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stiLL showing
by Ken Hanke & Justin Souther
12 Years a Slave HHHHS Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Lupita Nyong'o Biographical drama The story of Solomon Northup, a free black man kidnapped and sold into slavery. Powerful, brilliantly — and beautifully — made. It boasts a gallery of fine performances and should finally propel Chiwetel Ejiofor to the stardom he’s deserved for ten years. It’s a fine film, but maybe not quite a masterpiece. Rated R
All Is Lost HHHH Robert Redford drama A man fights for survival on a sinking boat in the middle of the ocean. While it doesn’t live up to the critical hype — at least not for me — this solo turn from Robert Redford is unusual fare and certainly worth a look. Bear in mind that it is one very taciturn man holding the screen for the entire length of the film. Rated pg-13
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Ender’s Game HS
Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, Hailee Steinfeld, Ben Kingsley sci-fi Sci-Fi yarn about the creation of a military boy-genius to lead an attack on an alien world. Bombastic, selfimportant, lacking in wit and charm and just plain not very exciting, Ender’s Game is definitely a long-shot for the next big franchise movie. Rated pg-13
Enough Said HHHH Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette, Tracey Fairaway, Tavi Gevinson Romantic comedy drama A woman finds her romance with a seemingly compatible man undermined when it turns out that he’s the ex-husband of a new friend of hers. Unfailingly pleasant but awkwardly plotted film that ultimately wins out on the strength of James Gandolfini and Julia LouisDreyfus. Rated pg-13
Escape Plan H Bad Grandpa H Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll, Greg Harris, Georgina Cates hidden camera comedy Johnny Knoxville in old-man makeup, pulls pranks on unsuspecting bystanders. A dumb, molasses-paced hidden-camera flick that tries to be both gross and heartfelt, but really just feels pointless. Rated R
The Counselor HHHH Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Brad Pitt neo-noir crime thriller A lawyer gets involved in a drug deal that goes bad — very bad. A strikingly original collaboration between director Ridley Scott and writer Cormac McCarthy has proven that personal filmmaking can still exist in mainstream film. What this sharply divisive film does not prove is that there’s much market for it. Unrelentingly grim (with doses of bitter humor), layered, disturbing and, yes, flawed, but I found it compelling. Rated R
Diana HHHS Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews, Douglas Hodge, Juliet Stevenson, Geraldine James Romantic Biopic Fact-based story of Princess Diana’s love affair with a Pakistani heart surgeon during the last two years of her life. Lightweight, but handsome and well-acted account of the last years of Princess Diana’s life. It’s not a great picture, but it’s entertaining, and Naomi Watts makes a strong impression as Diana. Too bad it’s apt to get lost in the shuffle of a week heavy in “art” titles. Rated pg-13
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noVEmBER 6 - noVEmBER 12, 2013
mountainx.com
Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Caviezel, Faran Tahir, Sam Neill action A professional escape artist is sent to a secret, illegal prison that’s thought to be impenetrable. A terminally dumb action picture that makes zero sense, manned by a couple of senior citizens out to prove they’ve still got it. Dreadfully bad. Rated R
Free Birds S (Voices) Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, George Takei, Amy Poehler, Keith David animated anthropomorphic turkey sci-fi Time-traveling turkeys go back to pilgrim times to prevent turkey from becoming the standard Thanksgiving fare. It isn’t clever. It isn’t funny. It isn’t very well made. It seems a lot longer than 90 minutes. Rated pg
Gravity HHHHS Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris (voice) sci-fi suspense Two astronauts accidentally set adrift in space must find a way to survive and make it back to earth. Brilliantly made, impeccably acted, visually impressive and undeniably intense in its suspense. Gravity is a fine film, but is maybe too efficient for its own good. Rated pg-13
HHHHH = max rating
children struggle for survival in the English countryside. An odd, but generally effective movie that benefits from strong performances and gets extra points for not explaining too much. Rated R
Inequality for All HHHHS Robert Reich documentary Documentary about the way economics work — and don’t work. Sure to be divisive, which is to say that people who believe the rich should be taxed less will hate it. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich proves an engaging personality as he explains how the economy relies on a prosperous middle class. Rated pg
Ip Man: The Final Fight HHHS Anthony Wong, Gillian Chung, Jordan Chan, Eric Tsang, Marvel Chow Biographical martial arts drama Biopic about the final years of legendary martial arts master Ip Man. While there isn’t a shortage of action — with three standout sequences — this biographical film is really more of a drama. Beautifully designed and photographed with a masterful performance from Anthony Wong. Rated pg-13
Last Vegas HH Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline, Mary Steenburgen comedy A senior citizen and his three buddies reunite for a bachelor party in Las Vegas. A pleasant enough comedy thanks to its cast, though it’s rarely amusing and far too one-note. Rated pg-13
Lee Daniels’ The Butler HHHH Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard fact-Based drama Fact-based drama about the man who served as White House butler from Ike to Reagan. Lee Daniels feels constrained with a PG-13 rating, but his film still resonates with honest emotion and solid filmmaking that manages to pack more than 80 years of story into two hours without feeling rushed. Rated pg-13
Muscle Shoals HHHHS Rick Hall, Greg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
How I Live Now HHHS Saoirse Ronan, George MacKay, Tom Holland, Harley Bird, Anna Chancellor action war thriller In the midst of an unidentified and unexplained war, four
Music Documentary Documentary about the legendary FAME recording studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Bursting with great music and terrific interviews, this is easily the best music documentary to come our way this year. Rated PG