CinePhillyist

What's new and/or interesting in theaters this weekend.

For the Bible Tells Me So - This is a documentary looking at Christianity and homosexuality, and whether the two can possibly get along. It includes interviews with people on both sides of the debate, and looks at whether the parts of the Bible that are supposedly anti-gay haven't perhaps been taken out of context and used to serve a political agenda. Sounds like a very interesting film.
Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song - It's another documentary! This one, obviously, is about folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, but actually filmmaker Jim Brown uses Seeger's life as a jumping-off point to examine decades of American social history. Included are original interviews with Seeger's contemporaries (like Dylan and Springsteen), Seeger's private home movies, and, of course, concert footage. We're not really very familiar with Seeger's music, but this still sounds like an intriguing movie to us.
Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse

Most Likely to Rule: Elizabeth: The Golden Age - This sequel to the original Elizabeth is coming out nearly 10 years after that film's release, but Shekhar Kapur is back in the director's chair, and Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush are back in their respective roles as the titular queen and Sir Francis Walsingham (not to mention Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh). We were never as big a fan of Elizabeth as everybody else was, but we have to admit this film appears to be quite epic, dramatic, and visually stunning, so we're pretty excited to see it.
Trailer
Showing at: Ritz Five

The Darjeeling Limited - Wes Anderson's latest odd, quirky, visually arresting character piece is finally here! The film stars Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman as three American brothers who haven't spoken to each other in a year, but who all agree to take a train trip across India together in order to find themselves and bond as brothers. Of course, things don't go exactly as planned, and wacky misadventures ensue. Also appearing in the film are Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, and Natalie Portman. We've heard mixed things about the film, but then, it's a Wes Anderson film. If you like his style, we suspect you'll probably enjoy it; if you don't, then you probably won't.
Trailer
Showing at: Ritz Five

We Own the Night - The story of the war between NYC cops and the Russian mafia during the '80s, and one man who finds himself caught in the middle. Joaquin Phoenix plays a nightclub owner who finds it necessary to turn a blind eye to crime, and must keep secret the fact that his brother (Mark Walberg) and his father (Robert Duvall) are cops. But the escalating conflict between the police and the mafia force him to make hard decisions. Also starring in the film, as Phoenix's romantic interest, is perpetual player of romantic interests, Eva Mendes. Even with the rather impressive cast, we can't say we're all that interested in seeing this one, especially since the critics are pretty much split down the middle on it.
Trailer
Showing at: Ritz Five

Most Likely to Suck: The Final Season - This is another one of those true stories about a rookie coach of a sports team that brings hope to a small town when they need it most. In this case the sport is high school baseball, and the coach is played by Sean Astin. The synopsis sounds dull and by the numbers, like even the marketing guys couldn't work up any interest in it. Definitely one to avoid, unless you're really desperate for sappy, sports-related, Hollywood-manufactured inspiration.
Trailer
Showing at: UA Riverview

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? - Yes, it's yet another Tyler Perry movie, again based on the stage play of the same name. He stars in it along with folks like Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, and Michael Jai White. It's about eight married college friends who get together for a reunion only to discover one pair's infidelity. When the secret comes out, all the other couples begin questioning the validity of their own marriages, and taking a hard look at issues like commitment, betrayal, forgiveness, and life in general. Doesn't exactly sound like a barrel of fun to us, and there aren't even enough reviews on Rotten Tomatoes to formulate a freshness rating, so we're going to say "no thank you."
Trailer
Showing at: UA Riverview, The Bridge

New Home Movies From the Lower Ninth Ward - Jonathan Demme's latest film is a documentary collecting the stories of the people of New Orleans who were hardest hit by Katrina and its aftermath, and taking a look at how they're still struggling to get by. This is the Philadelphia premiere of the film, and proceeds will go to benefit the Parker Family, who are the focus of the film, and who lost nearly everything in the hurricane. This doesn't sound like a very fun movie, but it does sound like one that it might be important to see.
Showing at: International House

Image via the Internet Movie Poster Awards Gallery