Reel to reel | Week of August 2, 2012

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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.

BALLET: LA BAYADÈRE – PARIS OPERA BALLET

La Bayadère (“The Temple Dancer”) is the final major work of Rudolf Nureyev, legendary dancer, choreographer and director of the Paris Opera Ballet. It tells the story of impossible love set against the backdrop of lush, exotic India. At Boedecker — Boedecker Theater

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

See full review page 45. At Century and Mayan.

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

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 shadow-drenched 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

DARK HORSE

Writer/director Todd Solondz (Happiness, Welcome to the Dollhouse) enters somewhat more upbeat territory with this quirky, tragicomic romance between eager underachiever Abe (Jordan Gelber) and insecure, over-medicated Miranda (Selma Blair). In his mid-30s, Abe is an avid toy collector who still lives with his parents (the wonderful Christopher Walken and Mia Farrow), and resents working for his father. His older brother Richard’s (Justin Bartha) success as a doctor only feeds Abe’s jealousy and frustration over his own failures. At Chez Artiste — Landmark Theatres

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

Director Christopher Nolan’s D.C. superhero legacy comes to an end as unwelcome and reluctant hero Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) dons his cape and deepens his voice once more. Batman battles for the future of Gotham against ruthless criminal Bane (Tom Hardy) with the help of the “catty” Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway). Rated PG-13. At Century, Twin Peaks and Colony Square.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS

The latest installment based on the popular books sends the wimpy kid off on appropriately wimpy summer mis-adventures. Rated PG. At Century 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

HOOK

Steven Spielberg directed this delightfully grown-up fairy tale about an adult Peter Pan and his evil nemesis, Captain Hook. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

HYSTERIA

Hysteria tells the surprising story of the birth of the electro-mechanical vibrator at the very peak of Victorian prudishness. A feisty love story and a trip into hidden history, Hysteria is an exploration of women’s passion and a celebration of the forward-thinking spirit that has always kept human progress buzzing. At Boedecker — Boedecker Theater

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

JACKIE BROWN

Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed this adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s 1995 Rum Punch, switching the action from Miami to LA, and altering the central character from white to black. Ruthless arms dealer Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson), who lives with perpetually stoned beach-babe Melanie (Bridget Fonda), teams with his old buddy Louis Gara (Robert De Niro), just released from prison after serving four years for armed robbery. At Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax — Denver Film Society

KLOWN

In what critics are hailing as “the funniest movie of the year!” (IFC), Klown follows two wildly inappropriate friends — played by celebrated international comedians Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen — as they run amok through the Danish countryside plowing through endless awkward confrontations and unspeakable debaucheries. Hopelessly wrongheaded Frank “kidnaps” the 12-year-old nephew of his pregnant girlfriend in an eager attempt to prove his fatherhood potential to join sex-crazed Casper on his secret adulterous weekend canoe trip. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax — Denver Film Society

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 Colony Square.

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.

OSLO, AUGUST 31ST

Thirty-four-year-old Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie) is a fortunate but deeply troubled man battling drug addiction. As part of his rehabilitation program, he is allowed to go into the city for a job interview, but instead uses the opportunity as a way to drift around and revisit old friends. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax — Denver Film Society

OTTER 501

As an abandoned otter pup is rescued and returned to the wild, we follow a young marine biologist as she learns about the plight of sea otters, the ocean ecosystem, and the efforts to save this species from the brink of extinction. At Boedecker — Boedecker Theater

POLISSE

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

THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES

Directed by lauded filmmaker and photographer Lauren Greenfield (Thin), The Queen of Versailles is a character-driven documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis. With the epic dimensions of a Shakespearean tragedy, The Queen of Versailles follows billionaires Jackie and David’s rags-to-riches story to uncover the innate virtues and flaws of the American dream. At Chez Artiste — Landmark Theatres

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

ROAD GAMES

Hollywood’s Stacy Keach stars in Australia’s Road Games. Keach is a truck driver who takes the law in his own hands to capture a serial killer. When the police fail to nab the murderer of hitchhikers, Keach takes to the road, conducting his own search. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax — Denver Film Society

RUBY SPARKS

In the romantic comedy Ruby Sparks, Calvin (Paul Dano) is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing — as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby (Zoe Kazan), in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted. At Esquire — Landmark Theatres

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

In the scrappy romantic comedy Safety Not Guaranteed, an unusual classified ad inspires three cynical Seattle Magazine employees to look for the story behind it. They discover a mysterious eccentric named Kenneth, 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 Colony Square

SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS

On April 2, 2011, LCD Soundsystem played its final show at Madison Square Garden. LCD frontman James Murphy had made the conscious decision to disband one of the most celebrated and influential bands of its generation at the peak of its popularity, four-hour extravaganza did just that. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax — Denver Film Society

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) 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

TOTAL RECALL

In chasing the problematic premise of implanted memories, this remake of the Schwarzenegger classic trips over its own action sequences in ways likely to make it totally forgettable. Rated PG-13. At Century and Colony Square.

TRISHNA

Trishna (Frieda Pinto) lives with her family in a village in Rajasthan, India’s largest state. As the eldest daughter, she works in a nearby resort to help pay the bills. Jay (Riz Ahmed, Four Lions) is the wealthy son of a property developer. When he takes up managing a resort at his father’s request, he meets Trishna at a dance and their fates cross. At Chez Artiste — Landmark Theatres

THE WATCH

See full review page 45. 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 ensuring that the band would go out on top Iris’ sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), a with the biggest and most ambitious concert lesbian reeling from the abrupt end of a sev- of its career. The instantly sold out, near en-year relationship. At Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax. — Landmark Theaters