startingfriday BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR
book FBI agent (Don Cheadle). The trailer looks delightful. Plus, it’s one of the best reviewed movies of the summer. (R)
Dear Lord — another comedy from Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions for one of his hangers-on (Nick Swardson in this case) to star in, and this one’s even partly written by Sandler. And then there’s crack director Tom Brady, whose name adorns some really awful movies (all but one coming from the Sandler machine) and no good ones. This round we have Swardson as the dim-witted Bucky Larson, who, discovering his parents used to be porno stars, decides this is where his future lies. Stephen Dorff, Christina Ricci and Don Johnson are among the perpetrators. For some reason, this has not been screened for critics. (R)
Early review samples: • “Mr. Gleeson’s rogue is a treat, however conceptually contrived, and Mr. Cheadle’s lightly played gravity is a pleasure.” (Manohla Dargis, New York Times) • “An impish and impudent black comedy that knows where it’s going and how to get there, it gives veteran actor Brendan Gleeson one of the tastiest roles of his career and introduces a gifted writer-director with a familiar family name.” (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times)
CONTAGION
TERRI
Before turning his back on the movie world to take up painting, Steven Soderbergh has some parting shots up his sleeve. The first of these is Contagion, about the panic that ensues when a new airborne lethal virus shows up. He may be leaving the movies, but Sorderbergh can still pull in a cast — Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne. There are too few credible early reviews to tell much, but the word is mostly positive and Todd McCarthy (The Hollywood Reporter) liked it. (PG-13)
THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE
See review in “Cranky Hanke.”
THE GUARD
The name John Michael McDonagh may not immediately mean anything to you, but perhaps you’ve heard of his brother Martin, who wrote and directed In Bruges (2008). Well, now John Michael — inheriting his brother’s star performer Brendan Gleeson — has written and directed a movie of his own. It’s a culture-clash comedy that pairs a confrontational and very outspoken Irish police sergeant with a button-down, by-the-
See review in “Cranky Hanke.”
WARRIOR
Gavin O’Connor — who last brought us the abysmal Pride and Glory in 2008 — is back with Warriors. The story is about an ex-Marine (Tom Hardy) being trained by his father (Nick Nolte) for some gigantic (and lucrative) mixed martial arts event. Things take a complex turn, however, when his brother (Joel Edgerton) turns out to be his opponent. The folks at Lionsgate claim that the match is a “soaring, soul stirring and unforgettable climax that must be seen to be believed.” (PG-13) Early review samples: • “It’s about broken families coming together. It’s about economic desperation and about America getting off the ropes and recovering its fighting spirit.” (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly) • “The family drama resonates strongly with a resolution that, in retrospect, seems like the only way the brothers could have rediscovered blood ties. Meanwhile their fights are downright compelling.” (Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter)
Back-to-school
Free outdoor movie series
sePt 13
FRee!
ANimAl House Coming up: sept 13: Animal House • sept 20: Dazed and Confused sept 27: Clueless free admission • seating begins at 8pm all shows start at dark bring chairs & blankets burgers & dogs, great beer & wine selection available for purchase
800 Brevard Road • Asheville, NC 28806 • Phone: 828.665.8661 The Banff Centre presents
BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL
Presenting Partner
Major Partners
RADICAL REELS TOUR
Stand up for your 2nd Amendment Rights! Come by for a chance to win a Barrett .50 cal Membership & Gun Specials on September 11 • • • •
Range & Shop Concealed carry classes Gear & Supplies One-on-one Lessons
Come enjoy our safe, family-friendly atmosphere and show us what you’ve got. Corner of Sweeten Creek Rd. & Busbee View Rd. • Just 2.7 miles from Biltmore
828.274.0028 • www.ontargetnc.com
Hang on to your seats for some of the wildest high-adrenaline mountain sport films!
www.radicalreels.com
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 - CAROLINA CINEMAS 1640 Hendersonville Rd. • 7 pm - Doors open at 6 pm Tickets $15, $17 after September 10, Limited Seating Proceeds benefit Appalachian Trail Conservancy Tickets now on sale at REI Asheville - Hosted by REI
mountainx.com • SEPTEMBER 7 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 61