Reel to reel | Week of February 7, 2013

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More money does not really make for more problems, unless it`s not your money. (Identity Thief)

AMELIE

Amélie is a fanciful comedy from Jean-Pierre Jeunet. He invokes his incomparable visionary style to capture the exquisite charm and mystery of modern-day Paris through the eyes of a beautiful ingenue (Audrey Tautou). At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

AMOUR

Georges and Anne are a couple in their 80s about to experience the perils of mortality. When Anne begins sliding downward through dementia, Georges is left to try to pick up the pieces. Rated PG-13. At Century and Chez Artiste. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

ANNA KARENINA

Leo Tolstoy’s novel of love and infidelity comes to life thanks to director Joe Wright. A unique narrative device illuminates the theatrical behavior of randy Russian nobles who can’t help trying to sleep with each other’s spouses. Rated R. At Chez Artiste. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

ARGO

Ben Affleck’s latest directing project (in which he also stars) is based on true events from the Iranian revolution in 1979. Militants storm the U.S. embassy and take 52 Americans hostage. Rated R. At Esquire.

BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN

Since its 1925 unveiling at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater, Potemkin’s shockingly modern form has overshadowed its content so much that instead of fomenting worldwide Socialist revolution, it touched off a global revolution in filmmaking. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

In a forgotten but defiant bayou community, a 6-year-old girl exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

BROKEN CITY

The mayor of New York City (Russell Crowe) hires a former cop (Mark Wahlberg) to spy on his wife. The private eye uncovers a scandal much larger than an extramarital affair. Rated R. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

BULLET TO THE HEAD

Sylvester Stallone plays a hitman who unites efforts with a cop when both have a similar mission: bringing down their partners’ killers. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

DJANGO UNCHAINED

Quentin Tarantino does to slave owners what he did to Nazis in Inglourious Basterds, taking therapeutic cinematic revenge upon them with Django, a freed slave. He and his partner, Dr. King Schultz, attempt to rescue Django’s wife. Rated R. At Century and Colony Square. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

See full review. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

A HAUNTED HOUSE

In the vein of the Scary Movie series he helped create, Marlon Wayans stars in this parody of found-footage haunted house films like Paranormal Activity and The Devil Inside. Rated R. At Twin Peaks.

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY 3D

This adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s original tale of hobbits and wizards is every bit as good as the Lord of the Rings series (and is, in some ways, even better). Rated PG-13. At Century and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

HOLY MOTORS

See full review. At Muenzinger Auditorium.

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE

This Oscar-nominated documentary is an in-depth, riveting account of a small group of people who made a crucial impact on the recognition of and treatments of HIV/ AIDS. We follow the lead players of ACT UP and TAG from the early ’80s to present day. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON

In June 1939 the King and Queen of England stay overnight at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s country estate in upstate New York. This was the first visit of an English monarch to America. Rated R. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

IDENTITY THIEF

The director of Horrible Bosses returns with the story of Sandy Patterson (Jason Bateman), who heads to Florida to find the woman who is living extravagantly off of his money after stealing his identity. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

THE IMPOSSIBLE

Setting aside the oddly xenophobic premise that allows a horrific event, a 2004 tsunami, suffered by the entirety of Eastern Asia to be filtered through a decidedly Western lens, this is a beautiful-looking survival tale. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Mayan. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

THE INVISIBLE WAR

The Department of Defense estimates there were 19,000 violent sex crimes in the military in 2010. The Invisible War exposes the epidemic. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

KNIFE FIGHT

If a political candidate is personally flawed, but stands to make a positive difference in millions of lives, would you help him win? That question looms over the life of Paul Turner, a savvy strategist maneuvering politicians out of scandal and into public office. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

LA SCALA’S DON CARLO

A rich, nuanced score and a complex, emotional story: Don Carlo is Verdi’s ultimate drama. This production, captured live at opening night of La Scala, stars opera greats Ferruccio Furlanetto, Stuart Neill, Fiorenza Cedolins, and Dolora Zajick. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

A LATE QUARTET

The quartet returns for an “encore” at The Boe for more classical drama, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken and Catherine Keener. Rated R. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

LES MISERABLES

Hugh Jackman gives his all as Jean Valjean, the unluckiest bread thief in history. Russell Crowe’s Javert and Anne Hathaway’s Fantine are also great. Unfortunately, director Tom Hooper filmed the beloved stage classic in extreme close-up, making for a hideous, excruciating endeavor. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

LIFE OF PI 3D

A storm ravages a boat carrying a zookeeper’s family and menagerie, and the only survivors are the family’s son, Pi, and a Bengal tiger. Shot in 3-D, the film is a visual feast. Rated PG. At Century and Colony Square. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

LINCOLN

This is all about the creation of the penny. OK, kidding. This is Daniel Day-Lewis proving he’s the best there is (maybe ever) at embodying the emancipatory president as he works to get the 13th Amendment through a divided Congress in the midst of war. Rated PG-13. At Century and Colony Square. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

MAMA

Five years after they disappeared, sisters Victoria and Lilly are found in a half-collapsed cabin in the woods. But when they come to civilization to live with their relatives, the girls don’t come alone. Rated PG-13. At Twin Peaks.

THE MASTER

The Master tells the story of a veteran who arrives home from war and is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

MOVIE 43

The biggest ensemble cast in history carries this comedy about three kids searching for a banned video. Rated R. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2013: ANIMATED

Featuring all five Academy Award nominees in the category of Best Animated Short and more, this year’s program will be hosted by last year’s winners, directors William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg. At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2013: LIVE ACTION

Featuring all five Academy Award nominees in the category of Best Live Action Short, this year’s program will be hosted by last year’s winner: Luke Matheny, writer/director of “God of Love.” At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

PARKER

Jason Statham stars as a criminal with a troubling past but a strict code of ethics who finds a perfectly valid reason to fire a gun a bunch of times. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

PETER GABRIEL: NEW BLOOD

Performing live with the 46 piece New Blood Orchestra, this London concert mixes cover versions from his Scratch My Back album with classic tracks from across his solo career. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

PHANTASM II

The “Tall Man” and his strange little Killer Sphere return for a second round in this sequel to the 1979 cult favorite. Mike Pearson (James LeGros) is still plagued by memories of the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), an evil mortician who has risen from the grave. This film is part of The Watching Hour series at SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

QUARTET

The rumor circling the halls at Beecham House is that a star is coming to the home. For Reginald Paget, Wilfred Bond and Cecily Robson, this talk is par for the course. But they’re in for a shock when the new arrival is none other than their former singing partner. Rated PG-13. At Century and Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

THE RABBI’S CAT

Based on the best-selling graphic novel by Joann Sfar, The Rabbi’s Cat tells the story of a rabbi and his talking cat – a sharptongued feline philosopher brimming with scathing humor and a less than pure love for the rabbi’s voluptuous teenage daughter. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

THE ROOM

As the film depicts friendships and relationships in the lives of its five major characters, it raises
life’s real and most-asked question: “Can you really trust anyone?” A
midnight searching cult sensation, this quirky black comedy has been
running for over 10 years in Los Angeles. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

SAMSARA

Composed of more than 15 segments, Samsara is a visual and musical tour of the connections shared throughout the world. At Muenzinger Auditorium.

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

How is it possible that a musician could bomb with two albums in the U.S., disappear into obscurity for years and then be resurrected as a successful, inspirational hero in a totally different country? At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

THE SESSIONS

Based on the autobiographical writings of journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined — at age 38 — to lose his virginity. Rated R. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

SIDE EFFECTS

For this psychological thriller, director Steven Soderbergh and Contagion writer Scott Burns examine the tendency to over-medicate psychological issues. A depressed 28-year-old Manhattanite rotates through medications before landing on one with a side effect of “parasomnia” that leads to a grisly crime. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

When Pat is released from institutionalization after beating his wife’s lover, he meets Tiffany, a young widow struggling with grief. Although the film has the trappings of drama, everything is sanitized and clichéd enough to make this a feel-good romance between attractive people. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

SISTER

A brother and sister living in poverty rob from rich tourists at a ski resort and hunt for a real family. At Muenzinger Auditorium.

STAND UP GUYS

Three retired gangsters (Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin) are reunited after jail time and a deal gone wrong with a mob boss for a final night out. Rated R. At Century.

STARLET

Dree Hemingway stars in this quirky, sweet friendship flick. The paths of an elderly woman and a 20-something free spirit collide when the latter shops at the former’s yard sale. We learn about the power of friendship as each one’s motives are revealed. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

WARM BODIES

Adding some laughs to the paranormal teen romance genre, Warm Bodies tells the story of unlikely love in the zombie apocalypse. When zombie R (Nicholas Holt) meets still-human Julie (Teresa Palmer), human feelings begin filling his decayed heart. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

THE WAITING ROOM

A composite 24-hour period at Highland Hospital in Oakland, one of the nation’s busiest emergency rooms, offers an intimate and even uplifting view of how people navigate health care with limited resources. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

ZERO DARK THIRTY

Have you heard about the time we shot Osama bin Laden? Have you ever wondered the painstaking decade of research that went into that moment? Well, you’re in for a treat, as Maya (Jessica Chastain), the investigator who broke the case open, searches for bin Laden. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.