LISTINGS/SCREEN VIDIOT/SCREEN
(Anthony Hopkins) and brother’s fiancee (Emily Blunt), Talbot becomes entrenched in the world of the beast. Hugo Weaving also stars as a suspicious and finely mustached Scotland Yard inspector. (R) Edwards 9, Edwards 22 *MOVIES LISTED AS OPENING ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FANDANGO’S MOST UPDATED INFORMATION AS OF PRESS TIME.
continuing ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL—Alvin, Simon and Theodore return to school to save the struggling music program by winning $25,000 in a music competition. (PG) Edwards 22
“I am Spartacus ... sort of.”
ROMAN FORTUNE TO FAVOR THE OLD WITH SPARTACUS REHASH? Many of the silver screen’s most famous stars—both in front of and behind the camera—have been involved in Roman entertainment offerings: Charlton Heston, Elizabeth Taylor, Kirk Douglas, Russell Crowe, Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott, Frank Miller are just a few. Heck, even Shakespeare couldn’t resist the appeal of those crazy ancient Italians. And if Rome means popularity, why shouldn’t Starz, long considered the weakest of the premium movie channels, cash in on the phenomenon, too—while at the same time creating competition for rivals HBO and Showtime? The answer: no reason at all, of course. In January, Starz unveiled what might become the jewel of its network, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. With mountains of special effects yet few famous actors in play, 2010’s version of the slave-turned-gladiator story seems only vaguely reminiscent of the 184-minute epic of 1960. Gone are the nuanced performance by Douglas and the subtle camera angles of director Kubrick. Instead, viewers are treated to crazed combat, salacious sex scenes and massive muscles at every turn. If any more advance notice were needed, the show’s opening even comes with a disclaimer, above and beyond the TV-MA rating and gamut of standard content warnings (AC, AL, GV, N, SC): “Spartacus depicts extreme sensuality, brutality and language that some viewers may find objectionable.” In my experience, programs with the most explicit warnings beforehand usually garner the most viewership. I won’t be surprised if Spartacus follows suit. Just getting past the in-your-face gratuitousness of it all (which is quite a task, mind you), the show seems like a surefire winner. The acting is quality; the storyline, though clearly plucked from history and other films, is appealing; and the heavily computer-enhanced expositions land about halfway between the backdrops of Gladiator (2000) and 300 (2006). Gladiator school headmaster Batiatus (a role that garnered Peter Ustinov an Oscar in 1961) and his wife are played by John Hannah (The Mummy) and Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) respectively. Happily, though, Spartacus and Mrs. Spartacus—and the gladiators and Romans around them— are mostly unknowns. (I truly hate when an otherwise good TV show or movie forces a famous face into the lead role.) The Starz channel programming may lag behind its competitors, but by latching onto the seemingly universally popular Roman theme, it may also escape irrelevance quite soon. And with the “intensity of the content” Spartacus offers, I’m betting subscribers will be tuning in, in great numbers, even if it’s just to see what the fuss is about. —Travis Estvold WWW. B OISEWEEKLY.C O M
A SINGLE MAN—The 1960s-era story follows a single day in the life of gay British professor George Falconer (Colin Firth) after his long-time companion dies. With production design by the Mad Men team matched with Ford’s meticulous eye for beauty, A Single Man is a visual and emotional stunner. (R) Flicks AN EDUCATION—A romantic drama about falling hard in young love. (PG-13) Edwards 22 AVATAR—James Cameron (Aliens, Titanic) is back as both director and writer of this 3D, graphically gorgeous sci-fi flick. Paraplegic war vet Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is sent to the planet Pandora to make contact with the planet’s natives, the Na’vi, through an avatar. Hopefully his avatar can also help stem the rising conflict between the humans and the Na’vi. Critics are calling this one “jaw-dropping,” “mind-blowing” and “the most dazzling film of the decade,” ... and they aren’t just talking about the $400 million price tag. (PG-13) Edwards 9, Edwards 22, Edwards Digital 3-D, Edwards IMAX BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS— Arthouse director Werner Herzog brings to life the story of New Orleans police sergeant Terence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage) who injured his back while saving a life during Hurricane Katrina. Pain medication leads McDonagh down a path of addiction, until he finds himself wrapped up with notorious drug dealer Big Fate. This formerly good lieutenant quickly turns terrifyingly bad. (R) Flicks Ends Thursday THE BLIND SIDE—This film tracks the story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a homeless African American high-school student who was taken in by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and her wealthy white family. Oher goes on to academic success and an NFL football career. (PG13) Edwards 9, Edwards 22 THE BOOK OF ELI—The Book of Eli follows Eli (Denzel Washington) on his trek across the wasteland that once was America. Driven by his hope for the future, Eli serves up some serious ass-kicking, putting members of murderous gangs in their place. But Carnegie (Gary Oldman), the ruler of a makeshift town of thieves, wants desperately to stop him. (R) Edwards 9, Edwards 22 CRAZY HEART—I’m Bad Blake; my tombstone will have my real
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