CinePhillyist

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

Save Me
A sex and drug addicted young man is forced into a Christian-run ministry in an attempt to cure him of his "gay affliction," where instead he is faced with the truth in his heart and spirit. The film is an examination of the uneasy intersection of religion and homosexuality. Sounds interesting, and the reviews are reasonably positive.
Freshness
Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse

Most Likely to Rule: Appaloosa
We reviewed this film last week, but we wanted to note it here again due to the fact that it's finally coming to Center City this week.
Trailer - Freshness
Showing at: Ritz Five

Body of Lies
We should have a review of this thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe later on this morning.
Trailer - Freshness
Showing at: UA Riverview, The Bridge

The Express
Yep, it's another inspirational sports docudrama. This one tells the story of Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), a young African American man raised in Pennsylvania coal-mining country who's on his way to achieving his dream of being a football star with the help of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), when he finds himself unexpectedly fighting for his life. The reviews aren't too bad, but we're tired of inspirational sports docudramas. In fact, just typing that whole thing out makes us tired. We're going to take a break. We'll catch up with you on the next movie.
Trailer - Freshness
Showing at: UA Riverview, The Bridge

City of Ember
This children's fantasy is an adaptation of a book by Jeanne DuPrau about two teens living in an underground city who must solve an ancient mystery before their city is swallowed by darkness. The film stars Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, and Martin Landau. The reviews are mixed, but it looks pretty neat to us. We'd see it!
Trailer - Freshness
Showing at: UA Riverview

Most Likely to Suck: Quarantine
A television reporter (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris) are assigned to spend the night with a Los Angeles Fire Station when a 911 call takes them to a small apartment building. A woman there has been infected by something unknown. After a few residents are attacked, everyone tries to escape the building, only to find that the CDC has quarantined the building. In true Blair Witch style, once the quarantine is finally lifted, the only evidence of what really happened is the news crew's video tape. It's a vaguely interesting premise, but the ads make it look like a pretty typical horror movie, and the fact that the film was not screened for critics is not a good sign. We'll give it a miss.
Trailer - Freshness
Showing at: UA Riverview, The Bridge

The Immortal Alain Robbe-Grillet
This weekend the International House celebrates the films of Alain Robbe-Grillet with a screening of Trans-Europ Express on Friday, and The Man Who Lies and Eden and After on Saturday. The first film has a familiar but intriguing premise: an author (Robbe-Grillet) is considering ideas for a film while riding a train, but his sordid melodrama about gangsters, drugs, and bondage begins coming to life around him. The Man Who Lies is described as one of the director's most innovative works, and is about a man who invents his character, past, and emotions as he goes along, until his words are turned against him and his identity disintegrates. Last up is the film with the most interesting description, Eden and After. It's "an erotic and complex tale of murder and vampirism, set somewhere between the fictitious landscapes of the Marquis de Sade and Lewis Carroll." We're sold!
Showing at: The International House

Image via Internet Movie Poster Awards Gallery