.MOVIE LISTINGS | MOVIE REVIEW ARCHIVE | THEATER INFO

 

OPENING:

Best of the Northwest Film and Video Festival: A cross-section of short films from the Northwest. 7 pm Saturday, Oct. 3, DIVA. $6.

Capitalism: A Love Story: Michael Moore’s latest, a look at the still-ongoing financial crisis, is getting mixed reviews; to some it’s an “emotional attack” and “scattershot and lazy,” while others think it’s moving and energizing. R. VRC Stadium 15. 

Confessions of a Superhero: This film, which screens as part of the J-Schnitz’s superheroes exhibition, follows Hollywood’s “reigning Superman impersonator,” as well as the folks who dress up as Wonder Woman and Batman. Screening will be followed by a live Skype discussion with direcotr Matthew Ogens. 5:30 pm Wednesday, Oct. 7, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. 

Dante’s Inferno: Sandow Birk presents this animated version of Dante’s classic, for which he was art director, writer and producer. Here, Dante is “a slacker in a hoodie” voiced by Dermot Mulroney. The handmade film is in the style of “an apocalyptic graphic novel crossed with  Victorian-era toy theater.” Hey, that sounds nifty! 7 pm Thursday, Oct. 1, 180 PLC, UO. Free.

Films of John Ford, The: LCC and DIVA join forces to show The Informer (1 pm), about an Irishman who hopes to emigrate to America, and The Grapes of Wrath (4 pm), based on John Steinbeck’s novel, Sunday, Oct. 4, DIVA. $5 for both. 

Hangover, The: This summer’s dirty-fun buzz movie stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifinakis and Ed Helms as three guys who have no idea what happened at the bachelor party last night. Where’d that guy’s tooth go? Where’d the baby come from? It’s a really good time finding out. Movies 12. (6/11)

Indie Film Night: Two documentaries screen for the start of this new series from DIVA: My First Second Home, about six foreign lesbians who find new homes in the U.S., and Ebony Chunky Love: Bitch Can’t Get a Date,which mixes comedian Keith Price’s stand-up act with interviews for what the press release describes as a “funny and intelligent commentary on issues of family dynamics, class, race and body image in the gay community.” 7 pm Sunday, Oct. 4, DIVA. 

Invention of Lying, The: Ricky Gervais (BBC’s The Office) stars as the man who brings lying to a world in which everyone always tells the truth — and finds fame and fortune in the process. ‘Course, things probably go wrong after that. With Jennifer Garner, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill and Jeffrey Tambor. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

It Might Get Loud: Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) directs this documentary about Jack White, Jimmy Page and U2’s the Edge, taking each guitarist to a significant location in his life and setting them to jamming together. “The lore in this documentary will be catnip” to rock geeks, said The New York Times. PG. 97 min. Bijou. See review this issue.

Thirst: Director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Lady Vengence) mixes horror, dark comedy, messy romance and more in this story of a priest who finds himself turned into a vampire after a medical experiment. He tries to live as he did before, but the attentions of a needy young woman (Kim Ok-vin) are too much to resist, and before long, both their lives — if you can call them that — have gotten deeply complicated. R. 133 min. Bijou. See review this issue.

Toy Story 1 & 2 3D: Pixar’s triumphant feature-length debut and its sequel get dressed up in 3D in order to get us all totes psyched for Toy Story 3, which comes out next year. G. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Whatever Works: Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood star in the latest from Woody Allen, which is about an eccentric New Yorker (No! Really?) and the young Southern girl he meets. With Patricia Clarkson. 92 min. PG13. Movies 12.

Whip It: Ellen Page is a Texas beauty pageantgoer who does pageants for her mom (Marcia Gay Harden). A flyer for roller derby — and Kristen Wiig as a friendly derby girl — change her life entirely. Page is a charmer, as is Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) as her best friend, but it’s slightly amazing how a film about this alternative sport manages to get so dressed up in Hollywood predictability. Directed by Drew Barrymore. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Willow: Oh, Val Kilmer, your flowing locks! This fantasical ’80s adventure screens for Heckler’s Night, 7 pm Wednesday, Oct. 7, Wandering Goat. Free.

Zombieland: Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland) goes back to the amusement park (OK, so the films aren’t related, but it is kinda funny) in this zombie flick that costars Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone (Superbad) and … Abigail Breslin? Little Miss Sunshine fights zombies? I’m in. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

 

CONTINUING:

Adventureland: Greg Mottola (Superbad) directs a slightly oddball ensemble (including Ryan Reynolds, Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig) in this story about a college grad whose job search lands him at the titular amusement park. R. 107 min. David Minor Theater. (4/9)

Aliens in the Attic: A gaggle of kids on vacation (with their parents, who are oblivious) gotta fight off the alien critters that — shocker! — want to take over the world. PG. Movies 12.

All About Steve: This “comedy” is currently sitting pretty with a 5 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s about a crossword puzzle constructor (Sandra Bullock) who becomes obsessed with a man (Bradley Cooper) after she goes on one blind date with him. Words used to describe this: “Dreadful.” “Lunkheaded.” “Grimly unfunny.” PG13. Cinemark. 

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: Portland critics were abuzz about this animated kids’ movie, which is apparently far more charming than the previews led us all to believe. Based on the book of the same name, it’s about a town where food, rather than the more ordinary forms of precipitation, falls from the sky. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

District 9: Producer Peter Jackson gets top billing, but this sci-fi film about aliens taking refuge in South Africa is actually the feature-film debut of director Neill Blomkamp. The buzz is beyond good; Blomkamp is already being dubbed one to watch. R. 112 min. Cinemark. (8/20)

Fame: They’re gonna live forever! But they’ll be different! This isn’t a remake, but a reinvention. Which I suspect means they got to modernize Irene Cara’s evilly catchy songs. But it’s still about competition, talent and relationships at a New York performing arts high school. PG. Cinemark. 

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The penultimate Potter tale is a touch complicated: Voldemort is at work in the wizarding and Muggle worlds. Dumbledore needs Harry’s help in many things, including recruiting a new professor to Hogwarts. Students are being attacked, and an old book is full of unexpected information. PG. Cinemark. (7/16)

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell: The Hangover II? Based on Tucker Max’s book of the same name, this classy, progressive film is about a dude who convinces his buddy to go to a “legendary” strip club for his bachelor party. Mayhem ensues. There are barely words for how uninteresting this sounds. R, duh. VRC Stadium 15.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs: The scrappy critters from Ice Age return: two are having a baby, one might be losing his edge and another needs to be rescued. And then there’s that troubling flying squirrel from the preview… PG13. Movies 12.

Informant, The: The latest from Steven Soderbergh stars Matt Damon as an employee of an agri-business firm who turns informer — sort of; the whistle-blower isn’t entirely forthcoming, it seems. Maybe. Maybe he’s just a little strange. It’s “a return to form for Soderbergh,” says The New Yorker. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. See review this issue.

Inglorious Basterds: Quentin Tarantino’s long-anticipated WWII movie stars Brad Pitt as the leader of a group of Jewish soldiers who “engage in targeted acts of retribution” against the Third Reich. “Energetic, inventive, swaggering fun,” said The Village Voice. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (8/27)

Jennifer’s Body: Diablo Cody (Juno) wrote this horror flick about a really hot high school girl (Megan Fox) who turns into a literal maneater. Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!) is her less sultry best friend, who has to save the boys of their town. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Julie & Julia: Julie Powell’s book about cooking her way through Julia Child’s masterpiece comes to screens as a two-part story: One part follows Powell in her Queens apartment, the other Child in France. Cinemark. (8/13)

Love Happens: A superstar therapist (Aaron Eckhart) finally meets the woman (Jennifer Aniston) who might be able to help him help himself. I’m sorry, did anyone else just stifle a slight gag reflex? PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Nine: A small community of rag dolls come to life in a post-apocalyptic world, where strange machines threaten their existence. This astonishing-looking animated film is directed by Shane Acker (who previously made a short with the same name). With the voices of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly and Crispin Glover. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (9/17)

Observe and Report: Seth Rogen stars as a mall cop (another one? Really?) who must take down a flasher, try to charm the makeup-counter woman he adores (Anna Faris) and beat the local cops at their own job. Er, I think. R. Movies 12. (4/16)

Pandorum: Two disoriented astronauts (Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster) wake up on what seems to be a stranded, abandoned spaceship. What’s gone wrong, and what’s at stake? Something about this gives me Event Horizon flashbacks, except it appears the scope may be larger. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Paper Heart: A sorta-documentary (or is it a mockumentary) about Charlene Yi, who doesn’t believe in love. So she goes on a quest, talking to strangers about love, and then she meets Michael Cera, wh just might change her mind. “A quasi-documentary about love that is sweet, true and perhaps a little deceptive,” says Roger Ebert. PG13. 89 min. Bijou.

Proposal, The: “High-powered” publishing exec Sandra Bullock makes her put-upon assistant (Ryan Reynolds) get engaged to her so she can stay in the U.S. As much as I’m starting to like Reynolds, this is too much ick — and contrived nonsense — for one film. PG13. Movies 12.

Séraphine: This French film tells the (based on a true) story of Séraphine de Senlis (Yolande Moreau), a devout housekeeper whose artistic talent was discovered by a German art critic who was also the first Picasso buyer. The film won seven Cesars, the French equivalent of the Oscars. Not rated. 121 min. Bijou. (9/10)

Star Trek: Even the most crotchety critics are loving J.J. Abrams’ take on the maiden voyage of the Enterprise — and the rivalry-turned-friendship of young James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto). With Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho and Eric Bana. PG13. 126 min. Movies 12. (5/14)

Surrogates: In the future, we all control perfect robot versions of ourselves instead of running about in the world with our flawed flesh and blood. And then someone figures out how to kill a person through their surrogate. But don’t worry! Bruce Willis is on the case. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen: A selection of comments: Roger Ebert: “a horrible experience of unbearable length, briefly punctuated by three or four amusing moments.” Detroit News: “A great grinding garbage disposal of a movie.” Dark Horizons: “The male teenage cinematic equivalent of snorting cocaine off a hooker’s ass.” Chicago Tribune: “like listening to rocks in a clothes dryer for 2 1/2 hours.” I think you get the point. PG13. 149 min. Movies 12.

Ugly Truth, The: Any theories about why Katherine Heigl is once again playing a TV show employee? This charmer pairs her with Gerard Butler as a bad-boy TV personality who thinks he knows everything about the difference between men and woman. You got that “charmer” was being used sarcastically, right? R. Movies 12.

Up: In the latest film from Pixar, a crotchety old balloon salesman sends his house into the sky (via balloons, of course) to escape from it all — only to find that he has an unwanted stowaway on his porch. The praise is already flowing — and deserved. PG. Movies 12. (6/4)

Wizard of Oz, The: How I know we’re living in the future: You young’uns no longer have to wait for the one time each year that The Wizard of Oz is on TV. (No, I’m not that old; yes, I remember this!) Go see Dorothy and her friends and enemies like you’ve probably never seen them before. David Minor Theater.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine: My efforts to will this movie into not sucking proved mostly fruitless. Sure, Jackman is fine, Schreiber makes a good Sabretooth (if one utterly unlike the one in earlier films), and for about 10 minutes, Ryan Reynolds is a fantastic Deadpool, but the poor effects, silly plot and shallow writing don’t give me much else to care about. PG13. 107 min. David Minor Theater.

 

 

MOVIE THEATERS
Use the links provided below for specific show times.

Bijou Art Cinemas
Bijou Theater 686-2458 | 492 E. 13th

David Minor Theater
David Minor Theater and Pub 762-1700 | 180 E. 5th

Regal Cinemas
VRC Stadium 15 342-6536 | Valley River Center

Cinemark Theaters
Movies 12 741-1231 | Gateway Mall
Cinemark 17 741-1231 | Gateway Mall