LISTINGS/SCREEN Special screenings
SCREEN/THE BIG SCREEN
MARGIN OF ERROR Margin Call occupies Wall Street INTO ETERNITY—This documentary explores the treatment of radioactive waste. Sponsored by the Snake River Alliance. Thursday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. $10 general, $8 students. The Flicks, 646 Fulton St., Boise, 208-342-4222, theflicksboise.com. FATHOM THRILLER THURSDAYS—Catch the firstever showing of Butterfinger the 13th, a special horror featurette, followed by the docu-drama Jack the Ripper: The Definitive Story. Thursday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. $12.50. Edwards Boise Stadium 22 and IMAX, 7701 W. Overland Road, Boise, 208-377-9603, regmovies.com. THE MET: LIVE IN HD, DON GIOVANNI—Fabio Luisi conducts a new production of Mozart’s classic opera of lust, heartbreak and revenge. Saturday, Oct. 29, 10:55 a.m. $18-$24. Edwards Boise Stadium 22 and IMAX, 7701 W. Overland Road, Boise, 208-377-9603, regmovies.com.
TWILIGHT SAGA TUESDAYS—Re-watch your favorite vampire movies and get prepped for the debut of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 1 on Friday, Nov. 18. Cast interviews and special features to precede movie screenings. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. Edwards Boise Stadium 22 and IMAX, 7701 W. Overland Road, Boise, 208-3779603, and Edwards Nampa Spectrum Stadium 14, 2001 N. Cassia St., Nampa, 208-467-3312, regmovies.com.
Opening
GEORGE PRENTICE On March 16, 1979, Paramount Pictures quietly released a pedestrian but capable drama, The China Syndrome, a fictional tale of safety cover-ups at a nuclear power plant. Twelve days later, the Three Mile Island nuclear accident turned the movie into box office gold. The film was instantly deemed “important,” earning four Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. More than three decades later, Margin Call may be the next China Syndrome. It certainly Kevin Spacey plays outside the margins in Margin Call. didn’t forecast Occupy Wall Street—principal photography wrapped in the summer “I have learned one truism in all my years,” associate plugs in some additional numbers to of 2010—but it comes awfully close. And if an embedded spreadsheet and concludes that says Irons’ character. “To succeed, you must the current global financial crisis is remotely the company’s assets are on a highway to shiteither be first, smart or cheat.” interesting to you, I can’t recommend Margin town. The associate, in a fine performance by Audiences clearly have the upper hand as Call enough. Zachary Quinto, holds a doctorate from MIT Margin Call begins. We know how it’s going Before I go much further, a caveat—in in aerospace engineering. So, yes, that would to end—global economies will be ruined, the 1990s, I worked for a large New York make him a rocket scientist. millions will be unemployed and visceral bank (Marine Midland) in the midst of a The only option, the firm’s top executives demonstrations will spill to the streets of the takeover by a larger Far East bank (Hong conclude, is to limit their own carnage at the Kong Shanghai Banking Corp). I also worked world’s capitals. First-time writer-director J.C. Chandor tells expense of everyone else. A running, but notfor one of the nation’s largest insurance and so-funny joke is that the higher the corporate his story as historical financial institutions ladder goes, the less-abled the executives are fiction, not putting a (Transamerica). I have to interpret the graphs and charts that forecast name to the centurysat in a dozen boardMARGIN CALL (R) old investment firm on their fate. It’s the most accurate portrayal of a rooms, where acquisiDirected by J.C. Chandor the brink of collapse in corporate boardroom I have ever seen on film. tions and layoffs were Starring Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Unfortunately Chandor can’t seem to help 2008. (Lehman Broththe order of the day Kevin Spacey himself by injecting too many David Mameters? Hello?) so that the man in the Opens Friday at The Flicks like speeches, complete with “Fuck me” Margin Call’s 100 corner office could and “Fuck you.” Such scenes sheathe the minutes chronicles the have more toys. characters as smug jerks rather than the naive 36-hour life and death I felt a familiar chill charlatans they truly are. of an investment bank, beginning with the as I watched Jeremy Irons’ killer performance In a slim piece of irony, Margin Call was all-too-familiar sacking of dozens of six-figured in Margin Call. His performance as mastersuits. One of the casualties, played perfectly by produced on a limited budget of $3.4 milof-the-universe John Tuld is his best since his lion. Its box office return should be much Stanley Tucci, passes a flash drive to an under1990 Oscar-winning turn as the equally evil more significant. ling, warning him to “be careful.” The junior Claus von Bulow in Reversal of Fortune.
SCREEN/THE BIG SCREEN Jan. 6: The Iron Lady—She’s mastered every other accent and mannerism in history. Meryl Streep was bound to get around to portraying Nov. 11: J. Edgar—Leonardo DiCaprio, directed by Clint Eastwood, Margaret Thatcher. in a profile of possibly the most powerful Jan. 13: The Descendants—George man of the 20th century. Clooney’s best starring role to date. Nov. 23: My Week With Marilyn—MiSure to win him a trip to the Academy’s chelle Williams is getting glowing filmbig night. festival notices of her portrayal of Miss Jan. 13: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy— Monroe. John le Carre’s spy classic starring Colin Dec. 21: The Girl With the Dragon Firth and Gary Oldman. Tattoo—The first of three Americanized Jan. 20: A Dangerous Method—Direcversions of Stieg Larsson’s trilogy. tor David Cronenberg takes on Sigmund Dec. 23: The Artist—If you haven’t Freud, Carl Jung and a lot of sex with the heard about this one, you will soon. It’s a help of Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassgorgeous (yet black and white) tribute to bender and Keira Knightley. 1930s Hollywood. Dec. 25: War Horse—Steven Spiel—George Prentice berg’s adaptation of the hit stage drama. I spy Gary Oldman in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
COMING ATTRACTIONS OF OSCAR-BUZZ MOVIES
IN TIME—The only way to stay alive in the future is to steal, inherit or earn more time. Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried star in this thriller. (PG-13) Edwards 22, Edwards 14, Edwards 9 MARGIN CALL —This drama from writer-director J.C. Chandor covers the meltdown of a financial institution. Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons, Paul Bettany, Kevin Spacey, Simon Baker, Stanley Tucci, Mary McDonnell and Demi Moore star. See Screen, this page. (R) Flicks PUSS IN BOOTS—The beloved Shrek character goes on an adventure of his own. Antonio Banderas provides the voice for the furry protagonist. (PG) Edwards 22, Edwards 14, Edwards 9
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34 | OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 1, 2011 | BOISEweekly
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