OPENING OR RETURNING:
Alvin and the Chipmunks: What’s next? A live-action
Care Bears movie starring Jason Lee? (He’s in this and
Underdog, for those not keeping track.) Those wacky lit-
tle creatures with the high-pitched voices will surely
cause him some trouble in this newest bit of family fare.
With, um, David Cross. Now I’m confused. PG. Cinemark.
VRC Stadium 15.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young: A 1974 performance at
London’s Wembley Stadium depicts the band in front of
a huge audience. Part of the In-Concert series. Bijou
LateNite.
I Am Legend: Will Smith does the all-by-his-lonesome
thing in a New York City left not exactly empty after a
manmade virus devastates the globe. During the day, he
tries to find other survivors; at night, he tries to survive
the creatures that are what’s left of humanity. PG13. 100
min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.
I’m Not There: Portland filmmaker Todd Haynes’ (Far
From Heaven) unconventional Bob Dylan movie is one of
the year’s most anticipated — and, for the most part,
highly praised. Different actors, including Cate
Blanchett, Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, play incar-
nations of Dylan over the decades. “One of the most
inventive and joyous movies of the year,” said Salon. R.
135 min. Bijou. 44441 (12/6)
IMMI Fest: Two classic silent films show with live sound-
tracks from the Knotty Ensemble and guests during the
Improvised Music and Moving Image Festival: Phantom
(1922), 9:30 pm Dec. 14; and Phantom of the Opera
(1925), 8 pm Dec. 15, DIVA. $5, $3 stu.
Omega Man: Charlton Heston is the last man on earth in
this 1971 adaptation of I Am Legend, which screens (nice-
ly timed with the new version!) as part of the Heckler’s
Movie Night series. PG. 98 min. 7 pm Dec. 19, Wandering
Goat. Free.
Resident Evil: Extinction: Alice (Milla Jovovich) is still
trying to get rid of that pesky zombie-making virus. For
this third film in the series, Alice gets new friends (we
suspect they replace those zombified last time out)
including Heroes’ Ali Larter and singer Ashanti. R. 95
min. Movies 12.
What Would Jesus Buy?: Dubbing itself “The movie
Santa doesn’t want you to see,” WWJB? follows
Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel
Choir across the country in a biodiesel bus as they
spread the word about consumerism. While it’s enter-
taining to a point, this documentary peters out as it con-
tinues, and doesn’t pay enough attention to personality
and character. PG. Bijou. See review this issue.
Films open the Friday following EW publication date
unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at
www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING:
American Gangster: Denzel Washington and Russell
Crowe face off in the story of 1970s driver turned drug
lord Frank Lucas (Washington) and the cop investigating
Lucas and his unexpected rise to power. Directed by
Ridley Scott. R. 157 min. Movies 12. VRC Stadium 15.
44411 (11/8)
August Rush: Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers
star as a musical young couple whose lovelorn
encounter produces a child. Orphaned “by circum-
stance” (says the description), the boy (Freddie
Highmore) grows up to become a musical prodigy. PG. 113
min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.
Bee Movie: Not much looks all that sweet about this ani-
mated comedy, in which Jerry Seinfeld voices a recent
bee college graduate who learns, to his shock, that
humans have been stealing bees’ honey for ages and
ages. With the voices of Renee Zellweger and Matthew
Broderick. PG. 90 min. Cinemark.
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead: Sidney Lumet’s
new film is being hailed as a return to form by many, but
there’s something unsatisfying in the bleak tale of two
brothers whose attempt at robbery goes terribly, devas-
tatingly wrong. Stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan
Hawke and a raging, quiet Albert Finney. R. 117 min. Bijou.
44411 (11/29)
Beowulf: Robert Zemeckis, working from a screenplay
by Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman, directs this version of
the story of the warrior Beowulf, with Ray Winstone in
the title role and Angelina Jolie as Grendel’s mother.
Reviews are good, but it still looks like a video game.
PG13. 114 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. 44211 (11/21)
Black Sheep: If you can see this film’s image of an evil
sheep trying to bite someone’s ear off and not laugh,
you’re made of stronger stuff than I. When a genetically
altered lamb is released into a New Zealand farmer’s
flock, the sheep turn into vicious flesh-eaters. Also, one
of the characters has a sheep phobia. With effects by
WETA Workshop. Ooh, neat! R. 87 min. Bijou LateNite.
Bourne Ultimatum, The: “I remember everything,”
says Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne in this film’s action-
packed trailer. Director Paul Greengrass and the major
players (Joan Allen, Julia Stiles) return to the series’ sat-
isfying third installment, which finds Bourne hunting
down his past in stunning locations. PG13. 111 min. Movies
12. 44421 (8/9)
Dan in Real Life: Poor Dan (Steve Carrell) is an advice
columnist with a passel of daughters whose life is fur-
ther complicated when he falls for his brother’s girl-
friend (Juliette Binoche). Also, the brother is played by
Dane Cook. PG13. 99 min. VRC Stadium 15.
Dragon Wars: The good: Dragons! In L.A.! The bad: The
plot is a convoluted thing about magical powers, resur-
rected lovers and a dragon that will be able to ascend
into heaven. Also, the biggest names in the cast are
Jason Behr (Roswell) and Robert Forster. But still …
dragons! In L.A.! Can it be better than Reign of Fire?
PG13. 90 min. Movies 12.
Enchanted: Beautiful princesses! Handsome princes!
And … midtown Manhattan? Amy Adams (Junebug),
James Marsters (X-Men) and Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s
Anatomy) star in this fairy tale in the real world, which
follows Princess Giselle (Adams) after a wicked witch
banishes her from her magical kingdom. Why does this
Disney flick look so charming? PG. 107 min. Cinemark.
VRC Stadium 15.
Fred Claus: So what if Santa had a brother? Who hap-
pened to be the opposite of the saintly gift-giver: a repo
man? That’s the basic premise of this film, but the rea-
son people will see it, I suspect, is for Paul Giamatti in a
Santa suit getting in a fight with Vince Vaughn. PG. 116
min. VRC Stadium 15.
Golden Compass, The: An only slightly above average
film — mostly on account of the fantastic casting — based
on Philip Pullman’s utterly brilliant novel. In a world much
like our own, everyone has an animal companion who’s
part of themselves, and one little girl (newcomer Dakota
Blue Richards) is the key to saving not just her own world,
but countless others as well. With Daniel Craig, Nicole
Kidman, Sam Elliott and Eva Green. PG13. 113 min.
Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15. See review this issue.
Good Luck Chuck: Chuck (Dane Cook) has a hex on him:
every girl he dates finds true love with the next guy she
dates. Enter Cam (Jessica Alba), a klutzy sweetheart
Chuck falls for hard. Clearly, he’s got to wiggle out from
under his strange curse. R. 101 min. Movies 12.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: The
Ministry of Magic is in denial about the return of Lord
Voldemort, Hogwarts get a nasty new teacher and Harry
… Harry’s in one kind of trouble or another throughout
the mostly successful and only slightly disappointing
fifth HP film. It’s not quite Prisoner of Azkaban, but it’s
getting there. PG13. 138 min. Movies 12. 44421
(7/19)
Hitman: Timothy Olyphant, go back to Deadwood! No,
kidding, kidding. But honestly, I’m not sure this
videogame-based film about a professional assassin try-
ing to find out who set him up (wait, does this remind
anyone of Jason Bourne?) is the best place for you. R.
100 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.
Martian Child, The: John Cusack continues to drag his
formerly youthful cinematic persona into adulthood with
this film about a man who adopts a boy who claims to be
from Mars. With Amanda Peet and the always-wonderful
Joan Cusack. PG. 108 min. Movies 12.
Mist, The: I keep wondering what’s next. The Cloud?
The Hailstorm? Stephen King can make monsters out of
anything, right? Frank Darabont directs this adaptation
of a King short story about a creepy mist that hides even
creepier creatures. R. 124 min. Cinemark.
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium: This story about a
magical toy store, its owner (Dustin Hoffman) and the
young shop employee who might inherit it (Natalie
Portman) is written and directed by Zach Helm, who also
wrote last year’s Stranger Than Fiction. G. 94 min.
Cinemark.
No Country for Old Men: The latest from the Coen
brothers is a near-masterpiece, an adaptation of Cormac
McCarthy’s acclaimed novel, and it’s earning plenty of
acclaim itself. The story involves a small-town sherriff, a
deadly drug deal and a psychopathic killer (Javier
Bardem). The reviewers say “intense,” “searing,” “an evil
delight.” R. 122 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.
44442 (11/29)
Ratatouille: The latest animated film from Pixar is
directed by Brad Bird (whose The Iron Giant is too often
overlooked) and concerns a big-dreaming rat who wants
to be a chef. When he makes a deal with a garbage boy,
the culinary world of Paris gets far more than it ever
imagined. G. 110 min. Movies 12. 44442 (7/12)
Stardust: Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) takes a firm
and steady hand to the many plot threads of this adap-
tation of Neil Gaiman’s novel about a fallen star with an
attitude and the many characters seeking her. Wicked
and charming, sweet and sly, with a stellar cast and a
superb sense of humor. PG13. 128 min. Movies 12.
44442 (8/9)
Superbad: Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen both have fin-
gers in this pie, as co-producer and co-writer, respec-
tively. It’s the story of two high school friends, Evan
(Michael Cera, Arrested Development) and Seth (Jonah
Hill), who are trying — well, in classic teen movie fashion,
they’re trying really hard to get laid. They’re about to go
off to college; what do you expect? R. 114 min. Movies 12.
44421 (8/23)
This Christmas: For the first time in years, the whole
Whitfield clan is heading home for Christmas — meaning
there’s got to be some drama and tension between sib-
lings. “An overstuffed but satisfying Yuletide comedy-
drama with a fine cast,” said Newsday; that cast includes
Delroy Lindo, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Regina King and
Mekhi Phifer. PG13. 117 min. Cinemark. VRC Stadium 15.
3:10 to Yuma: Russell Crowe and Christian Bale costar
in this solid Western from director James Mangold (Walk
the Line). Based on a short story by Elmore Leonard that
was made into a film in 1957, the film follows a vicious
outlaw (Crowe) and the Civil War vet (Bale) who’s volun-
teered to get the thief to the train that’ll take him to trial.
R. 117 min. Movies 12. 44421 (9/13)
Underdog: Jason Lee voices the titular canine, who
finds himself superpowered after an incident in the lab
of mad scientist Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage). Bad
guys have plots, but Underdog has a spaniel to impress!
Oh, and the day to save. PG. 84 min. Movies 12.
SHOES RIGHT HERE
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811 WEST 6TH AVE. (6TH & MONROE)
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MONDAY-SATURDAY: 10-7 • SUNDAY: 11-5
541-345-1981 Corner of Jefferson & West 19th Ave.
Hours: 11am-9pm Tuesday-Saturday
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40 DECEMBER 13, 2007