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OPENING
OR RETURNING: Academy Award Nominated Short Films: 2007's Oscar-nominated shorts show over two weekends at DIVA — and shouldn't be missed. From the familiar themes of "Peter and the Wolf" to the creepy trainjackers of "Madame Tutli-Putli," and the sly office worker of "Tanghi Argentini" to the uninhibited kids of "The Subsititute," this collection of shorts from the world over (but, notably, none from the U.S.) offers charm and beauty in spades. Animated shorts show at 5 pm & 9:45 pm March 21, 8 pm March 22, 5 pm March 23 and 9:45 pm April 5. Live action shorts show at 7 pm March 21, 5 pm & 9:45 pm March 22, 2 pm March 23 and 7 pm April 5, DIVA. $6 per screening. See review this issue. Band's Visit, The: First-time feature director Eran Kolirin (who also wrote the screenplay) has a deft, gentle hand with this nuanced, thoughtful story about an Egyptian band that finds themselves adrift for a night in a small town in Israel. Funny and sweet in turns, the film rests lightly on the shoulders of its leads, including the dazzling Ronit Elkabetz as an Israeli restaurant owner. PG13. 84 min. Bijou. See review this issue. Definitely, Maybe: Manhattan papa Will (Ryan Reynolds) answers his daughter's (Abigail Breslin) questions about how her now-divorcing parents met and fell in love with a complicated story about growing up — but of course it's the tot who helps him figure out how to grow even farther. PG13. Movies 12. Drillbit Taylor: When three high school kids get sick of being picked on, they hire Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson), who pretends to be a teacher in order to keep an eye on his young clients. There's brand-name talent behind the scenes (producer Judd Apatow produces, co-writer Seth Rogen) but the lack of early reviews doesn't bode well. PG13. 102 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. Meet the Browns: Multihyphenate Tyler Perry directed, wrote and stars in his latest film, which is about a Chicago single mother (the recently underseen Angela Bassett) who finds a father she never knew has died — and that his whole small-town Southern family is waiting for her in Georgia. PG13. 100 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. Rocky Horror Picture Show, The: Dress up, sing along, shout the words — you know the drill with this cult classic. And if you don't, what are you waiting for? Get to the theater already! And be sure to tell them you've never been before. With live performance by Forbidden Fruit. R. Bijou LateNite, Friday only. Shutter: Remake of a Thai thriller stars Joshua Jackson and Rachael Taylor as a young couple who see strange things in some photos they develop after a horrible accident. PG13. 85 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. Source to Sea: In 2003, Christopher Swain became the first person to swim the entire length (1,243 miles) of the Columbia River. His journey became this basis for this documentary, which also explores the river's disrupted ecosystems and dislocated peoples. 7 pm March 23, Cozmic Pizza. Free. Films open the Friday following EW publication date unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING: Alvin and the Chipmunks: What's next? A live-action Care Bears movie starring Jason Lee? (He's in this and Underdog, for those not keeping track.) Those wacky little creatures with the high-pitched voices will surely cause him some trouble in this newest bit of family fare. With, um, David Cross. Now I'm confused. PG. Movies 12. Atonement: Joe Wright's adaptation of Ian
McEwan's exceptional — and exceptionally difficult to summarize
— novel takes place across years, as the actions of young
Briony (Saoirse Ronan) have lengthy, unimagined consequences to
the futures of her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and their housekeeper's
son, Robbie (James McAvoy). ACADEMY AWARD:
BEST SCORE. R. 123 min.
Movies 12.. Bank Job, The: Jason Statham (The Transporter) and Saffron Burrows star in this film based on the 1971 robbery at Lloyds Bank in London. To the thieves' surprise, the box they steal has more than just cash in it. "Shapes up as one of the liveliest entertainments of the year," said Andrew Sarris in The New York Observer. R. 110 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. Be Kind Rewind: Michel Gondry's (Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) playful, creative new film looks
like a total joy. Mos Def and Jack Black star as friends facing
a dilemma when one of them becomes magnetized and erases all the
tapes in the store where his friend works. Bingo! They'll make new
versions of the films. PG13. 101 min. Movies 12. VRC Stadium 15.
Cloverfield: Though it's gripping while you're in the theater, this J.J. Abrams-produced monster flick about a beast that destroys Manhattan starts to seem flawed and somewhat silly once you step back into daylight. PG13. 90 min. Movies 12. Doomsday: Neil Marshall (The Descent) directs this futuristic film about a country walled off in response to a deadly virus — and the team (led by Rhona Mitra, working the Kate Beckinsale in Underworld angle) that must venture back into that country to find a cure when the virus appears elsewhere. R. 105 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. Enchanted: Beautiful princesses! Handsome
princes! And … midtown Manhattan? Amy Adams (Junebug),
James Marsters (X-Men) and Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy)
star in this charming fairy tale in the real world, which follows
Princess Giselle (Adams) after a wicked witch banishes her from
her magical kingdom. PG. 107 min. Movies 12. Horton Hears a Who: The Dr. Seuss classic gets the animated treatment from the creators of Ice Age, with Jim Carrey as Horton and Steve Carell as the mayor of Who-ville, the tiny world on a speck that Horton discovers and defends from his fellow animals, who think he's gone nuts. G. 110 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. I Am Legend: Will Smith does the all-by-his-lonesome thing in a New York City left not exactly empty after a manmade virus devastates the globe. During the day, he tries to find other survivors; at night, he tries to survive the creatures that are what's left of humanity. PG13. 100 min. Movies 12. 44411 (12/20) In Bruges: Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson star in playwright Martin McDonagh's directorial debut, a slightly sweet, somewhat philosophical, totally sailor-mouthed tale of two hitmen sent to hide out in the Belgian town of Bruges. A mixup of genre and tone, it's nonetheless diverting and amusing, and Farrell, as the more distressed of the pair, is surprisingly sympathetic. R. 107 min. Bijou. 44411 (2/28) Jumper: Adapted from a novel by Steven Gould, this film follows "jumpers" who can leap through space and time. Among these lucky few are Hayden Christensen and Jamie Bell; Samuel L. Jackson provides the tension as a fella who doesn't approve of these crazy hijinks. Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity). PG13. 88 min. Cinemark. Juno: Director Jason Reitman's turned out
another buzzworthy movie, this time with a screenplay by newcomer
Diablo Cody. Ellen Page (who was outstanding in Hard Candy)
plays a pregnant teenager dealing with herself, her future, her
parents, the best friend who fathered the kid and the couple who
wants to adopt it. "Hilarious and sweet-tempered, perceptive and
surprisingly grounded," said the Los Angeles Times. ACADEMY
AWARD: BEST ORIGINAL
SCREENPLAY. PG13. 96 min. Cinemark. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: Frances McDormand is Miss Pettigrew, who (in 1939 London) finds herself a job as a "social secretary" after being dismissed from her governess position. Over 24 hours, Miss Pettigrew and Delysia Lafosse (the wonderful Amy Adams) change each others' lives — and those of the three men circling Delysia (Lee Pace, Ciaran Hinds and Mark Strong). PG13. 92 min. VRC Stadium 15. 44411 (3/13) National Treasure: Book of Secrets: Nicolas Cage returns for more adventure and hijinks — something to do with the president's secret book (hey, this sounds like Crooked Little Vein!) and clearing his family's name; did great-great grandpa have something to do with Lincoln's assassination? With Helen Mirren. PG. Movies 12. Never Back Down: Is it just me, ot does this film looks like an excuse to shoot a lot of badass fight scenes? (With a story loosely draped around them, of course.) The new kid in school gets, er, schooled by the resident bullly, who's got a hot girlfriend. But if he masters mixed martial arts, the new guy might turn the tables. PG13. 112 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. No Country for Old Men: The latest from the
Coen brothers is a near-masterpiece, an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's
acclaimed novel, and it's earning plenty of acclaim itself. The
story involves a small-town sherriff, a deadly drug deal and a psychopathic
killer (Javier Bardem). The reviewers say "intense," "searing,"
"an evil delight." ACADEMY AWARDS:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
(JAVIER BARDEM), BEST
DIRECTOR, BEST ADAPTED
SCREENPLAY, BEST PICTURE.
R. 122 min. Movies 12. Other Boleyn Girl, The: In this film, based on Phllippa Gregory's novel, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) Boleyn are sent by their family to lure the attentions of the king of England (Eric Bana). Court intrigue, family drama and other period-piece standards fill out the sisters' stories as they fight for love and power. PG13. 115 min. VRC Stadium 15. Rambo: Jon Rambo (oh, you know who plays him) sees his solitary life in Thailand come to a crashing close when two American human rights missionaries (Julie Benz and Paul Schulze) track him down and ask for his help getting into Burma. When they don't return, Rambo knows what must be done. And it involves cheesy one-liners! R. 93 min. Movies 12. Semi-Pro: Will Farrell continues to make millions playing idiots; here he's the coach-player-owner of the Flint Tropics, an American Basketball Association team dreaming of joining the NBA. Thing is, they suck, and wrestling bears isn't going to make them any better. With Andre Benjamin and Woody Harrelson. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. Spidertron: Locally and indepdendently produced sci-fi comedy uses nearby locations, UO students and a whole lot of determination to tell the story of a spaceship crew marooned on an alien planet. www.spidertron.comBijou LateNite, Friday only. Spiderwick Chronicles, The: Adaptation of Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's books about a young boy (Freddie Highmore, playing twins) who finds that there's much more than meets the eye to an old family estate. Black has a knack for a different kind of fairy tale; let's hope the movie can translate that to the screen. With Mary-Louise Parker. PG. Cinemark. Ten Thousand B.C.: Director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) directs a set-ages-ago story about a young hunter and the lovely woman he'll stop at nothing to save from "mysterious warlords." Other key phrases from the studio's synopsis include "ultimate fate," "tyrannical god" and "empire beyond imagination." Did I mention our hero's name is D'Leh? PG13. 109 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. Vantage Point: Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker and Sigourney Weaver are just half the people — and perspectives — in this thriller about an assassination attempt made on the American president (William Hurt) as he gives a speech about the war on terror. I think the real story might be, uh, complicated? PG13. 90 min. VRC Stadium 15.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
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