About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 2011)
Some releases may not be showing locally this week. ARTHUR (PG-13) Let's face it. A large chunk of today’s movie watchers, largely the ones who make up British comic Russell Brand's fanbase. don't know who Arthur Bach. Dudley Moore or Sir John Gielgud are. and they probably only know Christopher Cross' Oscar-winning song ’Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)’ in passing. For those unfortunates, the new Arthur will serve its disposable, comedic pur pose. Laugh today, forgotten tomorrow Brand plays the drunken near billion aire as a man-child, emphasis on child as he barely varies his whiny. high- pitched delivery. Helen Mirren is an above adequate stand-in for Gielgud, who won an Academy Award, but that is all she is. Let's face it. Anyone still harboring nostalgic notions of Moore's comic genius, Gielgud’s withering stentorian putdowns and Cross' cheesy, lovable Yacht Rock anthem need merely watch the original via Netllix's Instant Queue and skip this remake. It's not as if anyone will still be watching Brand's version 30 years later Yet a 60-year anniversary release of the 1981 classic will not be out of the question. BEASTLY (PG-13) A literal modem day fairy tale. Beastly stars I Am Number Foul's Alex Pettyfer (how did this guy escape The CW for the big screen?) as vain, misunderstood, rich boy, Kyle. When Kyle runs afoul of a witch (Mary-Kate Olsen) at his ridicu lously posh private high school, she turns him into a hideously scarred and tattooed ‘monster’ with a year to find someone who'll love him. BIG MOMMAS: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON (PG -13) FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) dons his fat suit again in the third (now can that be?) entry in the Big Momma's House francnise. Now both Big Momma and Charmaine AKA Trent (Brandon T. Jackson) must infiltrate an all girls performing arts school to catch a mur derer. Faizon Love plays Kurtis Kool. former Run-D M C. roadie and present school security guard that becomes smitten with Big Momma. CEDAR RAPIDS (R) A small town lifer. Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), is sent to the annual insurance conference in the big city ol Cedar Rapids, IA. where he learns the ropes from some convention veterans, led by John C. Reilly. Hopefully. Miguel Arteta can recover from the disappointing, but funny Youth in Revolt. The best gag given a way in the trailer involves Isiah Whitlock, better known to “Wire’ fans as Clay *Shee-it* Davis, getting in a ■Wire’ reference. With Anne Heche, Stephen Root, Kurtwood Smith. Alia Shawkat. Rob Corddry and Sigourney W'Tver. CONSPIRATOR (PG-13) Robert Redford directs the story of Mary Surratt (Robin Wright), the lone female conspirator charged in the assas sination uf 16th President Abraham Lincoln James McAvoy plays the reluctant lawyer who must defend a woman vilified by a large swath, though not the whole, ol the recovering nation. With Redford and this cast, also includ ing Tom Wilkinson, Alexis Bledel, Justin Long, Evan Rachel Wood, Danny Huston, Stephen Root and Kevin Kline, it's hard to believe Conspirator could look so TV movie-ish. but the trailer proves otherwise. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES (PG) I really enjoyed the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, and its sequel, Rodrick Rules, is no different Middle schooler Greg Heflley (Zachary Gordon, who could be a lost Savage brother) must contend with brotherly abuse from his mean older sibling, Rodrick (Devon Bostick). Adding to Greg's middle school misery is the return of Chirag Gupta (Karan Brar) and an unrequited crush on Holly Hills (Peyton List). Fortunately, Greg still has best bud. Rowley (Robert Capron). by his side. I. ORIVE ANGRY (R; The plot is textbook 70s exploitation. A venge ful lather. John Milton (the not angry enough Nicolas Cage), escapes from Hell to save his granddaughter from the cult leader (Billy Burke) who murdered his daughter I get all gooey inside just typing that synopsis. Along the way, Milton picks up a pretty short-order waitress (Amber Heard), reunites with an old pal (David Morse) and kills a lot of evil cult members Hot on his trail are a bounty hunter from Hell named The Accountant (William Fichtner) and not nearly enough state troopers, led by Tom Atkins. HANNA (PG-13) See Movie Pick. HENRY'S CRIME (R) Guess who's back? Keanu. Henry (Keanu Reeves) is released from prison for a crime he didn't commiL What's the first thing the Iree man does? Targetthe bank he went away for not robbing. This com edy from Malcolm Venville (44 Inch Chest) and writers Sacha Gervasi (The Terminal and David White (Undisputed Hand Ilf) also stars Vera Farmiga. Judy Greer. James Caan. Peter Stormare and Fisher ’You may know me from Shori Circuit and its terrible sequel’ Stevens. HOP (PG) I’m still a sucker or a grand holiday fantasy factory sequence, and Hop opens with a spectacular one. detailing how all the marshmallow chicks and hollow chocolate bunnies are produced. Unfortunately, the family film goes creatively downhill from that high point. While the old Easter Bunny (v Hugh Laurie) prepares to hand the holiday icon reins over to his son. E.B. (v. Russell Brand), the younger bunny runs away to Hollywood to be a drummer in a ror* and roll band. There he meets stacker Fred O'Hare (James Marsden), whose life apparently peaked 20 years ago, when he saw the Easter Bunny. The one slightly surprising twist in this whole tale—Fred becomes the first human Easter Bunny—is given away at the beginning of the movie. INSIDIOUS (PG-13) A family (headed by Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) suspect their home is haunted, only to discover it is actually their bedrid den, comatose son who is the target ol some frightful, malevolent spirits According to the marketing campaign for this Iwjrror superstar team-up ol the creators of Saw—director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannel—and Paranormal Activity—Oren Peli, a simple producer here—'Insidious is Insidious is Insidious is...Yoo get the point I shall now clarify what Insidious is. Be sure to read the follow ing in your best scary voice Insidious is... a spinetinglingly scary, haunted house movie in the (Robert) wise, old- fashioned (i.e, no blcod/gore) way. THE KING'S SPEECH (R) After the death ol his father, George V (Michael Gambon), and the shocking abdica tion of his older brother, Edward VIII (Guy Pearce). new King George VI, aka Bertie (newly minted Academy Award winner Colin Firth), must overcome a lifelong speech impediment to deliver a rousing message upon the outbreak of World War II. The King's Speech is one ol the year's most humorous, albeit delivered with a stiff British carriage, and tremendously well-acted (kudos to Firth. Rush and Helena Bonham Carter as Bertiels loyal wife and queen) films. LIMITLESS (PG-13) Limitless, line new film Iron Illusionist director Neil Burger, is pretty much about star Bradley Cooper’s career. He goes from being *Alias”s Will Tippin to ’The A-Team's’ Face in the course of two hours. Writer Eddie Morra stumbles upon a designer drug that opens up the limitless potential of the human brain. Soon. Eddie is making millions from the stock market and drawing the atten tion of a Wall Street bigwig (Robert De Niro) But with all shortcuts, a catch comes in the drugs habit-forming, deadly s>de effects. Still, who wouldn't want to be the very best they could be il all it cost was $600 a pill and an 18-hour blaclxout here or there, during which you may or may not commit murder. Nicely adapted from the Allan Glynn novel by Leslie Dixon—I do wish she'd found a better means to convey the story than voiceover— and stylishly directed by Burger (the cinematic world looks better, brighter when Eddie's on NZT). Limitless needs a better advertising campaign. It's a lot better than you think it's going to be. THE LINCOLN LAWYER (R) The Lincoln Lawyer seems like the next great drama Irom TNT. Matthew McConaughey would make many a dreary summer weeknight fly by as slick attorney Mickey Haller, who does business out of the backseat of his roomy town car. As a movie, this legal thriller says all the right things in all the right ways. Too bad courtroom dramas are a dime a dozen on TV. Why pay exorbitant movie theater ticket prices when you can get the exact story in an hour on ‘Law & Order: NCIS: Las Vegas?’ True, you'll have to settle for Chris O'Donnell rather than McConaughey. but Ryan Philippe might guest-star as a pretty boy on trial for beating women. You know the exact ride you're in for as you soon as you climb in the Lincoln's roomy backseat NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (R) Alter finding two million dollars. Llewelyn Moss (Babs' stepson Josh Brolfn) is hunted by ruthless, Hulk haired killer, Anton Chigurh (Academy Award winner Javier Bardem who plays the milk-chugging sociopath as more bogeyman than hitman), with only weary lawman, Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), to protect him. After Fargo, the Coen Brothers seemed to bog down in entertaining structural exercises (0 Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Man Who Wasn't There) and Hip comedies ■ (The Big Lebowski, Intolerable Cruelty. The Ladykillers). With No Country, the fraternal filmmakers defeat irrelevance with the sharpness of their moviemak ing tools, the adroitness of their writing and the perfectly complementary acting troupe. OF GODS AND MEN (R) In a Muslim community in North Africa, eight French Christian monks (including Lambert Wiison from the latter two Matrixs and Michael Lonsdale aka Moonrakets Hugo Drax) must decide whether to flee in the face of advanc ing fundamentalist terrorists. France's oflicial entry for the 2010 Best Foreign Language Oscar didn't make the final cut. Some of filmmaker Xavier Beauvois’ previous lilms were Cannes Award winner Donl Forget You're Going to Die and Cesar nominees Le Petit Lieutenant and Nord. PAUL (R) I had high hopes lor Paul. Written by and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and directed by Greg Mottota (Superbadand Adventureland). this road trip comedy should have been the alien homage equivalent of Pegg and Edgar Wright's Shaun otthe Dead/Hot Fuzz. Maybe Wright's guid ing hand as director and cowriter was more important than believed because Paul is nowhere near as smart or funny as those two genre love letters. Paul is by no means a bad movie, just a disappointing one. Two British geeks. Graham and Clive (Pegg and Frost), run into an on the lam extraterrestrial named Paul and voiced by Seth Rogen. PRETTY BIRD (R) 2008 From his days with David Gordon Green to his stint on ’Parks and Recreation,* I've grown quite fond of Paul Schneider. In his directing debut, Schneider, who also cowrote the screenplay, guides the comic tale of three would-be inventors of a rocket belt, whose dream turns into a nightmare of recriminations, kionap- ping and murder. The impressive cast includes Billy Crudup, Paul GiamaJii and Kristen Wiig. Schneider was nomi nated for the Sundance Film Festival^ Grand Jury Prize. RANGO (PG) Boasting a cule trailer, this animated feature from Pirates ol the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski stars his lead pirate. Johnny Depp, as the voice of a chameleon that wants to be a gunslinging hero. Rango must put his skills, il he has any. to the test to protect a Western town from bandits. RIO (PG) A domesticated macaw from Minnesota named Blu (v. Jesse Eisenberg) meets the bird ol his dreams, miss independent Jewel (v. Anne Hathaway). Together they fly away to Rio de Janeiro. Director Carlos Saldanha leaves the Ice Age behind after three blockbusters to fly south where it’s warmer. Screenwriter Don Rhymer is responsible for Big MommaS House (and its sequel) and the surprising SurPs Up THE ROOMMATE (PG-13) Sure The Roommate is a Single White Female rip-off. but moving the psychotic action to freshman year of college was a brilliant move. Too bad that’s where any brilliance the movie could have achieved ends thanks to the poor scripting prowess of first-time writer Sonny Mai I hi (producer of genre efforts both successful. The Strangers, and not. Shutter and Possession). SCREAM 4 (R) On a book tour for her self-help bestseller, serial killer survi vor Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) leturns to Woodsboro where she reconnects with friends, family and the Ghostface Killer him/herself. Courteney Cox and David Arquette reprise their roles as Sydney's fellow survivors. TV newswoman Gale Weathers-Riley and Deputy Dewey Riley. The return of director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson, who skipped out on the third installment, have me excited for this horror four-qual. SOMEWHERE (R) Bad boy actor Johnrty Marco (Stephen Dorff. who has some real life experience to draw from), rxking the Hollywood lifestyle pretty hard at the Chateau Marmont, is visited by his daughter (Elle Fanning. Dakota's little sister). Oscar winner Sofia Coppola's new lilm won the Golden Lion, the top prize at the Venice Film Festival. Expect a typical Sofia Coppola cinematic experience whether or not you iike it. With Michelle Monaghan (Eagle Eye) and Laura Ramsey (The Ruins). SOUL SURFER (PG) The sec ond release from new distributor FilmDistrict. Soul Sutler is based on the true story ol teenaged surfer Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb), who lost her arm but not her desire to hang ten to a shark attack. A ludicrously buff Dennis Guaid and Helen Hunt appear as Bethany's father and mother. Writer-director Sean McNamara has a long history of Nickelodeon/Disney TV movies and shows as wel I as the features Raise Your Voice and Bratz. SOURCE CODE (PG-13) Duncan Jones, the son ol David Bowie, tones down some ol his ad house-ier inclina tions lor Source Code, a thrilling sci-fi/ MOVIE LISTINGS Schedules often change after our deadline. Please call ahead. ACC LIBRARY (706-613-3650) Pretty Bird (R) 7 (Th. 4/14) CINE (706-353-3343) Cedar Rapids (R) 9:45 (rto 9:45 show Su. 4/17), 2:30 (Sa. 4/16 \ Su. VI?) The King's Speech (R) 4:30 (W. 4/13 & Th. 4/14), 7:15 (W. 4/13), 4:45. 7:15 (starts F. 4/15), 2:15 (Sa. 4/16 & Su. 4/17) Of Gods and Men (R) 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 (starts F. 4/15) (no 9:30 show Su. 4/17) The Room (R) 12:00 (F. 4/15) Somewhere (R) 9:50 (W. 4/13 & Th. 4/14) The Way Back (PG-13) 4:15, 7:00 (W. 4/13 & Th. 4/14) * UGA TATE CENTER THEATER (706-542-6396) No Country for Old Men (R) 8:00 (Th. 4/14) True Grit (PG-13) 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 (F. 4/15-Su. 4/17) Accurate movie times for the CARMINE 12 (706-354-0016), BEECHWOOD STADIUM 11 (706-546-1011) and GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426) cinemas are not available by press time. Visit www.flagpole.com for updated times. 18 FLAGPOLE.COM APRIL 13,2011 action movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a soldier, Colter Stevens, enlists in an experimental operation to travel back in time for eight minutes and uncover the mastermind of a terrorist attack on a Chicago commuter train. If he doesn't, a dirty bomb will level downtown Chicago. SUCKER PUNCH (PG-13) In an alter nate 1960s, a girl (Emily Browning) loses her mother and. after a violent rampage, is institutionalized by her creepy stepfather Baby Doll, as she comes to be known, is scheduled for a lobotomy in five days. To escape her fate, she runs to an alternate reality inside her head, where she and a few of the other girls must battle German zombies, ores, giant samurai, dragons, etc. It's like the end of Ghostbusters. and whatever Snyder thinks of comes to life for the girls to fight. TANGLED (PG) Disney's 50th ani mated feature entertains like some of the besHhe House of Mouse has ever offerei® n you imagine how magical this fairy tale could have been had it been traditionally animated and simply titled RapunzeP TRUE GRIT (PG-13) After the kill ing ol her paw. young Mattie Ross (newcomer Hallie Sleinfeld) intends to gel her revenge so she hires U S. Marshal Reuben ’Rooster* Cogburn (Jeff Bridges, who is just getting bet ter with age) to go alter the sumbitch named Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). Joined by dandy Texas Ranger LeBoeuf (Matt Damon). Mattie and Rooster track Chaney beyond civilization and into Cherokee country Author Charles PortisS simple tale of Wild West revenge could not be brought back to the big screen with more intricately written word play and vibrant characterizations. UNKNOWN (PG-13) LiamNeeson continues his mid-career ersis with another Takerhlype vehicle. What starts as a frightening, lonely thriller loses steam before the. thriller's big reveal, which is telegraphed a bit by the pres ence of certain supporting characters, and totally blows the ending, which could have been tremendously interest ing had Martin behaved character- appropriately. Unknown is no Taken THE WAY BACK (PG-13) Another POW escape flick a la The Great Escape and Rescue Dawn. The Way Back chronicles the efforts of several sol diers. led by the young (Jim Sturgess. 21) to break out of a gulag in Soviet- occupied Poland. The six companions then trek across Asia to hoped-for safety in India YOUR HIGHNESS (R) Wow Talk about a misfire. Writing a movie about being stoned is one thing; writing a movie while stoned a quite sad other. Everyone in this talented cast and crew- must have signed on based on the admittedly awesome idea and a sense of friendship because the script, by star Danny McBride and Ben Best, may be one of the yearns least-baked Heroic Prince Fabious (James Franco, whose stunningly deadpan performance rescues many a scene in distress) and his smug brother, Prince Thadeous (McBride), embark on a quest to save Fabious' betrothed (Zooey Deschane') from the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Thefoux). Right now, I'm sure you're with me. thinking how fantastic this movie's going to be A sword and sorcery Sarce from the ’Eastbound & Down’/ Pineapple Express guys! Natalie Portman models a metal thong! Alas, ye excitement ends there. The movie is less funny than some of David Gordon Green's uttra-somber indie dra mas (lest you forget this guy was the IT indie filmmaker at one time). Insert lazy conclusion playing off title (something something something more like your career lowness). Drew Wheeler
