Eugene Weekly : Movies : 5.31.07


.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.

Battle Royale 2: This poorly received sequel to the cult favorite follows a class of young students who have been sent on the hunt for Battle Royale‘s survivors. Not rated. Bijou LateNite.

Death of Klinghoffer, The: Penny Woolcock’s drama is based on John Adams’ opera of the same name, which is in turn based on an actual 1985 incident: the hijacking of a cruise liner by four young Palestinians. Screening will be followed by a discussion led by Thomas Blank and a representative from the Eugene Opera. 7 pm June 3, DIVA. Free.

Gimme Shelter: The “In-Concert” series takes a break from live footage to show the striking documentary about the Rolling Stones’ 1969 American tour. From the highs of a New York City show to the lows of Altamont, it’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes tale. PG. Bijou LateNite.

Gracie: Based on the childhood experiences of actress Elisabeth Shue, the film follows a grief-stricken girl, the only daughter in a soccer-obsessed family, who petitions the school board to play on the boys’ soccer team. It’s 1978, and there are no girls’ teams. Directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), who’s also Shue’s husband. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Human Rights in Latin America: Class film series is open to the public. Introductions to each film take place at 6:30 pm. The Devil’s Miner (Bolivia), 7 pm May 31; Frontline: The Torture Question (U.S. & Cuba), 7 pm June 7, 129 McKenzie, UO. Free.

Jindabyne: Ray Lawrence’s (Lantana) affecting film transposes a Raymond Carver short story to a small town in Australia, where family and friends find themselves at odds after the body of a young girl is discovered. With Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney. R. Bijou. See review this issue.

Kickin’ It Old Skool: Jamie Kennedy (Scream) plays a guy who just woke up from a 20-year coma — one he got in via a freak breakdancing accident. But it’s breakdancing that’ll help him earn some dough and win back his old girlfriend. PG13. Movies 12.

Knocked Up: Judd Apatow follows The 40-Year-Old Virgin with a comedy about the unwanted pregnancy that occurs when up-and-coming journalist Allison (Katherine Heigl of Grey’s Anatomy) has a one-night stand with slacker Ben (Seth Rogen). Sure, that sounds kind of dire, but the preview is surprisingly charming. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Miss Potter: Renee Zellweger goes British again to play Beatrix Potter, the creator of the beloved Peter Rabbit and friends. With Ewen McGregor as her publisher and eventual love interest, Norman Warne. PG. Movies 12.

Mr. Brooks: Kevin Costner stars as the title character, a loving husband by day who’s also — gasp! — a serial killer by night! William Hurt is his evil alter-ego; Dane Cook’s the photographer who sees the killer in action; Demi Moore’s the hot detective on his trail. R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Mr. Sean’s Cartoon Club: Crazy, weird and old cartoons featuring Betty Boop, Felix, Superman and more. Noon-1:30 pm May 6. Bijou. $4.

Page Turner, The: This French revenge thriller concerns a piano-playing girl who is horribly distracted while taking a Conservatory entrance exam. Years later, that girl finds herself the page turner of the very woman who distracted her. “An impeccably made psychological melodrama,” said Los Angeles Times. Not rated. Bijou.

Perfect Stranger: Halle Berry plays a woman trying to solve the mystery of her friend’s murder, which probably has something to do with the smirking businessman played by Bruce Willis. Described in press materials as a “sexy thriller.” Sure. R. Movies 12.

Rural Rock ‘n’ Roll: Documentary about the players in the vibrant small-town music scene of Eureka, Calif., and the surrounding Humboldt County. Three bands from the film perform at Sam Bond’s at an afterparty following the screening. 7 pm June 7, Bijou.

Russian Sherlock Holmes: The Twentieth Century Approaches: The Engineer’s Thumb, The Bruce-Partington Plans, His Last Bow, part one: Holmes and Watson investigate an engineering press, secret submarine plans and a German spy. In Russian with English subtitles. 7 pm June 5, 115 Pacific, UO. Free.

Youth & Subcultures Film Series: Presented in conjunction with Folklore of Subcultures class. Decline of Western Civilization III, 7 pm May 31; RIZE, 7 pm June 7, 110 Willamette, UO. Free.

 

CONTINUING:

Are We Done Yet?: Nick (Ice Cube) and Suzanne (Nia Long) and two kids return in this sequel to Are We There Yet?, in which Nick’s new house in the ‘burbs is more work than it’s worth. PG. Movies 12.

Bug: A troubled, lonely waitress (Ashley Judd) begins a romance with a drifter, but things get weird when bugs start to appear in this adaptation of a 2004 Off-Broadway play. Directed by William Friedkin (The Exorcist). R. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

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.

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.

Grindhouse: Double feature with classic exploitation-influenced thrillers from Quentin Tarantino (who offers Death Proof) and Robert Rodriguez (with Planet Terror) promises violence, zombies, hot chicks and B-movie greatness. R. 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)

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End: Captain Jack and crew are back for the third – and what one might hope is the final — Pirates movie (which has something to do with saving Jack from the Land of the Dead and facing off with the Dutch East India Company). A warning to soda buyers: It’s two hours and 48 minutes long. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

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)

Shooter: Former Army sniper Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg), whose name almost couldn’t be funnier, is pressed back into service protecting the president — and then caught up in a horrible doublecross. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day). R. Movies 12.

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. PG. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

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. (5/10)

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.

300: Super-stylized, derivative and overbaked film, based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, about the Battle of Thermopylae, when King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) led 300 apparently half-naked Spartans against the massive army of Persia. R. Movies 12. (3/15)

Waitress: Keri Russell (Felicity) is a wonderful surprise in writer-director Adrienne Shelly’s bittersweet small-town story about love, hope, pies — and finding strength where you least expect it. Shelly’s perfectly cast last film is a beautiful balancing act of emotions. PG13. Bijou. (5/24)

 

 

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