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Across the Ist-a-Verse
What's new and/or interesing in Philly theaters this weekend.
Fast Food Nation - We wouldn't have figured in a million years that someone would think to adapt an expose of the fast food industry into a fictional drama, but that is exactly what's happened here. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the writer/director of this odd film is oddball Richard Linklater who, judging by his filmography, will try anything once. We can't call ourselves a Linklater fan, but we're basing our dislike of him on only one movie (that being the agonizingly pretentious snorefest that is Slacker), which is a little unfair, especially since his catalog of work is so varied. We've been meaning to give him another try, and perhaps this intriguing film is the perfect opportunity. After all, it also features a bevy of stars, including Wilmer Valderrama, Greg Kinnear, Luis Guzman, Patricia Arquette, Kris Kirstofferson, Bruce Willis, Ethan Hawke, and Avril Lavigne.
Trailer
Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse
Most Likely to Suck: Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus - Speaking of odd films, here's another! It's based on a biography of photographer Diane Arbus, but intertwines the true story of her life with invented characters and events. Nicole Kidman plays Arbus as a shy 1950s housewife who is introduced to her unlikely subjects, and the possibility of a creative life, by her enigmatic new neighbor, played by Robert Downey Jr. Looks like they're going for almost a magical realism thing with this one. A fascinating idea, but the reviews are not good. We suggest you stay away.
Trailer
Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse
Shut Up and Sing - A documentary following the Dixie Chicks over three years, from when they were the darlings of country music, to their infamous anti-Bush comments and the political attacks and death threats they had to endure because of them. We could see this being interesting, but you'd probably have to listen to a lot of country music, so it's kind of a trade-off.
Trailer
Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse
Happy Feet - You wouldn't know it from the trailers, but apparently this film has a story, and isn't just a bunch of computer-animated penguins dancing and cracking wise for about an hour and a half. The penguins need their own special song to attract a soul mate, but our hero, Mumble, is the worst singer in the world. Luckily, he can tap dance. Yeah, you can probably see where this is going. There's the usual ridiculous parade of Hollywood stars voicing the little cartoon animals, with Elijah Wood as Mumble, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman as his parents, and Robin Williams as...himself, in penguin form. Oh, and lets not forget Brittany Murphy, Hugo Weaving, Steve Irwin, and Anthony LaPaglia. Anyway, we think we've got a review of this one coming up later today, so keep your eye out for that.
Trailer
Showing at: Franklin Institute (IMAX), The Roxy, The Riverview, The Bridge
More after the jump...
After Dark: 8 Films to Die For - This is a fascinating little mini-film festival that's in theaters all around the country this weekend only. The title is a little misleading, as there are actually nine movies included. They're all supposed to be "to [sic] graphic or too disturbing for general audiences," so keep that in mind. The most interesting of the group is probably Reincarnation, a Japanese horror film from Takashi Shimizu (creator of The Grudge), although of course we're also intrigued by Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror, the hip hop horror anthology film. Anyway, with a grab bag like there's bound to be good and bad, but it's probably all different and unique and interesting.
Trailer
Showing at: The Riverview
Most Likely to Rule: Casino Royale - The new Bond is finally here, and we're pretty excited. The ads look good, we like the look of Daniel Craig in the part, and the reviews are fantastic - even that pretentious snob from the New Yorker, Anthony Lane, liked it! The film is actually a prequel, and goes back to examine the brutal transformation of Bond into the cold, smooth 007 agent we know so well. The story is about a crooked casino owner who's funding terrorism, so obviously Bond gets to do his regular bit of gambling and drinking, along with plenty of fighting and killing. Should be a good time!
Trailer
Showing at: The Riverview, The Bridge
Let's Go to Prison - Looks like essentially a long string of all of the most wrong prison-related jokes you can possibly think of. Who's directing this strange pile of questionable humor? Bob Odenkirk, of course! The story that this chain of gags hangs on is the following: a career criminal learns that the son of a judge he hates is in jail, and so deliberately returns there in order to make the man's life a living hell. We suspect the movie will cross the line a lot, but we also suspect it will make you laugh in spite of yourself. Perhaps worth a viewing, if you're in the mood for some stupid humor.
Trailer
Showing at: The Riverview
Turkish Film Festival - The International House's Turkish Film Festival continues with Istanbul Tales Friday night and On the Road Saturday afternoon. The former film is five stories by five different directors, each one following a different group of strange characters, examining the unexpected ways their lives are affected by the death of a powerful mob boss. In the latter film, two friends - Yilmaz and Sedat - estranged since a disagreement 20 years earlier, are reunited when Yilmaz asks his wife and Sedat to follow him as he is transferred from one prison to another. It ends up being a meditation on freedom and imprisonment. We think Istanbul Tales sounds like the more exciting of the two films, but both seem intriguing enough.
Showing at: The International House
When Animals Attack! - The IHouse is exploding with movies this weekend, as after the Turkish Film Festival is over they'll be screening an Exhumed Films double feature of '70s animal attack films. First up is Grizzly, a rip-off of Jaws where the shark is replaced by a 15-foot-tall grizzly bear. Next is Day of the Animals, which has some crazy story about how the depletion of the ozone layer leads to animals living in high altitudes going crazy and attacking hikers, but the important part is, it's got Leslie Nielsen wrestling a bear. Dude, that's just awesome. They should seriously retitle the movie Leslie Nielsen Wrestles a Bear.
Showing at: The International House
Image Credit: Collective
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