Act of Killing
The film’s directors went to Indonesia, a country where the winners wrote the history books, and convinced men who masterminded mass killings (yet are hailed as heroes in their own country) to re-create their heinous acts on a movie set, in the style of their favorite films. One of the killers plays a victim, and the morality of his actions comes crashing down upon his psyche, while others react with less empathy. The riveting movie was nominated for Best Documentary. At SIE Film Center.
Afternoon of a Faun: Tanaquil Le Clercq
Of the great ballerinas, Tanaquil Le Clercq may have been the most transcendent. She mesmerized viewers and choreographers alike — her elongated, race-horse physique became the new prototype for the great George Balanchine. The muse to both Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, they loved her as a dancer and a woman. Balanchine married her and Robbins created his famous Afternoon of a Faun for Tanny. She was the foremost dancer of her day until it suddenly all stopped. At age 27, Tanny was struck down by polio and paralyzed. She never danced again. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
All Is Lost
Robert Redford stars in All Is Lost, an open-water thriller about one man’s battle for survival against the elements after his sailboat is destroyed at sea. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
American Hustle
When the FBI decides to recruit con artists to infiltrate the Jersey mob and crooked power brokers, things get interesting in a hurry. Soon, the con artists are in over their heads, helping to take down corrupt politicians while the ambitious FBI agent spearheading the whole thing aims even higher. Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence shine in this supremely well-acted film. Rated R. At Colony Square and Century.
August: Osage County
Oscar regulars Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Sam Shepard lead an extraordinary cast in this play-turned-film about a family reunion in Oklahoma that none of us will ever forget. Don’t miss it. Rated R. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
Dallas Buyers Club
Matthew McConaughey stars in Dallas Buyers Club as real-life Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof, whose freewheeling life was overturned in 1985 when he was diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. Rated R. At Colony Square and Esquire. — Landmark Theaters
Following the Ninth: In the Footsteps of Beethoven’s Final Symphony
Filmed on five continents and in 12 countries, this is the story of four people whose lives have been transformed, repaired and healed by the Ninth’s message: “Alle Menschen werden Bruder (All People Are Connected).” At Tienanmen Square in 1989, students played the Ninth over loudspeakers as the army came in to crush their protests for freedom. In Chile, women under the Pinochet dictatorship sang the Ninth at torture prisons, and those inside took hope when they heard the music. In Japan each December, the Ninth is performed hundreds of times, often with 10,000 people in the chorus. Part road trip, part adventure, Following The Ninth is a story about the power of music and human resilience in dark times. — Boedecker Theater
Frozen
When the snow queen traps a tiny kingdom in eternal winter, Anna and Kristoff, accompanied by Sven the reindeer and a comical snowman that has trouble keeping his head, set out to end the spell. Rated PG. At Twin Peaks and Century. There is also a Frozen sing-along; check with the theaters for details.
Gloria
Gloria (Paulina García) is a “woman of a certain age” but still feels young. Though lonely, she makes the best of her situation and fills her nights seeking love at social dance clubs for single adults. Her fragile happiness changes the day she meets Rodolfo (Sergio Hernández). Their intense passion, to which Gloria gives her all, leaves her vacillating between hope and despair — until she uncovers a new strength and realizes that, in her golden years, she can shine brighter than ever. Rated R. At Esquire and Century. —Landmark Theatres
Gravity
Astronauts played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney get stranded in space when a space walk goes terribly wrong. Rated PG-13. At Century.
Her
Only Spike Jonze could come up with a comedy flick wherein a shy writer (Joaquin Phoenix) falls in love with his computer’s sexy-voiced operating system. Rated R. At Century
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Another entertaining installment in the Lord of the Rings series. This one has a giant dragon guarding treasure. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square.
Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Jennifer Lawrence dazzles in this adventure sequel. Rated PG-13. At Twin Peaks.
I, Frankenstein 3D
In a world of gargoyles and demons, a battle for ultimate power rages as both try to uncover the secret behind the immortality of Victor Frankenstein’s creation, Adam (Aaron Eckhart). PG-13. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
Inside Llewyn Davis
The Coen brothers craft this story of a homeless young folk singer trying to create a name for himself in the Greenwich Village of the 1960s. Rated R. At Mayan and Century.
The Invisible Woman
Ralph Fiennes (who also directs) shines as the most famous writer of his day, novelist Charles Dickens, who had a secret affair with 18-year-old actress Nelly Ternan (Felicity Jones, Like Crazy). Dickens was 45 and at the top of his fame when he met the beautiful young actress, performing in a troupe with her sisters, and was immediately struck. Her pragmatic mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) encouraged Nelly to welcome the interest of such a famous man, even if she can never become his wife. At first Nelly resists, but Dickens makes her the focus of his passion and his muse, and they embark on an affair, lasting 13 years until his death. Rated R. At SIE film Center and Century. — Landmark Theatres
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
The latest action film based on author Tom Clancy’s character “Jack Ryan.” In this thriller Jack (Chris Pine) uncovers a global finacial terrorist plot and has to thwart it. Jack is mentored by his handler, Harper (Kevin Costner). Rated PG-13. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
Labor Day
A 13-year-old and his mom go shopping only to get abducted and taken back to their home by an escaped and wounded convict. They all grow into a happy family and have to dodge the heat looking for the escaped fellow. Rated PG-13. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
The LEGO Movie 3D
Emmet is a normal, nerdy LEGO dude. So when he is mistakenly identified as the only LEGO who can topple an evil tyrant, things get pretty funny. Rated PG. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
Lone Survivor
If you still have the stomach for such tales, this film finds Mark Wahlberg telling the story of a group of Navy SEALs on a covert mission gone wrong trying to kill a big-shot Taliban operative. The SEALs get ambushed in Afghanistan. The film is based on a bestselling book. Rated R. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
The Magic Flute: Salzburg Festival
Mozart’s colorful parade of wild and whimsical characters — from the high-flying coloratura of the Queen of the Night to Papageno and his flighty bird songs — is magical in this production from the Salzburg Festival. At Boedecker Theater
The Monuments Men
Based on the true story, this film follows a special platoon of art experts and soldiers charged with finding and saving the art that has been stolen by the Nazis before it is destroyed and lost forever. Rated PG-13. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
Nebraska
After receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father (Bruce Dern) thinks he’s struck it rich, and wrangles his son (Will Forte) into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
The Nut Job 3D
This animated film is an action-packed comedy starring a mischievous squirrel named Surly (voiced by Will Arnett). Rated PG. At Twin Peaks and Century.
The Past
After a four-year separation and at his estranged French wife Marie’s (Bérénice Bejo, The Artist) request, Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa, Leila) returns to Paris from Tehran to finalize their divorce procedure so she can marry her new boyfriend Samir (Tahar Rahim, A Prophet). During his tense brief stay, Ahmad discovers the conflicting nature of Marie’s relationship with their teenage daughter Lucie (Pauline Burlet), and his efforts to improve this relationship soon unveil a secret from their past. NR. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
Philomena
The unparalleled Dame Judi Dench brings to life the story of a woman who gave away the child she conceived out of wedlock for adoption in the United States and her search, decades later, to find that son with the help of a BBC reporter. Rated PG-13. At Esquire and Chez Artiste.
Ride Along
Kevin Hart and Ice Cube star in this latest tale about misfit cops as partners. Rated PG-13. At Twin Peaks and Century.
That Awkward Moment
Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan star in this film about three friends who find themselves confused by their dating situation. Rated R. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Ben Stiller stars in this film version of author James Thurber’s classic. It’s a tale of a man who escapes his ordinary life by day-dreaming his way into fantasy worlds filled with adventure. But when his real world gets threatened, he and his co-worker, played by Kristen Wiig, get caught up in a wilder adventure than Mitty ever could have imagined. Rated PG. At Century.
12 Years a Slave
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man, is abducted and sold into slavery. The heart-wrenching film has Oscar potential, and it landed nine nominations. Rated R. At Colony Square and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres
Vampire Academy
Rose Hathaway (Deutch) is a nice vampire living among us mortals who is charged with protecting her kind and the rest of us from bad vampires. Rated PG- 13. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.
Weekend of a Champion
In 1971, Motor Racing fan Roman Polanski spent a weekend with world champion driver Jackie Stewart as he attempted to win the Monaco Grand Prix. Polanski was given intimate access to Stewart’s world for three days, both on the track and off. The result is an extraordinarily rare glimpse into the life of a gifted athlete at the height of his powers. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
The Wolf of Wall Street
Martin Scorsese directs Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Jean Dujardin in this adaptation of 1990s banker gone bad Jordan Belfort’s memoir. Rated R. At Century and Colony Square.
Additional films showing at the Denver Film Society’s SIE Film Center in Denver: Oscar Nominated Shorts; Captain Phillips; 12 O’Clock Boys; Act of Killing; Broken Circle Breakdown; Raze; The Great Beauty.
