Palo Alto native has supporting role in ‘The Help’ by Samantha Bergeson
A
t 6, she moved with her family from Palo Alto to France. At 8, she played a von Trapp child in a Washington theater production. While she was at Menlo School in Atherton, she and her family played beach-goers in the
2004 sci-fi action film “Dinocroc.� And now, Ahna O’Reilly is breaking into the Hollywood spotlight, with a supporting role in the new film “The Help,� based on a 2009 novel by Kathryn Stockett.
Ahna O’Reilly
MOVIE TIMES 30 Minutes or Less (R) (Not Reviewed)
Century 16: 11:40 a.m.; 2:20, 4:50, 7:30 & 9:55 p.m. Century 20: 11:25 a.m.; 1:35, 3:45, 5:55, 8:10 & 10:25 p.m.
Another Earth (PG-13) (Not Reviewed)
Century 16: 1:50 & 7:20 p.m.
Buck (Not Rated) (((
Century 16: 1:45 p.m.; Fri.-Tue. & Thu. also at 6:50 p.m.
Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13) (((
Century 16: 12:10 & 7:10 p.m.; In 3D at 3:50 & 10:20 p.m. Century 20: 10:55 a.m.; 4:40 & 10:30 p.m.; In 3D at 1:45 & 7:30 p.m.
The Change-Up (R) ((1/2
Century 16: 12:40, 4:05, 7:40 & 10:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:10 a.m.; 1:45, 4:35, 7:20 & 10:05 p.m.
Cowboys & Aliens (PG-13) ((1/2
Century 16: 12:20, 4:10, 7:25 & 10:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:35 a.m.; 2:20, 5:05, 7:55 & 10:45 p.m.
Crazy, Stupid, Love (PG-13) ((1/2
Century 16: 12:30, 3:30, 7:15 & 10:15 p.m. Century 20: 11:15 a.m.; 2, 4:45, 7:45 & 10:35 p.m.
The Devil’s Double (R) (Not Reviewed)
Century 20: 11:45 a.m.; 2:20, 4:55, 7:35 & 10:15 p.m. CinĂŠArts at Palo Alto Square: 2, 4:45 & 7:15 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. also at 9:50 p.m.
Dial M for Murder (1954)
Stanford Theatre: Sat.-Thu. at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. also at 3:30 p.m.
Final Destination 5 (R) (Not Reviewed)
Century 16: Fri. & Sat. at 11 a.m.; 3:35 & 8:30 p.m.; In 3D Fri. & Sat. at 1:20, 5:50 & 10:50 p.m.; Sun.-Thu. at 11 a.m.; 3:35 & 8:05 p.m.; In 3D Sun.-Thu. at 1:20, 5:50 & 10:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:30 a.m.; 1:55, 4:15, 7 & 9:25 p.m.; In 3D at 12:35, 3, 5:25, 8 & 10:30 p.m.
Friends with Benefits (R) (Not Reviewed)
Century 16: 11:10 a.m. & 4 p.m.; Fri.-Tue. & Thu. also at 9:25 p.m. Century 20: 11:05 a.m.; Fri.Wed. also at 1:40, 4:25, 7:05 & 9:50 p.m.
The General (1926)
Stanford Theatre: Fri. at 7:30 p.m.
Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (Not Rated) (Not Reviewed)
Century 16: 11 a.m.; 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 8 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 11:10 a.m.; 1:25, 3:40, 6, 8:20 & 10:40 p.m.
The Globe Theatre Presents Century 20: Thu. at 6:30 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Thu. at 6:30 p.m. Henry IV Part 2 (PG) (Not Reviewed) The Guard (R) (Not Reviewed) Palo Alto Square: 2:15 p.m.; Fri.-Wed. also at 4:55 & 7:25 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. also at 10 p.m. Harry Potter and the Deathly Century 16: 11:30 a.m. & 6:40 p.m.; In 3D at 3:10 & 9:40 p.m. Century 20: 12:50 & 7:15 p.m.; In Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13) (((( 3D at 4:05 & 10:25 p.m. The Help (PG-13) ((
Century 16: Noon, 1, 3:20, 4:30, 7, 8:20 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 11 a.m.; 12:20, 2:15, 3:40, 5:30, 7, 8:50 & 10:20 p.m.
Horrible Bosses (R) (((
Century 16: 11:20 a.m.; 4:20 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 12:40, 3:10, 5:45, 8:15 & 10:40 p.m.
Midnight in Paris (PG-13) (((1/2
Century 20: Fri.-Tue. & Thu. at 6:45 & 9:05 p.m. Guild Theatre: 3:30, 6 & 8:30 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. also at 1 p.m.
RiffTrax Live: Jack the Giant Killer (PG) (Not Reviewed)
Century 16: Wed. at 8 p.m.
O’Reilly, a Palo Alto native, began her acting career as a child during a summer in Washington state, when her mother suggested that she and her sisters audition for a production of “The Sound of Music.� They wound up playing the three young von Trapp children. “Ever since then, since I was 8, I wanted to be an actress,� O’Reilly says. Returning to Palo Alto, she took drama courses at Menlo School during high school, and later drove to San Francisco for acting classes. She attended the University of Southern California but left after a year to pursue acting. “Sometimes I can have three days and have nothing planned, or I can go through a week and have two to three auditions a day.� If it’s during the TV pilot season (April), and she’s going for a role, “it’s just crazy,� she says. “I’m up at 6 and in bed at 6, and just learning my lines.� Her first credited acting job was in the 2008 film “Just Add Water,� starring Danny DeVito. She played a “cracked-out� pregnant teenager. “I’m literally in it for two seconds!� In “The Help,� she plays a Southern housewife alongside actors Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. The ensemble tells the story of a white college-educated young woman, Skeeter (Stone), returning home to Mississippi in 1962, and refuting the prejudices that deal with African-American household workers. With help from maids (Davis and Spencer), Skeeter challenges the local white social hierarchy, in the persons of Elizabeth (O’Reilly) and others. O’Reilly credits Spencer — whom she met when they both appeared in the quirky 2009 comedy “Herpes Boy� — for helping her
land the part in “The Help.� “With big movies like that with such a hot title, if you’re at a big agency, they see all the girls from that agency. And I was not at a big agency; I did not have a very long resume. ... So it was really Octavia being like: ‘You’ve got to see this girl.’� During the shooting, O’Reilly moved to Mississippi for three months. “I loved it. It’s very different from here. There is such a rich, complicated history, which is what the movie is about.� She is also interested in theater, and possibly living in New York someday. Upcoming projects include independent films “I Am Ben,� costarring Menlo School alum Elyie Yost, and “Girls Girls Girls,� a compilation of eight short films written, directed, produced and edited by women. ■To read a longer version of this story, go to PaloAltoOnline.com. Samantha Bergeson writes for the Almanac, one of the Weekly’s sister papers.
READ MORE ONLINE
www.PaloAltoOnline.com Weekly critic Peter Canavese recently interviewed actors Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari when they were in town promoting their new comedy “30 Minutes or Less,� about a pizza boy forced by crooks to rob a bank. He also sat down for a chat with actress Emma Stone, whose career is on a particular roll this summer. To read the stories, go to PaloAltoOnline.com/movies.
“EVERY
SINGLE MINUTE OF THIS MOVIE IS HILARIOUS.�
Century 20: Wed. at 8 p.m.
Cole Abaius/FILM SCHOOL REJECTS
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Century 16: 11 & 11:50 a.m.; 12:50, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 & 10:30 (PG-13) (Not Reviewed) p.m. Century 20: 11 & 11:40 a.m.; 12:15, 1, 1:35, 2:25, 2:55, 3:30, 4:20, 5, 5:40, 6:20, 6:55, 7:40, 8:25, 9, 9:40 & 10:20 p.m. Sarah’s Key (PG-13) ((1/2
Aquarius Theatre: 1, 3:45, 6:15 & 8:45 p.m.
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
Stanford Theatre: Sat.-Thu. at 5:30 & 9:30 p.m.
The Smurfs (PG) (Not Reviewed)
Century 16: 1:35 & 7 p.m.; In 3D at 11:05 a.m.; 4:15 & 9:35 p.m. Century 20: 11:20 a.m.; 4:20 & 9:20 p.m.; In 3D at 1:50 & 6:50 p.m.
The Whistleblower (R) ((1/2
Aquarius Theatre: 1:30, 4:15, 7 & 9:55 p.m.
Winnie the Pooh (G) (Not Reviewed)
Century 20: 10:55 a.m.; 12:55 & 2:50 p.m.; Fri.-Tue. & Thu. also at 4:50 p.m.
( Skip it (( Some redeeming qualities ((( A good bet (((( Outstanding Aquarius: 430 Emerson St., Palo Alto (266-9260)
Guild: 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park (266-9260)
Century Cinema 16: 1500 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View (800-326-3264)
Stanford: 221 University Ave., Palo Alto (324-3700)
Century 20 Downtown: 825 Middlefield Road, Redwood City (800-326-3264)
Internet address: For show times, plot synopses, trailers and more information about films playing, go to Palo AltoOnline.com.
CinĂŠArts at Palo Alto Square: 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto (493-3456)
ALL AMERICA HAS GONE WILD OVER “PARIS.� VISIT, RETURN AGAIN, IT'S MAGIC!
“TERRIFIC! BOOK THIS TRIP TO PARIS!� -James Verniere, THE BOSTON HERALD
Fri and Sat 8/12-8/13
Thurs ONLY 8/18
The Devil’s Double 2:00, 4:45, 7:15 The Guard 2:15
Written and Directed by Woody Allen
WWW.SONYCLASSICS.COM
LANDMARK’S GUILD
949 El Camino Real, NOW Menlo Park (650) 266-9260 CENTURY 20 DOWNTOWN REDWOOD CITY PLAYING! 825 Middlefield Road, Redwood City (800) FANDANGO
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SCAN THIS FOR MORE INFORMATION
Sun thru Wed 8/14-8/17
The Devil’s Double 2:00, 4:45, 7:15, 9:50 The Guard 2:15, 4:55, 7:25, 10:00 The Devil’s Double 2:00, 4:45, 7:15 The Guard 2:15, 4:55, 7:25
Midnight in Paris
COLUMBIA PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH MEDIA RIGHTS CAPITAL A RED HOUR PRODUCTION “30 MINUTES OREXECUTIVE LESSâ€? JESSE EISENBERG DANNY McBRIDE AZIZ ANSARI NICK SWARDSON MICHAEL PEĂ‘A WITH FRED WARD PRODUCERS MONICA LEVINSON BRIAN LEVY PRODUCEDBY STUART CORNFELD BEN STILLER JEREMY KRAMER SCREENPLAY DIRECTED STORY BY MICHAEL DILIBERTI BY RUBEN FLEISCHER BY MICHAEL DILIBERTI & MATTHEW SULLIVAN
STARTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 12
CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES
VIEW THE TRAILER AT WWW.MIDNIGHTINPARISFILM.COM
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