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June 18 - June 25, 2009
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 Ala Gados
A 23-minute documentary of a fascinating Brazilian community through the eyes of 23-year old Renato. Despite being born into a society that marginalizes him and his peers, Renato defies his criminal background and engages in the development of his own identity. Drawn to a percussion drumming group, Renato is offered an incredible opportunity and struggles to make new choices for his future. Not rated. At the Boulder Public Library. — BPL Film Program
Angels and Demons
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 Esquire. — Michael Phillips
Away We Go
Glib and charming in roughly equal measure, the road-tripping Away We Go is worth seeing for Maya Rudolph (best known for being underutilized on Saturday Night Live), who plays a mother-to-be living in Colorado with an insurance salesman (John Krasinski of The Office). From the beginning, with American Beauty, director Sam Mendes has never been one to defuse the smugness in a smug script. Much of the dialogue in Away We Go is enjoyable, but in their pursuit of happiness, the two lead characters remain attractive outlines. Rated R (language and some sexual content). At the Mayan and Century. — Michael Phillips
Barbarella (1968)
Barbarella, a 41st-century sexy space-agent/astronaut, is sent on a mission to pacify a planet and must find an evil scientist in a city where a new sin is invented every hour and devious devices are deployed to test the limits of pleasure. On her perilous journey, the “pretty pretty” Barbarella teams with a blind angel and battles the Black Queen. The film captures both the fabulousness and indulgent excess of the 1960s style, as well as campiness (music by Bob Crew Orchestra) and psychedelia. Jane Fonda’s jaw-dropping looks, combined with witty intelligence and humor make the film and character one she still remembers fondly. With eight credited writers, Southern’s lines are stand-outs. Based on the French comic by Jean Claude Forest. Not rated. At the Boulder Public Library — BPL Film Program
 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 Colony Square and Chez Artiste. — Jessica Reaves
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. — 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
Enlighten Up!
Over 16 million Americans practice yoga today, and it has become a multi-billion dollar industry. For some people it is a workout, for others it is a spiritual path, and for others it is a great business. Filmmaker Kate Churchill is determined to prove that yoga can transform anyone. Nick Rosen is skeptical but agrees to be her guinea pig. Kate immerses Nick in yoga, and follows him around the world as he examines the good, the bad and the ugly of yoga. The two encounter celebrity yogis, true believers, kooks and world-renowned gurus. Tensions run high as Nick’s transformational progress lags and Kate's plan crumbles. What unfolds and what they discover is not what they expected. Not Rated. At Starz. — Denver Film Society
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
The Hangover takes care of its target audience — males who, after seeing director Todd Phillips’ earlier and funnier Old School, dreamed of joining the Old School fraternity. This film belongs to the what-happened-last-night? genre typified by Dude, Where’s My Car? Groom-to-be Doug (Justin Bartha) is whisked to Vegas from L.A. by his pals (Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms), with Doug’s eerie future brother-in-law (Zach Galifianakis) in tow. Chaos ensues; laughs do not (although Helms is an exception). Rated R (pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material). At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Michael Phillips
Imagine That
See full screen review on page 38. Rated PG. At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
Land of the Lost
Like him or not, Will Ferrell remains at the mercy of his material, and he may well shoulder the blame for this coarse, sloppy version of the old Saturday-morning time-warp adventure, even if he doesn’t deserve it. Ferrell’s professor is on an expedition when an earthquake plunges him, his tour guide (Danny McBride) and comely fellow researcher (Anna Friel) into a universe populated by dinos and Sleestaks. The movie is 90 minutes of bickering and under-reaction to outrageous events, and there simply aren’t enough laughs. Rated PG-13 (crude and sexual content, and language including a drug reference). At Flatiron, Colony Square, Twin Peaks and Century. — Michael Phillips
 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. — Michael Phillips
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939)
Two sisters have deeded their family estate to charity. The problem is the property, which had been willed to them by their father, is not quite yet theirs, as the will stipulates they must live in the house everyday for 20 consecutive years and they have two weeks remaining before they can take ownership. They may not make it that long, as odd things are happening in the house and frightening them into moving out. Their chauffeur dies, and they are unsure if it was suicide or murder. They also hear strange noises, and things go missing without any sign of a break-in. Nancy Drew and her next-door neighbor Ted Nickerson investigate to find plausible explanations for these happenings, and if, indeed, someone is trying to drive the sisters out of the house. Based on the novel by Carolyn Keene (Mildred Wirt Benson). Nancy Drew look-a-like contest starts at 7 p.m. Prize provided by Troubadour Books. Not rated. At Boulder Public Library. — BPL Film Program
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
Raising Arizona (1987)
When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family’s quintupelets, their lives get more complicated than they anticipated. Directed by the Coen Brothers. Rated PG-13. At the Boulder Theater — BT
Sex Positive
Maybe it took somebody with no investment in the sexual-culture wars of the 1980s, like 24-year-old filmmaker Daryl Wein, to rediscover a lightning-rod figure like safe-sex pioneer Richard Berkowitz and present him without prejudice. A one-time S/M hustler, Berkowitz and his friend Michael Callen, supported by controversial AIDS researcher Joseph Sonnabend, began urging gay men to avoid unprotected sex as early as 1982 — and were treated as pariahs by the mainstream gay community. Berkowitz is a fascinating, prickly, decidedly unsaintly character, and Wein's film provides a fascinating and crucial slice of traumatic sexual history that’s all but invisible to younger generations. Not Rated. At Starz. — Denver Film Society
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
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
See full screen review on page 38. Rated R. At Flatiron, Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
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
Throw Down Your Heart
Throw Down Your Heart follows American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and record an album. Béla’s boundary-breaking musical adventure takes him to Uganda, Tanzania, Gambia and Mali, and provides a glimpse of the beauty and complexity of Africa. Throw Down Your Heart presents a portrait of Africa that is very different from what is often seen in the media today. As Ugandan folk musician Haruna Walusimbi states in the film: “There is this negative thinking about Africa. There is nothing good in Africa. They are beggars, there is HIV/AIDS, they are at war all the time. But that is just a very small bit of what Africa is.” Béla’s trip provides a glimpse into the incredibly rich and diverse musical traditions of Africa. Not rated. At Starz. — Denver Film Society
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
Veggie Tales: Abe & the Amazing Promise
Bob the Tomato tries to bring the Bible story of Abraham and Sarah and their wait for a promised son to life, but when spitting camels and a film crew of zany French peas get involved, everyone’s patience is tested! Will Bob pull everything together in time to teach a lesson? Whether they’re waiting on a promise from God or cookies from mom, kids will learn that while being patient is never easy, the reward is always worth the wait! The DVD also features the musical “misadventures” of Blunders in Boo-Boo-Ville where Jacques (Larry the Cucumber) attempts to invent a way to bring back the boo-boo birds and discovers that taking time to do things the right way is the best way! Ages 5 to 8. Not Rated. Free showing at Starz. — Denver Film Society
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