THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Peter Parker gets a new look (and an origin story) in this Marvel remake of everyone’s favorite web slinger. Unlike Toby Maguire’s emo-esque rendition of the wall-crawler, actor Andrew Garfield’s portayal hopes to bring Spidey back to his roots with more wit and fewer tears. Rated PG-13. At Century, Twin Peaks and Colony Square.
ARISE
Arise is both a documentary and an ethnographic study of women from around the world who share a profound intellectual and spiritual understanding of what it takes to live in harmony with the environment. At Boedecker Theater — Boedecker Theater
BALLPLAYER: PELOTERO
This compelling documentary narrated by John Leguizamo is a gritty and never-beforeseen look inside the world of Major League Baseball (MLB) training camps in the Dominican Republic. Miguel Angel and Jean Carlos are two of the top prospects at an MLB training camp, and they are both about to turn 16, which means they can be signed to an MLB farm team and ultimately move up to the majors. Filmmakers Ross Finkel, Trevor Martin and Jonathan Paley take you inside this never-before-seen world for an up-close and personal look at the cost of the American dream. At Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax. — Denver Film Society
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
In a forgotten but defiant bayou community cut off from the rest of the world by a sprawling levee, Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis), a 6-year-old girl, exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the universe until a fierce storm changes her reality.
At Century and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres
BERNIE
Filmmaker Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Before Sunset) returns to his Texas roots for this delightfully poker-faced black comedy — based on a true story — about East Texas assistant funeral home director Bernie Tiede (Jack Black). Everyone loved and appreciated Bernie, so it came as no surprise when he befriended Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), an affluent widow who was as well known for her sour attitude as her fortune. Driven by her cruelty to put four bullets in her, Bernie goes to great lengths to keep up the illusion that she’s still alive. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
A group of British retirees (Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith) decide to “outsource” their retirement to less expensive and exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel, they arrive to find the place a shell of its former self. At Century and Esquire. — Landmark Theatres
BILL W.
Bill W. tells the story of William G. Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, a man included in TIME Magazine’s “100 Persons of the 20th Century.” Interviews, recreations and rare archival material reveal how Bill Wilson, a hopeless drunk near death from his alcoholism, found a way out of his own addiction and then forged a path for countless others to follow. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
BLACK DYNAMITE
When “The Man” murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White) is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. An affectionate spoof of — and tribute to — Blaxploitation films of the 1970s, filmed as if it was a lost relic of that prolific era. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres
BRAVE
Brazenly red-headed Merida, princess, skilled archer and general nuisance at the royal dinner table, accidentally unleashes a curse on her kingdom. She then fights bravely — get it? — to defend her kingdom. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
A CAT IN PARIS
An Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature, A Cat in Paris is a beautifully hand-drawn caper set in the shadowdrenched alleyways of Paris. Dino is a pet cat that leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoe, a little mute girl whose mother, Jeanne, is a detective in the Parisian police force. But at night he sneaks out the window to work with Nico — a slinky cat burglar with a big heart. At Boedecker — Boedecker Theater
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
See full review page 47. Rated PG-13. At Century, Twin Peaks and Colony Square.
EASY MONEY
The Swedish thriller Easy Money layers three stories of illicit drugs and organized crime, all leading to an explosive finale. Joel Kinnaman (Stephen Holder on The Killing) stars as JW, a poor student who lives a double life within the wealthy Stockholm elite. He falls in love with an upper-class girl and is soon lured into a world of crime. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
FILM/STILL: SHORT FILMS OF MAYA DEREN
The Clyfford Still Museum and Denver Film Society delve into the summer’s programmatic theme of music, movement and modernism with an evening of short films by avant-garde filmmaker Maya Deren.Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society
THE FLY
While testing his teleportation device, scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) accidentally merges his cells with those of a housefly. As his reporter girlfriend (Geena Davis) bears witness, Seth slowly — and quite disgustingly — morphs into an insect. Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society
FOOTNOTE
This is the tale of a great rivalry between a father and son, both eccentric professors who have dedicated their lives to their work in Talmudic Studies. We see insane academic competition, the dichotomy between admiration and envy for a role model, and several very complicated family relationships. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater
HOOK
Steven Spielberg directed this delightfully grown-up fairy tale about an adult Peter Pan and his evil nemesis, Captain Hook. Peter Banning (Robin Williams) is a 40-year-old corporate lawyer too busy with his work to notice his family. But when Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps his children, he is forced to remember
ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT 3D
The endless chase for that acorn has continental ramifications. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
THE INTOUCHABLES
The Intouchables, by French writer/directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, is the inspiring true story of two men who should never have met — a quadriplegic aristocrat who was injured in a paragliding accident and a young man from the projects. At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres
KUMARÉ
Kumaré is a wise guru from the East who indoctrinated a group of followers in the West. Kumaré, however, is not real — he is the alter ego of American filmmaker Vikram Gandhi who impersonated a spiritual leader for the sake of a social experiment designed to challenge one of the most widely accepted taboos: that only a tiny “1 percent” can connect the rest of the world to a higher power.
At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater
MAGIC MIKE
While it would be great to think that a movie about male strippers would be for women what movies like Striptease and Showgirls were for men, the loose threads of a plotline here suggest that Magic Mike really is just about encouraging more men to womanize and more women to fall for their ploys.
Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
MOONRISE KINGDOM
Once more, writer/director Wes Anderson dips his stylish pen into murky, melancholy tales of whimsy. This time out, the Royal Tenenbaums auteur follows a young “Khaki Scout” who flees from his troop and troop leader (Edward Norton) while camping on an island to unite with his prepubescent and troubled gal pal. Her parents, played by Bill Murray and Frances McDormand, and the island cop (Bruce Willis) give chase in this Instagram fairy tale. At Century and Mayan. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
NEIL YOUNG JOURNEYS
In May of 2011, Neil Young drove a 1956 Crown Victoria from his idyllic hometown of Omemee, Ontario, to downtown Toronto’s iconic Massey Hall, where he intimately performed the last two nights of his solo world tour. Along the drive, Young recounted insightful and introspective stories from his youth to filmmaker Jonathan Demme, a longtime friend, fan and collaborator. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
OPERA: BORIS GODUNOV – TEATRO REGIO DI TORINO
Mussorgsky rejected Western conventions in classical music in what is considered the most important Russian opera ever written. Starring Orlin Anastassov, Ian Storey and Peter Bronder, with Gianandrea Noseda at the podium. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater
OPERA: ERNANI
Sweeping Romantic drama takes center stage who he really is: Peter Pan. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres
in Ernani, an early Verdi gem based on a story by Victor Hugo. Three powerful men compete and conspire to win the hand of the beautiful Elvira, but in the end, duty and honor leave everyone woeful. From the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. At Boedecker Theater — Boedecker Theater
PEOPLE LIKE US
His father’s sudden death brings 20-something Sam home, where a family secret forces him to reconsider his life choices. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square.
POLISSE
Winner of the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize and nominated for 13 French Academy Awards, Polisse follows the daily lives of a tight-knit team of men and women working in the Child Protection Unit of the Parisian police. Based on a script from real child investigation cases, the actors convey the emotional strain of the work with gritty realism. At Boedecker Theater — Boedecker Theater
REVEAL THE PATH
A visually stunning adventure by bike: Reveal the Path explores the world’s playgrounds in Europe’s snow-capped mountains, Scotland’s lush valleys, Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches and Morocco’s high desert landscapes. Ride along and get lost in the wonders of the world. Enjoy the authentic locals living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading us to question what it means to live an inspired life — however humble or extravagant. Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
The longest-running midnight movie of all time. It’s harmless musical fun — a delightful spoof of Hollywood horror movies and Old Dark House melodramas. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres
ROOM 514
When a young, idealistic Israeli military investigator confronts an elite soldier with accusations of unnecessary violence against a Palestinian man in the Occupied Territories, her integrity and determination are put to the test as the case proves less black and white than it originally seemed. Taking a stand against a perceived abuse of power in spite of her colleagues’ advice to back off because of the political complexities of the case, her increasingly zealous quest for justice ends up having far-reaching consequences for everyone involved. Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society
SACRIFICE
For generations, the Zhao family has wielded power, even extending over the king. In a well-planned coup, their mortal enemy Tu’An Gu (Wang Xue Qi) slaughters the entire clan, determined to wipe out their influence forever. However, a solitary Zhao baby survives the massacre, and is hidden and taken home by Cheng Ying (Ge You), the doctor who delivered him, to live with his wife (Hai Qing) and their own newborn baby. Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society
SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED
Guaranteed, an unusual classified ad inspires three cynical Seattle Magazine employees (Aubrey Plaza, Jake Johnson and Karan Soni) to look for the story behind it. They discover a mysterious eccentric named Kenneth (Mark Duplass), a likable but paranoid supermarket clerk, who believes he’s solved the riddle of time travel and intends to depart again soon. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society
SAVAGES
A Mexican Baja Cartel threatens three close friends and their prime marijuana-growing operation. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
STEP UP REVOLUTION
A would-be professional dancer gets entangled with a flash mob leader and joins a campaign to save the world from capitalism — by dancing. Rated PG-13. At Century and Twin Peaks.
TAKE THIS WALTZ
When Margot (Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine), 28, meets handsome artist Daniel (Luke Kirby), their chemistry is intense and immediate. But Margot suppresses her sudden attraction; she is happily married to Lou (Seth Rogen), a cookbook writer. When Margot learns that Daniel lives across the street from them, the certainty about her domestic life shatters. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres
TED
John, an awkward 30-something with a deadend job (Mark Wahlberg), has his world turned upside down when his girlfriend (played by Mila Kunis) gives him an ultimatum: Ditch the best friend, a teddy bear (voiced by Seth McFarlane) who miraculously came to life when John was a child, or lose the girl. Rated R. At Century, Twin Peaks and Colony Square. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
TO ROME WITH LOVE
While Rome is a city abundant with romance and comedy, To Rome With Love is about people having adventures that will change their lives forever. Directed by Woody Allen. At Century and Esquire. — Landmark Theaters
THE WATCH
Four ordinary guys on neighborhood watch get to step up their suburban guardian skills when aliens threaten to take up residence. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
YOUR SISTER’S SISTER
Mark Duplass (co-director of Jeff, Who Lives at Home and Cyrus) stars as Jack, a slacker who’s still emotionally unstable a year after his brother Tom’s death. When he makes a scene at a memorial party, Tom’s ex-girlfriend, Iris (Emily Blunt), offers her family cabin in the Pacific Northwest so Jack can seek catharsis in solitude. There, he runs into Iris’ sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), a lesbian reeling from the abrupt end of a seven-year relationship. At Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax. — Landmark Theaters
