FamilyFilmgoer by Jane Horwitz 10 AND OLDER
FLIPPED (PG). For kids who like real- istic, character-driven stories, “Flipped” is worth seeing. Told in al- ternating segments from a boy’s and then a girl’s point of view, this tale of a 1950s grade-school romance has many nice moments but an awful lot of stilted ones, too. Director Rob Rei- ner uses a surprisingly heavy hand. When 7-year-old Bryce Loski and his parents move into a new house, Bryce is immediately accosted by lit- tle Juli Baker from across the street. She’s smitten, but he’s repelled. He spends the next few years trying to avoid Juli. As they’re starting middle school, Bryce begins to like Juli. But Juli sees Bryce repeatedly fail to speak up for what’s right, or stand up to his father, and decides he’s a mor- al coward. It’s Bryce’s granddad who helps the kids bridge the gap of un- derstanding.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The script fea- tures rare use of profanity. Mature themes deal with having a close rela- tive who is developmentally disabled. One parent drinks and is verbally abu- sive. Another family’s financial woes explode into a brief parental argu- ment.
TAKERS. Two cops go after a ring of bank robbers in this less-than-original crime saga. Jack is obsessed with identifying members of a bank-rob- bing gang that uses explosives. The gang, which till now has managed not to hurt anyone, is compromised when a former member gets out of prison and convinces the guys to rob an ar- mored car. A well-played subplot about one robber caring for his drug- addicted sister generates more inter- est here than anything else.
13 PG-
THE BOTTOM LINE: “Takers” is more for high-schoolers. Although the bloodiest shootouts are filmed as mu- sic montages with the sounds of gun- fire muted or silent, the mayhem still pushes the PG-13 in the R direction. There is profanity and some drinking and smoking.
I’M STILL HERE. This alleged behind- the-scenes account of an artistic and
R JESSICA MIGLIO
Garrett (Justin Long) and Erin (Drew Barrymore) have a fling but then try to maintain a bicoastal romance in “Going the Distance.”
personal meltdown experienced by actor Joaquin Phoenix is a very hard R and not for under-17s. Showbiz pun- dits who deem this “documentary” a hoax are probably right, but if it’s ac- tually a mockumentary, “I’m Still Here” demonstrates that Phoenix, whatever his quirks, is a great film ac- tor in the Brando tradition, even play- ing some version of himself at his worst. The film tracks Phoeonix from his announcement in 2008 that he would quit acting and become a hip- hop artist. He goes through what ap- pears to be a drug- and booze-fueled dark night of the soul.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The almost comi- cal Charles Bukowski-esque levels of dissipation include graphic drug use, drinking, scatalogical behavior, hiring of prostitutes and sexual encounters with frontal nudity. The dialogue fea- tures steaming profanity and verbal abusiveness.
THE AMERICAN. George Clooney brings subtle intensity to the strong- and-silent type he plays in this gor- geous thriller, which looks like an art- house film. The story is really a cliche —a hardened assassin wants out and tries to complete his last job with- out becoming a target himself. What makes “The American” different is its spectacular Italian locations in the Abruzzo region and the stunning, rug- ged beauty of the hillside villages where the hit man awaits orders and hides from the mysterious gunmen who are stalking him. He visits a brothel, falls for a young prostitute and suddenly longs for a simple life.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Explicit sex scenes and full nudity in “The Ameri- can,” make it an R and better seen by those 17 and older. Some of the shooting is point-blank and briefly bloody, with one graphic head wound, but most of the violence remains quite understated. Characters drink and smoke occasionally, and the dia- logue includes rare profanity.
MACHETE. Longtime movie tough guy Danny Trejo plays the title charac-
ter, a take-no-prisoners Mexican Fed- erale. After a drug lord kills his family, Machete goes underground, sneaks into Texas and works as a day laborer. He’s drawn into an assassination plot against a vicious anti-immigration state senator. Machete also connects with a taco-stand owner, who runs an underground railroad to help undocu- mented immigrants, and a U.S. immi- gration agent who finds herself taking sides with them against the corrupt Establishment. The film is a revenge fantasy against today’s anti-immi- grant mood. And while amazingly bloody, it is full of energy and wit — for adults.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely not for under-17s, “Machete” is bathed in di- rector Robert Rodriguez’s trademark grindhouse mayhem. Other R-ish ele- ments include frontal nudity and crude sexual innuendo. A father’s in- appropriate lust for his daughter is ex- pressed verbally.
GOING THE DISTANCE. Two 30-ish singles have a fling, but find them- selves falling in love and trying to maintain a long-distance relationship in “Going the Distance.” Despite its worthwhile premise, this tiresome, crudely written rom-com suffers from a chemistry imbalance between stars Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. Erin is a would-be newspaper reporter. She meets Garrett, a music industry drone, at a New York bar. They fall into bed. When it’s time for her to re- turn to California, they realize they want more and they vow to keep the romance alive.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Better for over-17s. The sexual content — strongly implied phone sex, crude sexual slang — as well as strong pro- fanity keep “Going the Distance” in R territory. Characters also drink a lot and briefly puff on a bong. There are sexual situations, back-view nudity and toilet humor.
weekend@washpost.com
Horwitz is a freelance reviewer.
Watching with kids in mind
TAKE THE ADVENTURE OFA LIFETIME
Michael Sauter, LIFE & STYLE WEEKLY
A MUST-SEE MOVIE.”
“.
27 PG
“‘EAT PRAY LOVE’
IS A MUST-SEE.” Kevin Steincross, FOX-TV
CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES
CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES
A TRUE TALL TALE
“WITH ITS SUSPENSEFUL MOMENTUM AND DASHES OF HUMOR, ‘GET LOW’ OFFERS A SHOT OF SIMPLE JOY!”
DUVALL ROBERT SPACEK SISSY
-Ann Hornaday, THE WASHINGTON POST BILL
MURRAY LANDMARK’S AMC LOEWS
E STREET CINEMA Washington, DC 202-452-7672
RIO 18 Gaithersburg 888-AMC-4FUN BOW TIE CINEMAS
HARBOUR 9 Annapolis 410-571-2796
SCREENPLAY BY CHRIS PROVENZANO AND C.GABY MITCHELL DIRECTED BY AARON SCHNEIDER WWW.SONYCLASSICS.COM AMC LOEWS
STORY BY CHRIS PROVENZANO & SCOTT SEEKE LANDMARK’S
BETHESDA ROW CINEMA Bethesda 301-652-7273
MONTGOMERY ROYAL THEATRES
Wheaton 310-949-6426 P&G
OLD GREENBELT Greenbelt 301-474-9744
SHIRLINGTON 7 Arlington 888-AMC-4FUN
CINEMA ARTS THEATRE
Fairfax 703-978-6991 RAVE MOTION PICTURES
RESTON 13 Reston 703-464-0816
REGAL CINEMAS REGAL CINEMAS BLACK LUCAS
BALLSTON COMMONS STADIUM Arlington 800-FANDANGO #377
FAIRFAX TOWNCENTER 10 Fairfax 800-FANDANGO #670
REGAL SALISBURY STADIUM 16 2322 North Salisbury Blvd. 410-860-0211
VIEW THE TRAILER AT WWW.GETLOWTHEFILM.COM
THE NUMBER ONE AUSTRALIAN MOVIE OF THE YEAR! “One of the most delightful, heartfelt and
crowd-pleasing musical comedies in years.” –Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
“Magical!” –The Huffington Post
“Exhilarating!” –Dr. Joy Browne,WOR
“Delightful!” –Jack Wilson, The Age
“If you loved MAMMA MIA!, this BRAN NUE DAE is for you.” –Michael Snyder, Sirius/XM Radio
“One of the best musicals since THE WIZARD OF OZ!” –Ron Gilbert,
LA2Day.com
“Geoffrey Rush
is awesome!” –Ain’t It Cool News
I loved this film!”
“ –Win Kang, OC Examiner
©2010 OMNILAB MEDIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
STARTS FRIDAY
E St & 11th St NW 202/452-7672 WASHINGTON, DC
VIRGINIA
CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORIES OR CALL FOR SHOWTIMES LANDMARK THEATRESESTREET CINEMA
AMC LOEWS SHIRLINGTON 7 2772 S Randolph 800/FANDANGO #801
THE WASHINGTON POST • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136