The weekly rundown: by Shane Smith
don't miss:
Volver I'm not a big fan of Almodovar or Penelope, but this is a good one. Landmark Sunshine (NYC)
don't bother:
Music and Lyrics Hugh and Drew compete for Most Cloying Performance of the Year. cute soundtrack, though
now showing:
300: The IMAX Experience I'm including this one against my better judgment because it looks so delicious. AMC Loews Lincoln Square (NYC)
*NEW* After the Wedding strong performances elevate this danish melodrama. Angelika (NYC), Lincoln Plaza (NYC)
Air Guitar Nation yes, it's a competitive sport; yes, someone made a doc about it. CC Village East (NYC)
American Cannibal fictional(?) doc about reality(?) teevee. Cinema Village (NYC)
Avenue Montaigne comedy of manners set in the City of Lights. Clearview Clairidge (Montclair), Lincoln Plaza (NYC), Quad Cinema (NYC)
Black Snake Moan Christina Ricci + amazing ad campaign + killer soundtrack + thin plot = FUN! AMC Loews Village (NYC)
Blessed by Fire
war is hell in the Falklands Malvinas Falklands. Two Boots (NYC)
Breach average hollywood psych thriller with above-average cast. AMC Loews 84th Street (NYC), Clearview Chelsea (NYC), Clearview Millburn ( Millburn), Regal Union Square (NYC)
Bridge to Terabithia Gabor Csupo's live-action debut, big-screen must. AMC Clifton Commons (Clifton), AMC Loews Wayne (Wayne)
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)
Color Me Kubrick John Malkovich is sure to entertain playing a Stanley Kubrick impersonator. IFC Center (NYC)
*NEW* Day Night Day Night gripping account of a 19-year-old girl as she prepares to be a suicide bomber in Times Square. Museum of Modern Art (NYC), Walter Reade (NYC)
First Snow noir is the new black. Landmark Sunshine (NYC)
*NEW* The Great World of Sound the toll on the highway to fame is more than 35ยข. Walter Reade (NYC)
*NEW* The Hoax Richard Gere keeps it real playing a con artist. AMC Clifton Commons (Clifton), AMC Empire (NYC), AMC Loews Lincoln Square (NYC), Regal Union Square (NYC)
The Host this korean creature feature was the talk of Cannes. Clearview Chelsea (NYC), Clearview 62nd and Broadway (NYC), Landmark Sunshine (NYC)
Into Great Silence less is more. Film Forum (NYC)
The 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. Clearview Chelsea West (NYC)
The Lives of Others unsentimental german political drama. Angelika (NYC), Clearview Chelsea (NYC), Clearview South Orange (South Orange), Lincoln Plaza (NYC)
*NEW* The Lookout the kid from "3rd Rock" grows up and gets genre. AMC Clifton Commons (Clifton), AMC Empire (NYC), AMC Loews 19th Street (NYC), AMC Loews 34th Street (NYC), AMC Loews Jersey Gardens (Elizabeth), AMC Loews Kips Bay (NYC), AMC Loews Lincoln Square (NYC), AMC Loews Plaza (Secaucus), AMC Loews Village (NYC), AMC Loews Wayne (Wayne), Clearview Clairidge (Montclair), Maplewood Theaters (Maplewood), Regal Battery Park (NYC)
The Namesake safe but beautifully shot generational drama with great performances (including that hottie from Harold and Kumar). AMC Empire (NYC), AMC Loews Kips Bay (NYC), Angelika (NYC), Clearview Chelsea (NYC), Clearview Clairidge (Montclair), Maplewood Theaters (Maplewood)
Notes on a Scandal Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett tear it up. CC Village East (NYC)
Offside never seen an iranian satire about women soccer players? here's your chance! Quad Cinema (NYC)
*NEW* Padre Nuestro strong debut from Christopher Zalla, worth a look. Walter Reade (NYC)
The Page Turner tight little french thriller about tight little french people. Angelika (NYC), Lincoln Plaza (NYC)
Pan's Labyrinth visually breathtaking fairy tale for adults. AMC Loews 19th Street (NYC), AMC Loews Lincoln Square (NYC), Clearview Millburn (Millburn), Landmark Sunshine (NYC)
The Prisoner chilling doc about Abu Ghraib. Cinema Village (NYC)
*NEW* Sacco and Vanzetti a solid doc about those guys you vaguely remember from 7th-grade history class. Quad Cinema (NYC)
TMNT not recommended, but I have to mention it since it's playing at the same theater where I saw the original all those years ago. Williams Center (Rutherford)
*NEW* U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha south african adaptation of Bizet's Carmen. Film Forum (NYC)
The Wind That Shakes the Barley they make seasonal movies for St. Paddy's now? Clearview Clairidge (Montclair), IFC Center (NYC)
Zodiac another solid thriller from David Fincher. AMC Empire (NYC), AMC Loews 19th Street (NYC), AMC Loews 34th Street (NYC), AMC Loews Kips Bay (NYC), AMC Loews Lincoln Square (NYC), CC Village East (NYC), Hudson Cinemas (Jersey City), Regal Battery Park (NYC)
delightful dusties:
Cobra Verde (1987) Werner Herzog's tale of a brazilian ne'er-do-well's bid to make it big in the slave trade. IFC Center (NYC)
Killer of Sheep (1977) seminal indie treasure or overrated student film? only one way to find out! IFC Center (NYC)
Sweater Girl (1942) musical murder mystery from the guy who directed Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase. whaddaya mean you never saw Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase? Film Forum (NYC)
Ugetsu (1953) Mizoguchi's classic is frequently called one of the greatest films of all time. IFC Center (NYC)
the saturday midnight shows:
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) underrated stoner classic. Landmark Sunshine (NYC)
Mulholland Dr. (2001) they retired Naomi Watts' jersey after this one. IFC Center (NYC)
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) may the time warp never end. Clearview Bellevue (Montclair), Clearview Chelsea (NYC)
cheap seats! $2 all shows Columbia Park 12 (North Bergen)
Blood Diamond Leo vs Genocide!
Happy Feet dancing penguins!
Volver??? Penelope Cruz??? Why don't you just ask me to watch season one of Top Chef?!
Posted by: Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg | 03/30/2007 at 08:16 PM
Oh come on!!! We are talking about one of the most embracing last year's performance, served with the sexiest appearance and signed by the hand of a man, whose name is a school. Have you even watched that film? *new debate arises*
Posted by: NIGHTDREAMER | 03/31/2007 at 12:12 AM
There's no doubt it's a beautiful film, and Pedro managed to squeeze an exquisite performance out of Penelope, who is normally so busy being skinny and lovely and impressed with herself that she never gets around to acting. This includes her performance in Todo sobre mi madre, so there must be another variable here besides Almodovar - maybe it was the butt prosthesis?
As wonderful as Penelope is in this role, the real joys of the movie are Carmen Maura and Blanca Portillo, who steal the show with stellar supporting performances (par for the course with Almodovar), and Estrella Morente, who provides Penelope's singing voice.
Posted by: Shane Smith | 03/31/2007 at 12:35 PM