Central Track Contributor
A Look at This Week's New and Specialty Film Releases Around Town.
Jack the Giant Slayer.
Director: Bryan Singer.
Writers: Darren Lemke, Christopher McQuarrie.
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor.
Where's it playing? Everywhere!
Based on the fairy tales “Jack the Giant Killer” and, of course, “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Jack the Giant Slayer — from director Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns) — centers around a young farmhand named, yep, Jack, who accidentally opens gateway to a world of giants. I hate when that happens! Anyway, an ancient war is reignited between humans and giants and Jack has to be the hero and save a princess. There's probably a unicorn involved, somehow. Then? Happily ever after!
21 & Over.
Directors: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore.
Writers: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore.
Cast: Miles Teller, Justin Chon, Jonathan Keltz.
Where's it playing? Everywhere!
It's a bummer when you turn 21 years old the night before your big medical school exam, huh? But, hey, your 21st birthday only happens once, right? Better throw caution to the wind and stand triumphantly on top of a cop car, wearing nothing but a teddy bear and thrusting your fist raised oh-so-high in the air in that Breakfast Club-y kind of way. I think they were originally going to call this film Let's Go To White Castle To Help Out With This Project X Party Hangover, Bro but couldn't really make that work on a poster. Oh, hey, look there: This one is from the writers of The Hangover and The Hangover II. That explains it!
The Last Exorcism Part II
Director: Ed Gass-Donnelly.
Writers: Damien Chazelle, Ed Gass-Donnelly.
Cast: Ashley Bell, Julia Garner, Spencer Treat Clark.
Where's it playing? Everywhere!
The sequel that no one asked for to 2010's found-footage take on the possession subgenre picks up with Nell Sweetzer now trying to build a new life after the Devil became her baby daddy. Awesome?
Place at the Table (2012).
Directors: Kristi Jacobson, Lori Silverbush.
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Tom Colicchio, Ken Cook.
Where's it playing? The Magnolia Theatre, starting today.
Jeff Bridges narrates this Sundance-approved documentary about “how hunger poses serious economic, social, and cultural implications for our nation, and that the problem can be solved once and for all, if the American public decides — as they have in the past — that making healthy food available and affordable is in the best interest of us all.” Might want to skip your visit to the snack bar before this one.
Lore.
Director: Cate Shortland.
Writers: Cate Shortland, Robin Mukherjee.
Cast: Saskia Rosendahl, Kai-Peter Malina, Nele Trebs.
Where's it playing? The Magnolia Theatre, starting today.
Our title character and her four youngest siblings — the German children of SS officer parents who've been imprisoned by the Allies after WWII — embark on a harrowing journey across their war-torn country to reach a safe haven with the help of a young Jewish man, a former concentration camp prisoner. Along the way, they face the truths and realities of their parents' war. The Von Trapps ain't got nothing on these kids.
Clue (1985).
Director: Jonathan Lynn.
Writers: John Landis, Jonathan Lynn.
Cast: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn.
Where's it playing? Friday and Saturday at midnight at the Inwood Theatre.
If you thought Transformers and GI Joe began the trend of Hollywood diving into the toy chest for ideas, well, you may not pass go or collect $200. This 1985 classic starring a cast of iconic comedians may be based off a board game, but it sure ain't boring. See if you can solve the murder mystery of who killed who with the what in the where!
Tommy (1975) in 35MM.
Director: Ken Russell
Writer: Pete Townshend.
Cast: Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed.
Where's it playing? Friday, Saturday, Sunday at The Texas Theatre.
Ready to rock? This psychedelic rock opera written by The Who's Pete Townshend and starring music gods Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Elton John, Keith Moon and Tina Turner features the expected sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll — along with the titular Tommy character – a deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure plays a mean pinball and ends up becoming a cult, religious cult icon. Yeah, things get weird.
The Bitter Buddha (2012).
Director: Steven Feinartz.
Cast: Eddie Pepitone, Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman.
Where's it playing? Friday, Saturday, Sunday at The Texas Theatre.
Eddie Pepitone is the greatest comic you've never heard of, and a lot of famous comics you probably have heard of consider Eddie such a comedy icon that they all agreed to appear in this documentary about his not-quite-rise and subsequent fall. Note: Saturday's screening is sponsored by “Behind the Screen Comedy” and will include a short stand-up show before the film featuring area comics Clint Werth, Chris Darden and Scott Crisp.
Night Comfort
Where's it playing? Friday night at the Texas Theatre.
Night Comfort is a new music video appreciation night that kicks off tonight at the Texas Theatre. Revisit nostalgic, late-night TV programming and music television all night long at this affair, which is programed by DJ Tommyboy.
