What's At Liberty?

I'm posting a little late this week.  But here's "What's at Liberty?"

What's At Liberty?

Week of Friday, January 28th - Thursday, February 3rd

True Grit

A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer.

This is an excellent movie!  And it's one of the best book to film adaptations that I have ever seen.  It has a few scenes that differ, but I basically felt I was watching the book come to life.

Wide release (3047 screens) opening weekend debut of #2 at the box office w/ $25 mil. weekend total

Brynn's Theater of Not? Rating:

See it on the big screen!

Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of western violence including disturbing images.

110 minutes

Showing in town:

Fri. 6pm

Sat. 6pm

Sun. 1pm matinee ONLY, seats $5

(Mon. "Waiting for Superman")

Tues. 6pm (family night, seats $4)

Wed. closed

Th. 6pm

Waiting for 'Superman'

This documentary follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth and undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying "drop-out factories" and "academic sinkholes," methodically dissecting the system and it's seemingly intractable problems.

Go see this if you can (I'm going to try and make it!)  I've heard it's excellent.

Rated PG

102 minutes

Showing in town:

ON NIGHT ONLY!

Monday, January 31st @ 6pm

ALL seats $5

What's At Liberty?

So I'm going to blog about the weekly movies at Liberty Theater here in town for a month and then get feedback to see if the blogs were helpful or not in your decision to see a movie in town or to pass.  Just look for the "What's At Liberty?" post title!

What's At Liberty?

Week of Friday, January 21st - Thursday, January 27th

Yogi Bear

A documentary filmmaker travels to Jellystone Park to shoot a project and soon crosses paths with Yogi Bear, his sidekick Boo-Boo and Ranger Smith.

From all the reviews I've read, this is a harmless movie that you can easily take your kids to.  

(Parents are advised to not expect much.)  

Wide release (3515 screens) opening weekend debut of #2 at the box office w/ $16 mil. 3-day total.

Brynn's Theater or Not? Rating:

wait for DVD

Rated PG for some mild rude humor

83 min.

Showing in town:

Fri. 6pm

Sat. 6pm

Sun. 1pm matinee ONLY, seats $5

Mon. closed

Tues. 6pm (family night, seats $4)

Wed. closed

Th. 6pm

Burlesque

A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer.

Generally reviewed as a "decent movie, well received by audiences" and noted mostly for it's costumes, make-up and lighting as well as some well choreographed dance routines.

Wide release (3037 screens) opening weekend debut of #4 at the box office w/ $12 mil. 3-day total.

Brynn's Theater or Not? Rating:

wait for DVD

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including several suggestive dance routines, partial nudity and some thematic material.

 119 min.

Showing in town:

Fri. 8pm

Sat. 8pm, date night, all seats $5

Sun. 3:15pm matinee ONLY, seats $5

Mon. closed

Tues. 8pm (family night, seats $4)

Wed. closed

Th. 8pm

I Want to See...

Well my goal of blogging the entire week before the Golden Globes didn't happen as two out of my three kids wound up getting the flu and one of them decided to have strep on top of it. So my weekend plans of blogging about who I thought would win what and even watching the awards ceremony went up in smoke.  I told my husband on Sunday night that I only had enough energy to predict a few winners: Colin Firth as Best Actor - Drama for The King's Speech, Natalie Portman as Best Actress - Drama for Black Swan, Annette Bening as Best Actress - Comedy or Musical for The Kids Are All Right, Johnny Depp as Best Actor - Comedy or Musical for Alice in Wonderland, Christian Bale as Best Supporting Actor for The Fighter.  Monday morning I got up and looked online to see who won - I got them all correct, except for Depp who lost out to Paul Giamatti for a role in a movie I've never even heard of.

I must say that I was a bit disappointed that The Social Network won for Best Picture, I am just not a big fan of that movie.  Couldn't stand the previews and I get so tired of hearing about Facebook in the news, that I think it really turned me off from seeing a film about it, even though I am a Facebook user.  BUT, I've heard from a few friends who have seen the movie, that it's actually really good.  It's winning all sorts of awards, so we'll see what happens next weekend at the SAG awards and then the BAFTA's in February, if it keeps up it's momentum.

But enough of that.

I've been watching previews lately for movies coming out and I wanted to share a few that I think could be entertaining!  Please note that I watch a wide variety of movies.  So the previews I post will vary - some you may like, some may make you question being my friend....  Make sure you watch the ones you think look good and if you see one you like, remember to write down the release date and title so you don't forget.  Enjoy!

The Eagle

In Roman-ruled Britain, a young Roman soldier endeavors to honor his father's memory by finding his lost legion's golden emblem.

Looks interesting!  I saw a blurb months ago about a movie with Channing Tatum that was filming in Scotland.  (This must have been it.)  The blurb was talking about how they had to take him to the hospital because he was trying to get warm in his "Roman outfit" and one of the stuntmen poured hot water down his suit. I guess he had some sort of undies on under the skirt and the water was SO hot it burned a rather ummm, "sensitive" area....

Stars:

Channing Tatum 

Jamie Bell

Mark Strong

Donald Sutherland

Rated PG-13 for battle sequences and some disturbing images.

Release date:  February 11, 2011

Hanna

A 16-year-old who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.

I love suspenseful, thrillers.  Until M. Night Shyamalan movies (which Hanna is not, I'm just making a reference) started stinking, they were some of my favorites because of that "keeps you guessing" feeling they have.  This one looks like it has action as well, which makes it even better.

Stars:

Saoirse Ronan

Cate Blanchett

Eric Bana

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexual material and language.

Release Date: April 8, 2011

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too.

I am looking forward to this!  It looks much better than the last one, which I thought was one of the longest movies I have ever seen and could have gotten it's point across in about an hour rather than almost 3. 

Stars:

Johnny Depp

Geoffrey Rush

Penelope Cruz

Ian McShane

Not yet rated.

Release Date: May 20, 2011

Gnomeo & Juliet

Garden gnomes Gnomeo (voice of McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Blunt) have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?

Feel free to ask my children, they will confirm I am picky about animated films.  I rarely take my kids to a theatre to watch them, waiting instead until DVD release.  Part of that is because they won't sit still or as in the last time we went, my middle kid HAD to use the potty in the last 5 minutes of Tangled....

But it's usually because I don't think there are that many worth seeing.  This is one I think has potential.

Voice Talents Of:

James McAvoy

Emily Blunt

Jason Statham

Michael Caine

Maggie Smith

Patrick Stewart

Unrated

Release Date: February 11, 2011

Cowboys and Aliens

A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region.  A posse of cowboys are all that stand in their way.

Well why not? If aliens can attack in present day, why wouldn't they back in the day?  Haha!  I don't care how silly this might be, it has Daniel Craig AND Harrison Ford in it.  I'm there.

Stars:

Daniel Craig

Harrison Ford

Olivia Wilde

Sam Rockwell

Not yet rated.

Release Date: July 29, 2011

Movie Review - The Hurt Locker

War is a drug.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2755855129/

In 2009, the year of James Cameron's Avatar, a little film about an unpopular subject, quickly rose up the ranks of critical acclaim.

The Hurt Locker.  A movie about an elite bomb squad unit in Iraq, became the lowest grossing movie to ever win Best Picture at the 2010 Oscar's.  

But it truly is one of the best pictures I have ever seen.  

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty - The Hurt Locker is a riveting film that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Jeremy Renner stars as Sergeant First Class William James, a seemingly indestructible bomb disposal expert, who is brought into a new unit after they are forced to replace their former leader.  James takes his subordinates, Sanborn (played by Anthony Mackie) and Eldridge (played by Brian Geraghty) on a wild ride of urban combat. 

I've never been to war, but I have seen quite a few films about the subject.  Where most are full of macho bravado and special effects, The Hurt Locker brings a sense of realism to the day in and day out danger and never ending stress of war time combat.  The cinematography is superb and you will not want to miss the opening scene.

The language is terrible and the violence realistic.  But if you can handle that, the movie's last 20 minutes will make you think.  It's final image will make an impression.

Earning Kathryn Bigelow the Best Director Oscar, the first ever for a woman and Oscars for Best Editing, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Screenplay - this is a film you must see.

Rated R for war violence and language.

Runtime: 131 min.

Trivia-

Kathryn Bigelow is James Cameron's ex-wife.

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Academy Award, the BAFTA (British equivalent of the Oscars), and the DGA (Director's Guild Award) for Best Director for her work on this film. This is also the first film to win Best Picture that was directed by a woman.

Filmed on location in Jordan.

The expression "the hurt locker" is a preexisting slang term for a situation involving trouble or pain, which can be traced back to the Vietnam War. According to the movie's website, it is soldier vernacular in Iraq to speak of explosions as sending you to "the hurt locker". 

First dramatic feature film about the Iraq War to win an Academy Award. First war movie about a modern war to win the Best Picture Academy Award where the war featured is not World War I, World War II nor the Vietnam War. First war movie to win the Best Picture Academy Award since The English Patient (1996). First war movie to win a Best Director Academy Award since Roman Polanski's, The Pianist (2002).

Golden Globes Best Picture Nominees - Drama & Comedy or Musical

In honor of the Golden Globes ceremony this coming Sunday night, I will be blogging all week.  I have unfortunately NOT seen any of the 10 films listed below.  Almost all of them are on my "to see" list, but there just hasn't been any time for me to get to the "big" theatre an hour away and only 4 of the movies below have come to my town.  (And when they were here I didn't get to see them...)

I present to you anyway, clips of the 5 Best Picture nominees in the Drama category and the 5 Best Picture nominees in the Comedy or Musical category.  (My notes in italics.)  Tell me who you think should win...

Best Picture - Drama

And the nominees are:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3985807385/

A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan, but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like the evil twin sister of the White Swan, the Black Swan.

Stars:
Natalie Portman
Mila Kunis
Vincent Cassel
Barbara Hershey
Winona Ryder

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky

Also nominated for:
Natalie Portman, Best Actress - Drama
Mila Kunis, Best Supporting Actress
Darren Aronofsky, Best Director

This looks like the creepiest ballet themed movie I have ever seen. But the 2 nominated actresses trained for over a year to do as much of the dancing as they could.  I think that Natalie Portman will win for best actress - drama.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2330986777/

A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.

Stars:

Mark Wahlberg

Christian Bale

Amy Adams

Directed By: David O. Russell

Also nominated for:

Mark Wahlberg, Best Actor - Drama

Christian Bale, Best Supporting Actor

Amy Adams, Best Supporting Actress

Melissa Leo, Best Supporting Actress

David O. Russell, Best Director

I cannot wait to see this, but I fear I will have to as it has left the "big" theatre near me and never came to my little town.  I put Christian Bale as the winner for best supporting actor. 

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2165180185/

In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception.

Stars:

Leonardo DiCaprio

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Ellen Page

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Also nominated for:

Christopher Nolan, Best Director

Hans Zimmer, Best Original Score

I don't see this winning best picture at the Golden Globes.  I foresee it taking all of the technical awards at the Oscar's such as special effects and cinematography. 

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi806197529/

The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it.

Stars:
Colin Firth
Helena Bonham Carter
Geoffrey Rush

Directed By: Tom Hooper

Also nominated for:
Colin Firth, Best Actor - Drama
Helena Bonham Carter, Best Supporting Actress
Geoffrey Rush, Best Supporting Actor
Tom Hooper, Best Director
Alexandre Desplat, Best Original Score

Out of all the movies on this page, THIS is the one I want to see the most.  I vote for Colin Firth as best actor - drama.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4152690201/

A chronicle of the founding of Facebook, the social-networking web site.

Stars:

Jesse Eisenberg

Andrew Garfield

Justin Timberlake

Directed By: David Fincher

Also nominated for:

Jesse Eisenberg, Best Actor - Drama

Andrew Garfield, Best Supporting Actor

David Fincher, Best Director

I have no desire to see this movie.  I am not even sure why it was made, they didn't even get the story correct from what I've read.

Best Picture - Comedy or Musical

And the nominees are:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi975438873/

19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

Stars:

Mia Wasikowska

Johnny Depp

Helena Bonham Carter

Directed By: Tim Burton

Also nominated for:

Johnny Depp, Best Actor - Musical or Comedy

Danny Elfman, Best Original Score

Johnny Depp should win for best actor - musical or comedy.  And Danny Elfman could come away with the best original score as well.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1405094169/

A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer.

Stars:

Cher

Christina Aguilera

Alan Cumming

Directed By: Steve Antin

Also nominated for:

Bound to You, Best Original Song

You Haven't Seen the Last of Me, Best Original Song

The only musical that even came out this year...I think.  It bombed at the theatre.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi381421337/

Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life.

Stars:

Annette Bening

Julianne Moore

Mark Ruffalo

Directed By: Lisa Cholodenko

Also nominated for:

Annette Bening, Best Actress - Comedy or Musical

Julianne Moore, Best Actress - Comedy or Musical

This is another one the didn't come to town.  It actually looks pretty funny!  I think that Annette Bening and Julianne Moore will cancel each other out with best actress votes for this, therefore allowing someone else to win.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2156856857/

When his idyllic life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, former black-ops agent Frank Moses reassembles his old team in a last ditch effort to survive.

Stars:

Bruce Willis

Helen Mirren

Morgan Freeman

John Malkovich

Directed By: Robert Schwentke

Also nominated for:

well....nothing actually

I've heard it's entertaining.  I highly doubt it will win.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi304847129/

Revolves around Frank, an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart.  Elise is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path.

Stars:

Johnny Depp

Angelina Jolie

Paul Bettany

Directed By: Florian Henckel von Donnersmark

Also nominated for: 

Johnny Depp, Best Actor - Musical or Comedy

Angelina Jolie, Best Actress - Musical or Comedy

I have no idea why this is in the comedy or musical category. It's listed as: action, drama, thriller when you look it up.  I don't think it's going to win anything honestly.  My guess is the only reason they nominated both the film as well as Depp and Jolie was so they would come to the ceremony and give it some "star" power.

Whatever Happened To.... (Val Kilmer)

Val Edward Kilmer
DOB: 12-31-59 (that makes him 51)
Height: 6'
Known for being "meticulous" (aka: difficult) when preparing characters.
Started his career on the stage after attending Julliard, has 78 actor credits (films and TV) starting in 1984.
Most noticeable roles:
Iceman in Top Gun
Madmartigan in Willow
Jim Morrison in The Doors
Doc Holiday in Tombstone
Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever
Col. John Henry Patterson in The Ghost and the Darkness
Simon Templar in The Saint
The voice of Moses in The Prince of Egypt
John Holmes in Wonderland
(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000174/#Actor)

What happened to Val Kilmer one of the best actors of the 80's and 90's?  After iconic performances in Top Gun and the cult hit Willow, it was his portrayal as Jim Morrison in The Doors that really made Hollywood take notice.  He did his own singing in the film and the real members of the band said they had difficulty distinguishing Kilmer's voice from that of Morrison's.  Kilmer struck a low note, in my personal opinion, with his turn as Batman in Batman Forever.  One of my personal favorites though is his performance as Doc Holiday in Tombstone.  But Val's "sex symbol" status has gone the way of the dodo and his career has all but disappeared.  Apart from appearing in the more well known Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Deja Vu and MacGruber as well as voicing K.I.T.T in the short lived TV reboot of Knight Rider, Kilmer has had a lot of rolls lately in films that most people haven't heard of.

How DOES one go from this-

To this-

Holy Spanx Batman!!!

I realize that there is no written rule saying actors need to stay in shape (though it's unfortunately expected in Hollywood) but it's one of those things that help one's career, especially when one was once known for their good physique.

If this is what happens from living on a ranch in New Mexico for the last 20 years, I don't think that's something I'll sign up for.  Poor Val has only made the news lately for owing the government about $500K in back taxes.  He obviously needs some work and in the words of one blog commentator maybe he should think about making some new movies, tentatively starring in Fatman Forever or Top Gut...

Val, put down the plate of sopapillas and call up Micky Rourke's agent.  'Cause this chick would love to see you in some fabulous new flick!