a&e | FILM
Join The Independent for our 7th Annual
ST. PATRICK’S DAY
BELLISSIMO! The Oscar-winning Italian film La grande bellezza (The Great Beauty ) stars Toni Servillo and is now showing at the Riviera Theatre.
ent for life! d n e p e d y, In a d a for Irish
Movie Guide
Edited by Aly Comingore The following films are playing in Santa Barbara FRIDAY, MARCH 7, THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 13. Descriptions followed by initials — DJP (D.J. Palladino), JW (Josef Woodard) — have been taken from our critics’ reviews, which can be read in full at independent.com. The symbol ✯ indicates the film is recommended.
FIRST LOOKS
MONDAY, MARCH 17 AT 5:30 P.M.
Meet up starts at 4:30 P.M.
122 W. FIGUEROA ST. Stroll will head down State Street. Rain or Shine!
Non-Stop (106 mins.; PG-13: intense sequences of action and violence, some language, sensuality, drug references)
Under normal circumstances, a film like Non-Stop, whose title fairly well indicates its energy and tension level and whose shamelessly sentimental asides lighten the action/suspense load, would be one of those movies that inspire extra-weepy and extra-nerve-jangle responses in the comfort of an airplane seat. But, alas, you won’t be seeing this one on your in-flight movie menu anytime soon: Non-Stop is all about criminal and terrorist threats and actions going bump during an international flight. Of course, post-/, there is a built-in extra layer of angst attached to the scenario laid out here about an air marshal (Liam Neeson) caught in a diabolical plot by unknown parties/passengers using the real-time but anonymous medium of texts in an air-bound game of cat and mouse. Yes, there are texting-savvy snakes on the plane! When Neeson appeared on The Daily Show recently, Jon Stewart — who obviously hadn’t seen the film — made a fumbling faux pas about the plot details of Non-Stop, saying that there were daughters in the mix. It is getting confusing keeping Neeson’s new screen life/job jag in the action-flick genre, between the Takens and other films capitalizing on the hulkingyet-calm actor’s steely resolve and softspotted heart. Those qualities are nicely exploited again in Non-Stop, and could-be love interest Julianne Moore has taken due notice of them. In the end, it’s all a bit pulpy, but Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra (also behind the Neeson-starring thriller Unknown) shrewdly takes advantage of the claustrophobic quarters, creating an effective pressure-cooker situation and capitalizes on a smartphone-era relevancy in which “texting while flying” takes on new meaning. Not coming soon to an inflight screen near you. (JW) Camino Real/Metro 4
Son of God (138 mins.; PG-13: intense and bloody depiction of the Crucifixion, some sequences of violence) Reviewed on page 57. Fairview/Fiesta 5
✯ The Wind Rises
(126 mins.; PG-13: some disturbing images, smoking) Reviewed on page 57. Paseo Nuevo
PREMIERES 300: Rise of an Empire
(102 mins.; R: strong sustained sequences of stylized bloody violence throughout, a sex scene, nudity, some langauge)
Greek general Themistocles leads his army against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes. Arlington (2-D and 3-D)/ Camino Real (2- D and 3-D)/ Metro 4 (2-D and 3-D)
La grande bellezza (142 mins.; NR) On his 65th birthday, a man receives a shock from his past that forces him to reevaluate his present. Riviera Mr. Peabody & Sherman (92 mins.; PG: some mild action, brief rude humor)
Inventor, scientist, and adventurer Mr. Peabody travels back in time with his adopted boy to fix a rift in time. Fairview (2-D and 3-D)/ Fiesta 5 (2-D and 3-D)
Need for Speed (130 mins.; PG-13: sequences of reckless street racing, disturbing crash scenes, nudity, crude language)
A wrongly accused street racer gets out of jail and enters a cross-country race to seek vengeance on the man who framed him. Camino Real (2- D and 3-D)/ Metro 4 (2-D) (Opens Thu., Mar. 13)
The Single Moms Club (138 mins.; PG-13: some sexual material, thematic elements)
Tyler Perry writes and directs this story about a group of single moms from different walks of life who meet and bond after an incident at their children’s school. Fiesta 5 (Opens Thu., Mar. 13)
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THE INDEPENDENT
march 6, 2014