Eugene Weekly : Movies : 6.7.07


.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.

Elmer Gantry: Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons star in this 1960 film, an adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’ novel, about a traveling salesman/con man and the evangelical woman he charms. Discussion to follow screening. 7 pm June 8, Unity of the Valley. Free.

Hostel 2: A bunch of silly American students in Rome accompany a hot model from their art class on a trip to an exotic location. Bad, bad things happen to them. Seriously. Bad. With Bijou Phillips and Heather Matarazzo. R. 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. Frontline: The Torture Question (U.S. & Cuba), 7 pm June 7, 129 McKenzie, UO. Free.

Next: Nicolas Cage is a gambler who can see into the future and Julianne Moore is the government agent who needs him to see what some terrorists are up to in iffy looking flick based on Philip K. Dick’s The Golden Man. PG13. Movies 12.

Northwest Passage: This independent documentary, subtitled The Birth of Portland’s D.I.Y. Culture, looks at the bands that were part of a punk movement in PDX in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Loaded with concert footage, the film will most likely appeal to those who were there. Not rated. Bijou.

Ocean’s 13: You know what you’re in for: Suave stars having a grand old time concocting heists, surviving doublecrosses and looking good in tuxedos. With George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Ellen Barkin as the only lady in the group. PG13. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

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 two: Holmes and Watson investigate an engineering press, secret submarine plans and a German spy. In Russian with English subtitles. 7 pm June 12, 115 Pacific, UO. Free.

Surf’s Up: The young, talented, possibly misguided Shia LaBeouf voices Cody Maverick, a teenage penguin and surfer entering his first pro competition. A documentary crew’s filming his every move, which might — sort of — explain that “based on a true story” joke in the preview. PG. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.

Vacancy: Something seems off about Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale starring in a slasher movie — let alone one in which they’re stuck in a motel … and the creepy slasher flicks they’ve been watching were filmed in their room! R. Movies 12.

Wind That Shakes the Barley, The: Ken Loach’s (Bread and Roses) new film, which won the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, looks at the Irish War of Independence through the slim story of two brothers whose philosophies gradually grow apart. A graceful performance by Cillian Murphy can’t quite bring the film enough heart to raise it above an interesting and political period piece. PG13. Bijou. See review this issue.

Youth & Subcultures Film Series: Presented in conjunction with Folklore of Subcultures class. RIZE, 7 pm June 7; Dark Days, 7 pm June 14, 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.

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.

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. Movies 12.

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.

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. See review this issue.

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.

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.

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