LISTINGS/SCREEN Special Screenings
SCREEN/THE BIG SCREEN
IS SHE OR ISN’T SHE BOISE CLASSIC MOVIES: REAR WINDOW—See story, Page 35. Thursday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m. $9 adv., $11 door. Egyptian Theatre, 700 W. Main St., Boise, 208-345-0454, egyptiantheatre.net. EVIL WINE SHOW—Check out the debauchery of the Evil Wine Show’s season two, episode six. Monday, Aug. 20, 9:30 p.m. FREE. The Red Room Tavern, 1519 W. Main St., Boise, 208-331-0956, redroomboise.com. GUILTY PLEASURES—See story, Page 35. Wednesday, Aug. 22, 7-9 p.m. $15. The Flicks, 646 Fulton St., Boise, 208-342-4222, theflicksboise.com. MOVIES FOR A CAUSE: MAMMA MIA—Join the Caldwell Wildcats for a movie in the park in support of Special Olympics Idaho. Movies start at dusk and food/drinks will be available for purchase. Movies TBD. Contact Barb Williams at bannwil@aol.com for more information. Friday, Aug. 17, Caldwell Memorial Park, Kimball and Grant streets, Caldwell. MOVIES IN THE GARDEN: HAIRSPRAY—Pack a picnic, bring a blanket and enjoy movies on the outdoor big screen. Food and beverage vendors will provide snacks and summer treats. Movies start at dusk. Wednesday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m. Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise, 208-343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org. MOVIES UNDER THE STARS: HUGO—Enjoy food, face painting, live music, family friendly games coordinated by the Boise Parks and Recreation mobile recreation van staff and the featured movie, shown on 30-foot inflatable screen. Movie begins at dusk. Saturday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. FREE. Gene Harris Bandshell, 700 S. Capitol Blvd., in Julia Davis Park, Boise, cityofboise.org/parks. NOBODY CARES—Catch the Boise premiere of this tale of a man with eight-and-a-half days to make up for his awful life, followed by a questionand-answer session with director Travis Swartz. Thursday, Aug. 16, 7-9 p.m. $8. The Flicks, 646 Fulton St., 208-342-4222, theflicksboise.com.
Opening
Ruby Sparks is a highly original fable GEORGE PRENTICE Ruby Sparks, an adult fairy tale that leans more toward the Brothers Grimm than Mother Goose, is a late summer revelation. The film launches Zoe Kazan as Hollywood’s newest double-threat: lead actress and screenwriter of one of the season’s freshest conceits. In a nice bit of irony, Kazan has crafted her own star turn as Ruby in a tale of an author who conjures the perfect woman— via his Smith Corona typewriter—in an is-she-or-isn’t-she-real paradox. Equal parts Harvey and Pygmalion, with extra Sparks fly when a writer conjures up a fictional girlfriend, Ruby Sparks, who then appears in real life. splashes of Annie Hall and Frankenstein, Kazan’s recipe turns out to be quite original (Night at the Museum), Chris Messina figment may unlock his writing shackles, and negotiates the tricky topics of loneliCalvin begins to type feverishly, filling pages (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Aasif Manness, commitment and even misogyny with dvi (The Daily Show). intelligence and grace. In fact, Ruby Sparks with his Ruby Sparks fantasies. Behind the lens are husband and wife In an expertly executed bit of silliness, is not unlike dancing on a rooftop: one moJonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris in their presto, Ruby Sparks appears in Calvin’s ment romantic, the next dangerous as you kitchen, car, bed, you name it. At first, audi- first feature since 2006’s Oscar-nominated waltz too close to the edge. Little Miss Sunshine. They lay the foundaPaul Dano—Kazan’s real-life boyfriend— ences may assume that we’ve been down tion for a nice balance between a lightthis well-traveled road before—scores of plays nice-guy Calvin, a Los Angeles writer hearted fable and a complex morality play. films have introduced imaginary friends who found early literary success but is Instead of pulling the mask off what first as comic relief—but be forewarned: Ruby stunted by his professional and personal appears to be a picture-perfect relationship, is anything but blocks, due in large the directing team slowly unravels the ties imaginary. In fact, part to the recent that bind us, discarding them like so much she becomes the death of his father RUBY SPARKS (R) center of Calvin’s life, onion skin. and the dissolution Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Great care is given to the movie’s delicate instantly embraced of a five-year relaStarring Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Annette Benresolution. Audiences may think they know by his family, which tionship. Lost in a ing and Antonio Banderas where this story is headed, but the cast includes delicious cobweb of self-doubt, Opens Friday, Aug. 17, at The Flicks cameos from Annette and crew produce something unexpectedly Calvin daydreams of magical and reflective. It’s satisfying stuff. Bening and Antonio being accepted on his My sense is that Ruby Sparks may enjoy Banderas as mother own terms. steady box office success as positive wordand stepfather. He imagines Ruby as an ideal girlfriend: The supporting cast features appearances of-mouth lures audiences in search of somequirky (but never to a fault), button-cute thing refreshing, vivid and incisive. from Elliott Gould (MASH), Steve Coogan and an insatiable lover. Presuming that his
A CAT IN PARIS—This animated story of a cat who lives a double life was nominated for an Academy Award. (PG) The Flicks
SCREEN/DVD
THE EXPENDABLES TWO—The all-star action cast of Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger return in a story of vengeance. (R) Edwards 9, 12, 14, 22
BOISE’S FAVORITE DVD RENTALS THIS WEEK
—Source: Video Memories, 4504 Overland Road, Boise, 208-385-0113
HIT AND RUN—A nice guy risks everything when he breaks out of the witness-protection program to help his fiance in this film from the producer of Wedding Crashers. (R) Opens Wednesday, Aug. 22. Edwards 9, 12, 14, 22 THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN—Peter Hedges, the writer-director behind films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, presents this magical story about a married couple that receive an odd surprise when a child is found on their doorstep one stormy night. (PG) Opens Wednesday, Aug. 15. Edwards 9, 12, 14, 22
34 | AUGUST 15–21, 2012 | BOISEweekly
1. THE LORAX First week in release.
2. LOCKOUT Third week at No. 2.
3. SILENT HOUSE Dropped from No. 1 on Aug. 8.
4. THE THREE STOOGES Dropped from No. 3 on Aug. 8.
5. CASA DE MI PADRE First week in release.
WWW. B O I S E WE E KLY. C O M