MOTUS IMAGO: THE FILM USER'S GUIDE

Editors' note: A new feature today at City Belt is Shane Smith's weekly rundown of what's playing in the theaters around our area. Short & sweet, it's our weekly film user's guide.

don't miss
The Queen: the film is awesome, Helen Mirren is better CC Village East (NYC)
Volver: I'm not a big fan of Almodovar or Penelope, but this is a good one Landmark Sunshine (NYC)

don't bother
Babel: really speaks to you if you happen to be experiencing culture shock when you see it, otherwise it's pretty flat
Music and Lyrics: Hugh and Drew try to outdo each other for Most Cloying Performance of the Year. cute soundtrack, though

now showing

Air Guitar Nation: yes, it's a sport; yes, someone made a doc about it Angelika (NYC)

American Cannibal: fictional(?) doc about reality(?) teevee Cinema Village (NYC)

Avenue Montaigne: comedy of manners set in the City of Lights

Black Snake Moan: Christina Ricci + amazing ad campaign + killer soundtrack + thin plot = FUN
*new* Blessed by Fire: war is hell in the Falklands Malvinas Falklands Two Boots (NYC)

Blockade: a delightful dusty Film Forum (NYC)
Breach: average hollywood psych thriller with above-average cast (Laura Linney, Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe)
Bridge to Terabithia: Gabor Csupo's live-action debut, big-screen must
Cats of Mirikitani: very well-reviewed doc, get it while it lasts Cinema Village (NYC)
Children of Men: Alfonso Cuaron's cautionary thriller set in the future CC Village East (NYC)
Cobra Verde: Werner Herzog's tale of a brazilian ne'er-do-well's bid to make it big in the slave trade IFC Center (NYC)

*new* Color Me Kubrick: John Malkovich is sure to entertain playing a Stanley Kubrick impersonator IFC Center (NYC)

The Departed: I really need to see this one Quad Cinema (NYC)
The Earrings of Madame de...: a Max Ophuls classic Film Forum (NYC)
Eklavya: bollywood gem Cine Plaza at Columbia Park (North Bergen)
*new* First Snow: noir is the new black Landmark Sunshine (NYC)

Glue: argentine hormones Walter Reade (NYC)

The Host: this korean creature feature was the talk of Cannes AMC Empire (NYC)
Into Great Silence: less is more Film Forum (NYC)
Last King of Scotland: Forest Whitaker's game eye gives the performance of a lifetime Clearview Chelsea (NYC)
Little Children: Todd Field's latest tale of suburban misery Maplewood Theaters (Maplewood), Clearview Chelsea (NYC)
The Lives of Others: unsentimental german political drama Clearview South Orange (South Orange), multiple NYC
The Namesake: safe but beautifully shot generational drama with great performances Clearview Clairidge (Montclair), multiple NYC
Notes on a Scandal: Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett tear it up CC Village East (NYC)
*new* Offside: never seen an iranian satire about women soccer players? here's your chance!

On the Bowery: Skid Row, with no hipsters in sight (except maybe GG Allin) Anthology Film Archives (NYC)

*new* Once: irish musical that won the one of the Audience Awards at Sundance Walter Reade (NYC)

*new* The Page Turner: tight little french thriller about tight little french people

Pan's Labyrinth: visually breathtaking fairy tale for adults Clearview Millburn (Millburn), multiple NYC
*new* The Prisoner: chilling doc about Abu Ghraib Cinema Village (NYC)

Roving Mars: IMAX! cute anthropomorphized robots! IMAX! Museum of Natural History (NYC)

*new* Starter for 10: witty John Hughes-style comedy, with James McAvoy doing his best Hugh Grant AMC Loews Village (NYC)

The Wind That Shakes the Barley: they make seasonal movies for St Paddy's now? Clearview Clairidge (Montclair), multiple NYC
Zodiac: another solid thriller from David Fincher

the saturday midnight shows
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: go for the nostalgia; stay for the Luke IFC Center (NYC)

Rocky Horror Picture Show: grab your tp and your favorite tranny Clearview Chelsea (NYC)

Spice World: no, I didn't make that up! how could I make that up? Landmark Sunshine (NYC)

cheap seats! Columbia Park 12 (North Bergen) $2 all shows
Blood Diamond: Leo vs Genocide!
Charlotte's Web: Dakota vs the Academy!

Happy Feet: dancing penguins!

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