Eugene Weekly : Movies : 5.17.07


.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.

Ani DiFranco: Ninety minute concert film shot in May 2004 includes appearances by Tony Scherr and Dennis Kucinich. Not rated. Bijou LateNite.

Battle Royale: Controversial, violent Japanese film in which a class of young adolescents is kidnapped, drugged and dumped on a deserted island with enough food and water for three days. And a weapon each. Only one will leave alive. R. Bijou LateNite.

Bridge to Terabithia: Adaptation of the much-loved children’s book by Katherine Paterson, in which two lonely kids create a fantasyland for themselves. Despite the fantasy-film feel of the trailer, the film is said to be very loyal to the book. PG. Movies 12.

Finding Common Ground in New Orleans: Documentary by Springfielder Walidah Imarisha screens as part of “Remains and Rebirth: An Evening About Katrina,” which also includes a presentation by New Orleans-based organizer Suncere Shakur and a Q&A with both. 7 pm May 23, Churchill High School Auditorium. $2-$20 ss.

Human Rights in Latin America: Class film series is open to the public. Introductions to each film take place at 6:30 pm. State of Fear (Peru), 7 pm May 17; La historia official (Argentina), 7 pm May 24. 129 McKenzie, UO. Free.

Mekong: The Mother of All Waters: Documentary by Portlander Brian Eustis chronicles the first complete navigation of the Mekong River, exploring human rights and environmental issues resulting from the Chinese government’s plan to dam the river. Screens with Decades: Born in Fire, a locally-produced film exploring the issues around the 2002 Biscuit Fire. 7 pm May 22, 100 Willamette.

Mr. Sean’s Cartoon Club: Crazy, weird and old cartoons featuring Betty Boop, Felix, Superman and more. Noon-1:30 pm May 20. Bijou. $4.

Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil: Filmmakers Faith Morgan and Pat Murphy explore how Cuba survived the loss of more than half its oil imports after the fall of the Soviet Union. 6 pm May 20, Cozmic Pizza. Free.

Premonition: Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) is having a very bad week: One day, her huband is killed in a car wreck; the next, she wakes up and he’s still alive. Does that sound interesting? Don’t be fooled: This is an overwrought, tedious stinker. PG13. Movies 12. (3/22)

Reaping, The: In Hilary Swank’s oft-delayed new thriller, the two-time Oscar winner plays a former missionary who’s turned to a life spent debunking religious phenomena — until, of course, something really dark, creepy and Biblical starts to happen. R. Movies 12.

Rhythm From Wreckage: A showcase of experiments in time-based art, including work by Jesse England, Nate Harrison, LoVid, Gijs Gieskes and artists performing at Eugene Noise Fest 2007. 8 pm May 17, DIVA. $5, $3 stu., members.

Russian Sherlock Holmes: The Treasure of Agra, part one: Holmes and Watson investigate rare pearls sent to Mary Morstan. In Russian with English subtitles. 7 pm May 22, 115 Pacific, UO. Free.

Shrek the Third: When Shrek’s father-in-law kicks the bucket, the ogre finds himself the reluctant king of Far Far Away. His only hope of getting out of the job? His wife’s slacker cousin. The big green ogre is apparently such a cinematic threat, his is the only mainstream film opening this weekend. Yikes. PG. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders: A young Czechoslovakian girl is given a pair of magical earrings that let her see the world around her as it really is. 7 pm May 20, DIVA. $5, $3 stu., members.

Valet, The: Francis Veber’s latest film to feature a fellow named François Pignon finds Pignon, here the titular valet, caught up in a loaded businessman’s plan to convince his wife he’s not cheating on her with a supermodel. A sweet, funny farce ensues. PG13. Bijou. See review this issue.

Youth & Subcultures Film Series: Presented in conjunction with Folklore of Subcultures class. Afro Punk and Don’t Need You: The Herstory of Riot Grrl, 7 pm May 17; Mondo Elvis and Almost Elvis, 7 pm May 24, 110 Willamette, UO. Free.

 

CONTINUING:

Astronaut Farmer, The: Billy Bob Thornton plays the title character in this based-on-a-true-story feelgood film about a feller building a rocket in his barn. With Virginia Madsen and Bruce Dern. PG. Movies 12.

Avenue Montaigne: Characters intersect in a Paris bar where Jessica (Cecile de France) is a new-to-town waitress. The Washington Post called it “a delicately charming fable.” PG13. Bijou. (5/3)

Delta Farce: Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and DJ Qualls star in this bit of nonsense about a group of dudes who accidentally wind up in the military — then are accidentally ejected from an Iraq-bound plane, winding up in Mexico. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Disturbia: Under a three-month house arrest, teenager Kale (Shia LaBeouf) spies on the homes around him — which leads to meeting the hot girl next door and, you know, figuring out that the creepy neighbor might be up to something nasty. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Ex, The: That Zach Braff, always having lady problems. This time, he and his wife Sofia (Amanda Peet) move from NYC to small-town Ohio, where Sofia’s ex still wants her and she doesn’t want to stay home with the baby. PG13. VRC Stadium 15.

Firehouse Dog: A fancy-pants cinematic canine, gets lots, meets a troubled kid and learns to use his stunt skills for good in a movie Variety called “A likable but ungainly mutt of a movie.” PG. Movies 12.

Fracture: Director Gregoy Hoblit, who brought Edward Norton to our attention in 1996’s Primal Fear, brings Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson) back to the mainstream as an assistant D.A. working to get a suspected murderer (Anthony Hopkins) convicted. R. VRC Stadium 15.

Georgia Rule: The movie that overlapped with reality when La Lohan’s part — as a rebellious, uncontrollable teen — seemed to seep into her life off-camera. Felicity Hoffman’s the mom who can’t keep her daughter in line, Jane Fonda the grandmother who sets the girl straight. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Ghost Rider: What did they do to Nicolas Cage’s face? He looks like he lost at least 10 years to play the titular hero, whose long-ago deal with the devil forces him to hunt rogue demons at night. PG13. Movies 12.

Hoax, The: Richard Gere breaks his usual bland mold to star as Clifford Irving, who in 1971 nearly got away with publishing a fake biography of the reclusive Howard Hughes. Directed by Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules, My Life as a Dog), with a solid supporting turn from Alfred Molina. R. Movies 12. (4/19)

Hot Fuzz: The team that brought us the wondrous, gory Shaun of the Dead returns with Hot Fuzz, in which the awesomest London cop ever (Simon Pegg) is sent to a sleepy village so he’ll stop making his superiors look bad. ‘Course, other stuff happens. With Jim Broadbent and pretty much every hysterical Brit working in film. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. (4/26)

Invisible, The: A young man attacked and left for dead (Justin Chatwin) tries desperately to win his way out of limbo by discovering his killer’s identity. PG13. Cinemark.

Last Mimzy, The: A mysterious box of toys gives two children strange powers and draws them and their families into a magical, sometimes scary world. With Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson and Rainn Wilson. PG. Movies 12.

Meet the Robinsons: Orphaned inventor Lewis has his latest and greatest creation stolen, but a stranger whisks him away to the future, where adventures, and the thief, await. G. VRC Stadium 15.

Music and Lyrics: Hugh Grant is back in scruffy, lovable mode as a washed-up pop star who has a new chance at fame — if he can just write the right song for a young diva. Drew Barrymore plays his “plant lady,” who has a flair for words. PG13. Movies 12.

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. Movies 12.

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. ACADEMY AWARDS: CINEMATOGRAPHY; ART DIRECTION. R. Movies 12. (2/8)

Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea: A modern-day look at the eccentrics and dreamers clinging to life on the Salton Sea, the former “California Riviera” that’s now an ecological disaster. Narrated by John Waters. Bijou.

Spider-Man 3: Spidey (Tobey Maguire) faces an ungodly number of new villains (including those played by Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace) as the franchise trucks through its overfull third installment. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

TMNT: Animated film finds the formerly-of-the-’80s foursome fighting ancient monsters with the help of Casey Jones (now voiced by Chris Evans) and April O’Neil (Sarah Michelle Gellar). PG. Movies 12.

28 Weeks Later: Six months after the “rage virus” tore through Britain, the U.S. Army claims the coast is clear and the country can be rebuilt. All begins well but shortly goes to hell — as does the movie. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. See review this issue.

Year of the Dog: Molly Shannon stars in this strange, compact film from writer-director Mike White (Chuck & Buck), about a woman whose life drastically changes following the death of her beloved dog. Alternately endearing and offputting, White’s film wears its oddness a little awkwardly. PG13. Bijou.

 

 

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