Movie showtimes and reviews Dec. 27-Jan. 3
Posted: Dec 27, 2007 by Volcano Staff
27 DRESSES: “Knocked Up” and “Grey’s Anatomy” star Katherine Heigl is a perennial bridesmaid whose own happy ending is nowhere in sight. (NR) – BW
ALIEN VS. PREDATOR: REQUIEM: One of the many reasons “Alien” was so effective was the perfect monster it created. A killing machine that couldn’t be killed. In fact, when Sigourney Weaver forced the beast out to space at the conclusion of the film, I remember saying to myself, “It’s not dead. Who says it needs to breath air.” Through the years and through the sequels, it has become easier to off the acid-blooded devil. Now you expect me to believe a hunter from another universe who looks like Bob Marley reincarnated can compete with the alien? No way. I’m not buying it. (R) – BW
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: The story of how the Chipmunks become rock stars and almost get burned out on the rock circuit. Jason Lee stars as Dave Seville, who accidentally brings them home and is soon shouting “Alvin!” at the top of his lungs. David Cross is the rock promoter who wants them to lip-synch their concerts, and Alvin is the one with the big “A” on his red sweater. I admit I am not a fan of those squeaky little voices. If you are, you’ll have a whole different experience. (PG) Two stars – RE
AMERICAN GANGSTER: Denzel Washington in a story inspired by the real-life Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas, who flew to Thailand to secure a steady supply, and drove out competition with higher quality and lower prices. Russell Crowe stars as Det. Richie Roberts, who doggedly pursues him for years, despite opposition within his own department. Director Ridley Scott moves the story smoothly and relentlessly, as a collaboration between drug addiction and sound business practices. (R) Four stars – RE
AUGUST RUSH: Drenched in sentimentality, but it’s supposed to be. Freddie Highmore plays a boy who runs away from an orphanage to find his parents. He has learned that they (Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers) were musicians, and believes that through his own music he can find them. The movie is sincere and good-hearted, and really loves music. Yes, it depicts an impossibly sentimental world, but younger viewers will really like it, I suspect, and it has the courage to go all the way with its affectionate updating of “Oliver Twist.” With Robin Williams, Terrence Howard. (PG) Three stars – RE
BEOWULF: A titanic epic battle between the monster Grendel and the hero Beowulf, shown by director Robert Zemeckis with rip-roaring gusto by using the same technology as his “Polar Express,” so that animated characters look almost real. With the voices (and sometimes the appearances) of Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson and Crispin Glover (who however doesn’t look anything like Grendel). Lots of nudity and yet a PG-13 rating because, you see, Jolie “isn’t really there,” although she’s there enough that she says she won’t be taking her own kids. Absurd violent action in the Monty Python spirit. (PG-13) Three stars – RE
CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR: Based on a true story. Tom Hanks as a hard-drinking Texas congressman who, at the urging of a Houston socialite (Julia Roberts), uses his congressional subcommittee to arrange a secret $1 billion arms deal between Israel and Afghan freedom fighters, with Pakistan as the intermediary. That results in the defeat of the Russians, and the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Philip Seymour Hoffman is droll and funny as a rogue CIA man who becomes Charlie’s partner in deception. A smart, funny, wicked political comedy by Mike Nichols, written by Aaron (“West Wing”) Sorkin. (R) Three stars – RE
ENCHANTED: Amy Adams, Oscar-nominated for “Junebug,” is effortlessly charming as Giselle, a young girl from a fairy-tale world who is transported to modern New York City by a jealous queen (Susan Sarandon). The film starts as animation, then becomes live action but still plays by fantasy rules, in a winning musical romance also starring Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Timothy Spall. (PG) Three stars – RE
FRED CLAUS: Vince Vaughn plays Santa’s older brother in a case of sibling rivalry. When he hits up Santa (Paul Giamatti) for a $50,000 loan to finance an off-track betting parlor, he walks into a crisis at the North Pole, and is just in time to save the day. With Rachel Weisz as Fred’s meter-maid girlfriend, Kevin Spacey as a mean accountant, and Ludacris as the elves’ favorite deejay. Oh, and Miranda Richardson as Santa’s wife. (PG) Two stars – RE
FRENCH THEATER: Check out these films on Fort Lewis: Lions for Lambs (R) Thurs 7. Enchanted (G) Fri 7. Sat-Sun 2. Beowulf (G) Fri 9:30. Sat-Sun 7. Babies Night Out: Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (G) Thurs, Jan. 3 7.
THE GREAT DEBATERS: See review page 21.
THE GOLDEN COMPASS: A darker, deeper fantasy epic than the “Rings” trilogy, “The Chronicles of Narnia” or the Potter films, offering more complex villains and posing more intriguing questions. As a visual experience, superb. As an escapist fantasy, challenging. With gifted newcomer Dakota Blue Richards, a 12-year-old who won the role in competition with 10,000 others. Also starring Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Sam Elliott. (PG-13) Four stars – RE
I AM LEGEND: Will Smith is the last healthy man on Manhattan, maybe on Earth, as a virus mutates humans into zombies. Kept company by his loyal dog, he is a scientist trying to find a cure for the plague, while barricaded inside a town house. Two more survivors turn up, played by Alice Braga and young Charlie Tahan; can he protect them? Awesome special effects of an abandoned Manhattan, dicey special effects of unconvincing zombies; works, despite raising lots of questions. (PG-13) Three stars – RE
INTO THE WILD: Sean Penn directed this much anticipated adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s bestselling book about a college student who drops out of society to hitchhike across America with Alaska being his final destination. Emile Hirsh stars as the adventurous and tragic Chris. Also stars Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Catherine Keener and Vince Vaughn. (R) – BW
The Grand Cinema: Thurs 6.
JUNO: Very smart, very funny and then very touching; it begins with the pacing of a screwball comedy and ends as a portrait of characters we have come to love. Ellen Page in an Oscar-worthy performance as a pregnant 16-year-old who decides to keep the child. With J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney wonderful as her parents, older and wiser than most parents in teenage comedies. And Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as the would-be adoptive parents, and Michael Cera, shyly winning as Juno’s boyfriend. Screenplay by Diablo Cody, directed by Jason Reitman; the best movie of 2007. (PG) Four stars – RE
KITE RUNNER: Another magnificent film by Marc Forster (“Monster’s Ball”), based on the much-loved best seller about two boys in 1970s Afghanistan and the lives they go on to lead. Doesn’t depend on stars, effects or genres, but simply fascinates us with how it will turn out. Superimposes human faces and a historical context on the tragic images of war. One of the year’s best. (PG-13) Four stars – RE
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL: Ryan Gosling plays Lars Lindstrom, a painfully shy young man who can barely stand the touch of another human being. One day he orders a life-sized love doll through the Internet, using “Bianca” not for sex but for companionship. He expects everyone else to treat the doll the same way, including his brother (Paul Schneider), sister-in-law (Emily Mortimer) and therapist (Patricia Clarkson). Only after the movie is over do you realize what a balancing act it was, what risks it took, what rewards is contains. Directed by Craig Gillespie, written by Nancy Oliver (“Six Feet Under”). (PG-13) Three and a half stars – RE
MARGOT AT THE WEDDING: Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh are sisters who haven’t spoken for years. Then Kidman shows up for Leigh’s wedding to Jack Black, as a guy who can spend a week writing a letter to the editor. Painful and funny verbal and emotional laceration goes on around the clock, where one-upmanship is a moral choice. With John Turturro, Ciaran Hinds, Flora Cross, Halley Feiffer. (R) Three stars – RE
MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM: Dustin Hoffman plays the 243-year-old proprietor of a magical toy store, and Natalie Portman is the young salesclerk he hopes will take over the store when he moves on to his next adventure. The store itself almost steals the movie; it’s a wonderful place. Younger kids will likely love it, but the plot is a little too cut-and-dried for older audience members. (G) Three stars – RE
The Blue Mouse: Fri-Thurs, Jan 3 7. Also Sat-Sun 4:30.
NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS: Without a doubt the most absurd and fevered plot since “National Treasure” (2004). What do I mean by fevered? What would you say if I told you that Mount Rushmore was carved only in order to erase landmarks pointing to a fabled City of Gold built inside the mountain? Starring Nicolas Cage, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Jon Voight, Diane Kruger, Harvey Keitel and Justin Bartha, who were all but one in the first adventure, but never once mention it. I’d just about forgotten it, too (PG) Two stars – RE
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN: Regards a completely evil man with wonderment, as if astonished that such a merciless creature could exist. He is Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), who travels Texas and kills people with a cattle stun gun. He is one strand in a plot involving a drug deal gone bad. Another is a sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) and a third is a hunter (Josh Brolin), a poor man who comes across $2 million in drug money. A masterpiece based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, written, directed and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen. As good as their “Fargo,” which is saying something. (R) Four stars – RE
OLYMPIA FILM SOCIETY: All screenings at the Capital Theater, 206 E. 5th Ave. Olympia: Into the Wild (R) Thurs 9. Fri 6:30. Lust, Caution (R) Thurs 6. Fri 9:15.
P.S. I LOVE YOU: Oscar winner Hillary Swank takes a leap into the romantic comedy genre and a real tear-jerker at that. She plays Holly Kennedy a beautiful and smart woman married to the love of her life, Gerry (Gerard Butler). Alas, a love that strong can never last and soon Holly is a widow. The real hook of this film is when Gerry, knowing his wife would take his loss hard, continues to communicate with her in the weeks and months following his death. With letters and tapes Gerry attempts to push her into a new future, signing off each in the same way: P.S. I Love You … puke! Hey, I’m a guy. (PG-13) – BW
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET: Tim Burton’s macabre, blood-soaked, brilliant film version of Stephen Sondheim’s hit musical. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter do their own singing, and very effectively, too, as the cut-throat barber and the landlady he supplies with fresh meat for her pies. With Alan Rickman as a vile judge and Timothy Spall as his flunky. A dark look at London poverty and desperation, filmed with bizarre intensity. (R) Four stars – RE
WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY: The versatile John C. Reilly in a spoof of biopics about singing stars; he does plausible versions of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and on and on. He’s like a kid who locked himself in his room singing along with his record collection and finally made it pay off. Funny, but sometimes curiously close to real sentiment. Directed by Jake Kasdan, written by him and Judd (“Superbad”) Apatow. (R) Three stars – RE
THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP: See review page 21.