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127 HOURS (R) Academy Award win
ner Danny Boyles newest film is based
on the true story ol mountain ctimber
Arop. Ralston, who resorts to doing
anything to survive after he is trapped
under a boulder For five days, he lies
happed 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
ALL GOOD THINGS (R) Capturing
the Friedmans duetto: 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 tor Osar 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 tmd their way home
ANOTHER TEAR (PG-13) The incred
ible Mike Leigh (Naked, Secrets &
Lies, Topsy Turvy, Vera Drake, Happy-
Go-Luckfi returns! Spend lour seasons
in the life of the happily married Tom
and Gerri (Jim Broactoent and Ruth
Sheen) and their miserable circle of
friends and family Leigh has had more
critically welcomed films than Another
Year, but the film, starring the usual
crew of Leigh regulars (Broadbent.
Sheen. Lesley Manville. Peter Wight.
Phil Davis. Imelda Staunton, etc)
sounds exactly like what I would expect
from the veteran British filmmaker
BEST OF THE NY INT’L
CHILDREN S FILM FESTIVAL (NR)
Each year this festival presents a kalei
doscopic collection ot the best new
animation, live action and experimental
film tor children from around the world
Visit their website (wwwgkids.tvAour)
or Cine* (wwwjthenscine.com) tor
more information
BtUTlFUL(R) Critical darling
Alejandro Gonizdlez Ittrntu (Amores
Petros, 21 Grams Babef) returns with
what sounds like a Spanrsh-ianguage
version rt Clint Eastwood* Hereafter
(riot a compliment). In Barcelona,
llxbal (Javier Bardem, who won Best
Actor at Cannes) struggles to be a good
husoand and lather while using his
ability to speak to the deceased to eke
out a living Critical reaction has been
mixed, with Dig names like Sean Penn.
Werner Herzog Guillermo del Toro and
Julian Schnabel coming to itoritut
defense Nominated tor the Golden
Globe tor Best Foreign Language Film
BUCK SWAN iR) Great does no!
begin to describe Black Swan nor does
it do this complex film justice Let s
call Black Swan what it is: stunning,
original, another imperfect masterpiece
from filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (The
Wrestler). Aging ballerina Nina Sayers
(Natalie Portman) finally lands a lead
as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake But
as the pressure mounts, Nina begins to
suspect that the pretty new dancer. Lily
(Mila Kums). is out to Single White
Female her.
BLUE VALENTINE (R) The perfect
past and broken present of working
class couple Dean and Cindy (Golden
Globe nominees Ryan Gosling and
Michelle Williams) is examined in a
crosscut fury by writer-director Derek
Cianfrance Early buzz has been strong,
though Blue Valentine is supposedly
tar from a light-hearted romp at the
movies. Originally rated NC-17, the
film won its R on appeal
CASINO JACK (R) This docudrama
recounts the rise and tall of super
lobbyist Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey,
who is sure to gamer 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-conneded associate (Jon Lovitz)
brings everything crashing down in
scandal. Alex Gibney released a docu
mentary about Abramoff called Casino
Jack and toe United States of Money
back in May.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:
THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN
TREAOER (PG) The Voyage of the
Dawn Treaoer, hereby known as Narnia
3, continues toe series' downward
spiral since toe first entry. The Lion,
toe Witch, and toe Wardrobe A so-so
hero's quest lacks any dramatic thrust
or surging narrative flow, and toe
Pevensies' obnoxious younger cousin,
Eustace (Will Pouiter), grates until his
big character transformation By the
time Aslan (v. Liam Neeson) showed
up to preach a climactic homily. I was
eager to return to England and see how
the Blitz was progressing.
MOVIE LISTINGS
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ACC UMtAKY (706-613-3650)
Not* fry Note (NR) 7:00 (Th. 12/30)
Hr Onet «* My Lift (NR) 7.-00 (Th. 1/6)
CMt (706-353-3343)
Die to tte holidays, current Cut movie times were unavailable it time of put>h-
catkK. Please check their website
Mr 6mm (PG-13)
Kids «* Short Rim: Boot of NY Ml Children's FUn Festival (NR)
boosters (R)
My Dof Tottp (NR)
Tamara Brow (S)
Accurate movie times for the CAMMU 12 (706-354-0016),
BSSOMOOft STAJH8M 11 (706-546-1011) and 6MMU
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time. Visit wnrw.HagpoU.com for updated times.
CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF
ELIOT SPtTZER (R) Academy Award
winning documentartan Alex Gibney'
(he won the Oscar for Taxi to toe Daft
Side but also helmed Enron The
Smartest Guys in toe Ropm Gonzo
The Lite and Work of Dr Hunter S.
Thompson, and Casino Jack and toe
United States of Money) Cherts the rise
and tall ol former New York Governor
and present CNN anchor Eliot Spitzer
Featuring interviews with the scandal-
rocked former politico. Client 9s poster
clam to tell "the real story'
THE COMPANY MEN (R) TV mega
producer John Wells (*ER * "The Wesl
Wing’) makes hiy feature film debut
with this timely drama Three men—
Bobby Walker. Gene McClary and
Phii Woodward (Oscar winners Ben
Affleck, Chris Cooper and Tommy Lee
Jones)—deal with losing their jobs in
the present recession and toe effects
on then wives, lives and communities
Talk about a cast. Besides toe three
stars. Kevin Costow, Craig T Nelson
Maria Bello and Rosemarie Dewitt are
also Company Men
FAIR GAME (PG-13) Doug Liman
(The Bourne Identity) directs this drama
based on the governments outing of
CIA Operative Valerie Piame Naomi
Watts stars as Piame, whose identity
was leaked while investigating WMDs
in Iraq after her husband. Joseph
Wilson (Sean Penn), wrote a 2003 New
York Times op-ed piece critical of toe
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 Contenders)
THE FIGHTER (R) Mark Wahtberg
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 toe set mas. with
the combination of notorious hotheads
Russel! and Bale Wito Amy Adams and
Upjjcin) | on
FOR ONCE IN MY UFE (NR) Rom
the (TVS Community Cinema Series
comes toe inspiring story of the Spirit
of Goodwill Band. The 28 members
of the band navigate daily life through
a wide range of mental and physical
disabilities. Wito humor, talent and
determination, this land plays on.
Filmmakers James Bigham, Mark
Moormam and creative director Javier
Pena include concert tootage and
intimate behind-the-scenes footage
as they document the band's struggles
and triumphs
GULLIVER'S TRAVELS (PG) Travel
writer Lemuel Gutover (Jack Black) is
shipwrecked on toe island of LillipuL
in toe middle of toe Bermuda Triangle,
inhere he towers o*r the natives
Though toey first imprison him,
he soon becomes a favorite, help
ing scheme to defeat toe Uilipidiar,
rivals, the Btetuscudans Directed by
Monsters vs. Aliens co-director Rob
Lefterman
HARRY POTTER AM) THE
DEATHLY HALLOWS:PARTI
(PG-13) t cannot find tautt wfto to*
flawless penultimate installment of toe
stalwart franchise The toree young
6 FLAGPOLE.COM DECEMBER 29,2010 & JANUARY 5,2011
leads have matured tremendously as
actors Emma Watson has improved
vastly since the game changing third
film Director David Yates continues
to bung Rowlings magicai world to
rousing tangible life The landscapes
ot the hopeless, doomed, lonely HPT 1
resembled a post-apocalypse and con
jured up toe highest possible praise
HEREAFTER (PG-13) Being an
Eastwood film. I'm not surprised
Hereafter is slow and a bit sappily
sentimental Eastwood s typically pfcnky
guitar score does not fit and subtracts,
rather than adds, to the hokiness lam
positively shocked that this misguided
meandering hokum was written by The
Queen Oscar winner Peter Morgan
He's better than tots So is Eastwood
HOW DO YOU KNOW (PG-13)An
aging (277?) athlete Lisa Jorgenson
(Reese Witherspoon) starts feeling her
age and winds 14) getting involved in
a love triangle with her baseball player
boyfriend (Owen Wilson) and a crisis-
ridden corporate guy (Paul Rudd)
I'm a big tan of Oscar-winning wnter-
director James L Brooks (Terms of
Endearment Broadcast News. As Good
As 11 Gets), who hopefully will get back
on track after the pretty blah SpanQhsh
With Brooks regular Jack Nicholson as
Rudd's dad
I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS (R)
Scan 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 scripters Glam Ficarra and
John Requa make their directorial
debut with this adaptation ot a true
story: their cornedic presence alone
piques my curiosity Carrey against
type just increases my interest
THE ILLUSIONIST (PG) Triplets of
Belleville IWmmates Sylvain C hornet
returns with this wondrous looking
traditionally animated feature Based on
3 concept by the (ate adored Jacques
Tati. The Illusionist is a stage magician
struggling against the ebbing tide of
vaudeville Enter a young girl named
Alice who changes his life forever
JACKASS 3 (R) Everything I said tour
years ago in my Jackass Number Two
review holds true for Jackass 3 ft*
disgusting, filthy, violent and fracking
hilarious
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 HBOS
excellent ‘John Adams* and Elizabeth /.
This historical picture is shaping up to
be Fifths best Oscar shot yet toe frailer
predicts a winner. Wito Helena Bonham
Carter as Georges daughter Queen
Elizabeth B. Guy Pearce as Edward VHI,
Michael Gambon as King George V and
Timothy Spait as Winston Churchill
UFE AS WE KNOW IT (PG-13)
When their mutual friends die in a car
accident, two singletons (Katoerine
Hetgl and Josh Duhamei) find them-
selves thrust wito toe rote ot caregiver
tor their orphaned daughter. Director
Greg Beftanti looks to stech toe
crown of heartfelt hilarity from Judd
Apatow using ApatcvrS own Knocked
Dp queen & - ?
LITTLE FOCKERS (PG-13) leant
quite decide how Heel about this
third entry in toe Meet toe movie
franchise. The Fockers, Greg and Pam
(Ben Stiller and Ten Polo), now have a
couple ot kids taking a little ol grandoa
Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) heal oft
of Greg But with the twins birthday
party on the horizon, old suspicions—
and old pals like Teri's ex Kevin (Owen
Wilson)—are returning to haunt male
nurse Gaylord Focker Director Pau!
Weitz (AboJaBoy) takes over tor
Jay Roach, the director of the first two
mega-hit comedies
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 tor this (she should have
gotten one tor Happy-Go-Lucky) and
Bob Hoskins
MONSTERS (R) Set in an alternate
reality where alien life forms have
invaded and mutated the animal popu
lation of a quarantined Mexico, reporter
Andrew (Scoot McNairy) is tasked
with escorting his boss' daughter.
Samantha (Whitney Able), back to toe
United States When their passports are
stolen, Andrew and Whitney must risk
traveling over land during toe migra
tion period of ios monstruos. ScHi
Ians expecting an explosive monster-a
mi nute thriller will be disappointed ini
tially. but the climactic payoff is worth
the deliberate trek to get there
MY DOG TULIP (NR) This lovely
looking animated movie tor adults
tells the story of a man and his affec
tion for the German shepherd he
rescues. Christopher Plummer tends
his gravelly, dynamic voice to Tulip*
owner. British author J.R Ackeriey. who
published an account ot his 16-year
relationship with Queenie (renamed
Tulip tor the book)
NOTE BY NOTE (NR) 2007 Ever
wondered how they make a Steinway
Grand piano 9 Personalty, I have not.
though I bet the process is an interest
ing one Note by Note: The Makmg
of Steinway L1037,; from director Ben
Niles, follows the piano from toe for
est floor to toe concert hall, and asks
tor toe expert opinions ot Steinway
enthusiasts
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 (R)
Katie's back Does it matter what this
sequel to Oren PdiS tiny budgeted
blockbuster is about, so long as the
movie is as chilly as toe teaser?
RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS
TALE (NR) Bless my horror heart, this
flick sounds awesome Santa Claus is
unearthed at an archaeological dig in
Uplands Korvatunturi Mountains. But
judging by toe disappearing children,
tois jolly old Nicholas is no saint
leading a man, his son and a posse ot
hunters to go on a Santa hunt. Watch
out for Santa* ekes They won't let
their leader go quietty into the night
Finnish tummaker jaman Meanders
holiday entry could be Christmas
2010* hot gift tor horror tows.
R&> (PG-13) Retired black ops agent
Frank Moses (Willis) is classified
RED—Retired. Extremely Dangerous
To survive, he goes on toe mad.
picking up his former teammates,
afl of whom have also been declared
RED due to a mysterious earty-BOs
operation in Guatemala A good old.
lighthearted romp of PG-13 violence
and emissions.
SEASON OF THE WITCH (PG-13)
What I sincerely hope does not become
toe year of Nic Cage kicks ofl with
this medieval adioner Cage stars as a
14th-century kmghi tasked with trans
porting a suspected witch to a monas
tery, where the monks think her powers
might have caused the Black Plague
SECRETARIAT (PG) The subject of
tois biopic, the 1973 Triple Crown win
ner. is made pretty obvious by the title,
but much ot the focus will be on owner
Penny Chenery (Diane Lane). Director
Randall Wallace was nominated tor
an Oscar tor writing Bravehead before
settling in the director's chair for The
Man in the Iron Mask and We Were
Soldiers Scripter Mike Rich really
knows this touchy-tetfy biographi
cal territory, having written Finding
Forrester. The Rookie anti Radio
SOMEWHERE R) Bad boy actor
Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff. who
has some real We experience to draw
from), rocking the Hollywood lifestyle
pretty hard at the Chateau Marmont, is
visited by his daughter (Elle Fanning.
Dakotas little sister) Oscar winner
Sofia Coppola's new film won toe
Golden Lion toe top prize at toe Venice
Film Festival Expect a typical Sofia
Coppola cinematic experience whether
or not you like it.
TAMARA DREWE(R) A young
newspaper writer (blockbuster princess
Gemma Arterton, Quantum of Solace,
Clash of the Titans. Prince of Persia.
The Sands of Time). who used to be
what one would call an ugly duckling,
returns to her hometown as her child
hood home goes up tor sale Two-time
Oscar nominee Stephen Frears (The
Grifters and The Queer1) directs Moira
Butfmi* adaptation ot Posy Simmond*
graphic novel retelling of Thomas
Hardy * Far from toe Madding Crowd
TANGLED (PG) Disney* 50th ani
mated feature entertains like some ot
the best the House of Mouse has ever
offered Can you imagine how magicai
this fairy tale could have been had it
been traditionally animated and simply
tided RapunzeP
THE TEMPEST (PG-13) Julie Taymor,
more acclaimed for Broadway* The
Lion King than any of her film work
(Across toe Universe) adapts more
Shakespeare Prospero is now a female
alchemist named Prospera (Helen
Mirren) Banished to an island tor
witchcraft, she raises her daughter,
Miranda (Felicity Jones), and struggles
tor power with Caltoan (Djimon
Hounsou) Should be another dominat
ing visual effort from Taymor.
WE TOURIST (PG-13) Seeing tois
Angelina Jolie-Johnny Depp team-up
may be cheaper than a trip to Venice,
but anyone wishing to float the canals
of that old Italian city would be advised
to wait tor discount fares. Don't bother
with fl*rou/B£lelitgettostin2010*
crowd 0? underwhelming movies
TROM: LEGACY (PG) Disney* big
budget. 3D sequel to the cult classic
picks up right as game designer Kevin
Flynn (Jett Bridges) again disappears
into toe Grid, this time leaving his
young son, Sam. behind. The insanely
entertaining Tron: Legacy is toe best
amusement park ride/laser light show
you'H see at toe movies tois year
TRUE GRIT (PG-13) To Itep distance
their new film from toe John Wayne
classic. Joel and Etoan Coen are can
ing it a new adaptation of toe novel by
Charles Ports ratoer than a rente*.
A young girt (HaHee Steirtetd} hires
grutt US. Marshal Reuben J.-Rooster*
Cogbum (Jett Bridges) to help find the
man who trifled her fattier. I am quite
thrilled to see Bridges’ take on Wayne*
iconic rote as Erected by the Coens
YO© REAR (FG)Whai can you say
about another CGl-updNe of a ctessjc
cartoon? Like the Chipmunks before 8,
Yogi wsk wsti saosty me to* expecB-
boris of children and parents an hour
and shaft to (Ssengage.
-*