Opening 2/3/2012

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

 
Big Miracle [PG] 1 hr. 47 min. Family adventure Watch Preview Cast: Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell, Dermot Mulroney, Tim Blake Nelson, Ted Danson. Plot: a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and a Greenpeace volunteer (Drew Barrymore) are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.Showing at:  Northrock 14, Warren East,  Warren West.

Chronicle [PG-13] 1 hr. 25 min. Sci-Fi drama Watch Preview Cast: Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, Alex Russell, Michael Kelly. Plot: three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to them developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Woman In Black [PG-13] 1 hr. 37 min. Horror Watch Preview Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Liz White, Janet McTeer, Alisa Khazanova, Tim McMullan, Roger Allam, Daniel Cerqueira, Shaun Dooley, Mary Stockley, Cathy Sara, David Burke, Victor McGuire, Lucy May Barker. Plot: a young lawyer (Radcliffe), is ordered to travel to a remote village and sort out a recently deceased client's papers. As he works alone in the client's isolated house, he begins to uncover tragic secrets, his unease growing when he glimpses a mysterious woman dressed only in black. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 2/2/2012

Derby Plaza - Underworld Awakening, Joyful Noise
Movie Machine - Joyful Noise, Chip-Wrecked
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - The Sitter, Moneyball
Starlite Drive-In - Closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - We Bought A Zoo, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Warren Old Town - Contraband, Sherlock Holmes, Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close
Warren West 21st - We Bought A Zoo, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Devil Inside

Man On A Ledge **

Asger Leth directed this Crime/Thriller. Watch Preview. Cast: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Edward Burns, Titus Welliver, Genesis Rodriguez, Kyra Sedgwick. Rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language. Running time is one hour and forty-two minutes.

An ex-cop and now wanted fugitive (Worthington) stands on the ledge of a high-rise building while a hard-living New York Police Department hostage negotiator (Banks) tries to talk him down. The longer they are on the ledge, the more she realizes he might have an ulterior objective.

A good cast with a cookie-cutter plot makes for an entertaining but instantly forgettable film. I've always liked Banks and think she always comes across well on screen. But even though she and the rest of the cast are fine, the real star is the ledge high atop the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. According to Banks, they were really out on the ledge, with wires providing security. Those with acrophobia  may want to consider twice before watching this one as some of the scenes will  have acrophobia sufferers closing their eyes. There's a little plot twist at the end but it really doesn't effect the show much.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen should put your fear of heights into full gear. Theatres/Times.

Albert Nobbs **½

 Rodrigo García  directed this Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Brendan Gleeson, Janet McTeer, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Pauline Collins, Brenda Fricker. Rated R for some sexuality, brief nudity and language. Running time is one hour and fifty-three minutes.

A woman (Close) passes as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men's clothing, she gains a new perspective and discovers new possibilities after meeting and befriending Hubert (McTeer), a painter with whom she's asked to share a bedroom.

Close has been trying to get this movie made since first playing the character on stage in the '80s. I can certainly see why an actress of her talent would want to do so. But as a viewer I've got to tell you this film isn't in the least entertaining. It is very interesting and will provide you with a lot to think about afterwards but don't think of it as a pleasant two hours at the movies. What I found most interesting was the life of the average person in this era; a time without a social safety net or retirement or healthcare or unemployment or anything else that makes our lives a little less frightening. Only when you consider those facts do you have any understanding of Close's character, a woman so afraid she's become absolutely submissive. Meeting Hubert (McTeer), a much more interesting character, is a real eye-opener to her. Both Close and McTeer have been nominated for and are winning awards for their roles and that fact alone should encourage you to think about seeing this.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. The size of the screen/auditorium will make no difference when viewing this film. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not), 1/27/2012

MetaCritic indicates A DANGEROUS METHOD (76) is the best movie this week, followed by THE GREY (63), ALBERT NOBBS (57) and MAN ON A LEDGE (41). ONE FOR THE MONEY has no rating at this time which means it wasn't screened (not good, folks). My recommendation is for fans of movies to see A DANGEROUS METHOD or ALBERT NOBBS and action fans to see MAN ON A LEDGE. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

Check out Monday's Opening section to see the previews and synopses.

My reviews of MAN ON A LEDGE, ALBERT NOBBS and THE ARTIST will be posted at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Until then, here are national reviews of all the films.

USA Today review of  ALBERT NOBBS.
James Berardinelli review of A DANGEROUS METHOD..
Philadelphia Inquirer review of  THE GREY.
Roger Ebert review of  MAN ON A LEDGE.
The Globe And Mail review of  ONE FOR THE MONEY.

Opening 1/27/2012

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Albert Nobbs [R] 1 hr. 53 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Johnson, Brendan Gleeson, Janet McTeer, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Pauline Collins, Brenda Fricker. Plot: a woman (Close) passes as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men's clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making. Showing at:  Warren East.

A Dangerous Method [R] 1 hr. 39 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast:  Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortenson, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel. Plot: a glimpse into the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung (Fassbender), his mentor Sigmund Freud (Mortenson) and Sabina Spielrein (Knightley), the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them. Showing at:  Warren East.

The Grey [R] 1 hr. 57 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson, James Badge Dale, Nonso Anozie. Plot: a man (Neeson) leads an unruly group of oil-rig roughnecks when their plane crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness. The survivors have only a few days to escape the icy elements – and a vicious pack of rogue wolves on the hunt. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Man On A Ledge [PG-13] 1 hr. 42 min. Crime/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Edward Burns, Titus Welliver, Genesis Rodriguez, Kyra Sedgwick. Plot: an ex-cop and now wanted fugitive (Worthington) stands on the ledge of a high-rise building while a hard-living New York Police Department hostage negotiator (Banks) tries to talk him down. The longer they are on the ledge, the more she realizes that he might have an ulterior objective. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

One For The Money [PG-13 1 hr. 31 min. Action/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguiziamo, Debbie Reynolds, Debra Monk. Plot: desperate for some fast cash, a woman (Heigl) turns to her last resort: convincing her sleazy cousin to give her a job at his bail bonding company... as a recovery agent. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 1/26/2012

Derby Plaza - Beauty And The Beast, Sherlock Holmes, War  Horse, We Bought A Zoo
Movie Machine - MI: Ghost Protocol, We Bought A Zoo, Sherlock Holmes
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Immortals, Courageous
Starlite Drive-In - Closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - Carnage, Alvin: Chipwrecked, Twilight: Breaking Dawn I, New Year's Eve, Adventures Of Tintin, The  Devil Inside, Contraband
Warren Old Town - Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Warren West 21st - Adventures Of Tintin, Tinker,Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Underworld Awakening **½

Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein directed this Horror Thriller. Watch Preview Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley, Charles Dance. Rated R for strong violence and gore, and for some language. Running time is one hour and twenty-eight minutes.

The vampire warrioress Selene (Beckinsale), escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and have conducted an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.

Fans of this series will find a lot to like this time around. I think this is the best of the series and there is obviously going to be another, so we have that to look forward to. If you're not into the vampire/lycan tales this film isn't going to change your mind. But action fans who enjoy this particular genre or just like lots of action in general should be well satisfied. The cast is fine and production values are very good, especially the cgi effects. I watched the 2D version but I could see where there could be some pretty impressive 3D scenes.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen with good sound will enhance the enjoyability of this film. 2D Theatres/Times. 3D Theatres/Times. IMAX 3D Times.

Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close **

Stephen Daldry diewcted this Drama. Watch Preview Cast: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Caldwell. Rated PG-13 for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images, and language. Running time is one hour and twenty-nine minutes.

Adapted from the acclaimed bestseller by Jonathan Safran Foer: a story that unfolds from inside the young mind of Oskar Schell (Horn), an inventive eleven year-old New Yorker whose discovery of a key in his deceased father's (Hanks) belongings sets him off on an urgent search across the city for the lock it will open.

If you see a rave review about this film it will be because of the quality of the cast and not the entertainment value of the film. For me, seeing this was like watching paint dry while listening to long fingernails on a blackboard. In other words, boring and painful. The ending is good but in no way did it offset the other two hours I suffered through. My wife thought the ending made the film worth while but I simply can't agree with that. The acting is fine and especially that of young Thomas Horn. But his character is one I simply couldn't bring myself to care about and that's the kiss of  death for a film, especially one that's two and a half hours long. Women will like this better than men but in either case I think there are better, more enjoyable ways to spend time.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A large screen adds nothing to your appreciation. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not), 1/20/2012

MetaCritic indicates THE ARTIST (89) is the best movie this week, followed by HAYWIRE (66), EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE (46) and RED TAILS (45). UNDERWORLD AWAKENING has no rating at this time but that's  not as bad as usual. I watched two of this week's new films and was disappointed with one I thought would be better than it was. My recommendation is for fans of movies to see THE ARTIST and action fans to see HAYWIRE or UNDERWORLD AWAKENING. If none of those do anything for you wait until next week. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

Check out Monday's Opening section to see the previews and synopses.

My reviews of EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE (**) and UNDERWORLD AWAKENING (**½) will be posted at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Until then, here are national reviews of all the films.

James Berardinelli review of  THE ARTIST.
Movie Line review of EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE.
USA Today review of  HAYWIRE.
Chicago Tribune review of  RED TAILS.
Dread Central review of UNDERWORLD AWAKENING.

Opening 1/20/2012

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

The Artist [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Romance Watch Preview Cast: Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, Malcolm McDowell, John Goodman, Missi Pyle, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller. Plot: a silent movie superstar's (Jean Dujardin) career ends with the advent of "the talkies" but major movie stardom awaits a young extra (Berenice Bejo). Showing at:  Warren East.

Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close [PG-13] 1 hr. 29 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Caldwell. Plot: adapted from the acclaimed bestseller by Jonathan Safran Foer: a story that unfolds from inside the young mind of Oskar Schell (Horn), an inventive eleven year-old New Yorker whose discovery of a key in his deceased father's (Hanks) belongings sets him off on an urgent search across the city for the lock it will open. Showing at:  Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Haywire [R] 1 hr. 33 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Gina Carano, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Michael Douglas, Michael Angarano. Plot: a female covert ops specialist (Carano), who works in the deadly world of international operatives, strikes back after discovering she's been double-crossed by someone close to her in the agency. Showing at:  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

Red Tails [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. War Drama Watch Preview Cast: Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston, Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Tristan Wilds, Cliff Smith, Kevin Phillips, Rick Otto, Lee Tergesen, Andre Royo, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, Marcus T. Paulk, Leslie Odom Jr., Michael B. Jordan, Jazmine Sullivan, Edwina Finley, Daniela Ruah, Stacie Davis, Gerald McRaney. Plot: against all odds, with something to prove and everything to lose, intrepid young African American airmen in WWII take to the skies in a heroic endeavor to combat the enemy – and the discrimination that has kept them down for so long. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Underworld Awakening 2D/3D/IMAX 3D [R] 1 hr. 20 Min. Horror Watch Preview Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley, Charles Dance. Plot: the vampire warrioress Selene Beckinsale), escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving, 1/19/12

Derby Plaza - Alvin: Chip-wrecked, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - nothing
Starlite Drive-In - Closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - The Adventures Of Tintin, The Darkest Hour, My Week With Marilyn
Warren Old Town - War Horse, We Bought A Zoo, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Warren West 21st - New Year's Eve, The Darkest Hour, Twilight: Breaking Dawn

Contraband **

Baltasar Kormákur  directed this Action film. Watch Preview. Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Caleb Landry Jones, Lukas Haas, Diego Luna, J.K. Simmons. Rated R for violence, pervasive language and brief drug use. Running time is one hour and fifty-minutes.

A man (Wahlberg) who long ago abandoned a life of crime, is forced back into doing what he does best--running contraband--to settle his brother-in-law's (Jones) debt and protect his wife (Beckinsale) and children.

This was much as I expected. A cookie cutter plot with no thinking required, although there is a plot twist I wasn't expecting.. Since I was in the mood for something like that I enjoyed this film. The cast is fine in this remake of an Icelandic film, directed by the star of the original. Production values are acceptable if not outstanding. Action and violence fans should be satisfied but this isn't much of a date or couples movie.

There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. A big screen isn't absolutely necessary although there are several scenes that would benefit from one. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not), 1/13/2012

MetaCritic indicates CARNAGE (60) is the best movie this week, followed by THE IRON LADY (54), CONTRABAND (53) and JOYFUL NOISE (45). The new release of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in 3D has no rating at this time. I watched one of this week's new films and it was pretty much as expected. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

Check out Monday's Opening section to see the previews and synopses.

My review of CONTRABAND (**) will be posted at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Until then, here are national reviews of all the films.

Huffington Post review of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D.
USA Today review of CARNAGE.
James Berardinelli review of CONTRABAND.
Roger Ebert review of THE IRON LADY.
Roger Moore review of JOYFUL NOISE.

Opening 1/13/2012

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Beauty And The Beast 3D [G] 1 hr. 25 min. Animated Family Watch Preview Voices of: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, Angela Lansbury, Bradley Pierce, Rex Everhart, Jesse Corti, Hal Smith, Jo Anne Worley. Plot: initially released in 1991, this classic follows the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman imprisoned in the castle of a mysterious beast and his enchanted staff, who must learn the most important lesson of all – that true beauty comes from within. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Warren East, Warren West.

Carnage [R] 1 hr. 19 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly. Plot: two pairs of parents one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos.  Showing at:  Warren East.

Contraband [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Action Watch Preview Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Caleb Landry Jones, Lukas Haas, Diego Luna, J.K. Simmons. Plot: a man (Wahlberg) who long ago abandoned a life of crime, is forced back into doing what he does best--running contraband--to settle his brother-in-law's (Jones) debt. Showing at:  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

The Iron Lady [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Biographical drama Watch Preview Cast: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Alexandra Roach, Harry Lloy, Olivia Colman, Nicholas Farrell, Susan Brown, Roger Allam, Anthony Head, Julian Wadham, Pip Torrens, Nick Dunning, Richard E Grant, David Westhead, Angus Wright, John Sessions. Plot: an intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), the first and only female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Showing at: Warren East.

Joyful Noise [PG-13] 1 hr. 58 min. Musical Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Courtney B. Vance, Jeremy Jordan, Kris Kristofferson. Plot: a small Georgia town counts on the Divinity Church Choir to lift their spirits by winning the National Joyful Noise Competition. But the new choir director (Latifah) and a fiery member (Parton) disagree on how to accomplish it. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 1/12/2012

Derby Plaza - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Adventures Of Tintin
Movie Machine -Adventures Of Tintin
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Moneyball, Abduction, Footloose
Starlite Drive-In - Closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - Hugo, The Muppets, Young Adult
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - The Muppets, Young Adult

Tinker,Tailor, Soldier, Spy **½

Tomas Alfredson directed this Spy Drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Gary Oldman, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Svetlana Khodchenko. Rated R for violence, some sexuality/nudity and language. Running time is two hours and seven minutes.

The long-awaited feature film version of John le Carré's classic bestselling espionage novel about the search for a Russian mole in the British Intelligence Service by a disgraced, retired, former agent (Oldman).

I still remember quite fondly the 1979 five hour television series created from this novel, starring Alec Guinness. Perhaps that's colored my feelings about this version. While I liked this one, the former was much better in my opinion. This movie version features a stellar cast of British stalwarts and excellent production values. But I'm guessing most American audiences will find this very slow going and will be furtively looking at their watches before it's over. It's very likely this is going to win several awards but I doubt older audiences will find it 'entertaining' and younger audiences will simply not be interested.

The size of the theatre will not  be important to your appreciation of this film. There are no additional scenes once the final credits begin. 

Worthwhile (or not), 1/6/2012

MetaCritic indicates TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (86) is the best movie this week. THE DEVIL INSIDE has not been rated, which usually means it wasn't screened for critics, and that's almost never good news. I watched one of this week's new films. Check out the MetaCritic website for additional comments on each film.

Check out Monday's Opening section to see the previews and synopses.

My review of TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (**½) will be posted at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Until then, here are national reviews of all the films.

Entertainment Weekly review of  TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY
Variety review of THE DEVIL INSIDE.

Opening 1/6/2012

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

The Devil Inside [R] 1 hr. 28 min. Horror Watch Preview Cast: Fernanda Andrade, Isabella Rossi, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth, Ionut Grama, Suzan Crowley, Bonnie Morgan, Brian Johnson, Preston James Hillier, D.T. Carney. Plot: a daughter (Fernanda Andrade) seeks to understand whether her mother is mentally ill or demonically possessed. When she recruits two young exorcists (Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth) to cure her mom, they come face-to-face with pure evil in the form of four powerful demons. Showing at:  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

Tinker,Tailor, Soldier, Spy [R] 2 hrs. 8 min. Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Gary Oldman, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Svetlana Khodchenko. Plot: the long-awaited feature film version of John le Carré's classic bestselling espionage novel about the search for a Russian mole in the British Intelligence Service. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 1/5/2012

Derby Plaza - nothing
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 -
Palace West -Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
Starlite Drive-In - Closed for the winter
Warren East 13th - Arthur Christmas, The Sitter
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Arthur Christmas, The Sitter