Weekly Film Listings Aug. 4-10
Opening
rise of the planet of the apes – James Franco stars in a disturbing-looking reboot of this classic sci-fi series about war between mankind and intelligent apes. In this origins story set in the present day, a lab experiment gets out of hand . . . and some very pissed-off apes get out of the lab. Starts Fri.
the change–up – Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds star in a romantic comedy using the tried and true gimmick of two people unexpectedly switching bodies. Hilarity will presumably ensue. Starts Fri.
Continuing
★★½ bad teacher -(Capitol/Caprice) Cameron Diaz sets a bad example — and has lots of fun — playing a foul-mouthed, lazy and scheming junior high teacher. Co-starring Justin Timberlake.
★★★½ beginners -(Odeon) Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer in a touching comedy-drama about a young man who is shocked by two revelations from his dad: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has been a closeted gay who has just taken up with a young male lover.
★★★½ bridesmaids -(Odeon/Caprice) SNL’s Kristen Wiig co-wrote and stars in this raucous but smart and heartfelt comedy that celebrates female friendship (while often being rather rude).
★★★ captain america: the first avenger -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4/Westshore) Corny but packed with retro charm, this new comic book adaptation is highly entertaining as it depicts a patriotic wimp who doesn’t meet the physical standards to join the army so instead volunteers for a wild science experiment. Needless to say he’s transformed into a superhero with great powers. Watch out, Nazis!
cars 2 -(Caprice) Disney’s animation classic from a few years back gets a snappy looking sequel, this one with a storyline involving international espionage. Featuring voices by Owen Wilson and Michael Caine.
★★ cowboys & aliens -(Odeon/SilverCity/Westshore) The Wild West gets wacky (and silly) when space aliens invade 1873 Arizona and all that stands between us and world domination is a posse of cowboys. This War of the Worlds meets Stagecoach goof-off stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, and is directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man).
★★★ crazy, stupid, love -(Odeon/SilverCity/Westshore) A nice but slightly sappy guy (Steve Carell) gets dumped by his wife (Julianne Moore) and looks to a young stud (Ryan Gosling) to get some tips on how to deal with women. Thanks to a great cast and a clever script this is a fine and very funny romantic comedy. See review.
★★★ friends with benefits -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4) In a raunchy romantic comedy, Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are surprised to discover that adding some steamy sex to their once-platonic friendship is a recipe for trouble.
★★½ harry potter and the deathly hallows: part 2 -(Capitol/SilverCity/Uni 4/Westshore) The long-running fantasy series by JK Rowling comes to a disappointingly ho-hum climax as the plucky boy wizard has that deadly, long-anticpated final confrontation with nostril-challenged supervillain Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
★★½ horrible bosses -(Capitol/SilverCity/Westshore) Three guys with truly appalling bosses gradually realize that all their lives would be better off if the bosses were dead.
★★★★ midnight in paris -(Odeon) The latest from Woody Allen is a delightfully romantic whirl through Paris, both in the present day and during the fabled 1920s. The fine cast includes Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard.
mr. popper’s penguins -(Caprice) Jim Carrey stars in an amiably goofy comedy about an uptight businessman who learns to unwind when his fancy Manhattan apartment gets invaded by a flock of cute penguins.
the smurfs -(Capitol/SilverCity/Uni 4) A nasty wizard chases those cute blue blobs out of their magical medieval world and all the way to Manhattan.
★★ transformers: dark of the moon -(Capitol/SilverCity/Caprice) Michael Bay returns to blow up whatever escaped his clutches in the first two iterations of this bombastic and noisy series about those shape-shifting Autobots and Decepticons.
★★★★★ the tree of life -(Capitol) The latest from reclusive cine-poet Terrence Malick (Thin Red Line) is a uniquely beautiful and philosophical tone poem that shifts perspective from a dysfunctional ’50s family to the deepest patterns of earthly and cosmic time and space. Winner of the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
★★★★ winnie the pooh -(Capitol/SilverCity/Westshore) John Cleese narrates this (hand-drawn!) animated adaptation of the classic tale; a gentle, charming, and altogether superb piece of filmmaking.
Imax
★★★★ born to be wild -(noon, 2:00, 4:00, 7:00) Take a remarkable safari as this documentary takes you up close and personal with the people who nurture orphaned baby elephants and orangutans. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. This is a great film!
★★ pirates of the caribbean: on stranger tides -(8:00) Penelope Cruz sets sail with Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush and the other piratical ne’er-do-wells of The Black Pearl in the fourth edition of this increasingly tedious — and alarmingly lucrative — action-comedy series.
journey into amazing caves -(6:00)
rescue: disaster response -(11am, 1:00, 5:00) This high-adrenaline film depicts the courageous men and women who respond when global disaster strikes.
★★★★ whales -(10am, 3:00)
Screenings
Movie Monday – Screening ★★★½ Trigger. One of the highlights of the Victoria Film Festival, this new drama from Bruce McDonald (Hard Core Logo) stars Molly Parker and Tracy Wright (who was dying during the filming) as a pair of punk rock gals who get together for a very edgy reunion. 6:30pm MONDAY in the 1900-block Fort. By donation. 595-FLIC. moviemonday.ca
free b–movie festival -The Victoria Film Festival’s annual B-Movie mash-up takes over the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park. First up is Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, the delightfully crazy shenanigans of a boy-man trying to recover his stolen bicycle. 9pm FRIDAY.
SATURDAY, it’s Teen Wolf, starring Michael J. Fox in a classic ’80s comedy about a high school kid rather appalled to find he’s become a werewolf. 9pm.
Cinecenta
Cinecenta at UVic screens its films in the Student Union Building. Tickets are available 40 minutes prior to showtime. Info: 250-721-8365. Check cinecenta.com for full listings.
forks over knives -(Wed.-Thurs., Aug. 3-4: 7:00, 9:00) If you want to be educated (or even just scolded) about the virtues of a plant-based diet, better check out this American documentary exposing the perils of meat and dairy.
★★★★ midnight in paris -(Fri.-Sun., Aug. 5-7: 7:00, 9:00)
bill cunningham new york -(Mon., Aug. 8: 7:15, 9:00) Documentary about a unique octogenarian.
badlands -(Tues., Aug. 9: 7:00, 9:00) Cinecenta begins its Terrence Malick retrospective with this 1973 film starring Martin Sheen and Sissie Spacek as real-life “thrill killers” .
★★★ potiche -(Wed.-Thurs., Aug. 10-11: 7:00, 9:10) When the owner of a company is taken hostage by striking workers, his trophy wife (Catherine Deneuve) takes over the reins.
