Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (April 25, 2012)
Local News S P O T L I G H T Movies Opening This Week: April 27 K AM ’ S C APSULES Movie Reviews by Kam Williams BIG BUDGET FILMS Bernie (PG-13 for violent images and brief profanity) Jack Black plays the title character in this crime comedy about a small- town, Texas mortician who goes to great lengths to keep up the illu- sion that the wealthy widow (Shirley MacLaine) he’s killed is still alive. With Matthew McConaughey, Rick Dial and Veronica Orosco. The Five-Year Engagement (R for pervasive profanity and sexu- ality) Battles-of-the-sexes comedy chronicling the increasingly strained relationship of a very busy bride and groom-to-be (Emily Blunt and Jason Segel) who keep having to put off their wedding plans. Support cast includes Kevin Hart, Rhys Ifans, David Paymer and Mindy Kaling. The Pirates! Band of Misfits (PG for action, mild epithets and crude humor) Animated kiddie adventure about a competition among three buccaneer swash- bucklers (Hugh Grant, Jeremy Piven and Salma Hayek) to cap- ture the coveted Pirate of the Year Award by wreaking the most havoc on the high seas. Voice cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Martin Freeman and Brian Blessed. The Raven (R for graphic vio- C O lence and grisly images) 19th Century murder mystery which finds poet Edgar Allen Poe (John Cusack) joining forces with a young detective (Luke Evans) to apprehend the serial killer on the loose in his beloved Baltimore. Featuring Alice Eve, M. Emmet Walsh and Brendan Gleeson. Safe (R for profanity and graphic violence) Action thriller about a retired Mixed Martial Arts fighter (Jason Statham) who comes to the rescue of a 12 year- old Chinese girl (Catherine Chan) who’s been abducted by the same mobsters who murdered his wife and children. With Chris Saran- don, James Hong and Anson Mount. Sound of My Voice (Unrated) Mind control drama about an investigative journalist (Christo- pher Denham) who, with the help of his girlfriend (Nicole Vicius), infiltrates a religious cult only to fall under the spell of the charis- matic leader (Brit Marling) he had hoped to expose as a charlatan. Supporting cast includes Avery Kristen Pohl, Davenia McFadden and Kandice Stroh. INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS 96 Minutes (R for violence and pervasive profanity) Fact-based crime thriller about a couple of college coeds (Brittany Snow and Christian Serratos) who find them- selves carjacked and kidnapped by a wannabe gangster (J. Michael Trautmann) with a reluctant accomplice (Evan Ross). With David Oyelowo, Sylvia Jeffries and Hosea Chanchez. The Broken Tower (Unrated) James Franco stars in this bitter- M M U N midlife crisis drama about a Parisian journalist inspired to reevaluate her own sexuality while researching an article about college coeds who enjoy support- ing themselves by moonlighting as prostitutes. With Anais Demoustier, Joanna Kulig and Louis-Do de Lencquesaing. (In French and Polish with subtitles) The Giant Mechanical Man 96 Minutes sweet biopic recounting the abbre- viated life and career of Hart Crane (1899-1932), a celebrated gay poet who took his own life by jumping off an ocean liner right after being assaulted for making a pass at a crew member. Support cast includes Michael Shannon, Stacey Miller and Vince Jolivette. Citizen Gangster (Unrated) Diminished dreams saga, set in the wake of World War II, revisiting the real-life exploits of Eddie Boyd (Scott Speedman), a deco- rated Army veteran who began robbing banks to support his fami- ly when his fledgling acting career failed to pan out. Featuring Kelly Riley, Kevin Durand and Brian Cox. Dolphin Boy (Unrated) Over- coming-the-odds documentary, set in Israel, about an Arab teenager left mute by a brutal beatdown who makes a miraculous recovery after his therapist prescribes a rehab regimen that involves swim- ming with dolphins in the Red Sea for four weeks. (In Hebrew and Arabic with subtitles) Elles (NC-17 for explicit sexual- ity) Juliette Binoche stars in this I T Y S EATTLE C The Highest Pass (Unrated) Fate-tempting documentary about Adam Schomer, a defiant 27 year- old who takes to riding a motorcy- cle around the Himalayas without a helmet after an Indian guru pre- dicts his imminent, untimely demise in an automobile accident. Inventing Our Life (Unrated) Communal living documentary examining the rise and decline of Israel’s 100 year-old Kibbutz Movement. Payback (Unrated) Screen adaptation of visionary Margaret Atwood’s game-changing rumi- nation of the same name explores various forms of debt: not only economic, but societal, spiritual, environmental, personal and criminal. The Giant Mechanical Man (PG-13 for sexuality and brief profanity) Quirky romantic come- dy about a soft-spoken zookeeper (Jenna Fischer) who falls for a struggling street performer (Chris Messina) in spite of pressure from her domineering sister (Malin Akerman) to date a pompous, self-help guru (Topher Grace). With Lucy Punch, Bob Odenkirk and Rich Sommer. Headhunters (R for nudity, graphic sexuality and gruesome violence) Multi-layered mystery, set in Norway, about a corporate headhunter (Aksel Hennie) who risks his career to steal a priceless painting by Rubens from a well- heeled client (Nikolaj Coster-Wal- dau). With Julie Olgaard, Eivind Sander and Synnove Macody Lund. (In Norwegian and Danish with subtitles) A L E N D Restless City Restless City (R for drug use and brief sexuality) New York City tale of survival about an African immigrant (Sy Alassane) who sells bootlegged CDs on the street of Manhattan while trying to make it as a musician and encour- aging his hooker girlfriend (Sky Grey) to find a respectable line of work. With Herve Diese, Ger Duany and Danai Gurira. (In Eng- lish, French, Wolof and Yoruba with subtitles) A R 2012 B ULLETIN B OARD Saturday April 28 Tuesday May 1 If you have an event you want to share with the community, email it two weeks in advance to The Skanner at info@theskanner.com 2012 YOUTH AND FAMILY SUMMIT: The Summit features two workshop tracks – one youth, another for parents and guardians. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lincoln High School, 701 S. 37th St. Tacoma. Free breakfast and lunch will be served. Entrance is free, pre-registration by youth and adults is encouraged at www.pugetsound.edi/raceandpedagogy or forms available at all Tacoma Public Schools Offices. SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION CELEBRATES THE RENOVATED LANGSTON HUGHES PERFORMING ART CENTER. Join the community at the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The ceremony event will feature opera, jazz, a youth string ensemble and more. LHPAC located at 104 17th Ave. S. GLENDALE LUTHERAN CRAFT AND PLANT SALE: Arts & Crafts, variety of indoor and outdoor plants and planters, lots of unique gift items. Free admission, noon – 5 p.m. 13544 2nd Ave. SW. CELEBRATE AMERICAN ART AND GET FREE COMICS. Free comics, featuring character ranging from Superman to Charlie Brown will be available at comic book stores throughout the world. Get yours from Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy, 14725 NE 20th St in Bellevue. All day long event while supplies last. For more information call 425- 562-2025. Friday – Sunday April 27 – 29 BOOK ON OVER TO WARREN G. MAGNUSON PARK FOR THE MINI BOOK SALE. Approximately 25,000 items will be up for sale to the public at bargain prices. Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 7400 Sand Point Way N.E. Building 30 Workshop. Page 2 The Seattle Skanner April 25, 2012 FREE GUIDED TOURS OF KUBOTA GARDEN: Learn about the history and features of this unusual Japanese American Garden. 10 – 11:30 a.m. Kubota Garden, 9817 55th Ave. S. Saturday May 5
