Now In Theaters.

A Look at This Week's New and Specialty Film Releases Around Town.

In lieu of a full-on review of one of this week's releases, we'll use this space today to catch you up on all of this week's new offerings and special screenings. So check them out, then be sure to check back in this space next week. That's right, all you Bagginses, wizards, dwarves, elves and Internet trolls; that's when James will be back in full force with his review of the highly anticipated The Hobbit.

Playing For Keeps
Director: Gabriele Muccino.
Writer: Robbie Fox.
Studio: FilmDistrict.
Cast: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dennis Quaid.
Where's It Playing? Everywhere.
Gerard Butler plays an ex-soccer star (believable) who turns to coaching his son's team to get his own life off the bench. Jessica Biel plays his minivan driving baby mama (not believe-a-Biel) and the old flame he never quite got over. Honestly, you're either the type of person who sees movies like this or you're the type of person who sees good movies. No snarky synopsis from me is going to change that. This was determined long ago by forces much bigger than me. Personally, I'd rather take a penalty kick to the balls than have to sit through this film. But to each his own, I guess! 

The Flat
Director: Arnon Goldfinger.
Where's It Playing? Only at The Magnolia.
After his grandmother's passing, an Israeli documentarian and his family gather to go through the belongings in her apartment — the same one she occupied for 70 years after fleeing Nazi Germany with her husband and immigrating to Palestine. What he finds is a series of clues leading to the uncovering of a shocking family secret involving a personal relationship between his grandparents and a high-ranking Nazi official. Seeing this will remind you that, no matter how bad your holiday family gatherings may get, at least your family wasn't BFFs with the SS.

Alien: Director's Cut
Director: Ridley Scott.
Writer: Dan O'Bannon.
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Bolaji Badejo.
Where's It Playing? Friday and Saturday, only at The Inwood.
In space, no one can hear you scream. But at The Inwood, where they're showing Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi classic, everyone can hear you scream. If you've never seen Scott's cut of the film (widely considered the definitive viewing experience by cinephiles) or if you're one of the rare few in the galaxy who have never seen this film at all, there's no better way to enjoy the chest-bursting fun than on the silver screen and in the comfort of your own LoveSac. It's the same theater where it originally opened 33 years ago! Plus, fanboys, here's your chance to stare at Sigourney Weaver in white panties on a giant screen. Y'know, if all those other reasons weren't good enough. 

Scarface in 35MM 29th Anniversary Screening
Director: Brian De Palma.
Writer: Oliver Stone.
Cast: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer.
Where's It Playing? Friday, Saturday and Sunday, only at the Texas Theatre.
More like “Say hello to my giant friend!” with Tony Montana on the big screen, amirite? All this weekend, the Texas Theatre is showing a special 35MM print to celebrate the 29th birthday of Brian De Palma's film featuring everyone's favorite Cuban drug lord, which was first released on December 9th, 1983. Ever since, the rap game and the walls of college dorms haven't been the same. Oh, and if you see a white powdery substance around the theater, just make sure it's popcorn salt before you go shoving your face in it. 

Holiday Classics at the Angelika Plano
Where's It Playing?: Every Thursday in December only at the Angelika Plano.
Every Thursday in December, enjoy a holiday classic at the Angelika Plano! This week kicked the festivities off with a more recent yuletide favorite, Love Actually. Next Thursday (December 13), we have the iconic A Christmas Story just in case you haven't seen that film so many times you've actually wanted to shoot your eye out. Next up, we're kicking it old school with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney in 1954's White Christmas. And, of course, it wouldn't be the most wonderful time of the year without It's A Wonderful Life, which is showing on December 27 in case you're not all Christmased out by then.