film | shorts
opening films 2 GUNS
Cruising around in a vintage Dodge Challenger, the DEA’s Bobby (Denzel Washington) and Navy investigator Stig (Mark Wahlberg) are both working undercover but make for such convincing bad-asses that they even have each other fooled. Indeed, the hook here is that, having been assigned by their respective agencies to infiltrate a crime syndicate, each assumes that the other is a criminal. It’s only once they’ve robbed a bank together (in order to secure evidence, naturally) that they realize each other’s actual allegiances. (CW) Rated R
THE EAST
Sarah Moss (Brit Marling) infiltrates an anarchist group called The East for the private intelligence firm Hiller Brood. Once she convinces its members that she is a sincere member of the outfit, Moss finds herself falling for the charismatic leader of the collective, Benji (Alexander Skarsgård), and begins to question her investigation. At Magic Lantern (KS) Rated PG-13.
FILL THE VOID
Lives are forever changed for a family of Israeli Orthodox Jews when Esther dies in childbirth, leaving her husband, Yochay, a widower and single father. Esther’s parents make the decision that their other daughter, 18-year-old Shira, should marry Yochay in order to keep their only grandchild in the family. The issue here, other than the awkwardness with the arrangement, is that Shira has already been engaged to marry a man her own age. The parents allow Shira to make the final decision, causing tension between her desires and her loyalty to her family. (MN) Not Rated
SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORF’S
If fashion were a religion, Bergdorf Goodman would be like the Sistine Chapel. This documentary unveils the ins and outs of the New York City department store with interviews with designers like Marc Jacobs and Vera Wang, celebrities like Joan Rivers and the Olsen twins, and Bergdorf employees. The documentary covers ground from the history of the iconic store to what goes into decorating the grandiose window displays. And, of course, there are the clothes to gawk at. At Magic Lantern (MN) Rated PG-13
now playing 20 FEET FROM STARDOM
We know names like Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow and Mick Jagger. Names like Merry Clayton, Darlene Love and Claudia Lennear aren’t so familiar. We know the stars, but we don’t know the backup singers. This moving documentary puts the women who have supported these stars in the spotlight. One story looks at singer Judith Hill, recent contestant on NBC’s The Voice, and her partnership with Michael Jackson. At Magic Lantern. (JR) PG-13
BEFORE MIDNIGHT
In 1995, Before Sunrise introduced us to the pair as dreamy twenty-somethings whose chance meeting on a train led to a single wildly romantic night in Vienna; in 2004, Before Sunset found them reuniting in Paris as slightly more hardened adults, in a way that completely reframed the events that occurred nine years earlier. Now, the third installment in Richard Linklater’s story features our couple (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) now very much together raising twin daughters as they vacation in Greece. (SR) Rated R
THE CONJURING
Yes, folks, there’s such thing as a really scary (and gripping) horror movie that isn’t punctuated by gore. Director James Wan (Saw) fills his based-on-fact haunted house tale with nervous cameras, dark rooms, loud noises and the stories of two families — one lives in that house, the other is trying to help them. This is really unnerving stuff, and a ball to watch in a big dark room with a bunch of strangers, most screaming as one. (ES) Rated R
Despicable Me 2
Gru is back with his minions and adopted daughters in the animated sequel, picking up as the Anti-Villain League cracks down on high-tech super-criminals. The agency calls on (or rather, kidnaps) Gru for his ex-villain expertise, but will he be able to juggle the mission on top of his paternal duties? Get ready to giggle for returning voice actors Steve Carell, Kristin Wigg, Miranda Cosgrove and the adorably clumsy minions. (PG)
GROWN UPS 2
Those guys from the glory days of ’90s comedy are back for another round. Happy Madison Productions brings you another Adam Sandler installment with the same pee jokes, physical humor and goofiness that have become his trademark. You get to watch him hang out with David Spade, Kevin James and the always-enjoyable Chris Rock. There are plenty of SNL cameos throughout. Also, Shaq makes an appearance. (JR) Rated PG-13
KON-TIKI
The charming and adventure-filled Oscarwinning documentary of the same name, from 1950, gets a dramatic treatment that keeps the original’s mood and aura intact, but throws in a few fictional inventions. Still, the story of Thor Heyerdahl and a handful of sailors who recreate a centuries-old raft voyage, with only winds and currents guiding them, makes for a nice bit of comfort viewing. Plus, there’s subtle, perfectly done CGI work on some of the sea life they encounter. (ES) Rated PG-13 ...continued on next page
AUGUST 1, 2013 INLANDER 45