Eugene Weekly : Movies : 03.23.06

.MOVIE LISTINGS | MOVIE REVIEW ARCHIVE | THEATER INFO

OPENING OR RETURNING:

Films open the Friday following date of EW publication unless otherwise noted. See archived movie reviews.

Capote: Director Bennett Miller and writer Dan Futterman create a moving portrait of writer Truman Capote (In Cold Blood) during the years following grisly Kansas murders that rocked the country. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives an indelible performance, likewise Catherine Keener. Clifton Collins plays Perry Smith, one of the killers befriended by Capote. Very highest recommendations. 2005 Academy Award: leading actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman. R. Movies 12. Online archives.

Idiot, The: Akira Kurosawa's 1951 retelling of Dostevski's novel is set in post-WWII Japan, in which the Prince has a painfully simple comprehension and cannot relate to others or himself. In Japanese with English subtitles. Plays at 7 pm on 3/29 in 142 Law (15th and Agate.

Inside Man: Spike Lee's new film is a hostage drama in which a tough cop (Denzel Washington) matches wits with a bank robber (Clive Owen), with Jodie Foster the situation's wild card. R. Cinema World. Cinemark.

Larry The Cable Guy, Health Inspector: Larry investigates a rash of food poisoning cases at swanky big-city restaurants. But will his unorthodox methods cost him his job? Do you care? PG-13. Cinemark.

Neil Young: Heart of Gold: Jonathan Demme directs this concert film, shot over two nights at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. PG. Bijou.

Old Grey Whistle Test, The: The place to catch classic rock and roll performances from 1971-1987 was this British TV show. Elton John, Bob Marley, Captain Beefheart, Bruce Springsteen, Iggy Pop and John Lennon. NR. LateNite Bijou.

Stay Alive: A group of friends find themselves in possession of a violent video game called Stay Alive. One of them has already died brutally, but the rest still play the game, even though they know they shouldn't. And you know what happens to them next. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World.

White Countess, The: The final collaboration of producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, the film tells the intertwined stories of two outsiders in 1936 Shanghai: displaced Russian countess Sofia Belinsky (Natasha Richardson) and blind American diplomat Todd Jackson (Ralph Fiennes). PG-13. Bijou. See review this issue.

CONTINUING:

Aquamarine: Mermaid Aquamarine washes ashore and into the lives of two teenaged girls. Based on Alice Hoffman's popular book and directed by Elizabeth Allen, movie stars Emma Roberts, Joanna Levesque, Sarah Paxton and Jake McDorman. PG. Cinemark.

Brokeback Mountain: A rodeo rider (Jake Gyllenhaal) and a ranch hand (Heath Ledger) fall in love in Ang Lee's Western, adapted for the screen by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, based on a story by Annie Proulx. Also stars Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway and Randy Quaid. A great film; don't miss this one. It's perfect in every way. Very highest recommendations. 2005 Academy Awards: directing, Ang Lee; original score, Gustavo Santaolalla; adapted screenplay, Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana. R. Cinema World. Movies 12. Online archives.

Cheaper By the Dozen 2: Steve Martin stars in this sequel to his 2003 family comedy, which also stars Bonnie Hunt, Piper Perabo and Hilary Duff. Directed by Adam Shankman (The Pacifier). PG. Movies 12.

Chicken Little: Disney's first fully computer-animated feature film is a comedy adventure that brings a satirical twist to the classic fable. Voices by Zach Braff, Garry Marshall, Joan Cusack, Steve Zahn. G. Movies 12.

Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe: Four siblings walk into a magic land and meet astonishing creatures who change their lives forever. Based on C.S. Lewis' timeless stories, the film is directed by New Zealander Andrew Adamson. It stars Tilda Swinton, Rupert Everett, Jim Broadbent, Ray Winstone and children: Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes and William Moseley. 2005 Academy Award for makeup. PG. Online archives. Movies 12.

Crash: Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby) wrote, directed and produced this urban drama set in Los Angeles, which looks at the complexities of racial tolerance in contemporary America. Stars Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe and Lorenz Tate. One of the best films of 2005. Very highest recommendations. 2005 Academy Awards for best picture and original screenplay, Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco; film editing, Hughes Winborne. R. Movies 12. Online archives.

Curious George: The Man in the Yellow Hat (Will Ferrell) tries his best to tame Curious George in this animated version of the beloved children's series. The inquisitive chimp passes the time by sipping lattes, ruining a woman's bubble bath and getting carried away by a bunch of balloons. Other voices include Drew Barrymore, Eugene Levy, Joan Plowright and Dick Van Dyke. G. Movies 12.

Date Movie: This spoof of the prolific romantic comedy genre that stars Alyson Hannigan, Jennifer Coolidge and Fred Willard is rated PG-13 for "continuous crude and sexual humor." Continuous. How can you go wrong? It's bound to be another laugh-until-you-pee movie from the writers of Scary Movie, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. PG13. Cinemark.

Eight Below: Inspired by a true story of three members of a scientific expedition to Antarctica who are air-rescued but must leave their loyal dogs behind. They form a rescue mission six months later. Directed by Frank Marshall. PG. Cinemark.

Failure to Launch: Sarah Jessica Parker is a professional who aims to move Matthew McConaughey out of his parent's home. Also stars Zooey Deschanel, Terry Bradshaw and Kathy Bates. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark.

Firewall: Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) has cemented his reputation as a man who's thought of everything, but when a criminal (Paul Bettany) finds a way into Jack's personal life by targeting his family, everything Jack holds dear is suddenly at stake. PG13. Cinemark.

Fun With Dick and Jane: Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni star as middle-class thieves in Dean Parisot's remake of the limp 1977 comedy starring Jane Fonda and George Segal. Also stars Alec Bladwin and Angie Harmon. PG-13. Movies 12.

Hills Have Eyes, The: Family road trip goes terribly wrong in this take of Wes Craven's 1977 original, as the travelers become stranded in an atomic zone with a mutant family. Yikes! R. Cinemark.

King Kong: Peter Jackson's highly anticipated re-imagining of the original film stars Naomi Watts as an actress, Jack Black as an adventurous filmmaker, and Adrien Brody as a playwright. Their troubles begin when they capture a giant ape and bring him to the city. Love this movie! Very highest recommendations. 2005 Academy Awards: visual effects, sound editing and sound mixing. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.

Libertine, The: Johnny Depp stars as a rogue troublemaker and ladies man who has a terrific time keeping everyone, including the king (John Malkovich), wondering what he'll do next. Also stars Samantha Morton, Rosamund Pike. R. Cinema World. Online archives.

Memoirs of a Geisha: Rob Marshall (Chicago) directs the screen version of the 1997 Arthur Golden novel, which is about a poor girl who becomes the most celebrated geisha of her time. The film stars the beautiful and talented Ziyi Zhang, Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh, with Ken Watanabe as the leading man. 2005 Academy Awards: art direction, set decoration; cinematography, Doion Beebe; costume design, Colleen Atwood. PG-13. Movies 12.

Nanny McPhee: Emma Thompson plays a frightful looking nanny with magical powers who enters the household of a recently widowed Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) to help control his seven ill-behaved children. Directed by Kirk Jones, film also stars Celia Imrie, Thomas Sangster, Angela Lansbury, Derek Jacobi, Imelda Staunton. PG. Movies 12.

Night Watch: Contemporary Russian vampire flick has some stunning visuals. This popular fantasy storyline is part one of a planned trilogy. R. Bijou. Online archives.

Pink Panther: Bumbling French Inspector Jacques Clousseau (Steve Martin) must solve the murder of a world-famous soccer coach and catch the thief who stole his priceless diamond ring in this prequel to the 1964 classic. Also stars Kevin Kline, Jean Reno & Beyonce. PG. Cinemark.

Shaggy Dog: Tim Allen and a big shaggy dog star in this Disney flick. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World.

She's the Man: Start with Shakespear's 'Twelfth Night," add in adolescent love and soccer-mania and you get this romantic comedy starring Amanda Bynes (What a Girl Wants) in which mistaken identities and cross-gender relationships abound. PG-13. Cinemark.

Sixteen Blocks: NYPD detective Jack Mosley (Bruce Willis) has one last job for the day: take petty criminal Eddie Bunker (Mos Def) from lockup to the courthouse where he will testify in a grand jury case. R. Cinema World. Cinemark.

Syriana: Middle East thriller about oil and the treacherous politics of producers vs. business interests was written and directed by the great Stephen Gaghan (Traffic). Stars George Clooney as CIA agent, energy analyst Matt Damon and Washington attorney Jeffrey Wright. Also Chris Cooper, William Hurt, Mazhar Munir, Tim Blake Nelson, Amanda Peet, Christopher Plummer and Alexander Siddig. Don't miss. 2005 Academy Awards: Supporting actor, George Clooney. R. Movies 12. Online archives.

Ultraviolet: Sci-fi fantasy stars Milla Jovovich and Cameron Bright. PG-13. Cinemark.

Underworld Evolution: Sequel to Underworld continues the saga of war between the aristocratic Death Dealers and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves. Stars Kate Beckinsale as the vampire heroine. Directed by Len Wiseman. Also stars Scott Speedman, Bill Nighy, Tony Curran and Derk Jacobi. R. Movies 12.

V for Vendetta: From the pages of David Lloyd & Alan Moore's graphic novel springs "V" (Hugo Weaving), a masked freedom fighter who's taken up arms against the totalitarian government in a furutistic Britain. Finding an unlikely ally in a young woman, Evey (Natalie Portman), V urges the citizenry to fight the opression of the state. Andy & Larry Wachowski (The Matrix) wrote the screenplay. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. See review this issue.

Walk the Line: Johnny Cash biography stars the excellent Joaquin Phoenix as the singer, songwriter known as the Man in Black and Reese Witherspoon (with dark hair) as singer, songwriter June Carter Cash, his second wife and partner for 35 years. Directed by James Mangold. Very highest recommendations. 2005 Academy Award to leading actress, Reese Witherspoon. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.

Why We Fight: Director Eugene Jarecki (The Trials of Henry Kissinger) makes a compelling, if not exactly groundbreaking, case for viewing the military-industrial complex as another massive corporation. Commentary from the usual political types is perceptive and interesting, but it's the use of Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1961 farewell speech, footage from a defense trade show and the less expected voices – like that of Vietnamese explosives expert Anh Duong and two fighter pilots who dropped the first bombs on Bagdad in 2003 – that make the movie worth watching. PG-13. Bijou. Online archives.

World's Fastest Indian: The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins), who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle—a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record in 1967. Sweet movie is very strongly recommended. PG13. Cinema World.

MOVIE THEATERS

Use the links provided below for specific show times.

Bijou Art Cinemas

Bijou Theater 686-2458 | 492 E. 13th

Regal Cinemas

Cinema World 342-6536 | Valley River Center

Springfield Quad 726-9073 |

Cinemark Theaters

Movies 12 741-1231 | Gateway Mall

Cinemark 17 741-1231 | Gateway Mall