Reel to Reel | Week of Nov. 17, 2011

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For a list of local movie times visit boulderweekly.com

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Hanna and Simon, a couple in their early 40s, live together in Berlin. With their 20th anniversary looming, they both become restless. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society

Azur and Asmar

From legendary animator, writer and director Michel Ocelot (Kirikou and the Sorceress) comes a shimmering, fairytale-like story of two brothers on a dangerous quest to find and free a Djinn Fairy. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Ballet: Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty garnered more accolades at its premiere than Swan Lake. Sadly, the composer did not live long enough to see its success outside of Russia. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey

The Muppet Elmo is one of the most beloved characters among children across the globe. Meet the unlikely man behind the puppet — the heart and soul of Elmo — Kevin Clash. At Boedecker Theater and Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Boedecker Theater

Creepshow

Venerable horror director George Romero (Night of the Living Dead) and screenwriter Stephen King are responsible for this creepfest. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society

The Descendants

From Alexander Payne, creator of the Oscarwinning Sideways, comes The Descendants, 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 and embrace his future when his wife suffers a life-threatening boating accident off of Waikiki. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Dolphin Tale

This heartwarmer based on a true story follows the tailless dolphin Winter (played by Winter) through all sorts of adversity alongside its human protectors. Rated PG. At Colony Square. — Michael Phillips/TMS

Drive

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

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life is a completely original take on one of France’s greatest mavericks, the illustrious and infamous Jewish sing er-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Happy

This feature documentary takes us on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Happy Feet Two

In this sequel to the 2006 animated film, 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

Hell and Back Again

In 2009, U.S. Marines launched a major helicopter assault on a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. Within hours of being dropped deep behind enemy lines, 25-yearold Sgt. Nathan Harris’s unit is attacked from all sides. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Hoodlum Soldier

One of Masumura’s most successful films (it spawned many sequels) joins up a conscientious objector with a former gangster in an effort to desert the Japanese Army by stealing a train. (This is part of a rare film package of titles directed by Yasuzo Masumura that are not on DVD and being made available thanks to the co-sponsorship of the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan at Denver.) At International Film Series. — IFS

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

In Time

In a future where time is the universal currency and the wealthy live forever, a poor young man stumbles into a fortune but is falsely accused of murder. Rated PG-13. At Century and Colony Square. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

Into the Abyss

In his fascinating exploration of a triple homicide case in Conroe, Texas, master filmmaker Werner Herzog probes the human psyche to explore why people kill — and why a state kills. Rated PG-13. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

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, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Michael Phillips/TMS

Jack and Jill

See full review Page 54. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — Los Angeles Times/MCT

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

Machine Gun Preacher

The inspirational true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who finds an unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Martha Marcy May Marlene

A young woman rapidly unravels amidst her attempt to reclaim a normal life after fleeing from a cult and its charismatic leader. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

Mary Lou

Meir, a young man searching for his mother in Tel Aviv, learns about love with the help of the gay community and Israeli pop music. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Mia and the Migoo

Created from an astounding 500,000 handpainted frames of animation, Mia and the Migoo is a work of art, breathtaking to behold, with backgrounds that invoke Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

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 Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

Moneyball

Director Bennett Miller’s Moneyball is based on the true story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, played remarkably by Brad Pitt. Somewhat of a renegade, Beane bucked the norm and employed a new statistical way of analyzing players. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square. — Michael Phillips/TMS

My Afternoons with Margueritte

In a small French town, Germain (Gérard Depardieu), a nearly illiterate man in his 50s, takes a walk to the park one day and happens to sit beside Margueritte (Gisèle Casadesus), a little old lady who is reading excerpts from her novel aloud. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Paranormal Activity 3

Now that Saw has run its course, a new horror franchise steps in to spawn a sequel every Halloween. This third installment promises to be an origin tale — where did that demon come from, anyway? Rated R. At Twin Peaks. — Rene Rodriguez/MCT

The Precipice

A mountain-climbing adventure gets ugly when snow conditions give rise to an avalanche — but is a love triangle possibly also to fault for the death of one of the climbers? (This is part of a rare film package of titles directed by Yasuzo Masumura that are not on DVD and being made available thanks to the co-sponsorship of the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan at Denver.) At International Film Series. — IFS

Puncture

Puncture, directed by brothers Mark and Adam Kassen, is a real-life, issue-driven drama that finds its footing in a contemporary David and Goliath story. 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. And 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

Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Dark

A riveting portrait of the great writer whose stories became the basis of the Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

The Skin I Live In

Ever since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), an eminent plastic surgeon, has been obsessed with creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview

In 1995, during the making of his TV series Triumph of the Nerds about the birth of the PC, Bob Cringely did a memorable hour-long interview with Steve Jobs. In the end, only a part of the interview was used in the series and the rest was thought lost. But recently a VHS copy was found in the series director’s garage. Now, the entire interview has been cleaned up with modern technology, and put into context by Cringely. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

Strella

After serving 14 years in prison, Yiorgos is released and makes his way to Athens, where he hopes to find his son. He meets a woman named Strella who makes her living as a prostitute. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Take Shelter

A father and crew chief for a sand-mining company begins having terrifying dreams about an apocalyptic storm. He channels his anxiety into the obsessive building of a storm shelter in his backyard. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

Toast

Based on the bittersweet story of food writer Nigel Slater’s childhood, and set to the songs of Dusty Springfield, this film features Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore as the young Slater who uses cooking as a way to compete for his father’s attention. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Tomboy

When 10-year-old Mikael (beautifully played by Zoé Héran) moves to a new neighborhood, he’s shy about getting to know the new kids before school starts in the fall. At Boedecker Theater. — Boedecker Theater

Tower Heist

See full review Page 54. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

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

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

Comic effrontery is the Bic that lights the bong in these “H&K” movies, but a third one? Really? Here, the now 30-ish men-boys hunt down a Christmas tree, mix it up with gangsters, briefly turn into animated versions of themselves, consort with virgins and meet Santa. Rated R. At Century and Colony Square. — Michael Phillips/TMS

A Wife Confesses

Considered by many to be Masumura’s masterpiece, this story of a marriage gone bad is equal parts film noir and psychological thriller. (This is part of a rare film package of titles directed by Yasuzo Masumura that are not on DVD and being made available thanks to the co-sponsorship of the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan at Denver.) At International Film Series. — IFS

A Woman’s Testament

Three directors, three stories, all of which revolve around a Tokyo nightclub. (This is part of a rare film package of titles directed by Yasuzo Masumura that are not on DVD and being made available thanks to the cosponsorship of the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan at Denver.) At International Film Series. — IFS

The Woman Who Touched Legs

A comedy about a female pickpocket who inadvertently steals from the wrong passenger. (This is part of a rare film package of titles directed by Yasuzo Masumura that are not on DVD and being made available thanks to the co-sponsorship of the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan at Denver.) At International Film Series. — IFS