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June 11 - June 17, 2009
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Angels and Demons
On the heels of the 2006 adaptation of Dan Brown’s best-seller The Da Vinci Code, Tom Hanks returns to the dullest role of his career, once again under the direction of Ron Howard, who takes the material as seriously as a kidney stone on the way out. Angels & Demons is the same sort of lumbering mediocrity that Da Vinci Code was. It’s more violent, which is something, I guess, and its narrative structure ensures a regular string of cliffhangers. But what turns the pages in print doesn’t necessarily propel a story onscreen. Rated PG-13 (sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material). At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Michael Phillips
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
This documentary succeeds every which way: as ’80s heavy metal nostalgia, as a twisted sort of reality-show attempt at a comeback, as an unexpectedly touching portrait of a friendship. Director Sacha Gervasi hung out with the band Anvil in London in the early ’80s during a tour. Then, a generation later, he hunted them down to find out what happened in the interim. Anvil! answers the question, and even if it's not a question that was on your mind, the movie catches you up in highly entertaining fashion. No MPAA rating (some language, extreme heavy metal). At Mayan. — Michael Phillips
 Brothers Bloom
Two con-man brothers (Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody) travel the world in search of great marks. One day they meet Penelope (Rachel Weisz), and from the carefully orchestrated moment she drives her canary-yellow Lamborghini into their lives, their cons take on new meaning. This is a funny, sharply observed, emotionally resonant crime caper, one that lapses only occasionally into preciousness. Rated PG-13 (violence, some sensuality and brief strong language). At Chez Artiste. — Jessica Reaves
Carmen & Geoffrey
This joyful documentary celebrates two giants of the dance and theatrical worlds: dancer/choreographer/actress Carmen De Lavallade and multi-hyphenate Geoffrey Holder, married to each other for nearly 50 years. Wife-husband team Atkinson (a student of Carmen’s) and Doob (Academy Award-winner for From Mao to Mozart) capture the intimate chemistry between quietly brilliant Carmen and larger-than-life Geoffrey, whose credits include his legendary production of The Wiz. Not Rated. At Starz. — Denver Film Society
The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
This lavish production set in New Orleans captures the alienated life of a card shark. The film reveals Terry Southern’s ability to do straight stories with a flair. Director Norman Jewison, upon seeing Terry after many years, said, “There’s the man who saved The Cincinnati Kid by making it relevant to its times and avoiding formulaic conventions.” The film has been voted best gambling movie ever made by the Punter’s Gambling Association in the UK. Produced by John Calleywho had hired Terry Southern on The Loved One. Notes by Nile Southern. Not rated. Boulder Public Library. — BPL Film Program
Drag Me to Hell
Director Sam Raimi gets back to his disreputable roots with this hellaciously effective B-movie that comes with a handy moral tucked inside its scares, laughs and scare/laugh hybrids. Moral: Be nice to people. More specifically: Do not foreclose on the old Gypsy woman. Horror fans shouldn’t worry about an excess of subtlety; the ook flows freely here, and there’s a knock-down, drag-out melee in a parking garage that’ll be hard to top at the movies this year. Rated PG-13 (sequences of horror violence, terror, disturbing images and language).At Flatiron and Century. — Michael Phillips
Easy Virtue
Australian director Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) puts an odd spin on Noel Coward’s 1924 play, going for camp and slapstick and bizarre musical interpolations. I like the theme song from Car Wash. I like Coward. Put them in the same room, however, and you have an example of why Easy Virtue resists nearly everything Elliott throws at it. Colin Firth survives this film with his reputation unscathed; Jessica Biel and Kristin Scott Thomas aren’t as lucky. Rated PG-13 (sexual content, brief partial nudity and smoking throughout). At Esquire. — Michael Phillips
Every Little Step
A Chorus Line celebrates the itch to perform and the exquisite, control-freaky showmanship that is the Broadway musical at its greatest. You can assess the stage original’s influence through this wonderful new documentary, which intercuts the story of how the original 1975 show came together with a step-by-step, fly-on-the-wall account of how the custodians of the recent 2006 Broadway revival came to cast whom they cast and why. Rated PG-13 (some strong language including sexual references). At Chez Artiste. — Michael Phillips
The Hangover
See full screen review on page 37. Rated PG-13. At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
It Came From Outer Space (1953)
An astronomer observes an alien space craft, in the form of a meteor, crash land on Earth. He and a woman that observed it are the only ones to believe that it is not a meteor. The creatures are invisible and replace the locals with alien doubles. He learns they are Xenomorphs who merely want to repair their craft and need humans to help them. In the following days, people disappear and return, obviously having been altered or manipulated. The mine is entered by the sheriff and his men as well as the two eyewitnesses. Based on the story The Meteor by Ray Bradbury. Not rated. At Boulder Public Library. — BPL Film Program
Land of the Lost
See full screen review on page 37. Rated PG-13. At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
Milton Glaser
For many, Milton Glaser is the personification of American graphic design. Best known for co-founding New York Magazine and the enduring I HEART NY campaign, the full breadth of Glaser’s remarkable artistic output is revealed in this documentary portrait. From newspapers and magazine designs, to interior spaces, logos, and brand identities, to his celebrated prints, drawings, posters and paintings, the documentary offers audiences a much richer appreciation for one of the great modern renaissance men. Not rated. At Starz. — Denver Film Society
My Life in Ruins
Nia Vardalos of My Big Fat Greek Wedding once again plays an insecure but charming rooting interest, surrounded by ethnic caricatures. This pushy romantic comedy casts her as an American wannabe-academic languishing in Greece, loveless and alone, working for a tour service. But what’s this? Is this love in the air between our heroine and the hunky tour bus driver (Alexis Georgoulis) whose hair apparently escaped from the cover of a bodice-ripper? Rated PG-13 (adult situations). At Flatiron and Century. — Michael Phillips
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Ben Stiller reprises the role of the Museum of Natural History security guard who saved the day in the 2006 original, making peace among the warring tribes and beasts and magically energized figurines. Here, the old gang, including the mammoth Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), mini-cowboy Jed (Owen Wilson) and micro-Roman Octavius (Steve Coogan), are being shipped off for storage in the bowels of the Smithsonian Institution. This film is breezier than the first, and Amy Adams is a sparkling screen presence as aviatrix Amelia Earhart. Rated PG (mild action and brief language). At Flatiron, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Michael Phillips
Outrage
From Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick (Twist of Faith, This Film Is Not Yet Rated) comes a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of closeted politicians with appalling gay rights voting records who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to. Boldly revealing the hidden lives of some of the United States’ most powerful policymakers, Outrage takes a comprehensive look at the harm they’ve inflicted on millions of Americans, and examines the media’s complicity in keeping their secrets. With analysis from prominent members of the gay community such as Congressman Barney Frank, former NJ Governor Jim McGreevey, activist Larry Kramer, radio personality Michelangelo Signorile, and openly gay congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (Representative, Wisconsin second district), the film probes deeply into the psychology of this double lifestyle, the ethics of outing closeted politicians, the double standards that the media upholds in its coverage of the sex lives of gay public figures, and much more. Not rated. At Starz. — Denver Film Society
The Soloist
In this film based on a true-life story, Los Angeles Times writer Steve Lopez (played by Robert Downey Jr.) discovers street musician Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a former Juilliard student plagued by undiagnosed schizophrenia, leading to a series of influential columns and an eventful relationship between the two men. You couldn’t ask for better actors; the real-life characters, however, deserved a more dimensional screenplay. Rated PG-13 (thematic elements, some drug use, and language). At Colony Square. — Michael Phillips
Star Trek
The new Star Trek seeks to extend a lucrative brand with a young demographic. But it’s a real movie — breathlessly paced bordering on manic, but propulsively entertaining. The script ping-pongs early on between Iowa and Vulcan, as the destinies of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) entwine. The plot issues — of moderate interest at best — deal with the space-time continuum and alternate reality. The film may not be memorable science fiction, but it's an engaging pop diversion. Rated PG-13 (sci-fi action and violence and brief sexual content).Rated PG-13. At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Michael Phillips
Terminator Salvation
This fourth edition of the Terminator franchise stars Christian Bale as John Connor, living out his destiny to save the world from the killing machines introduced in 1984. In director McG’s new world order, the machines rule with enforcers of every shape roaming the land. If you’re a Terminator fan, Salvation is mostly worth it. There are plenty of pyrotechnics and artillery. And when the story starts to crumble around Bale, Sam Worthington, playing a gunslinging warrior, is usually there to pick up the pieces. Rated PG-13 (intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and language). At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Betsy Sharkey
Tumbuka
Tumbuka is a documentary about life in rural Zimbabwe. It is educational and thought-provoking. Boulder filmmaker Robin Truesdale will be at the presentation to facilitate a discussion after the movie, along with other distinguished guests who can speak to the issues it raises.At Boulder Public Library. — BPL Film Program
Tyson
Tyson is not a conventional film biography. There is no variety of viewpoints, no back and forth about episodes in his life, and, except for interview footage from the past, no other voices heard. What you get is Mike Tyson, former heavyweight champion, former substance abuser, former prison inmate, talking with that unexpected slight lisp. You may not be happy with everything said, but you will not be bored. Rated R (language, including sexual references). At Starz. — Kenneth Turan
Up
Balloon salesman Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) shared a dream with his wife to visit South America. After his wife dies, Carl’s yearning for adventure dies as well. Yet it rises again, and Up becomes a chronicle of an unlikely friendship between Carl and an 8-year-old (Jordan Nagai). This Disney-Pixar film feels nervy and adventurous and a little messy, the result of formidable creators working on an enormous budget, enormously well-spent. Yet the expansive emotional landscape of Up is something new. More power to these people. They are making the best films coming out of Hollywood. Rated PG (some peril and action). At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Michael Phillips
Valentino: The Last Emperor
This critically acclaimed documentary feature has captured the hearts and minds of audiences at film festivals around the world. It stars the legendary designer Valentino and his longtime business and life partner Giancarlo Giammetti, who together built a fashion empire like no other. An intimate, unprecedented and very funny exploration of the singular world of two of Italy’s richest and most famous men, the film joins them behind the curtain as they confront the final act of a nearly 50-year reign at the top of the glamorous and fiercely competitive world of fashion. Directed by Matt Tyrnauer, a Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine. Not rated. At Starz. — Denver Film Society
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
This fourth X-Men picture ties for weakest X-Men picture with No. 3. Here and there you get what you want from an X-Men prequel, thanks to the irrepressible Hugh Jackman and several other members of the cast, including Liev Schreiber as Wolverine’s nemesis, Sabretooth. But there’s a rote quality to the proceedings, and director Gavin Hood shoots the action in such a way as to minimize the performers’ abilities to perform it. Rated PG-13 (intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity). At Flatiron and Colony Square. — Michael Phillips
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