Opening
the twilight saga: breaking dawn, part 1 -(Capitol/SilverCity/Uni 4/Westshore) A wedding and a dangerous pregnancy provide some added excitement for this vampire saga that has bewitched tweens (and older viewers who should know better) around the globe. Starts Thurs.
melancholia -(Odeon) Kirsten Dunst won top acting honours at Cannes for her portrayal of a deeply depressed bride confronting global apocalypse, in yet another beautiful and enigmatic art film from controversial Danish director Lars von Trier (Dancer In The Dark, Dogville). Starts Fri.
The whale -(Caprice) Remember Saving Luna, the locally produced documentary about our ornery orca that went on to win all sorts of awards? Seems that Ryan Reynolds was enough of a fan that he had the footage recut, then added his own narration so the film could get a second life on the cineplex circuit. Starts Fri.
happy feet two -(Odeon/SilverCity/Westshore/Uni 4) Those dancing penguins are back! Featuring the vocal talents of Elijah Wood and Robin Williams. The fun starts Fri.
Continuing
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.
★★★½ 50/50 -(Odeon) 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 -(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 immortals -(Capitol/SilverCity/Westshore) Although not one of the myths taught in school, this account of a mortal chosen by Zeus to defeat a ruthless king out to find a rare weapon and destroy all of Greece has visual dazzle and a moronic plot. And a villainous Mickey Rourke has lots of pretty scenery to chew.
★★ in time -(Odeon/SilverCity/Caprice) 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.
jack and jill -(Capitol/SilverCity/Westshore) For those few of you who just can’t get enough Adam Sandler, in this wacky comedy he plays both a normal guy and also the guy’s identical twin sister — a passive-aggressive nightmare who is coming over for the holidays. Caveat emptor!
★★★★ j. edgar -(Capitol/Uni 4/Westshore) Clint Eastwood directs Leonardo DiCaprio in a balanced and compelling portrait of the controversial head of the FBI whose many peccadilloes included lackmailing his political enemies . . . and dressing in women’s clothing. See review.
★★★½ martha Marcy may marlene -(Odeon) There is lots of buzz around this low-key psychological thriller about a young woman who flees from an abusive religious cult only to manifest increasingly odd behaviour once she reunites with her sister.
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.
★★★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 -(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.
★★ tower heist -(Odeon/SilverCity/Caprice) When some hard-working folk are ripped off by a slick multi-millionaire’s Ponzi scheme, they join forces with a sneaky ex-con to help them steal their money back. This criminally insipid comedy stars Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy and Alan Alda.
★★ a very harold & kumar christmas -(Odeon/SilverCity) That pair of stoner ne’er do wells is back for more shenanigans — and just in time to get freaky for the holidays. Sure, the stoned-baby jokes are transgressive enough for a giggle, but you’d have to be really baked on B.C. bud to find this particularly funny.
★★★ the way -(Odeon) Emilio Estevez directs Martin Sheen (a.k.a. dear old dad) in an engaging examination of spirituality as an unlikely group of people befriend each other while walking a centuries-old pilgrim route in northern Spain.
Leaving Thurs.
★★★ anonymous -(Odeon/Uni 4)
★★½ the help -(Caprice)
★★★ the ides of march -(Uni 4/Caprice)
★★★ johnny english reborn -(Caprice)
★★★★ moneyball -(Capitol)
★★½ the rum diary -(Capitol/SilverCity)
★★ the three musketeers -(SilverCity)
Imax
beavers -(daily: 10am, 2:00, 5:00; & adding noon for Fri., Sun., & Tues.-Thurs.) According to the ads, this is “the best dam movie” you’ll ever see about that iconic Canadian animal with the beautiful buck teeth.
★★★★ born to be wild -(11am, 4:00) 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 -(Fri. & Sun., 8:00; Sat. & Thurs., 6:00; Mon. & Wed., 7:00) 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.
sea–rex: journey to a prehistoric world -(Fri. & Sun., Tues.-Thurs.: 11am; 3:00 daily; Mon.-Wed., 6:00) In this adventure travel back millions of years to when amazing sea monsters ruled the seas.
the wildest dream: conquest of everest -(Fri. & Sun., 6 pm; Sat., 11am, 8 pm; Mon., 11am; Thurs., 8 pm) This 90 minute biopic stars Ralph Fiennes in the story of the first man to attempt to summit Mount Everest and, 80 years later, the climber who found his frozen body.
Screenings
Movie Monday – Screening Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone. Fans of indie music should enjoy this documentary about some real musical pioneers who have rocking at the edges of the cultural scene for 25 years. 6:30pm MONDAY in the 1900-block Fort. By donation. 595-FLIC. moviemonday.ca.
cultures of resistance -Social Justice Film Night presents this inspiring documentary by award-winning activist filmmaker Lara Lee, whose film portrays musicians and artists from 25 countries around the globe. THURSDAY, 7 pm, 2994 Douglas St. (BCGEU Hall).
the boy in the plastic bubble -The Superior Café has resumed its “cult classics” film series, and this week you can watch the young John Travolta star in the true-life tale of someone coping with a terribly deficient immune system. Screening starts at 8 pm. For dinner reservations call 250-380-9515. TUESDAY, 8 pm, 106 Superior St.
Cinecenta
Cinecenta at UVic screens its films in the Student Union Building. Info: 721-8365. cinecenta.com.
calendar -(Wed., Nov. 15: 7:15, 9:00) Dating from 1993, this quirky romantic drama from Atom Egoyan stars the director and his wife, Arsinée Khanjian.
diagnosing difference -(Thurs., Nov. 16: 7:00) Those interested in transgender issues will not want to miss this documentary look at how “gender-identity disorder” has become a controversial medical diagnosis.
★★½ our idiot brother -(Fri.-Sat., Nov. 17-18: 3:00, 7:10, 9:00) Paul Rudd stars in a slightly sour comedy about a naive man whose excessive idealism brings chaos into the flawed lives of his his three sisters.
★★★ footloose -(Fri.-Sat., Nov. 17-18: 11:00 only) 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.
even the rain -(Sun., Nov. 19: 3:00, 7:00, 9:00 & Mon., Nov. 20: 7:00, 9:00) The hit of the recent Latin American Film Fest, this Spanish drama stars Gael Garcia Bernal as a director who travels to Bolivia to make a period film but ends up in the middle of a very contemporary political uprising.
barakat! (enough!) -(Tues., Nov. 21: 7:15) Set amidst the Algerian civil war of the 1990s, this drama centres on the brave quest of two woman who go looking for a missing husband.
le havre -(Wed.-Thurs., Nov. 22-23: 7:00, 9:00) Critics and audiences alike have embraced the latest film from Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki (The Man Without a Past). Set in the port city of Le Havre, the story focuses on one of the many illegal African immigrants who move to Europe in search of a better life.
The Roxy
★★½ the rum diary -(7:00) 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.
paranormal activity 3 -(9:10) 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 drive -(12:30 matinee, Sat.-Sun.) 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).
★★★ footloose -(2:20, Sat.-Sun.) 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.
dolphin tale -(4:20, 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.
