Hannah Montana: The Movie (G)
1:00, 4:00
Land of the Lost (PG-13)
7:00, 10:00
Please call the info line for updated showtimes.
Bruno (R)
1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50
Ghostbusters (PG)
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. only
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (3-D) (PG)
12:40, 1:35, 2:50, 3:45, 5:00, 5:55, 7:10, 8:10, 9:30
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2-D) (PG)
1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50
My Sister’s Keeper (PG-13)
1:45, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian (PG)
1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:40
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (R)
1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:40
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13)
12:30, 1:30, 3:45, 4:45, 7:00, 8:00, 10:15
Up 3-D (PG)
12:30, 2:55, 5:20, 7:40, 9:55
Away We Go (R)
11:40, 2:15, 4:45, 7:50, 10:30
The Brothers Bloom (PG-13)
1:30, 7:05
Bruno (R)
12:00, 2:40, 5:05, 8:00, 10:40
Cheri (R)
11:10, 1:40, 4:20, 7:20, 9:45
Easy Virtue (PG-13)
11:10, 4:10, 9:50
The Hangover (R)
11:15, 1:45, 4:25, 7:35, 10:00
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (3-D) (PG)
11:30, 1:50, 4:15, 7:10, 9:30
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2-D) (PG)
11:55, 2:20, 4:55, 7:40, 10:10
I Love You, Beth Cooper (PG-13)
11:05. 2:10, 4:50, 7:30, 10:05
The Proposal (PG-13)
11:20, 1:55, 4:35, 7:25, 9:55
Public Enemies (R)
11:15, 2:35, 7:15, 10:20
Tranformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13)
11:00, 11:35, 2:30, 3:00, 7:00, 8:30, 10:15
Up (2-D) (PG)
11:50, 2:25, 5:00, 7:55, 10:10
Bruno (R)
12:30, 3:05, 6:15, 8:40, 10:50
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (PG)
Midnight (12:01) Tuesday July 14
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2-D) (PG)
12:05, 2:50, 5:45, 8:40, 10:55
The Proposal (PG-13)
12:15, 3:00, 5:55, 8:45, 11:20
Public Enemies (R)
11:45, 2:45, 6:00, 9:20
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13)
11:15, 2:35, 6:10, 9:30
Transformers: Rise of the Fallen (PG-13)
1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00
Bruno (R)
12:35, 2:50, 5:00, 7:20, 9:30
The Hangover (R)
2:10, 4:35, 7:30, 10:00
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (PG)
Midnight (12:01) Tuesday July 14
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (3-D) (PG)
12:55, 3:10, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2-D) (PG)
1:15, 3:40, 6:05, 8:20, 10:35
I Love You, Beth Cooper (PG-13)
1:55, 4:40, 7:10, 9:35
My Sister’s Keeper (PG-13)
1:00, 3:25, 6:00, 8:30
The Proposal (PG-13)
12:55, 3:25, 6:20, 8:50
Public Enemies (R)
12:45, 1:20, 3:35, 4:10, 6:25, 7:05, 9:15, 9:55
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13)
12:30, 1:05, 3:45, 4:45, 7:00, 8:00, 10:15
Up (2-D) (PG)
1:20, 3:35, 5:55, 8:15
Moon (R)
1:00, 4:00, 7:00, Late show Fri-Sat only 9:15
Whatever Works (PG-13)
1:20, 4:20, 7:20, Late show Fri-Sat 9:30
The Proposal (PG-13)
1:00 (Sat-Sun), 4:00, 7:00
Away We Go (R)
2:00, 4:40, 7:40, 10:10
The Hangover (R)
1:50, 5:00, 7:50, 10:15
I Love You, Beth Cooper (PG-13)
1:20, 4:10, 7:30, 9:55
The Proposal (PG-13)
1:40, 4:20, 7:20, 9:50
Public Enemies (R)
1:00, 1:30, 4:00, 4:30, 7:00, 8:00, 10:00
Star Trek (PG-13)
1:10, 7:10
Year One (PG-13)
4:50, 10:10
Movie articles
Cranky Hanke’s Screening Room: So many movies so little time
There are stacks of DVDs on my desk—several of them in fact. A few of them contain holdovers yet to be returned to the shelves from research needs, but the bulk of these stacks are movies I’ve purchased or been given that I intend to watch. The problem is finding—or making—the time to actually sit down and do that. I suspect that I am far from alone in this matter.
This was my third year as a judge, and as usual I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the entries, but then I’m impressed that anyone can create anything that’s even watchable in 48 hours—and most of these were much more than merely watchable.
Cranky Hanke’s Weekly Reeler July 8-14: Pause for quality
Maybe this would be a good week to take a break from the studio steamroller and spend some time with the surprising array of movies of, let’s say, slightly more depth that are in local theaters just now.
Pick of the Week:
Whatever Works (PG-13)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | 13 Comment(s)
Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Woody Allen
Starring: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley Jr., Henry Cavill, Chistopher Evan Welch
The Story: An aging curmudgeon finds his comfortable misery turned upside down when he takes in a young Southern beauty queen who has run away from her repressive parents.
The Lowdown: Prime Woody Allen—even vintage Woody Allen—with nonstop laughs and more than a little something on its mind.
Reviews:
Chéri (R)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | Comment here
Genre: Romance/Comedy/Drama
Directed by: Stephen Frears
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates, Rupert Friend, Felicity Jones, Frances Tomelty, Anita Pallenberg
The Story: A courtesan “of a certain age” and a young man more than 20 years her junior fall in love during the last days of the belle epoque.
The Lowdown: A sumptuous, assured and emotionally astute variation on the romantic comedy, with tragic developments and a keen sense of loss and the passing of time.
Every Little Step (PG-13)
Justin Souther | 07/08/2009 | Comment here
Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern (… So Goes the Nation)
Starring: Michael Bennett, Bob Avian, Jay Binder, Baayork Lee, Marvin Hamlisch
The Story: A documentary tracing the creation of the Broadway musical A Chorus Line, juxtaposed against modern-day auditions for a revival of the show.
The Lowdown: An occasionally engaging film that’s too often unfocused; it’s likely to achieve must-see status only for fans of the show.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG)
Justin Souther | 07/08/2009 | 2 Comment(s)
Genre: Animated Comedy/Adventure
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age: The Meltdown) and Mike Thurmeier
Starring: (Voices) Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Dennis Leary, John Leguizamo, Simon Pegg
The Story: The various prehistoric creatures of the Ice Age franchise return, this time only to stumble upon a world inhabited by dinosaurs.
The Lowdown: The worst kind of sequel, one with zero originality and zero effort, making this whole mess nothing more than one really expensive Saturday-morning cartoon.
Moon (R)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | 2 Comment(s)
Genre: Science Fiction/Drama
Directed by: Duncan Jones
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Dominique McElligott, Kevin Spacey (voice), Kaya Scodelario
The Story: Strange things start happening during the last days of a three-year contractee’s stint on a lunar mining base.
The Lowdown: Thoughtful, sober, wholly compelling science fiction of the kind not generally seen in modern film, with a standout performance from Sam Rockwell.
Public Enemies (R)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | 3 Comment(s)
Genre: Fact-Based Gangster Drama
Directed by: Michael Mann (Miami Vice)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Stephen Graham, Stephen Dorf
The Story: The story of “folk hero” bank robber John Dillinger and G-Man Melvin Purvis’ pursuit of the notorious criminal.
The Lowdown: The machine guns blaze, guys ride around on the running boards of cars, plus everything else you’d expect, but the film is just not as compelling as it ought to be in the end.
Special Showings
Bagdad Cafe (PG)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | Comment here
Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Percy Adlon
Starring: Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder, Jack Palance, Christine Kaufmann
Bagdad Cafe will be shown as part of the Wedge Brewing Company’s Outdoor Cinema series on Saturday, July 11, at 9 p.m. at 125-B Roberts St. in Asheville’s River Arts District.
The Killers (NR)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | 2 Comment(s)
Genre: Film Noir Crime/Drama
Directed by: Robert Siodmak
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Albert Dekker, Sam Levene
The Hendersonville Film Society will show The Killers at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville. (From Asheville, take I-26 to U.S. 64 West, turn right at the third light onto Thompson Street. Follow to the Lake Point Landing entrance and park in the lot on the left.)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | Comment here
Genre: Surrealist Fantasy/Drama
Directed by: Alain Resnais
Starring: Giorgio Albertazzi, Delphine Seyrig, Sacha Pitoëff, Françoise Bertin
Last Year at Marienbad, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, July 10, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.
Still Showing:
Away We Go (R)
Justin Souther | 07/01/2009 | Comment here
The Brothers Bloom (PG-13)
Ken Hanke | 06/03/2009 | 6 Comment(s)
Chéri (R)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | Comment here
Easy Virtue (PG-13)
Ken Hanke | 06/17/2009 | 2 Comment(s)
The Hangover (R)
Justin Souther | 06/10/2009 | Comment here
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG)
Justin Souther | 07/08/2009 | 2 Comment(s)
Moon (R)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | 2 Comment(s)
My Sister’s Keeper (PG-13)
Ken Hanke | 07/01/2009 | 6 Comment(s)
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (PG)
Ken Hanke | 05/27/2009 | 5 Comment(s)
The Proposal (PG-13)
Ken Hanke | 06/24/2009 | 4 Comment(s)
Public Enemies (R)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | 3 Comment(s)
Star Trek (PG-13)
Ken Hanke | 05/13/2009 | 29 Comment(s)
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (R)
Ken Hanke | 06/17/2009 | 17 Comment(s)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13)
Ken Hanke | 07/01/2009 | 55 Comment(s)
Up (PG)
Ken Hanke | 05/27/2009 | 30 Comment(s)
Whatever Works (PG-13)
Ken Hanke | 07/08/2009 | 13 Comment(s)
Year One (PG-13)
Justin Souther | 06/24/2009 | Comment here
Upcomers
Starts Friday
Brüno
Sacha Baron Cohen is back to frighten the horses—and a few straight boys—with Brüno, a raunchy comedy that works on the same basic premise as his previous film Borat. Once again we’re confronted with an outrageous character flaunting his outrageousness Candid Camera-style in the faces of unsuspecting targets. The difference is that this is not simply some “backwards foreigner,” but an over-the-top gay Austrian. Early reviews suggest that the response to this effort may be a little less enthusiastic due to the subject matter. (R)
Early review samples:
• “If the latest Sacha Baron Cohen provocation, Brüno, seems less sadistic than Borat, it’s because wagging one’s gay butt in the face of potentially violent homophobes is not just aggressive, it’s borderline suicidal.” (David Denby, New York Magazine)
• “Brüno is like Milk, but with a talking penis.” (Nick Schager, Slant Magazine)
Chéri
See review in “Cranky Hanke.”
I Love You, Beth Cooper
Chris Columbus has been away from the director’s chair since 2005’s Rent, which may well be why he’s been away from the director’s chair. He’s back now in his original milieu: the teen comedy. Now, before you sneer and jeer at the two-time Harry Potter helmer, it’s as well to remember that his 1987 debut picture, Adventures in Babysitting, was actually pretty good. Whether this tale of a nerdy class valedictorian (Paul Rust, Semi-Pro)—who blurts out his love for the hottest girl in school, Beth Cooper (Hayden Pantierre, TV’s Heroes), in his graduation speech, only to find her intending to show him the “best night of his life”—will be in that league is another matter. One thing’s for sure—the studio hasn’t let any critics look at it yet. (PG-13)
Moon
See review in “Cranky Hanke.”
