Opening
tower heist -(Odeon/SilverCity/Westshore/Uni 4) When some hard-working folk are ripped off by a slick multi-millionaire’s Ponzi scheme, they hire an even slicker ex-con to help them steal their money back. This criminal comedy stars Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy and Alan Alda. Starts Fri.
a very harold & kumar christmas -(Odeon/SilverCity/Westshore) That adorable pair of stoner ne’er do wells is back for more comedic action — and, just maybe, they’ll also remind us about the real spirit of Christmas. Starts Fri.
Continuing
★★★ anonymous -(Odeon/Uni 4) This unusual political thriller is centred on the provocative — and credible — notion that Edward De Vere, the Earl of Oxford, was in fact the true author of the plays attributed to William Shakespeare. Despite some historically goofy bits, this is very entertaining stuff, mostly because of rich performances by the likes of Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis. See review.
attack the block -(Caprice) This very well reviewed sci-horror flick from England features a teen gang from South London defending their turf from a nasty pack of alien invaders. Moves here Friday.
dolphin tale -(Caprice) This true-life story focuses on the friendship between a boy and a dolphin who was given a prosthetic tail. Starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd.
down the road again -(Capitol) Forty years ago Don Shebib directed Goin’ Down The Road, a road picture about two friends driving from Cape Breton to Toronto. It proved to be a landmark film, and, rather belatedly, the one surviving lead actor appears in this bittersweet sequel.
★★★½ 50/50 -(Odeon/Caprice) Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) stars in an engaging and very funny emo-comedy about a young man struggling with a cancer diagnosis that gives him a 50% chance of survival.
★★★ footloose -(SilverCity/Westshore/Caprice) The hormone-stirring anarchy of dancing to good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll is banned in one small town — until a rebellious city kid arrives on the scene and decides to shake things up.
★★½ the help -(Caprice) This film exposes the genteel racism prevalent amongst upper-class white women in Mississippi of the 1960s. It’s an interesting but uneven effort where a few great performances are stuck in the middle of what is essentially a misguided attempt to turn the civil rights movement into an uplifting feel-good comedy-drama.
★★★ the ides of march -(Odeon/SilverCity/Uni 4/Caprice) The new political drama directed by and starring George Clooney features a morally flawed presidential candidate and an idealistic campaign strategist (Ryan Gosling) who learns that even nice guys play dirty politics. Co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti.
★★ in time -(Odeon/SilverCity/Westshore) Justin Timberlake stars in a sci-fi thriller about a fascist future world where everyone stops aging at age 25 — but can only stay alive as long as they keep earning enough “time money.” Slick but shallow, this is nonetheless a timely allegory about what the rich do the poor. See review.
★★★ johnny english reborn -(Odeon/Caprice) The great Rowan Atkinson reprises his role as England’s most inept spy. This Bond spoof is silly slapstick, but very funny (for boys of all ages).
★★★★ moneyball -(Capitol) Even people with no interest in sports (or sports movies) will enjoy this riveting account of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), an underdog who bucked the standard way of doing things and used computer analysis in search of a winning team.
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.
paranormal activity 3 -(Odeon/SilverCity/Westshore) The Blair-Witch-as-a-home-movie series is back with more moments of shock and terror as two young sisters make the mistake of befriending an invisible entity that lives in their house..
★★★½ Puss in boots -(Capitol/SilverCity/Westshore/Uni 4) The endearing feline furball from Shrek gets his own swashbuckling prequel, in a witty and entirely delightful piece of animation. Featuring the vocal talents of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis.
★★½ real steel -(Capitol/Caprice) Hugh Jackman is an over-the-hill pugilist (and deadbeat dad in recovery) in a slightly futuristic world where “robot boxing” is the globe’s most popular sport. Uneven, overly long but certainly entertaining.
★★½ the rum diary -(Capitol/SilverCity/Westshore) Johnny Depp stars in an adaptation of a semi-autobiographical novel by Hunter S. Thompson about an American freelance journalist in 1960 Puerto Rico. This is Gonzo lite, with nice details but way too episodic to have much impact.
★★ the three musketeers -(Capitol/SilverCity/Westshore) The classic Alexandre Dumas tale of swashbuckling à la Français is here turned into a giant fromage-fest of overblown special effects and a preposterous plot. Mon Dieu!
Leaving Thurs.
the big year -(Odeon)
Imax
beavers -(10am, 1:00, 5:00; & 7:00, Thurs.-Sat). According to the ads, this is “the best dam movie” you’ll ever see about that iconic Canadian animal with the beautiful buck teeth. Note: no 10am show on Wed., Nov. 9.
★★★★ born to be wild -(11am, 3:00) Take a remarkable safari as this documentary takes you up close and personal with the people who nurture orphaned baby elephants and orangutans en route to re-releasing them into the wild. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. This is a great film!
★★★ contagion -(8:00, Thurs.-Sat., & 7:00, Sun.-Wed.) Matt Damon and Kate Winslet star in an edgy bio-thriller about a bird flu pandemic that is trashing the planet (and killing off some fine actors along the way). Despite being directed by Steven Soderbergh, this is surprisingly flat, diffuse and uninvolving.
★★★★ pulse: a stomp odyssey -(10am, Wed., Nov. 9 only.
sea–rex: journey to a prehistoric world -(noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00) In this adventure travel back millions of years to when amazing sea monsters ruled the seas.
Screenings
Movie Monday – Screening A Work in Progress. A brass band will open for this appealing documentary about the talented and hard-working Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra. 6:30pm MONDAY in the 1900-block Fort. By donation. 595-FLIC. moviemonday.ca.
smart meter information night -Awareness Film Night is screening an hour-long film, Full Signal, followed by a Q&A session that takes a broad look at RF radiation and all the related health implications that have become such a concern. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9, 7 pm, at Edward Milne Community School, 6218 Sooke Rd.
Cinecenta
Cinecenta at UVic screens its films in the Student Union Building. Info: 721-8365. cinecenta.com.
★★★★ cave of forgotten dreams -(Wed.-Thurs., Nov. 2-3: 7:10, 9:00 & Fri.-Sat., Nov. 4-5: 3:00, 7:10, 9:00) The critics are purring about the new film from quirky cine-genius Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man), who has made a unique documentary about a newly-discovered cave in France with walls covered with 30,000-year-old caveman art. This is an awe-inspiring delight.
★★★★ winnie the pooh -(Sat.-Sun., Nov. 5-6: 1:00 matinee) John Cleese narrates this (hand-drawn!) animated adaptation of the classic tale about the honey-loving bear and his menagerie of friends. This is a gentle, charming, and altogether superb piece of filmmaking.
★★★★★ tree of life -(Sun., Nov. 6: 3:00, 6:45, 9:25 & Mon., Nov. 7: 6:45, 9:25) The latest from reclusive cine-poet Terrence Malick (Thin Red Line) is a uniquely beautiful and philosopical 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.
★★★½ the corporation -(Tues., Nov. 8: 7:15 only) This sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued critique of corporate culture is smart and provocative, complete with comments from the likes of Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein.
buck -(Wed.-Thurs., Nov. 9-10: 7:10, 9:00) This recent Sundance favourite is the portrait of a real-life “horse whisperer” who rose above a horribly abusive childhood to become a remarkably empathetic human being.
The Roxy
★★★½ drive -(7:00) Mother always warned me about style over substance, but when it comes to this gory, ultra-noir thriller about a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a wheelman for serious criminals it’s hard not to succumb to its considerable charms. Starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan (An Education).
★★★ contagion -(8:50) Matt Damon and Kate Winslet star in an edgy bio-thriller about a bird flu pandemic that is trashing the planet (and killing off some fine actors along the way). Despite being directed by Steven Soderbergh, this is surprisingly flat, diffuse and uninvolving.
dolphin tale -(2:00, Sat.-Sun.) This true-life story focuses on the friendship between a boy and a dolphin who was given a prosthetic tail. Starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd.
smurfs -(4:00, Sat.-Sun.) A nasty wizard chases those cute blue blobs out of their magical medieval world and all the way to Manhattan.
