
through one and almost a haft of the
short books), feels rushed and poorly
explained. Having attempted to read the
books and seen the movie, I wonder
whether or not it is Lasky* fault not the
filmmakers, that this fantasy universe
lacks the crucial elements to make it
engrossing and unforgettable.
LOVE AND OTHCn DRUGS (R) The
raunchy romdramedy Love and Other
Drugs delivers on its titillating promise
to show loads ol Jake Gyllenhaai and
Anne Hathaway naked and banging.
Other stuff happens, but ones desire
lo watch writer-director Edward Zwick*
first romance since 1986's About Last
Night... really boils down to how
much you want to see these two stars
in the buff. Based bn Jamie Rekfy*
memoir. Hard Sell: The Evolution of a
Viagra Salesman. ■ . ~
MADE IN DAGENHAM (R) Sounds
like another satisfying Britcom. In
1968, the female workers at the Ford
Dagenham car plant went on strike
to protest sexual discrimination. The
swell cast includes Sally Hawkins, who
probably will not get her first Oscar
nomination for this (she should have
gotten one for Happy-Go-Lucky) and
Bob Hoskins. Director Nigel Cole also
helmed A Lot Like Love, Calendar Girts
and Saving Grace. Word is good on the
script by TV writer William Ivory.
MEGAMIND (PG) Megsmindwb-
tify tweaks the superhero genre with
enough ingenuity and crafty celebrity
voice-work to save a parent* weekend
trip to the movies. Dreamworks'
Megamind could not stand up to the
real costumed heroes like Pixar's
The Ineredibles, but the superhero
satire would make a capable animated
sidekick.
MONSTERS (R) See Movie Pick
MORNING GLORY (PG-13)
Fortunately, watching a movie about
morning talk shows is a lot less painful
than actually watching ‘Good Morning,
Early Today Showl* Small-time pro
ducer Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams)
gets her shot at the big-time when IBS's
fourth-place ‘Daybreak* comes to call
Morning Glory reaps the old-fashioned
benefits of casting movie stars like
zestful beauty McAdams or gnjfl audi
ence lave Ford and letting them do
their charismatic thing.
MY DOG TULIP (NR) This lovely
looking animated movie for adults tells
the story ola man and his affection
for the German shepherd he rescues
Christopher Plummer lends his grav
elly. dynamic voice to Tulip's owner,
British author J.R. Ackerley. who pub
lished an account of his 16-year rela
tionship with Queenie (renamed Tulip
for the book). The hand drawn anima
tion from Paul and Sandra Fierlinger
looks beautitplly old-fashioned
NIGHT CATCHES US (R) In 1976.
Marcus (Anthony Mackie) returns
to the Philly neighborhood he once
called home. Though some old friends.
Patricia (Kerry Washington), greet
Marcus warmly, others suspect him
of being before behind the slaying
ol a compatriot in the Black Power
Movement. Night Catches Us is the
feature debut of wriler-di rector Tanya
Hamilton and features a score by The
Roots. The film was hailed as one of
the best at Sundance, where it was
nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.
RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS
TALE (NR) Bless my horror heart, this
flick sounds awesome. Santa Claus is
unearthed at an archaeological dig in
Lapland* Korvatunturi Mountains. But
judging by the disappearing children,
this jolly old Nicholas is no saint,
leading a man. his son and a posse of
hunters to go on a Santa hunt. Watch
out for SantaS elves. They won’t let
their leader go quietly into the night.
Finnish filmmaker Jalmart Hetander’s
holiday entry in his Rare Exports series
could be Christmas 201 OS hot gift for
horror lovers.
RESIDENT EVIL- AFTERLIFE (R)
With such a rich source of story, one
would think this entire series could be
better, but Anderson has manufactured
his own paler RE universe by cherryp
icking various concepts and characters.
REA may be the worst yet.
TAMARA OREWE(R) A young
newspaper writer (blockbuster princess
Gemma Arterton, Quantum ot Solace,
Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia:
The Sands of Timd), who used to be
what one would call an ugly duckling,
returns to her hometown as her child
hood home goes up for sale. Two-time
Oscar nominee Stephen Frears (The
Gr/flers and The Queen) directs Moira
Buffmi* adaptation of Posy Simmond* .
graphic novel retelling of Thomas
Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd.
With Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!).
TANGLED (PG) Disney* 50th ani
mated feature entertains like some ot
the best the House pi Mouse has ever
offered. Can you imagine how magical
this fairy tale could have been had it
been traditionally animated and simply
titled Rapunzel? None of the songs
may be destined for Disney classic
status, but the warm family humor and
finance will please anyone longing for
a new Disney dream to come true.
THE TEMPEST (PG-13) JuHe Taymor,
more acclaimed lor Broadway* The
Lion King than any ot her IHm work
(Across the Universe) adapts more
Shakespeare (she previousty filmed
a version of Titus). Prospero is new
18 FLAGP01E.C0M • DECEMBER 15.2010
■