startingfriday
Ashev i l l e’s
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES
Apparently, last year’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid was a “surprise hit” (that’s what the press notes say), so a sequel is upon us. Most of the cast appears to be back, but the director has changed, dumping Thor Freudenthal (Hotel for Dogs) for David Bowers (Astro Boy), which at least sounds like a good idea. No reviews yet, but the studio assures us, “the kid who made ‘wimpy’ cool is back in an all-new family comedy based on the best-selling followup novel by Jeff Kinney.” That may be all those who are likely to be interested needs to know. (PG)
SOMEWHERE
See review in “Cranky Hanke”
SUCKER PUNCH
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Strangely or not, no one has been allowed to see “visionary director” Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch, even though it’s being positioned as the Next Big Thing (at least this week). It’s definitely odd that the press handout not only doesn’t trot out “visionary” or even mention Snyder at all. Instead, they focus on the story — “an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality.” Perhaps it’s possible that it really is altogether too much like a video game — which is certainly what the trailer suggests. Friday will tell us. (PG-13)
TODAY’S SPECIAL
presents
the
See review in “Cranky Hanke”
is all that it has going for it. With nothing to chew on once the credits role, Limitless feels, well, a bit limited. Bradley Cooper plays Eddie, a scruffy writer who we find with a nasty case of writer’s block, a pressing deadline and a girlfriend (Abbie Cornish, Bright Star) who has just dumped him. But as luck would have it, Eddie comes into possession of a little clear pill — given to him by his shady ex-brother-in-law (Johnny Whitworth, 3:10 to Yuma) — that unlocks the full potential of his brain. With the aid of this miracle drug, Eddie finishes his book in four days, finds out that he can learn languages in a matter of days, and has become a financial whiz kid. But with anything this fantastic, it’s not all salad days since the drug not only has its fair share of physical side effects, but all types of ne’er-do-wells — who aren’t above murder — want to get their hands on these pills. And that’s Limitless’ main crux, following Eddie as he traverses the pitfalls and dangers of being little more than an addict. Really, the movie is much like any other film about addiction, with the main shift being that the addict in question is likable and that we’re supposed to root for both him and his addiction. There’s something perverse and interesting about a movie whose ultimate point is that drugs aren’t all that bad as long as you stay away from shifty characters and remember moderation. Unfortunately, this doesn’t really add up to much, since none of this is used as satire or indictment. There are tons of targets the film could’ve gone after — pharmaceutical companies, drug culture, the glamorization of chemical addiction, even politicians — but Burger has little use for this. Instead, he’s out to slather the film in style and camera tricks, an approach which works for the most part,
1 ST D o - it -Your s elf
but too often feels as if it’s from the David Fincher school of window dressing. It’s a movie that desperately needs some mood — maybe some dread or a good helping of Polanski-esque paranoia — but Limitless is more concerned with polish. Because of this, we get an entertaining enough thriller that holds up as long as you don’t examine it too much. Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language. reviewed by Justin Souther Playing at Carmike 10, Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande
Poetry Show Friday, April 8 • 7-10pm at
The Masonic Temple 80 Broadway, Downtown Asheville
The 10 Finalists from the 2011
The Lincoln Lawyer JJJJ
Director: Brad Furman (The Take) Players: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy, Josh Lucas Crime/Courtroom Drama
Rated R
The Story: A slick lawyer gets hired to help a rich kid beat an assault rap, but quickly learns there’s more to this case than he knew. The Lowdown: An engaging, convoluted, formulaic crime drama that’s a bit on the flimsy side, but remains entertaining. There was a time — before his infamous naked bongo-playing, a long run of bad romantic comedies and showing up to the Oscars with a George Hamilton tan — when Matthew McConaughey was a respectable performer. And now, with Brad Furman’s The Lincoln Lawyer, McConaughey is making his bid to once again be taken seriously. And for the most part, he succeeds. It helps that this is a role tailor-made to McConaughey’s per-
will read their winning poems Laura Hope-Gill, director of Asheville Wordfest, will be our featured poet
Keith Flynn & The Holy Men will perform live!
www.mountainx.com/poetry2011 for info and tickets! mountainx.com • MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2011 85