OPENING
jane eyre -(Odeon) The classic Charlotte Bronte romance about a meek governess and a house with terrible secrets gets a handsome-looking remake that stars Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) and Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds). Starts Fri.
hanna -(Capitol/SilverCity/Uni 4) A 16-year-old girl, trained as an assassin, is on the run across Europe as ruthless intelligence agents try to track her down. Starring Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana and Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones). Starts Fri.
your highness -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4) This rollickingly tongue-in-cheek medieval action flick stars James Franco, Natalie Portman, Toby Jones, and Zooey Deschanel. Starts Fri.
arthur -(Odeon/SilverCity/Caprice) Here’s a remake of the delightful 1981 comedy, this one starring Russell Brand as the boozy, immature playboy who stands to lose a massive inheritance because he’s fallen in love with a girl his mother doesn’t approve of. With the great Helen Mirren (in the Oscar-winning role originally performed by Sir John Gielgud). Starts Fri.
soul surfer -(SilverCity) A teenage surfer loses her arm to a shark attack and somehow summons the courage to ride the waves again. Based on the true-life tale from a few years back. Starts Fri.
born to be wild -(IMAX) Take a remarkable African safari — in 3D — as this documentary takes you up close and personal with elephants, orangutangs . . . and some of the wonderful people devoted to keeping them safe. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. Starts Fri.
red riding hood -(Roxy, 9:00) Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman star in this elaborate reworking of the gothic and gory fairy tale beloved of morbid children, here featuring a werewolf plaguing a medieval village. Starts Fri.
CONTINUING
** the adjustment bureau -(Odeon/SilverCity) Hard-working Matt Damon stars in a tepid sci-fi thriller about a man who defies a mysterious agency that secretly controls events on Earth in order to pursue a love affair that was not supposed to happen.
** battle: los angeles -(Roxy, 7:00) Aaron Eckhart heads up a platoon of marines who have the daunting task of defeating an invasion force of heavily armed space aliens, in what proves to be a less-than-engaging combination war flick and sci-fi thriller. Note: moves here Friday.
**** black swan -(Roxy, Sat.-Sun., 4:15) Get ready for some brilliant and disturbing ballet noir from arty director Darren Aronofsky (Pi, The Wrestler) in an intense psychological thriller about two gorgeous dance rivals, played by Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis
diary of a wimpy kid: rodrick rules -(SilverCity/Caprice) A grade seven kid is the protagonist in this sequel to last year’s popular piece of family entertainment, based on a series of bestselling books.
gnomeo & juliet -(Roxy, Sat.-Sun., 2:45) I wish I were making this up, but Hollywood’s latest tribute to the Bard features a retelling of his classic tale of star-crossed lovers — only this time the characters are garden gnomes. The casting ranges from Maggie Smith and Michael Caine to Ozzy Osbourne and Jason Statham.
** hobo with a shotgun -(Capitol) Spring has sprung and here comes a grumpy Rutger Hauer playing a homeless vigilante who blasts his pump-action shotgun at a variety of shitweasels including crooked cops and a pedophile Santa (!). This deliberately trashy send-up of exploitation cinema is not without its rancid charms.
hop -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4/Caprice) In this fluffy bit of animated fun for the whole family the teenage son of the Easter Bunny heads to Hollywood to join a rock ‘n’ roll band — only to encounter some unexpected adventures.
** insidious -(Capitol/SilverCity) Insipid is more like it, although this tale of a couple trying to save their comatose child from strange supernatural forces has a few good scares up its sleeve — which they pull off without resorting to gore.
**** the king’s SPEECH -(Odeon) Long live this royal Oscar champ, the much-loved and lauded historical drama about King George VI and his struggle to overcome a crippling stammer and lead his country into war against Germany. A fascinating story and exceptional performances make this crowd-pleaser a must-see.
**½ limitless -(Odeon/SilverCity) Bradley Cooper plays an unmotivated writer who discovers a new drug that somehow gives him super-human mental powers, in a thriller with aspects of a headtrip movie. Co-starring Robert De Niro and Australia’s Abbie Cornish (Bright Star).
***½ the lincoln lawyer -(Capitol) This tricky crime thriller stars Matthew McConaughey as an unconventional lawyer who gets in over his head while representing a wealthy client accused of murder. Based on the novel by Michael Connelly. McConaughey brings his natural gifts — roguish charm overlaid with dollops of sleaze and smug self-regard — in what could be a career-saving role. The great supporting cast includes Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy, John Leguizamo and Ryan Phillippe.
*** paul -(Capitol/SilverCity) A pair of comic-book geeks in love with sci-fi get more than they bargained for when they come across a cute but decidedly profane hipster extra-terrestrial. A bit slow at first, the movie sets up lots of gags, has good comic timing, and a sweet heart beneath all the crudity. Starring Simon Pegg (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) and SNL’s Kirsten Wiig (who nearly steals the show). Note: moves from the Odeon to the Capitol on Friday.
***¼ rango -(Roxy, Sat.-Sun., 1:00) This wacky animated spoof of classic westerns stars a chameleon (voiced by Johnny Depp) who dreams of being a hero — then finds himself appointed the sheriff in a troubled western town and has to reach way down deep to connect with his inner gunslinger. Great fun! Moves here Fri.
*** source code -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4) Jake Gyllenhaal stars in a sci-fi-ish thriller about a soldier who is teleported into the body of a stranger in order to find the terrorist due to blow up a train in eight minutes. The Matrix-meets-Groundhog-Day premise is more clever than the movie itself, which is solid but unremarkable. See review.
** sucker punch -(Capitol/SilverCity) The newest visual extravaganza from the director of 300 and Watchmen features a young woman sent to a brutal insane asylum where she escapes from the horror of her imprisonment by believing that the power of her imagination is enough to set her free. Nifty visuals, sure, but there’s not much here to get excited about.
leaving thursday
***½ west is west -(Odeon)
beastly -(Capitol)
IMAX
ΗΗΗ½ ARABIA -(10am, 2:00 5:00) The past and the present merge in this exploration of the rich history and present-day exoticism and complexity of Saudi Arabia.
born to be wild -(10am, noon, 2:00, 4:00, 7:00) Note: no 7:00 shows on April 11-13
journey into amazing caves -(11am, 3:00, 6:00, 8:00) Note: No 6:00 or 8:00 shows on April 12-13.
SCREENINGS
The Met Live in HD – Screening Rossini’s Le Comte Ory. 10am SATURDAY at SilverCity and the Odeon. Tickets $15.50-$25.50.
Movie Monday – Screening ChomaVision. By all accounts this is a fascinating documentary about an octogenarian artist whose struggle with bipolar disorder led to an exceptional life — and a blazing return to art late into his retirement. 6:30pm MONDAY in the 1900-block Fort. By donation. 595-FLIC. moviemonday.ca. See film.
Awareness Film Night – and Sooke Food CHI present their annual Gardening and Farming Gala featuring the Canadian premiere of The Greenhorns, a film about young farmers, their spirit, hopes, practices and needs. Following the film there will be a panel discussionwith four Sooke and Victoria area young farmers. The evening will also feature booths of local farming information, a seed and plant exchange, tea and goodies and the first annual Nettle Festival. 6:45pm WEDNESDAY at Edward Milne Community School, (6218 Sooke Rd). By donation, with proceeds to the Food CHI Fruit Tree Gleaning Project. Bring plants and seeds to exchange and your favourite nettle recipe.
CINECENTA
Cinecenta at UVic screens its films in the Student Union Building. Tickets are available 40 minutes prior to showtime. Info: 721-8365. cinecenta.com.
marwencol -(Wed.-Thurs., April 6-7: 7:15, 9:00) Lots of praise has landed on this documentary, which explores the strange and compelling world of an emotionally damaged man who retreated into a world of inexplicable creativity where he transformed his backyard into a replica of World War 2-era European village, at one-sixth life size.
**** biutiful -(Fri.-Sat., April 8-9: 3:00, 7:00, 9:45) Oscar-nominated Javier Bardem is amazingly soulful in this grim portrayal of life and death amongst illegal immigrants and their criminal overseers in the seedy outskirts of Barcelona.
oceans -(Sat.-Sun., April 9-10: 1:00 matinee) There is lots of buzz about this ecological docudrama concerning the current state of the globe’s oceans.
**** true grit -(Sun., April 10: 3:00, 7:00, 9:10) Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin and Matt Damon star in the Coen Brothers remake of the famed revenge western that originally featured a grizzled John Wayne as aging U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn. Dark and mythic, this is a classic western and classic Coen Brothers.
**** 127 hours -(Mon., April 11: 7:10, 9:00) Oscar-nominated James Franco stars in this true-life outdoor adventure about a canyoneer who becomes trapped and has to take appalling measures in order to survive. This life-affirming drama is directed with exhilirating style by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later).
**** incendies -(Tues.-Thurs., April 12-14: 7:00, 9:30) This Oscar-nominated film from Quebec portrays the unwrapping of a dark and violent mystery, as two children probe their mother’s shocking personal history from a long-ago civil war in the Middle East.
