OPENING
paul -(Odeon/SilverCity) A pair of British comic-book geeks travelling across America get more adventure than they bargained for when they come across a weirdly cute extra-terrestrial. Starring Simon Pegg (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz). Starts Fri.
limitless -(Odeon/SilverCity) Bradley Cooper plays a mild-mannered copy writer who discovers a new drug that somehow gives him super-human powers, in a thriller co-starring Robert De Niro and Australia’s Abbie Cornish (Bright Star). Starts Fri.
the lincoln lawyer -(Capitol/SilverCity/Uni 4) 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 book by Michael Connelly. The great cast includes Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy, John Leguizamo and Ryan Phillippe. Starts Fri.
CONTINUING
★★ the adjustment bureau -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4) 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.
★★★½ barney’s version -(Odeon) Mordecai Richler’s last novel comes to the screen starring Paul Giamatti as a curmudgeonly rascal of a romantic who struggles mightily with the vicissitudes of life and love — and his own outsize flaws. Co-starring Dustin Hoffman.
★★ battle: los angeles -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4/Caprice) 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. See review.
beastly -(Capitol) A vain young man gets a fairy tale curse placed on him and turns rather, well, beastly, in a contemporary version of the Beauty and the Beast story.
★★★★ black swan -(Odeon) 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 Oscar winner Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis.
★★★ cedar rapids -(Odeon) Ed Helms (The Hangover), John C. Reilly and Anne Heche star in this quirky and appealing comedy about a painfully unsophisticated guy who falls under the spell of some worldly conference veterans when he heads to “big time” Iowa to represent his insurance company. See review.
gnomeo & juliet -(SilverCity) 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.
★★ the green hornet -(Roxy, 7:15pm nightly, 2:50pm Sat-Sun.) Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) is the unlikely star of this would-be quirky deconstruction of superhero movies. A few scenes are clever, but mostly it just gets louder and stupider. Directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).
hall pass -(SilverCity) The latest comedy from the Farrelly Brothers features a married guy who gets permission from his wife to have an affair. Things may get interesting when the wife joins in the fun. Starring Owen Wilson and Christina Applegate.
just go with it -(Capitol) Adam Sandler is on the loose again, this time playing a cynical bachelor who pretends to be unhappily married as a gimmick to tug on women’s heart strings. Of course, when he does fall in love his sneaky scheme has put him into a tricky spot. Most critics have advised: Just go without it. Note: moves here from SilverCity on Friday.
justin bieber: never say never -(Roxy, 1:00 Sat.-Sun.) Canada’s pop music phenom hits the big screen with a 3-D concert film that will have the tweens swooning. (Note: moves here from SilverCity
★★★ the king’s SPEECH -(Odeon/SilverCity) 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.
mars needs moms -(Capitol/SilverCity/Caprice) A boy develops a much deeper appreciation of his mom after she is captured by Martians and taken back to the Red Planet. This wacky sci-fi animated comedy features the vocal talents of Seth Rogen, Joan Cusack and Dan Fogler.
★★★¼ rango -(Capitol/SilverCity/Uni 4/Caprice) 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!
red riding hood -(Capitol/SilverCity) 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.
★★★★ TRUE GRIT -(Roxy, 5:00 Sat.-Sun.) Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin and Matt Damon star in the Coen Brothers remake of the famed revenge western that originally starred a grizzled John Wayne as aging U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn. Dark and mythic, this is a classic western and classic Coen Brothers — who were shut out at the Oscars. Note: moves here from SilverCity.
★★½ unknown -(Roxy, 9:15pm) Liam Neeson continues his late-blooming move into action cinema with this thriller about a man who awakens from a coma to discover that someone has stolen his identity and that not even his wife will say she knows him. So is he insane, or just trapped in a slick B movie? (Note: moves here from Capitol/SilverCity)
leaving thursday
★★★½ another year -(Odeon))
★★★★ biutiful -(Odeon)
i am number four -(SilverCity)
★★★★ incendies -(Capitol)
IMAX
★★★½ 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.
journey into amazing caves -(11am, 1:00, 3:00, 6:00).
★★★ legends of flight -(noon, 4:00) The creation of the “next generation” commercial jetliner is detailed in this fascinating documentary.
★★½ tron: legacy -(7:00) The original TRON was a visionary sci-fi classic that never got the box office it deserved. Twenty years later, we return to the inner world of a video game, with mixed results: the visuals are killer, but the plot is a mix of muddle and pretension.
SCREENINGS
The Magdalene sisters – A film about three young girls in the infamous Magdalene Laundries Catholic clergy-run organizations in operation from the 19th century up until the late 20th century in Ireland. 7pm THURSDAY at Camus Books 2590 Quadra. Free.
the wizard of oz -The classic musical takes all the friends of Dorothy off on magical adventures, at SilverCity’s Classic Film Series, Wednesday, March 16.
Movie Monday – Screening ★★★½ Exit Through The Gift Shop. Ostensibly a documentary about graffiti artist and provocateur Banksy, this witty metafilm is also a smart and funny satire of celebrity culture, consumerism, and the contemporary art scene. 6:30pm MONDAY in the 1900-block Fort. By donation. 595-FLIC. moviemonday.ca
Food Security: It’s In Your Hands – Recently screened to a sold out audience at the Victoria Film Festival, see Nick Versteeg’s food-security doc. Craft beer and locally sourced beer from Canoe and delicious Sea Cider are on-hand. 5:30pm WEDNESDAY at Canoe )450 Swift). Tickets $35/$30 at slowisland.ca.
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.
a drummer’s dream -(Wed., Mar. 16: 7:15, 9:00) This well-reviewed documentary records the amazing musical — and other — interactions between a whole bunch of drummers from many different countries and representing many different musical styles. “Not to be missed!” —Macleans.
★★★½ tangled -(Wed.-Thurs., Mar. 16-17: 1:00 matinee only) Here’s a fractured fairy tale telling a different, more rambunctious version of the classic Rapunzel story, complete with nifty characters and some very funny dialogue. With the voices of Mandy Moore and Ron Perlman.
inuit knowledge & climate change -(Thurs., Mar. 17: 7:15 only) A Nunavut-based director and a UVic researcher teamed up to create this documentary about the experience-based knowledge that the Inuit possess with regards to climate change in the north.
2010 cannes advertising festival -(Fri.-Sat., Mar. 18-19: 3:00, 7:00, 9:00) More than 4,000 commercials were screened to come up with these award-winning gems, which can dazzle with their wit and technical panache.
★★★½ tangled -(Sat.-Sun., Mar. 19-20: 1:00 matinee only) See write-up above.
★★★½ another year -(Sun., Mar. 20: 3:00, 6:45, 9:10 & Mon., Mar. 21: 6:45, 9:10) The latest from Mike Leigh (Vera Drake, Topsy-Turvy) is a quiet portrait of several North Londoners, some much happier than others. The wonderful Jim Broadbent heads up a great cast.
★★★ pulp fiction -(Tues., Mar. 21: 6:45, 9:35) Despite its being an enormously influential cult film, I still think this overly-clever exercise in provocative style highlights the limitations of Quentin Tarantino’s “exploitation as art” aesthetic. But it sure is fun to watch, especially for Uma Thurman.
dogtooth -(Wed.-Thurs., Mar. 22-23: 7:10, 9:00) This Cannes award winner and Oscar nominee from Greece is a quirky black comedy about three siblings who have been raised by their manipulative father in complete isolation. “Leaves bite marks that stick around long after you are released from its grip.” -Globe and Mail.
