Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current, March 21, 2013, Image 23

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Eugene weekly., March 21, 2013, Page 23, Image 23

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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2013)

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Newspaper Page TextMOVI ES BY MO LLY TEMP LETO N OZ THE DULL AND TERRIBLE Sam Raimi’s Oz is a missed opportunity, and no amount of glittering CGI can save it OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL: Directed by Sam Raimi. Screenplay by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Cinematography, Peter Deming. Editor, Bob Murawski. Music, Danny Elfman. Starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff and Joey King. Disney, 2013. PG. 130 minutes. 02111 O nce upon a time, I was an Oz purist. Not for the 1939 movie, though I liked it well enough, but for L. Frank Baum’s books, which I read until they were ragged. The first time I saw the cover of Wicked, Gregory Maguire’s novel about the Wicked Witch of the West, I stopped dead, thinking: One does not do that to Oz. In fact, one does do that to Oz, if by “that” you mean envision the witch as Maguire does, as a singular, conflicted, astonishing creature. What one really does not do to Oz is transform it into the insipid, insulting Oz the Great and Powerful. To figure out just what went so terribly awry with Sam Raimi’s new film, start with producer Joe Roth, so proudly billed as the producer of Tim Burton’s limp Alice in Wonderland. Roth’s list of credits also includes Snow White and the Huntsman, which reworked the central stepmother/daughter, beauty/age conflict in order to let the Huntsman share top billing. Roth and Raimi’s screenwriters, Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire, work a similar retro spell here. This isn’t the Oz you remember, where a young girl uncovers a wizard’s charade and finds her way home with the help of a powerful witch. This is the Oz of men who thought today’s cinematic landscape was lacking male leads. And thus, our reluctant hero is Oscar Diggs (a tiresome James Franco), the con man known as Oz, who dreams of being a great man like Thomas Edison. Oz doesn’t do much work toward that dream; mostly he uses his tricks to earn a few coins — and the affections of various women. On the run from an angry strongman, Oz is picked up by a twister that deposits him on the far side of the Technicolor rainbow, in a land where the only magic is of the green- screen sort. It turns out Oz has been waiting for him, thanks to a prophesy from the land’s last king (only men rule here; sorry, Ozma!). “Are you the great man we’ve been waiting for?” asks sweet witch Theodora (Mila Kunis) breathlessly. Theodora’s sister, Evanora (Rachel Weisz), is more skeptical, and requires that the wizard prove himself, 3/21 THU ® Purch Adv Tix @ cinemark.com 800-326-3264 + Exp # CINEMARK 17 21 AND OVER (DIG) R 10:35 A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD (DIG) R 2:15, 7:30 ADMISSION (DIG) PG-13 11:35, 2:10, 4:45, 7:20, 9:55 THE CALL (DIG) R 12:15, 2:35, 4:55, 7:15, 9:35 THE CROODS (3D) PG SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $3.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 11:50, 1:30, 2:20, 4:50, 6:30, 7:20, 9:50 THE CROODS (DIG) PG 12:40, 3:10, 4:00, 5:40, 8:10, 9:00, 10:40 ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH (DIG) PG 12:40, 5:20, 10:05 ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH (3D) PG SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $3.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 3:05, 7:45 IDENTITY THIEF (DIG) R 4:15, 10:00 THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE (DIG) PG-13 11:45, 2:15, 4:40, 7:15, 9:45 MOVIES 12 BEAUTIFUL CREATURES (2013) PG-13 3:55, 9:55 DJANGO UNCHAINED R 12:00, 1:15, 3:30, 4:55, 7:30, 8:40 HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS R 1:10, 3:25, 5:45, 8:05, 10:15 HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS (3D) R SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $2.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 11:55, 2:25, 4:40, 7:05, 9:30 HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, THE PG-13 12:20, 4:00, 8:00 THE IMPOSSIBLE PG-13 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45 A R T Gateway Mall - Beltline @ *DWHZD\ ([S&RGH JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (3D) PG-13 SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $3.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 2:05, 7:25 JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG) PG-13 11:25, 4:45, 10:05 LIFE OF PI (DIG) PG 1:15, 7:00 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) R 11:55, 1:20, 2:45, 4:10, 5:35, 7:00, 8:25, 9:50 OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (3D) PG SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $3.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 1:35, 4:35, 7:35 OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (DIG) PG 12:05, 3:05, 6:05, 9:05 SAFE HAVEN (DIG) PG-13 11:30, 4:45, 10:00 SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (DIG) R 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 9:55 SNITCH (DIG) PG-13 11:55, 2:30, 5:15, 7:55, 10:30 SPRING BREAKERS (DIG) R 12:20, 2:45, 5:10, 7:35, 10:00 Gateway Mall - Beltline @ *DWHZD\([S&RGH JACK REACHER PG-13 12:35, 3:45, 7:00, 9:50 LINCOLN PG-13 12:30, 4:05, 7:55 MAMA PG-13 12:25, 7:25 MONSTERS, INC. (2012) (3D) G SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $2.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 12:05, 5:05, 10:05 RISE OF THE GUARDIANS PG 11:50, 2:20, 4:50, 7:10, 10:00 WRECK-IT-RALPH PG 1:20, 3:50, 6:20, 8:50 WRECK-IT-RALPH (3D) PG SPECIAL EVENT PRICING: $2.00 UPCHARGE ALL TICKETS 2:30, 7:35 Assistive Listening and Captioning System Avail Adv. Tix on Sale GI JOE: RETALIATION IMAX: OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL IN 3D [CC,DV] (PG) ★ Fri. - Sat.1220 405 705 1005 OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL IN REAL D 3D [CC,DV] (PG) ★ Fri. - Sat.(250 PM) 935 PM OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL [CC,DV] (PG) Fri. - Sat.(1150 AM) 635 PM THE CROODS IN REAL D 3D [CC,DV] (PG) ★ Fri. - Sat.(1200 230) 500 730 1000 THE CROODS [CC,DV] (PG) ★ Fri. - Sat.(1130 1230 200 300) 430 520 700 800 930 ADMISSION (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(1210) 415 720 1010 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN [CC,DV] (R) Fri. - Sat.(1135 210) 420 450 710 740 955 1030 MURPH: THE PROTECTOR (NR) Fri. - Sat.(1145 215) 445 715 945 INAPPROPRIATE COMEDY (R) Fri. - Sat.(1240 255) 505 735 1020 SPRING BREAKERS (R) Fri. - Sat.(1155 235) 455 725 1020 THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE [CC,DV] (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(1245) 410 640 920 THE CALL [CC,DV] (R) Fri. - Sat.(1225 255) 515 750 1015 21 AND OVER [CC,DV] (R) Fri. - Sat.1035 PM JACK THE GIANT SLAYER IN REAL D 3D [CC,DV] (PG-13) ★ Fri. - Sat.(1215 PM) 400 PM 650 PM IDENTITY THIEF [CC,DV] (R) Fri. - Sat.1025 PM LIFE OF PI IN REAL D 3D [CC,DV] (PG) ★Fri. - Sat.(1235 PM) THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK [CC] (R) Fri. - Sat.(1140 240) 630 925 C I N E M A S 492 East 13 th 686-2458 HYDE PARK ON HUDSON 3:25 5:35 WEST OF MEMPHIS 4:00 7:00 56 UP 7:45 while Glinda (Michelle Williams) puts her considerable skills to use convincing Oz that he’s just what her people need, if he’ll just believe in himself. For a very brief time, I imagined Oz was taking the piss, telling a sly cautionary tale about the dangers of teaching women to wait around for men to save them. No such luck. Oz the Great and Powerful transforms the bones of L. Frank Baum’s feminist fairytales into a slog of a story about the redemption of a smug, dull con man; the ugly wrath of a woman scorned; and the terrible things that will happen if you are female, angry, old and/or brunette. There are brilliant, vibrant Oz stories that have yet to be told on film — the ones featuring Ozma, Dorothy and General Jinjur, to name a few. But those have girls in them — independent, plucky, spirited girls who will just go out and save the day themselves. The argument’s been made that the witches still have the power in Raimi’s Oz, but that’s not the point; the point is that they use it doing nothing but propping up a cad with a soft spot for delicate blondes. Predictable, burdened with unfunny dialogue and stilted performances, and insulting to its audience and its source material, this Oz is anything but great. ■ ADMISSION (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(115) 415 700 945 SPRING BREAKERS (R) Fri. - Sat.(145) 430 730 955 THE CALL (R) Fri. - Sat.(130) 400 715 935 THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(100 350) 650 925 Times For 03/22 - 03/23 © 2013 5/25 5/26 5/27 5/28 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU Maggie Smith Michael Gambon Billy Connolly Directed by Dustin Hoﬀman QUARTET LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE 12:45 12:45 12:45 3:00 3:00 3:00 5:15 5:15 5:15 7:30 7:30 7:30 1:45 1:45 1:45 4:15 4:15 4:15 7:00 7:00 7:00 MIAMI CONNECTION 9:30 3:00 3:00 3:00 3:00 5:15 5:15 5:15 5:15 7:30 7:30 7:30 7:30 4:15 4:15 4:15 4:15 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 9:30 9:30 9:30 9:30 9:30 9:30 NEXT: THE GATEKEEPERS ON THE ROAD NO DO IT DIFFERENTLY THE COCKETTES SPACE, LAND AND TIME A PLACE AT THE TABLE bijou-cinemas.com *Adults—$7 * Students w/ID—$6 * Seniors—$5 * Matinees—$5 * Miser Mondays—$3* TIX $2 Tix 21 & FOOD $5 Sun & Tues ovER MENU 762-1700 | 180 E. 5TH AVE davidminortheater.com THURS MAR 21 - WED MAR 27 THU FROM THE MASTER DIRECTOR OF CERTIFIED COPY AND CLOSE-UP A WONDEROUS FILM . ‘‘ ONE OF ABBAS KIAROSTAMI ’ S VERY GREATEST FILMS. CERTAINLY AMONG THE SINGULAR AND CRUCIAL MOVIES OF RECENT YEARS .’’ Richard Brody, THE NEW YORKER POWERFUL . THRILLING . ’’ ‘‘ A.O. Scott, THE NEW YORK TIMES 5:05 THE CROODS IN REAL D 3D (PG) ★ Fri. - Sat.(130) 430 720 945 THE CROODS (PG) ★ Fri. - Sat.(100 PM) 400 PM 650 PM OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (R) Fri. - Sat.(140) 420 710 1005 OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (PG) Fri. - Sat.(340 PM) 1000 PM OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL IN REAL D 3D (PG) ★ Fri. - Sat.(1245 PM) 700 PM THE CALL (R) Fri. - Sat.(120) 410 730 950 THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(110 350) 640 920 JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (PG-13) Fri. - Sat.(330 PM) 910 PM JACK THE GIANT SLAYER IN REAL D 3D (PG-13) ★ Fri. - Sat.(1250 PM) 630 PM IDENTITY THIEF (R) Fri. - Sat.1010 PM 5/24 5/23 5/22 for March 21 - 28 3/21 ONLY OFFICIAL SELECTION LES MISERABLE 5:05 NO SHOW 3/21 ZERO DARK THIRTY 5:05 OSCAR WINNER SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN 9:25 SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS 9:25 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL 7:50 3/21 ONLY SMASHED 7:50 OFFICIAL SELECTION TORONTO OFFICIAL SELECTION THIS IS 40 9:25 NO SHOW 3/21 “NO LONGER SNEAKING SNEAKK KING IN BEER INTO THE MOV MOVIES VIES SINCE 2008” “TEXT-A-BEER” 541-913-5733 ORDER DRINKS & FOOD RIGHT FROM YOUR SEAT Like someone in love a ﬁlm by Abbas Kiarostami WWW . SUNDANCESELECTS . COM EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 22 ND BIJOU ART CINEMAS 492 EAST 13TH AVENUE (541) 686-2458 EUGENE eugeneweekly.com • March 21, 2013 23