Feb. 5, 2009
REEL WEEK: What’s Happening at the Movies
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Actually, the most significant treat for lovers of classic motion pictures will not -- repeat WILL NOT -- be on Turner Classic Movies, the Independent Film Channel or Sundance Channel. And, it’s readily available to rent or check out at local libraries.
No, the news is that Alfred Hitchcock’s vintage mystery-thriller about mistaken identity, government secrets and an innocent man pursued on a train unveils Monday, Feb. 8 at 4 and 7 p.m. on a big screen at the Cinema Theatre, 1023 Fourth Avenue.
Having been called “the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures,” Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason star along with Leo G. Carroll and Martin Landau.
Grant plays a Madison Avenue advertising executive mistaken for a spy attempting to unload some microfilm. “North by Northwest” has the classic sequence in which a biplane dusts crops (where there are none) then speeds toward Grant who runs into a cornfield. MAINSTREAM
Super Bowl fans take a chunk out of Hollywood’s weekend, which due to weather peculiarities could become even more weird. On line --- can “Avatar” fend off the two latest opponents for the #1 slot at the weekend boxoffice --- “Dear John” and “From Paris with Love.”
Actually, I’d have thought this would be a breeze for Cameron’s nine-Oscar nominated production. Nominations mean a “bump” in new and returning audiences, “wins” provide a second bump. However, Pandora must fend off “Dear John,” a mostly female oriented picture on a weekend when the dudes will be doing their version of “Hangover’s” before, during and after the Sunday Super Bowl.
DEAR JOHN
All Pictures © Song
Described as a “couple’s movie” and a rival to “The Notebook,” Channing (“G.I. Joe,” “Public Enemies,” “Stop Loss,” “She’s the Man”) Tatum and Amanda (“Jenifer’s Body,” “Mamma Mia,” “Veronica Mars,” “Big Love”) Seyfried play a couple struggling with the separation from military and patriotic duty.
Actually, Southern Belle Savannah (Seyfried) who often ditches socialite duties for repairing houses, falls for a “bad boy” special forces lover. Complicating this long distance romance, when he departs, he can’t give out the location. This one has a 9/11 twist --- it’s the airplanes bringing down the towers, etc. which convinces John he has to reenlist.
FROM PARIS WITH LOVE
All Pictures © Lionsgate
Don’t mistake this for “When in Rome,” or, you will have blood in your eyes, not kisses. Travolta plays a spy living with his lovely fiancée (Kasia Smutniak) who joins a visiting intelligence officer for an anti-terrorist assignment. One reviewer wrote, “Bammo… but the melees… half of Paris, mainly Asians and Arabs is dead or dying 40 minutes into this bleed-for-all…..”)
YOUNG VICTORIA
All Pictures © 20th Century Fox
Set during her teen years prior to accession to the throne, the film covers the early reign of Queen Victoria featuring Emily(“Devil Wears Prada,” “My Summer of Love”) Blunt, Rupert Friend, Miranda Richardson, and Jim Broadbent.
The prim and proper moral references to “Victorian Era” characterizes the young chaste Queen to-be who will stay on the throne for 63 years. The feisty Victoria watches the required palace intrigue and squabbles as she rebels against restrictions placed upon her for her own good.
UPCOMING … PERCY JACKSON… LIGHTNING THIEF
The title made me think “Tyler Perry,” but obviously a twelve year old Percy (Logan Leman) and Chris Columbus (“Home Alone,” “Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets/Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Rent”) directing indicates something for the medium small fry. I love the “Harry Potter” is soon going out of business so this series about a boy birth by the god Poseidon and on a cross-country mission to settle a feud between his dad, Zeus and Hades might be the ticket for Harry’s (and “Avatar’s) replacement.
Actually, at least one of the stills (you’ll know which) has a distinct “Ghostbusters” flavor….
MINI REVIEW: Lovely Bones
All Pictures © 20th Century Fox
Eloquently foreshadowing a lonely land of beauty surrounded by a snow globe, this fantasy gently, then, chillingly , shifts indescribably to haunting narration of bad things happen for a reason, including the murder of 14-year old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan).
Bestowed imagery effective for a surreal nether world, the fantasy explores the nether place between two worlds as “letting go” faces an end run around the closure concept as a masterful riddle
Unlike a formula spiritual intervention (“Ghost”) or an earning wings (or heaven) fantasy, “Lonely Bones” wistfully shoots for the stronger concept of ‘letting go,’ from the perspective of those left on Earth and from the perspective of the girl in between. Coping skills evolve as time frames, replacements, avoidance and anger all appear, except unlike Dudley (“The Bishop’s Wife”) or an intermediary, (such as a a Young Mr. Jordan) , has veiled and limited across the gulf ability to influence those on terra firma .
Struggling soul leading a human to “solving” would be the cliché, here, “Bones” instead shadows an eerie wrestling of wills --- and who will succeed.
While watching, many area viewers may subconsciously insert a name or likeness (Megan, Samatha, or Leah ) into the depiction of Susie Salmons. An unsettled spirit leading someone to solve a murder has a long history Hollywood hokum be they spirits, ghosts, psychics or reincarnations.
Before it leaves, check out these “Bones, “ please.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
REEL WEEK: What’s Happening at the Movies
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Actually, the most significant treat for lovers of classic motion pictures will not -- repeat WILL NOT -- be on Turner Classic Movies, the Independent Film Channel or Sundance Channel. And, it’s readily available to rent or check out at local libraries.
No, the news is that Alfred Hitchcock’s vintage mystery-thriller about mistaken identity, government secrets and an innocent man pursued on a train unveils Monday, Feb. 8 at 4 and 7 p.m. on a big screen at the Cinema Theatre, 1023 Fourth Avenue.
Having been called “the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures,” Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason star along with Leo G. Carroll and Martin Landau.
Grant plays a Madison Avenue advertising executive mistaken for a spy attempting to unload some microfilm. “North by Northwest” has the classic sequence in which a biplane dusts crops (where there are none) then speeds toward Grant who runs into a cornfield. MAINSTREAM
Super Bowl fans take a chunk out of Hollywood’s weekend, which due to weather peculiarities could become even more weird. On line --- can “Avatar” fend off the two latest opponents for the #1 slot at the weekend boxoffice --- “Dear John” and “From Paris with Love.”
Actually, I’d have thought this would be a breeze for Cameron’s nine-Oscar nominated production. Nominations mean a “bump” in new and returning audiences, “wins” provide a second bump. However, Pandora must fend off “Dear John,” a mostly female oriented picture on a weekend when the dudes will be doing their version of “Hangover’s” before, during and after the Sunday Super Bowl.
DEAR JOHN
All Pictures © Song
Described as a “couple’s movie” and a rival to “The Notebook,” Channing (“G.I. Joe,” “Public Enemies,” “Stop Loss,” “She’s the Man”) Tatum and Amanda (“Jenifer’s Body,” “Mamma Mia,” “Veronica Mars,” “Big Love”) Seyfried play a couple struggling with the separation from military and patriotic duty.
Actually, Southern Belle Savannah (Seyfried) who often ditches socialite duties for repairing houses, falls for a “bad boy” special forces lover. Complicating this long distance romance, when he departs, he can’t give out the location. This one has a 9/11 twist --- it’s the airplanes bringing down the towers, etc. which convinces John he has to reenlist.
FROM PARIS WITH LOVE
All Pictures © Lionsgate
Don’t mistake this for “When in Rome,” or, you will have blood in your eyes, not kisses. Travolta plays a spy living with his lovely fiancée (Kasia Smutniak) who joins a visiting intelligence officer for an anti-terrorist assignment. One reviewer wrote, “Bammo… but the melees… half of Paris, mainly Asians and Arabs is dead or dying 40 minutes into this bleed-for-all…..”)
YOUNG VICTORIA
All Pictures © 20th Century Fox
Set during her teen years prior to accession to the throne, the film covers the early reign of Queen Victoria featuring Emily(“Devil Wears Prada,” “My Summer of Love”) Blunt, Rupert Friend, Miranda Richardson, and Jim Broadbent.
The prim and proper moral references to “Victorian Era” characterizes the young chaste Queen to-be who will stay on the throne for 63 years. The feisty Victoria watches the required palace intrigue and squabbles as she rebels against restrictions placed upon her for her own good.
UPCOMING … PERCY JACKSON… LIGHTNING THIEF
The title made me think “Tyler Perry,” but obviously a twelve year old Percy (Logan Leman) and Chris Columbus (“Home Alone,” “Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets/Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Rent”) directing indicates something for the medium small fry. I love the “Harry Potter” is soon going out of business so this series about a boy birth by the god Poseidon and on a cross-country mission to settle a feud between his dad, Zeus and Hades might be the ticket for Harry’s (and “Avatar’s) replacement.
Actually, at least one of the stills (you’ll know which) has a distinct “Ghostbusters” flavor….
MINI REVIEW: Lovely Bones
All Pictures © 20th Century Fox
Eloquently foreshadowing a lonely land of beauty surrounded by a snow globe, this fantasy gently, then, chillingly , shifts indescribably to haunting narration of bad things happen for a reason, including the murder of 14-year old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan).
Bestowed imagery effective for a surreal nether world, the fantasy explores the nether place between two worlds as “letting go” faces an end run around the closure concept as a masterful riddle
Unlike a formula spiritual intervention (“Ghost”) or an earning wings (or heaven) fantasy, “Lonely Bones” wistfully shoots for the stronger concept of ‘letting go,’ from the perspective of those left on Earth and from the perspective of the girl in between. Coping skills evolve as time frames, replacements, avoidance and anger all appear, except unlike Dudley (“The Bishop’s Wife”) or an intermediary, (such as a a Young Mr. Jordan) , has veiled and limited across the gulf ability to influence those on terra firma .
Struggling soul leading a human to “solving” would be the cliché, here, “Bones” instead shadows an eerie wrestling of wills --- and who will succeed.
While watching, many area viewers may subconsciously insert a name or likeness (Megan, Samatha, or Leah ) into the depiction of Susie Salmons. An unsettled spirit leading someone to solve a murder has a long history Hollywood hokum be they spirits, ghosts, psychics or reincarnations.
Before it leaves, check out these “Bones, “ please.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
