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of her), but her Golden Globe win- .
ning and sure to be Oscar nominated
portrayal of Margaret Thatcher goes
beyond mere impression.
JACK AND JILL (PG) Adam Sandler
THE SECRET WORLD OF
cousin’s bail bond business. Her first
assignment just happens to be a local
Some releases may not be showing locally this week.
• indicates new review
A DANGEROUS METHOD (R) Young Elliot, The Hours and The Reader), only
psychiatrists Carl Jung and Sigmund reaches Stage 2. Young Oskar Schell
Freud (Michael Fassbender and Vlggo (“Jeopardy*^ Kids Week Champion
Mortensen, respectively) are working Thomas Horn, making a striking act-
together to create a theory for what • ing debut) tries to make sense of his
will become modern psychoanalysis. father's death on 9/11.
A young patient (Keira Knightly) with
a crippling mental disorder pulls Jung
further from the influence of his mentor
in this true, romantic thriller.
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS:
CHIPWRECKED (G) Alvin. Simon,
Theodore, the Chipettes and Dave
(poor, paycheck-cashing Jason Lee)
start out on a cruise ship and wind
up on a deserted island. Judging by
the boffo box office of the previous
two features plus the young audi
ence's reaction to the new pic’s trailer,
Chipwrecked should provide its studio
with some holiday cheer.
THE ARTIST (PG-13) Films today do
not come as precious or charming as
Michel Hazanavicius’ silent, Golden
Globe winning Oscar frontrunner. A ~
silent film that is all about talking,
The Art/s/of title refers to matinee
idol George Valentin (Academy Award .
nominee Jean Dujardin, who absolutely
must be a silent film star Hazanivlcius
recently thawed from ice), who finds it
difficult to transition from silent films
to talkies, unlike rising star Peppy
Miller (Academy Award nominee
B6r6nice Bejo).
BEAKS: THE MOVIE (NR) 1987.
Birds go crazy in the latest Bad Movie
Night screening. Originally intended
as a sequel to Hitchcock’s The Birds,
Beaks: The Movie instead features a lot
of Spanish speakers running from our
former feathered friends.
BIG MIRACLE (PG-13) Do you like
whales? What about Drew Barrymore?
Are sitcoms right up your alley? If you
answered yes to any one of these que
ries, Big Miracle is for you!
CHRONICLE (PG-13) An out of .
nowhere genre success, Chronicle
should find easy entry into the cult
classic pantheon. Three high school
ers (Dane DeHaan, Alex Russqll and
"Friday Night Lights"’ Michael B.
Jordan) stumble upon a mysterious
cave and wind up with telekinetic pow
ers. But, as Spider-Man teaches, "with
great power comes great responsibil
ity," and not everyone cat handle it
As the teenagers’ powers grow, one
becomes increasingly dangerous.
THE DESCENDANTS (R) Is The
Descendants^ best film of last year?
If not the bittersweet dramedy star
ring Academy Award nominee George
Clooney is among the top two or three.
Filmmaker Alexander Payne sure took
his time following up his 2004 Oscar
winning smash, but the delay was _
worth it. After a tragic accident leaves
his wife in a coma, lawyer and owner of
the last parcel of virgin land in Hawaii
Matt King (Clooney) struggles to raise '
his two daughters, come to peace with
revelations about his dying wife and
decide what to do with his important
land.
EXTREMELY LOUD AND
INCREDIBLY CLOSE (PG-13) This
adaptation of the Jonathan Safran
Foer novel could have devolved into
Stage 4 Pay It Forward-level emotional
manipulation. Instead, the 9/11 tear*
jerker, directed by three-time Academy
Award nominee Stephen Daldry (Billy
FORKS OVER KNIVES (PG) Is a diet
free from animals and processed foods
the key to halting and, in many cases,
reversing the degenerative diseases
that plague us? Forks Over Knives, part
of the seventh annual Animal Voices
Festival sponsored by Speak Out for
Species, thinks so. The screening wilt
include a discussion led by Neat Priest,
MD, a board-certified Emergency
Medicine physician and Chief of Staff
at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, who
also co-hosts the news/talk radio show,
“True South."
> GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF ,
VENGEANCE (PG-13) During my
comic collecting heyday, Ghost
Rider vns reanimated by Marvel.
Unfortunately, his movie adaptation,
starring Nicolas. Cage and helmed by
the constantly disappointing Mark
Steven Johnson, sucked. The sequel
tasks Cage’s Johnny Blaze with beating
the Devil (Ciaran Hinds) as he tries to
take human form. 1 like the decision
to go with the Crank duo, Neveidine/
Taylor, behind the camera, and the
presences of Idris Elba, Anthony Head
and MF-in Christopher Lambert have
me tentatively excited.
THE GREY (R) January is ending; it
must be time for another Liam Neeson
actioner. The formerly acclaimed
actor has almost completed his
transformation into an.English Denzel
Washington, whose filmography is fill
ing up with inconsequential paychecks
jobs. At least Joe Carnahan (Narc, The
A-Tearri) is writing and directing this
tale of an Alaskan drilling team strug
gling to defeat a pack of wolves hunt
ing them after their plane crashes in the
wilderness. With Dermot Mulroney and
James Badge Dale ("The Pacific").
THE HELP (PG-13) The whitewashed
world of this Best Picture nominee
lacks the proper depth to feel real,
but it will make you feel good. Every
black servant is a saint; every white
employer a demoo. Thankfully, college-
educated Eugenia "Skeefer* Phelan (the
extremely likable Emma Stone, who
grows into her accent) comes home to
Jackson to save its minority population
through bestselling pop fiction.
INTO THE ABYSS (PG-13) In the
legendary Werner Herzog's newest film,
his 25th documentary, the German
filmmaker interviews death row inmate
Michael Perry to understand why
people and the government choose to
kill. Convicted of triple homicide, Perry
was executed eight days after Herzog
conducted his interviews; his accom
plice, Jason Burkett, who was treated
to the lesser sentence of life in prison,
is also interviewed. A festival hit, Into
the Abyss won awards from the British
Rim Institute and the National Society
of Film Critics. ■
THE IRON LADY (PG-13) As a fan of
all things British, The Iron Lady should
have been more appealing to me, but
the clumsy construction by director
Phyliida Lloyd (Mamma Miaf) and
writer Abi Morgan sink it. Meryl Streep
may not be a revelation (she cannot be;
the highest level of acting is expected
from Funny People had real potential to
have signed on for this pitiful comedy
where he plays both Jack Sadeistein
and his twin sister, Jill. They key to the
entire one-joke movie is that Sandler
makes an ugly woman.
•JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS
ISLAND (PG) Journey 2: The
Mysterious Islands biggest problem
might be time. Many of the young
people who enjoyed its 2008 forebear,
Journey to the Center of the Earth,
might have outgrown the Brendan
Fraser/Dwayne “The Rock’ Johnson
brand of family adventure movie. Sean
(Josh Hutcherson, soon to be Peeta
cop and former flame (Jason O’Mara of
"Terra Nova"). Will it be the start of a
franchise for star Heigl, or more proof
the public is over "Grey's Anatomy'S
former It Girl?
OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT
FILMS (NR) All 15 of the short films
nominated for 2012 Oscars can be
seen in one sitting at Cine, featuring
selections of animated, live action and
documentary films.
PUSS IN BOOTS (PG) ShrekS fairy
tale may have moved on to happily
ever after, but Puss In Boots (v. Antonio
Banderas) is still itching tor a fight. His
spinoff reveals the swordfighting antics
that led up to Puss meeting up with
Shrek and company.
RED TAILS (PG-13) Red Tails, a pet
project of Star Wars creator George
—-—
would recommend the mild sauce
in The Hunger Gamed) and his future
stepdad, Hank (the always appealing
Johnson), travel to the mysterious
island to find Sean’s granddad (Michael
Caine). Along for the ride are a goofy
helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman, being as
Guzman-y as ever) and his gorgeous'
daughter (Vanessa Hudgens). The
islands giant, 3D-tastic flora and fauna
make for a movie that’s fun to look at,
especially on the big screen, for an
hour and a half, but does not create the
sort of lasting impression needed to
survive in todays oversaturated enter
tainment market
MAN ON A LEDGE (PG-13) Don’t
confuse this crime thriller with the
tremendous documentary Man on
Wire. Sam Worthington stars as Nick
Cassidy, a suicidal ex-con needing to
be talked down by police psychologist
Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks). Oh,
by the way, the biggest diamond heist,
like, ever is going on at the same time.
Coincidence?
THE MUPPETS (PG) Cowriter-star
Jason SegelS reboot of Jim HensonS
lovable puppets is built with his obvi
ous love #id understanding of what
made their 1979 film debut so special.
Gary (Segel), his puppet brother Walter,
and Gary$ longtime girlfriend, Mary
(Amy Adams), travel to LA., where they
discover a plot to destroy the Muppet
Theater by oil tycoon Tex Richman
(Chris Cooper). Together, they help
Kermit reunite the old gang—f ozzie,
Miss Piggy, Gonzo, et al.—to put on
a telethon in order to raise the money
needed to buy back the property.
ONE FOR THE MONEY (PG-13)
Janet EvanovichS popular Stephanie
Plum con«$ to the big screen. Newly
divorced and unemployed, Plum
(Katherine Heigl) takes a gig at her
Lucas, succeeds everywhere it should
and fails nowhere that should surprise
anyone. The valor of the Tuskegee
Airmen is every bit as worthy of patri
otic, big screen fanfare as the flyers of
Pearl Harbor and the WWI-era Lafayette
Escadrille in Ftyboys, and their movie
is every bit the equal of dramatic light
weight and action heavyweight.
THE ROOM (R) 1993. A cult classic
returns for more unintentional hilarity.
• SAFE HOUSE (R) For Safe Housds
target fans of Denzel Washington,
whizzing bullets and car chases, the
action flick is critically bulletproof; for
me, it was competently boring. Former
CIA operative turned rogue asset,
Tobin Frost (Washington), goes on
the run with green agent Matt Weston
(Ryan Reynolds, in the thankless role
anyone could have filled) hot on his
heels. Washington remains the lazi
est talent in Hollywood. What draws
him to waste his chops on these
action-filled scripts with such obvious
plot trajectories? You can tell which
CIA bigwig (the suspects being Sam
Shepard, Vera Farmiga and Brendan
Gleeson) Weston shouldn't trust from
the trailers, and try as they might to
imply otherwise, one can easily pre
sume Washington's Frost hasn't gone
rogue for sheer psychopathic thrills
or mere greed. The predictable action
is delivered with the workmanlike
craftsmanship (quick edits, handheld
camerawork, etc.) one expects from a
production that is clearly influenced by
Washington’s work with Tony Scott, but
lacks his more artful eye. Safe House
should make enough money to keep
Washingtons rep as a box office draw-
undiminished, but won't make much
of an impression in his increasingly
inconsequential filmography.
to Hayao MiyazakiS masterpieces, and
Disney present an enchanting tale of a
family of four-inch tall people named
the Clocks, who piece out an existence
by borrowing everyday items from the
home in which they reside. However,
their peaceful world is rocked when
their daughter, Arrietty, is discovered.
SHAME (NC-17) 2011. Michael
Fassbenderts career ignited with
Inglorious Basterds and X-Men: First
Class. Now he shows some love for
filmmaker Steve McQueen, who gave
Fassbender a leading role in his award
winning 2008 film, Hunger. In Shame,
Fassbender plays a sex addict, whose
carefully planned life is disrupted by a
visit from his sister (Carey Mulligan).
The films already won several awards
(though Fassbender was snubbed by
the Oscars), but most of the buzz is
about how much screen time is given
to FassbenderS manhood.
• STAR WARS: EPISODE I—THE
PHANTOM MENACE 3D (PG) At
nearly 13 years old, George Lucas’
return to that galaxy far, far away has .
not gotten better with age. Adding
more dimensions has not helped either.
The bad far outweighs the good as the
prequels begin amid a trade dispute
between the greedy Trade Federation
and the tiny planet of Naboo. I dozed
off just typing that synopsis. Enter Jedi
Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson)
and his padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi
(Ewan McGregor). The film starts
slowly, introducing new characters like
the hated Jar Jar Binks and the mis
guided Padme (Natalie Portman). The
only new creation to spark any interest,
the homed, red-faced Darth Maul, is
wasted. The sharp instincts that helped
Lucas create this fantastical universe
have grown fat and lazy from disuse
(Episode I is his first feature directing
credit since the 1977 original) and hero
worship. The 3D post-conversion is
barely noticeable. Skip Episodes I and
II, and wait two to three years for the
good films in the series to be released.
Its time fanboys stopped playing
apologists. Outside of visual effects
(which already look dated) and sound
(at which the Star Wars films always
excel), The Phantom Menace just is not
a very good movie.
THIS MEANS WAR (PG-13) Charlie's
Angels director McGS latest pits Chris
Pine against Tom Hardy for the affec
tions of Reese Witherspoon. Pine and
Hardy are two of the worlds best CIA
operatives, and their talents are pushed
to the limit as they battle one another
for Witherspoons Lauren. I don’t know
why the guys aren't fighting over sup
porting player Chelsea Handler. This
flicks success might hang on screen
writer Simon Kinberg, whose Mr. &
Mrs. Smith was as entertaining as his
Jumper ins not
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
(R) The machinations Tinker Tailor
Soldier Spy, the new film from Let the
Right One Irfs Tomas Alfredson, may
be a little too murky for its own good.
The filmmakers leave the viewer to
believe thereS more to be worked out
as a result of retired British spy George
SmileyS (an excellently restrained
first-time Academy Award nominee
Gary Oldman) return to semi-active
duty to uncover the identity of a mole •
among the highest echelons of the MI6
in London.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING
DAWN-PART 1 (PG-13) Stephenie
Meyer's extremely popular teen-vamp-
romance took a surreal turn in the
fourth book. Bella (Kristen Stewart)
and Edward (Robert Pattinson) finally
marry. On the honeymoon, Bella
becomes pregnant with a thing that
should not be. Now the Cullens are
caught between the Quileute wolves
and the ancient Volturi, both of whom
are threatened by this new adversary.
UNDEFEATED (NR) After years of
struggling, the underfunded, under
privileged Manassas High School
Tigers find success under Coach Bill
Courtney, a former college football
player idro started out as a volunteer
coach after purchasing property near
the high school. Watch as three star
players—Chavis, Montrail "Money"
and O.C.—strive to succeed on the
field while off the field issues look to
knock them off course. Undefeated
might fill the hole left by the end of
"Friday Night Lights." Nominated
for the Academy Award for Best
Documentary Feature.
UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING
(R) I’ve never understood why the
Underworld moms are so under
whelming. Vampires versus were
wolves, Kate Beckinsale in skin-tight
hiack leather, Bill Nighy and Michael
Sheen all should add up to a crazy
awesome movie. Instead, the three pre
vious Underworlds make great cures
for insomnia. <
• THE VOW (PG-13) Nicholas Sparks
. has to be kicking himself for not com
ing up with this plot first. A young
couple, Paige and Leo Collins (Rachel
McAdams and Channing Tatum),
struggle to fall in love again after a car
accident erases all of Paige's memories
of Leo and their marriage. As these
plots are wont to do, Paige's rich par
ents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange) and
her ex-lover (Scott Speedman) use her
tabula rasa to rewrite their past wrongs,
while Leo must cope with the realiza
tion that his wife might never remember
him. The Vow climbs out of the roman
tic drama pits mostly due to its two
charming leads. McAdams and Tatum,
who must overcome some spotty dia
logue, obvious plot developments and
weak supporting players (not a lot of
recognizable faces outside of those five
already mentioned). Director Michael
Sucsy, who won an Emmy and a
Golden Globe for Grey Gardens, transi
tions to the big screen with surprising
success considering the tear-soaked
tissue of a true story with which he had
to work. The Vow won’t make romance
fans forget The Notebook, but it is bet
ter than most of the fake (and genuine)
Sparks Hollywood’s been peddling.
WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) This
movie just generates some odd feel
ings. A movie directed by Cameron
Crowe and starring Matt Damon,
Scarlett Johansson and Thomas Haden
Church sounds like a serious win
ner, but then there’s the title. A dad
(Damon) moves his family to Southern
California to renovate a struggling zoo.
The Devil Wears Prada scripter Aline
Brosh McKenna and Crowe relocate
Benjamin Mee's memoir from England
to SoCal. Some say a similar move
didn't affect High Fidelity, I’m not one
of those folks.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK (PG-13)
Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe,
returns to the big screen for his first
role since the epic story of the famed
Boy Who Lived ended. Sporting
tremendously manicured sideburns
(the tiny fellow resembles a young
Wolverine), Radcliffe stars as lawyer
Arthur Kipps, a widower struggling to
raise his young son. To save his job,
Kipps must travel to a small, isolated
village and tidy up the affairs at an
abandoned old house.
Drew Wheeler
10 FLAGPOLE.COM • FEBRUARY 15,2012