›› MOViES
Friday December 23 -Thursday December 29
Movie summaries by Matthew Stafford
Santa (seen here in ‘Arthur Christmas’) wishes you and yours a most happy holiday.
O The Adventures of Tintin (1:47) Hergé’s bouffanted Belgian newshound hits the big screen (albeit in animated form), joining Captain Haddock and Snowy on a search for sunken treasure; Steven Spielberg directs. O Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (1:27) The rambunctious rodents hit the high seas and get themselves marooned on a deserted (?) island. O Arthur Christmas (1:37) Cartoon about Santa Claus’s son Arthur (that’s right) and the top-secret mission he has to complete by Christmas Eve; Jim Broadbent and Imelda Staunton give voice to Mr. and Mrs. Claus. O The Artist (1:40) Dazzling Michel Hazanavicius silent about a Hollywood superstar, a hopeful extra and the life-changing effect the talkie revolution will have on their careers. O A Dangerous Method (1:39) David Cronenberg biopic stars Viggo Mortensen as Freud, Michael Fassbender as Jung and Keira Knightley as the troubled patient who cements and sunders their relationship. O The Darkest Hour (1:29) Five survivors of an alien attack fight to survive in postapocalyptic Moscow. O The Descendants (1:55) Alexander Payne comedy follows wealthy soon-tobe widower George Clooney and his two daughters as they wander Kauai in search of his comatose wife’s lover. O The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2:40) David Fincher remakes the smash Swedish detective thriller with Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara as an unlikely duo investigating a decades-old murder. O The Gold Rush (1:30) Charlie Chaplin comedy classic (filmed in Truckee!) follows the Little Tramp as he prospects his way through the Yukon, eating his boots, imitating a chicken and falling in love with a dance hall girl. O Hugo (2:07) Martin Scorsese familyfriendly fantasy about an orphan who makes his home in the fantastical world of a Paris train station; Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen and Christopher Lee costar. O The Ides of March (1:42) George Cloo-
ney writes, directs and stars in an adaptation of the Beau Willimon play about a charismatic presidential candidate and a simmering scandal that could bring him down. O Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (2:13) IMF spook Tom Cruise is unfairly accused of bombing the Kremlin and goes undercover to clear his name; Ving Rhames and Tom Wilkinson costar. O The Muppets (2:00) Kermit the Frog reunites with Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and the rest of the gang in a rambunctious attempt to save their old Hollywood showplace from destruction. O My Reincarnation (1:40) Jennifer Fox’s documentary examines the relationship between Tibetan Buddhist master Chogyal Namkhai Norbu and his son Yeshi and the cultural differences that help define it. O My Week with Marilyn (1:36) A young assistant director serves as Marilyn Monroe’s confidante, support system and wide-eyed lover during the hectic filming of “The Prince and the Showgirl”; with Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier, Julia Ormond as Vivien Leigh and Michelle Williams as MM. O New Year’s Eve (1:57) Garry Marshall ensemble comedy of intermingling December 31st whoopee stars Abigail Breslin, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank, Halle Berry, Jon Bon Jovi, Sarah Jessica Parker and a host of others. O Shame (1:41) Intense, explicit portrait of a compulsive womanizer and his troubled kid sister stars Carey Mulligan and Venice Film Fest best actor Michael Fassbender. O Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2:09) The world’s greatest detective pursues criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty across Europe in a Guy Ritchie production refreshingly free of sci-fi and fantasy; Robert Downey, Jr. costars with Jude Law as Watson and Rachel MacAdams as the delectable Irene Adler. O The Sitter (1:22) Rowdy, raunchy David Gordon Green comedy about a slacker doofus whose babysitting gig goes horribly, horribly wrong; Jonah Hill stars. O Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2:07) John LeCarre’s classic espionage novel is brought to the screen with Gary Oldman as reactivated MI6 agent George Smiley and an impressive cast of traitors, moles and fellow spies (Colin Firth, John Hurt, Ralph Fiennes, David Thewlis et al.). O War Horse (2:26) When WWI separates a boy from his horse, the steadfast steed wanders from village to battlefield, inspiring all who encounter him; Steven Spielberg directs. O We Bought a Zoo (2:11) True tale of a widower who purchases and inhabits a dilapidated old zoo, hundreds of critters and all; Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson star. O Young Adult (1:34) Teen-lit scribe Charlize Theron tries to revisit her high school glory days…with unexpected results.
›› MOViE TiMES N A Dangerous Method (R) Century Regency 6: 12:45, 3:05, 5:25, 7:45, 10:05 N The Adventures of Tintin (PG) Century Northgate 15: Fri 11:50, 2:20, 4:55, 7:30, 10:10; 3D showtimes at 10:50, 1:25, 3:55, 6:35, 9:05 Sat 11:50, 2:20, 4:55, 7:30; 3D showtimes at 10:50, 1:25, 3:55, 6:35, 9:05 Sun-Thu 10:35, 1:15, 3:55; 3D showtimes at 11:50, 2:20, 4:55, 7:30, 10:10 Century Rowland Plaza: 1:25; 3D showtimes at 10:40, 4:10, 7:05, 9:50 Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G) Century Northgate 15: Fri 11:05, 12:20, 1:15, 2:35, 3:25, 4:45, 5:40, 7:50, 10:05 Sat 11:05, 12:20, 1:15, 2:35, 3:25, 4:45, 5:40, 7:50 Sun-Thu 10:55, 12:20, 1:05, 2:35, 3:20, 4:45, 5:40, 7:50, 10 Century Rowland Plaza: Fri-Sat 10, 11:10, 12:20, 1:30, 2:40, 3:50, 5, 6:10, 7:20, 8:30, 9:40 Sun-Thu 10, 12:20, 2:40, 5, 7:20, 9:40 Arthur Christmas (PG) Century Northgate 15: 10:45am N The Artist (PG-13) +++1/2 Century Regency 6: 11:45, 2:20, 4:55, 7:30, 10 CinéArts at Sequoia: Fri, Sun-Mon 2:30, 5, 7:30, 9:55 Sat, Tue-Thu 2:30, 5, 7:30 N The Darkest Hour (PG-13) Century Northgate 15: Sun-Thu 1:30, 5:50, 10:30; 3D showtimes at 11:20, 3:40, 8 Century Rowland Plaza: Sun-Thu 10:10, 2:50, 7:30; 3D showtimes at 12:30, 5:10, 9:55 The Descendants (R) ++1/2 Century Regency 6: 1:25, 4:15, 7, 9:50 CinéArts at Sequoia: Fri, Sun-Mon 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:40 Sat, Tue-Thu 1:40, 4:20, 7 Fairfax 5 Theatres: 12:50, 4, 6:50, 9:30 Sat 12:50, 4, 6:50 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) (R) Century Cinema: 11:30, 3:10, 7, 10:30 Sat 11:30, 3:10, 7 Century Northgate 15: Fri 10:45, 12:15, 2:15, 3:45, 5:35, 7:05, 8:55, 10:30 Sat 10:45, 12:15, 2:15, 3:45, 5:35,
N =
New Movies This Week
7:05, 8:55 Sun-Thu 10:30, 12, 2, 3:30, 5:30, 7, 8:50, 10:20 Century Rowland Plaza: 11:50, 3:25, 7, 10:35 CinéArts at Marin: 12:10, 3:35, 7, 10:20 Fairfax 5 Theatres: 1:30, 4:45, 8 Tiburon Playhouse 3: 1:30, 4:45, 8 N The Gold Rush (Not Rated) Rafael Film Center: 4:30, 6:30 Sun 6:30 Hugo (PG) +++1/2 Century Larkspur Landing: Fri 3D showtimes at 7:15, 10:15 Sat 4:15; 3D showtimes at 1:15, 7:15 Sun-Mon 4:15; 3D showtimes at 1:15, 7:15, 10:15 Tue-Thu 4:15; 3D showtimes at 7:15, 10:15 Century Northgate 15: Fri 9:20; 3D showtime at 3:50 Sat 3D showtime at 3:50 Sun-Thu 10:30, 9:30; 3D showtime at 3:50 Fairfax 5 Theatres: Fri 1, 3:50, 6:30, 9:20 Sat 1, 3:50, 6:30 The Ides of March (R) +++ Rafael Film Center: 8:30 Sat 2:15 Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (PG-13) Century Larkspur Landing: Fri 7:35, 10:35 Sat 1:35, 4:35, 7:35 Sun-Mon 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 Tue-Thu 4:30, 7:30, 10:30 Century Northgate 15: Fri 11:30, 1, 2:25, 4, 5:30, 7, 8:30, 10 Sat 11:30, 1, 2:25, 4, 5:30, 7, 8:30 Sun-Thu 11:30, 1:10, 2:30, 4:15, 5:25, 7:20, 8:20, 10:15 Century Rowland Plaza: 10:20, 1:20, 4:20, 7:25, 10:25 Fairfax 5 Theatres: 12:30, 3:55, 6:55, 9:45 Sat 12:30, 3:55, 6:55 The Muppets (PG) +++ Century Northgate 15: Fri-Sat 1:05, 6:50 Sun-Thu 1:20, 6:55 N My Reincarnation (Not Rated) Rafael Film Center: Fri, Mon-Thu 4:45, 7, 9 Sat 2:45, 4:45, 7 Sun 7, 9 My Week With Marilyn (R) ++1/2 Century Regency 6: 11:35, 2:15, 4:45, 7:20, 9:55 New Year’s Eve (PG-13) +1/2 Century Northgate 15: Fri 11:10, 1:55, 4:35, 7:15, 9:55 Sat 11:10, 1:55, 4:35, 7:15 Sun-Thu 11, 1:40, 4:25, 7:05, 9:55 Shame (NC-17) +++ Rafael Film Center: Fri, Mon-Thu 4:15, 6:45, 9:15 Sat 2, 4:15, 6:45 Sun
6:45, 9:15 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (PG-13) +++1/2 Century Larkspur Landing: Fri 5:30, 7, 8:30, 10 Sat 11:30, 1, 2:30, 4, 5:30, 7, 8:30 Sun-Mon 1:45, 4:45, 7:45, 10:35 Tue-Thu 4:45, 7:45, 10:35 Century Northgate 15: Fri 11:35, 12:35, 1:35, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:25, 6:25, 7:25, 8:15, 9:15, 10:20 Sat 11:35, 12:35, 1:35, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:25, 6:25, 7:25, 8:15 Sun-Thu 10:50, 1:45, 4:40, 6:30, 7:40, 9:20, 10:30 Century Rowland Plaza: Fri-Sat 10:15, 11:45, 1:15, 2:45, 4:15, 5:45, 7:10, 8:45, 10:15 Sun-Thu 10:15, 1:15, 4:15, 7:10, 10:15 CinéArts at Marin: 1:30, 4:30, 7:25, 10:15 Fairfax 5 Theatres: 12:40, 3:40, 6:45, 9:25 Sat 12:40, 3:40, 6:45 Tiburon Playhouse 3: 1:10, 4, 6:50, 9:30 Sat 1:10, 4, 6:50 The Sitter (R) Century Northgate 15: Fri 11, 1:10, 3:15, 5:20, 7:45, 9:50 Sat 11, 1:10, 3:15, 5:20, 7:45 N Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (R) Century Regency 6: 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 N War Horse (PG-13) Century Larkspur Landing: Sun-Mon 12:20, 3:40, 7, 10:20 Tue-Thu 3:40, 7, 10:20 Century Northgate 15: Sun-Thu 10:40, 12:30, 1:50, 3:45, 5:15, 7:10, 8:30, 10:25 Century Rowland Plaza: Sun-Thu 12:15, 3:40, 7, 10:20 Fairfax 5 Theatres: Sun-Thu 12, 3:05, 6:10, 9:15 N We Bought a Zoo (PG) Century Northgate 15: Fri 11:15, 2:10, 5 7:10, 8:10, 10:15 Sat 11:15, 2:10, 5 7:10, 8:10 Sun-Thu 11:15, 2:10, 5 7:10, 8:10, 10:05 Century Rowland Plaza: 10:05, 1:05, 4:05, 7:10, 10:05 CinéArts at Marin: 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:05 Lark Theater: Fri 3, 5:40, 8:15 Sat 12:20, 3, 5:40 Sun 5:40, 8:15 Mon-Thu 12:20, 3, 5:40, 8:15 Tiburon Playhouse 3: 12:50, 3:40, 6:30, 9:15 Sat 12:50, 3:40, 6:30 Young Adult (R) +++ Century Regency 6: 12:20, 2:50, 5:20,
Showtimes can change after we go to press. Please call theater to confirm schedules.
›› THEATERS CinéArts at Marin 101 Caledonia St., Sausalito • 331-0255 CinéArts at Sequoia 25 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley • 388-4862 Cinema 41 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera • 924-6505 Fairfax 9 Broadway, Fairfax • 453-5444 Lark 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur • 924-5111 Larkspur Landing 500 Larkspur Landing Cir., Larkspur • 461-4849 Northgate 7000 Northgate Dr., San Rafael • 800-326-3264 Playhouse 40 Main St., Tiburon • 435-1234 Rafael Film Center 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael • 454-1222 Regency 80 Smith Ranch Rd., Terra Linda • 479-5050 Rowland 44 Rowland Way, Novato • 800-326-3264
Enjoy a warm and cozy Christmas with Charlie Chaplin in ‘The Gold Rush,’ playing at the Rafael all this week.
DECEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 29, 2011 PACIFIC SUN 23