reel to reel | Week of Dec. 15, 2011

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42nd Street

This classic musical, released in 1933, saved Warner Brothers from bankruptcy. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

A group of talking chipmunks and their human companions get shipwrecked on a remote island. Rated G. At Century and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

Arthur Christmas

Arthur Christmas is not a perfect gift, but it does feature enough holiday cheer and silly fun to make it more entertaining than 10 lords a-leaping. It helps that the film also has a warm message about how tradition should never be sacrificed for efficiency. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Rick Bentley/MCT

Ballet: The Nutcracker

A magician with secrets, an enchanted gift, a battle with the Mouse King, a guiding angel and a visit through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets: it must be the seasonal favorite. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

The Descendants

The Descendants is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney), a distracted husband and back-up parent to two girls who is forced to re-examine his past when his wife suffers a life-threatening boating accident off of Waikiki. At Century and Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

Drive

Breakout Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, the Pusher trilogy) throttles into the fast lane with the precision-crafted action caper Drive. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within

The slum that towers over Rio de Janeiro is one of the most dangerous places on Earth, and as the head of Rio’s BOPE (Special Police Operations Battalion), Captain Nascimento (Wagner Moura) has seen his share of intense situations. When a BOPE mission to stop a jail riot ends in violence, Nascimento finds his job on the line — and BOPE accused of a massacre by human rights activists. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society

Happy Feet Two

A dancing penguin must help his young son find his rhythm while also setting things right in Antarctica. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

Hugo

To write off this dreamy, overwhelmingly beautiful movie as mere kids’ stuff would be an injustice. This adaptation of the children’s book The Invention of Hugo Cabret is as much of a personal Scorsese picture as Raging Bull or Taxi Driver. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Rene Rodriguez/MCT

Immortals

When a power-hungry king rampages across ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a brave young stonemason assembles a band to stop him. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

Jane’s Journey

Accompany Dr. Jane Goodall on her travels across several continents, and delve into her intense and exciting past. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

J. Edgar

Director Clint Eastwood’s film, featuring a valiant performance from Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar), is a subtle and muted portrayal of one of American history’s most mysterious figures. Molded by his smothering mother (Judi Dench), Hoover ran the FBI from 1935 until his death in 1972. Between Eastwood’s objective stance and DiCaprio’s bold acting, you’re in capable hands here. Rated R. At Century and Colony Square. — Michael Phillips/TMS

Jack and Jill

A successful advertising executive with a beautiful wife and kids dreads the annual Thanksgiving visit of his passive-aggressive twin sister. Rated PG. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

Kinyarwanda

In the genocide that swept though Rwanda in 1994, the Hutu ethnic majority killed almost a million Tutsis—a bloody tragedy that was the subject of the 2004 Oscar nominee Hotel Rwanda. Director Alrick Brown, a native Jamaican who studied filmmaking at NYU, has a different take on Rwanda’s agony. At Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax. — Denver Film Society

Le Havre

A young African refugee is thrown by fate into the path of a well-read bohemian working as a shoe-shiner, who, with opti mism and the solidarity of his community, stands up to the officials pursuing the boy for deportation. At Chez Artiste. — Boedecker Theater

Like Crazy

A love story is both a physical and emotional tale, one that can be deeply personal and heartbreaking for an audience to experience. At Century and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

Melancholia

Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Michael (Alexander Skarsgård) are celebrating their marriage at a sumptuous party in the home of her sister Claire and brother-inlaw John. Despite Claire’s best efforts, the wedding is a fiasco, with family tensions mounting and relationships fraying. Meanwhile, a planet called Melancholia is heading directly towards Earth. At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris, a new romantic comedy from writer/director Woody Allen, tells the story of a family that travels to the picturesque French capital on business. Rated PG-13. At Century and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

Moneyball

Based on the true story of Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), who headed into the 2002 season facing a dismal situation: his small-market Oakland A’s have lost their star players (again) to big market clubs (and their enormous salaries), and he is left to rebuild his team and compete with a third of their payroll. At Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax. — Denver Film Society

Mozart’s Sister

A re-imagined account of the early life of Maria Anna “Nannerl” Mozart, five years older than Wolfgang and a musical prodigy in her own right. This story documents how she had to give way to Wolfgang as the main attraction as their father tours his talented offspring in front of the royal courts of pre-French revolution Europe. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

The Muppets

The oddest, sweetest movie you’re likely to see this season is The Muppets, a quirky little musical fantasy about plush frogs, diva pigs, friendship and dreams. Those who fondly remember The Muppet Show will get a kick out of seeing old friends again; those who don’t just might realize what they missed. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Moira Macdonald/MCT

My Week With Marilyn

The year is 1956 and Marilyn Monroe, at the height of her pin-up popularity, is mak ing a movie in London with master actor Laurence Olivier. Behind the scenes she is a complete mess — doped up, paranoid and suffocating in insecurities. Monroe finds solace in one of Olivier’s young assistants, Colin Clark. Rated R. At Century. — Tom Horgen/MCT

New Year’s Eve

On the last night of the year, the lives of people searching for love, hope, forgiveness and second chances intertwine in New York City. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

NYICFF Kid Flix Mix

A kaleidoscopic showcase of the best short film and animation from around the world, for ages 3 to 6. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

NYICFF Party Mix

A selection of the most entertaining, thought-provoking and visually stunning short films for ages 7 to 14. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Opera: Norma

Bellini wrote Norma at age 30. It became his greatest achievement, and it is now regarded as an example of the supreme height of the bel canto tradition. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

The Other F Word

The Other F Word explores the life of Jim Lindberg, 20-year veteran of the skatepunk band Pennywise. The film follows Lindberg on his journey from belting out his band’s anthem, “F**k Authority” to embracing his ultimate pivotal authoritarian role in mid-life: fatherhood.At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Puss in Boots

This is no mere Shrek sequel. There is sex appeal in every syllable, swagger in every line. Even kids get the joke of a voice that sensual and grand coming out of a kitty so small. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Roger Moore/TMS

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

The famous detective Sherlock Holmes meets his match in the criminal mastermind known as Professor Moriarty. Rated PG-13. At Century and Twin Peaks.

The Sitter

See full review Page 37. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

The Skin I Live In

Since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), a plastic surgeon, has been obsessed with creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. At Century and Denver Film Center/Colfax. — Landmark Theatres

Sleeping Beauty

This coolly shocking retelling of the classic myth poses its heroine as a sex-worker, confronting ideas of feminine sexuality with bravado and precision. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society

The Swell Season

As the fictional romance of the stars of Once blurred with reality, they fell in love, recorded an album, and embarked on a world tour. Fueled by two years of exhilaration, performance, and psychological turmoil, The Swell Season is much more than a music documentary. It is a volatile and intimate portrait of a romance that fractures in the face of life on the road and personal tragedy. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society

Tomboy

A French family with two daughters, 10-year-old Laure and 6-year-old Jeanne, moves to a new neighborhood. With her Jean Seberg haircut and tomboy ways, Laure is immediately mistaken for a boy by the local kids and decides to pass herself off as Mikael. Rated PG-13. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Tower Heist

After the staff workers at an upscale Central Park condo discover the billionaire in the penthouse has stolen their retirement money, they conspire to take back what’s theirs. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn

In the first half of the conclusion to the Twilight series, human Bella and vampire Edward wed and conceive a child, with dangerous unforeseen consequences. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

The Way

Martin Sheen plays an American doctor who comes to France to collect the remains of his adult son (played by Emilio Estevez), killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago. He decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

The Women on the 6th Floor

In this comedy of manners set in 1960 Paris, Jean-Louis lives a bourgeois existence absorbed in his work, cohabitating peacefully with his neurotic socialite wife Suzanne. The couple’s world is turned upside-down when they hire a Spanish maid Maria. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

Young Adult

See full review Page 37. Rated R. At Century. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

Young Goethe in Love

This delightful romantic romp captures the magic — and heartbreak — of first love. Director Philipp Stölzl (North Face) returns to the very wellspring of Romanticism — Goethe’s autobiographical masterpiece The Sorrows of Young Werther — and conjures up a beguiling and refreshingly innocent period romance. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres