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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 2014)
Arts & Entertainment Kam’s Capsules: Movies Opening Friday, Dec. 19 BIG BUDGET FILMS Annie (PG for mild epi- thets and rude humor) Quvenzhane Wallis por- trays Little Orphan Annie in this contemporary update of the classic musical inspired by the Broadway play based on the 1920s comic strip character. Cast includes Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Rose Byrne, Bobby Can- navale and Adewale Akinn- uoye-Agbaje. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (PG-13 for intense violence and frightening images) Direc- tor Peter Jackson brings down the curtain on the Tolkien fantasy franchise with this fitting finale fea- turing Bilbo Baggins (Mar- tin Freeman) and friends in an epic showdown with Smaug the Dragon (Bene- dict Cumberbatch). With Orlando Bloom, Ian McKel- lan, Lee Pace, Luke Evans and Hugo Weaving. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (PG for mild action, rude humor and brief epithets) Third install- ment in the fantasy fran- chise inspired by Milan K AM ’ S C APSULES Movie Reviews by Kam Williams Trenc’s illustrated chil- dren’s book sends the feck- less protagonist (Ben Stiller) on a globe-spanning quest to save the magic before it is gone forever. Supporting cast includes Owen Wilson, Ricky Ger- vais, Steve Coogan, Dick Van Dyke and the late Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams. Christian Slater and Robert Patrick. Farewell, Herr Schwarz (Unrated) Post World War II documentary follows a 30 year-old Jewish woman’s attempt to learn why her Holocaust survivor grandfa- ther abandoned her mother for a new flame following his liberation by the Allies. (In Hebrew, German and English with subtitles) INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS Goodbye to All That (Unrated) Midlife crisis comedy revolving around a clueless family man (Paul Schneider) who embarks on a string of one-night stands after being blindsided by his miserably-married wife’s (Melanie Lynskey) demand for a divorce. With Heather Graham, Amy Sedaris, Heather Lawless and Anna Camp. Ask Me Anything (Unrated) Bittersweet bil- dungsroman about a high school grad (Britt Robert- son) who chronicles all of her adventures in an anony- mous blog, when she takes a year off to find herself before starting college. With Justing Long, Martin Sheen, Inside the Mind of Leonardo (Unrated) Rever- ential biopic about Leonar- do Da Vinci (Peter Capaldi) based on the 6,000 pages of handwritten notes and drawings contained in the Italian Renaissance artist’s private journals. Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhane wallis in ‘Annie’ Life of an Actress: The Musical (Unrated) Broad- way producer Paul Chau wrote and directed this musical revolving around the trials and tribulations of three aspiring actress (Alli- son Case, Taylor Louder- man and Orfeh) working as waitresses at a diner while waiting for their big break. Ensemble includes Jason Babinsky, Amelie McK- endry and Mandy Fisher. Mr. Turner (R for sexual- ity) Timothy Spall plays the title role in this historical biopic chronicling the last quarter-century in the life of J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851), the eccentric English artist primarily known for paint- ing landscapes. With Paul Jesson, Dorothy Atkinson and Marion Bailey. A Small Section of the World (Unrated) Tale of female empowerment about a group of women who sparked a coffee-growing revolution in Costa Rica. Song of the Sea (PG for peril, pipe smoking and mild profanity) Animated fantasy about the last of the selkies, seals that transform themselves into women in accordance with Irish and Scottish legend. Voice cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan and Pat Shortt. December 17, 2014 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 5
