.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.

Al Otro Lado: Natalia Almada’s film follows an aspiring composer who faces a difficult choice about how to better his life. Part of the Margaret Mead Traveling Film and Video Festival. 5:30 pm Feb. 9, 175 Knight Law, UO. $3, $2 stu.

Apocalypto: Mel Gibson follows The Passion of the Christ with another violent epic set in an ancient time (something that looks vaguely like the end of the Mayan Empire) and filmed in an unusual language. R. Movies 12. (12/14/06)

Best of the Eugene Film Festival: “Twisted Love and Memorable Characters” is the theme for this collection of shorts from the first Best of Eugene Film Festival. 7 pm Feb. 11, DIVA. $5, $3 stu., members.

Crossroads Festival: International film festival, through Feb. 18, features movies from Indian, Italy, Tunisia, Japan, Brazil, Palestine and more. Feb. 11 screenings include Dreams (Japan), 2 pm and 8 pm, and Rana’s Wedding (Palestine), 6 pm. Avalon Theater, Corvallis. $8 per film.

Fall ’01, The: Documentary about the world premiere of a choreodrama with the same title, an artistic response to war created by Agnieszka Laska, Luis Arreguin and composer Jack Gabel, with image montages by Uehara Takafumi. Screening raises funds for an Oregon production. 3 pm Feb. 11, DIVA. Donation.

Future So Bright: Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick screens his recent abstract documentary with a live soundtrack. 7 pm Feb. 9, DIVA. $5, $3 stu., members.

Hannibal Rising: Author Thomas Harris wrote the screenplay for this look into the history of a young man (Gaspar Ulliel) who, after the death of his parents, turns toward vengeance and goes well beyond. Directed by Peter Webber (Girl With a Pearl Earring). Cinema World. Cinemark.

Kamp Katrina: Documentary set in post-Katrina New Orleans about a woman who offers her backyard as a home to those displaced by the hurricane, but struggles with limited resources and little support. 7 pm Feb. 12, Cozmic Pizza. Free.

My Big Armenian Wedding: Comedy about an Armenian man and Russian woman who fall in love against the wishes of their parents. Part 1 of 2, in Russian with English subtitles. 7 pm Feb. 13, 111 Pacific, UO. Free.

My Migrant Soul: Video documentary about a young man from Bangladesh who leaves to search for work screens with Fun@Sun: Making of a Global Workforce, which explores “soft skills” training programs of the Indian outsourcing industry. 6 pm Feb. 14, 240A McKenzie, UO. Free.

Norbit: Oscar nominee Eddie Murphy plays both the nerdy title character and his overweight, possessive fiancée. The trailer hurts us, and so does the fact that Thandie Newton is in this movie. PG13. Cinema World. Cinemark.

Notes on a Scandal: Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett deliver outstanding performances in a tangled story of infidelity, jealousy and power that’s one of the best films of 2006. OSCAR NOMS: JUDI DENCH, BEST ACTRESS; CATE BLANCHETT, SUPPORTING ACTRESS; ORIGINAL SCORE; ADAPTED SCREENPLAY. R. Bijou. See review this issue.

Oldboy: Chan-Wook Park’s thriller is about the kidnapping and imprisonment of an average man who is let loose after 15 years, given money and clothing but no explanation. Very violent. In Korean with English subtitles. R. 7 pm Feb. 15, Int’l Resource Center, EMU, UO. Free.

Pan’s Labyrinth: Writer-director Guillermo del Toro delivers a beautifully wrought, sometimes excruciating film that follows a young girl though her adventures in a fantastic otherworld — and through a difficult, frightening existence in this one. In Spanish with English subtitles. OSCAR NOMS: BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM; ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY; ORIGINAL SCORE; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ART DIRECTION; MAKEUP. R. Bijou. Cinemark. See review this issue.

Pelle the Conqueror: In the 1800s, young Pelle and his father Lasse move to theh Danish island of Bornholm in search of a better life. Directed by Bille August (Smilla’s Sense of Snow). In Swedish with English subtitles. 7 pm Feb. 9, 221 McKenzie, UO. Free.

Postman, The (Il Postino): About the relationship between exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (Phillippe Noiret) and the uneducated Italian postman (Massimo Troisi) who delivers Neruda’s endless, female-penned fan mail. In Italian with English subtitles. PG. 7 pm Feb. 9, Unity of the Valley, with discussion to follow. Free.

Shiri: Special agents from North and South Korea clash over a shipment of explosives intended to blow up a soccer match that’s meant to calm relations between the two countries. In Korean with English subtitles. 7 pm Feb. 8, Int’l Resource Center, EMU, UO. Free.

Talking Heads: A rare 1980 Italian TV broadcast from the band’s short-lived Adrian Belew era. Professionally filmed. Not rated. Bijou LateNite.

Zerophilia: Locally shot film explores what happens to a young man (The O.C.‘s Taylor Handley) when he discovers he has a rare genetic disorder that changes him into a woman. An informal gathering at North Bank with director Martin Curland follows Saturday’s matinee screening. Not rated. Bijou. See story.

 

CONTINUING:

Babel: The last fim of a thematic trilogy for director Alejandro González Iñárritu follows four emotional, affecting storylines on three continents, exploring their connections and breakdowns. Starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal and astonishing newcomer Rinko Kikuchi. R. OSCAR NOMS: RINKO KIKUCHI & ADRIANA BARRAZA, SUPPORTING ACTRESS; BEST DIRECTOR; BEST PICTURE; ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY; FILM EDITING; ORIGINAL SCORE. Cinema World. (11/9/06)

Because I Said So: Diane Keaton plays a mom conspiring with her two elder daughters (Lauren Graham and Piper Perabo) to get youngest child Milly (Mandy Moore) a good man. PG13. Cinema World. Cinemark.

Borat: Sacha Baron Cohen (of “Da Ali G Show”) plays the title character, a Kazakhstani reporter creating a documentary while road-tripping across the U.S. The subtitle, “Cultural Learnings of American for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” ought to tell you something. R. OSCAR NOM: ADAPTED SCREENPLAY. Movies 12. (11/9/06)

Catch and Release: Jennifer Garner is a suddenly single woman who finds comfort in her quirky male friends after the death of her fiancé. With Kevin Smith and Timothy Olyphant. PG13. Cinemark.

Children of Men: Clive Owen and Julianne Moore star in this highly praised adaptation of P.D. James’ novel, which envisions a troubled near future where no more children are being conceived. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también). R. OSCAR NOMS: CINEMATOGRAPHY; ADAPTED SCREENPLAY; FILM EDITING. Cinemark. (1/11)

Déja Vu: This Jerry Bruckheimer-produced, Tony Scott-directed thriller has something to do with traveling four days back in the future to stop a boat exploding. Or maybe it’s just looking four days back. Clever preview, either way. Stars Denzel Washington and Val Kilmer. PG-13. Movies 12.

Departed, The: Martin Scorsese’s new film is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a cop undercover in the mob; Matt Damon is the gangster mole in the police force. With Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg. R. OSCAR NOMS: MARK WAHLBERG, SUPPORTING ACTOR; BEST DIRECTOR; BEST PICTURE; FILM EDITING; ADAPTED SCREENPLAY. Movies 12. (10/12/06)

Dreamgirls: The much-buzzed-about musical from director Bill Condon (Kinsey) stars Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and the said-to-be transcendent Jennifer Hudson in the story of a girl group’s rise, loosely based on the story of the Supremes. PG13. OSCAR NOMS: EDDIE MURPHY, SUPPORTING ACTOR; JENNIFER HUDSON, SUPPORTING ACTRESS; ART DIRECTION; COSTUME DESIGN; ORIGINAL SONGS; SOUND MIXING. Cinema World. Cinemark. (1/18)

Epic Movie: Kal Penn, Jennifer Coolidge and Fred Willard are among the cast in this send up of everything from Willy Wonka to Harry Potter to Narnia — actually, they’re saving the land of Gnarnia. Could be funny, could be terrible. PG. Cinema World.

Eragon: Adaptation of young novelist Christopher Paolini’s first thick tome stars John Malkovich as an apparently campy evil king. Newcomer Edward Speelers plays the title character, who bonds with a dragon named Saphira and, um, saves the world? Or at least the kingdom. Just a guess. PG13. Movies 12.

Flags of Our Fathers: Clint Eastwood’s new film explores the story behind the iconic image of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima during WWII. “A film of awesome power and blistering provocation,” says Rolling Stone. R. OSCAR NOMS: SOUND MIXING; SOUND EDITING. Movies 12.

Flushed Away: Aardman Features (Wallace and Gromit) teams up with Dreamworks for the story of a pampered pet mouse (Hugh Jackman) who finds himself, after a trip down the drain, in London’s bustling rodent underground. With Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen and Jean Reno. PG. Movies 12.

Good Shepherd, The: Robert DeNiro heads back behind the camera to direct a story about the birth of the CIA, starring Matt Damon as one of the agency’s founders and Angelina Jolie as his frustrated wife. R. OSCAR NOM: ART DIRECTION. Movies 12. (12/28/06)

Happy Feet: Warner Bros. chases some March of the Penguins dough with this animated film, starring Elijah Wood as a cute lil’ guy in search of his soul mate. (OK, so they were working on this one first. Still.) With Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman. PG. OSCAR NOM: ANIMATED FEATURE. Cinemark.

Hitcher, The: Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings) stars as the titular creep, who torments a young couple on the road. R. Cinemark.

Holiday, The: Man-troubled Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet swap houses for Christmas break in the new film from Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give) – and naturally, each finds a new feller (Jude Law and Jack Black) on the other’s home turf. PG13. Movies 12.

Last King of Scotland, The: At long last, Eugeneans can see Forest Whitaker’s highly-praised performance as Idi Amin in Kevin MacDonald’s new(ish) film. With James McAvoy as the (fictional) young doctor who becomes Amin’s personal physicial until his eyes are opened to the dictator’s brutal actions. R. OSCAR NOM: FOREST WHITAKER, BEST ACTOR. Cinema World. (2/1)

Letters From Iwo Jima: Clint Eastwood’s second 2006 WWII film recently won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film; The New York Times called this film, which looks at WWII from the Japanese side, “one of the best war movies ever.” R. OSCAR NOMS: BEST DIRECTOR; BEST PICTURE; SOUND EDITING; ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY. Cinemark. (1/25)

Messengers, The: When a family tries to take over a sunflower farm, things go weirdly wrong — especially when John Corbett arrives. Supposedly, the kids can see things the parents can’t. Creepiness abounds. PG13. Cinemark.

Night at the Museum: When down-on-his-luck Larry (Ben Stiller) gets a job as the night guard at a museum, he sure doesn’t expect the exhibits to come alive at night. There’s something very Jumanji about this. PG. Cinemark.

Open Season: Sony breaks into the animation game with the story of a clueless grizzly bear (Martin Lawrence) whose friend Elliot (Ashton Kutcher) lures him into the wild life. PG. Movies 12.

Pursuit of Happyness, The: Will Smith stars as a down-on-his-luck father who strives to make it as a stockbroker while facing eviction and raising his son (Smith’s real-life son Jaden). PG13. OSCAR NOM: WILL SMITH, BEST ACTOR. Cinemark.

Queen, The: Stephen Frears’ movie about the shifting desires and threats of Britain’s public and the differences in Tony Blair’s (Michael Sheen) and Queen Elizabeth II’s (Helen Mirren) responses to the death of Princess Diana is a grand, usually subtle fiction that gets at a lot of truth. PG13. OSCAR NOMS: HELEN MIRREN, BEST ACTRESS; COSTUME DESIGN; BEST DIRECTOR; ORIGINAL SCORE; BEST PICTURE; ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY. Cinemark. (11/30/06)

Smokin’ Aces: There’s a price on Jeremy Piven’s head, and a whole lot of people are out to collect it. ‘Course, he’s under FBI custody. Joe Carnahan’s film has a whiz-bang trailer and a passel of unexpected stars, including Alicia Keys and Jason Bateman. R. Cinemark. (2/1)

Stomp the Yard: A troubled street dancer from L.A. finds himself a hot commodity among the step dancing teams of two fraternities at a university in Atlanta. PG13. Cinemark.

Stranger Than Fiction: Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) begins to hear a voice (Emma Thompson) narrating his life — and he doesn’t like where the story’s going. PG13. Movies 12. (11/16/06)

Unaccompanied Minors: A host of kids (traveling alone) find themselves snowed in at the airport (a fictional one in Chicago) on Christmas Eve. What else is there to do but wreak havoc? PG. Movies 12.

Volver: Penélope Cruz is radiant as troubled mother, daughter and sister Raimunda in the new film from celebrated director Pedro Almodóvar. Warm and welcoming, but not as engrossing as some of the director’s earlier work. R. OSCAR NOM: PENéLOPE CRUZ, BEST ACTRESS. Cinema World. (1/25)

 

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

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