Reel to reel | Week of October 18, 2012

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2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

A series of encounters between humans and mysterious black monoliths are apparently affecting evolution. Two astronauts and their computer-controlled spaceship, Hal 9000, set out on a mission to locate a monolith on Jupiter after tracing a signal. IFS at Muenzinger.

ADVENTURES IN PLYMPTOONS

Filmmaker Alexia Anastasio returns to Boulder, bringing back this look inside the strange and wonderful mind of Oscarnominated animator Bill Plympton. Anastasio will attend the Oct. 20 screenings for a Q&A. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

ALEX CROSS

A young homicide detective/psychologist, Alex Cross, finds out that a member of his family has been murdered by a serial killer. Cross meets the killer, and his revenge pushes him to the edge of his moral and psychological limits. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS WITH MARIA HINOJOSA

In this “Need to Know” Election 2012 special, Maria Hinojosa visits one of the country’s most surprisingly diverse communities, a home to residents from more than 40 countries who speak more than 60 languages and dialects. At Denver Film Center/ Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

ARGO

See full review. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

ATLAS SHRUGGED: PART 2

In the continuation of the film adaptation of the Ayn Rand book, the global economy is on the brink of collapse and brilliant creators are disappearing mysteriously. A woman discovers a motor that appears to be capable of powering the world, but it’s dead, resulting in a race against the clock. Rated PG-13. At Century.

BALLET: L’ALTRA META DEL CIELO

Martha Clarke takes on an unusual challenge and stages a dance piece based on the music of aging Italian rock star Vasco Rossi, a man known for his drug use, racism and misogyny. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

BEFORE NIGHT FALLS

Reinaldo Arenas grew up as a poor, illegitimate child. He joined Castro’s Cuban revolution and became an intellectual. After discovering his gay sexuality, his work and life become dominated by a mix of temptation, fear, betrayal and man-hunting in both senses. He finally makes it to Manhattan, only to get caught in another trap. Rated R. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

BIG EASY EXPRESS

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Old Crow Medicine Show and Mumford & Sons are being documented by director Emmett Malloy as they tour around the United States on a vintage train, starting in California. What results is a magical musical experience filled with joyous fans and endless music. IFS at Muenzinger.

BUTTER

A tale of competition at its most cutthroat, Butter surveys the raw ambition of Laura Pickler (Jennifer Garner), the wife of Bob Pickler (Ty Burrell), Iowa’s long-reigning champion butter carver. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

CHINATOWN

Murder, incest and corrupt water-rights management are among the crimes in this neo-noir classic with Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston. Rated R. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

CURTAINS

A group of actresses up for a highly coveted movie role go to the director of the film’s mansion (which is in the middle of nowhere) to audition for the part. It isn’t all fun and games, though. As the tensions rise, so does the body count. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

DECODING DEEPAK

Filmmaker and journalist Gotham Chopra spends a year following his father and spiritual icon Deepak Chopra, separating the man from the myth with a raw honesty only a son can have. What starts as decoding of Deepak becomes an examination of himself, and possibly an allegory of a world trying to make sense of itself. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

DETROPIA

Detroit’s story has encapsulated the iconic narrative of America over the last century — the Great Migration of African Americans escaping Jim Crow; the rise of manufacturing and the middle class; the love affair with automobiles; the flowering of the American dream; and now the collapse of the economy and the fading American mythos. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB

Dr. Strangelove’s satire revolves around politicians and generals who are frantically trying to stop an insane general who starts a process leading to nuclear holocaust. IFS at Muenzinger.

END OF WATCH

Two young police officers patrol the dangerous streets of south central Los Angeles and capture the action through handheld HD cameras. Rated R. At Century and Colony Square.

THE FILMS OF PHIL SOLOMON

As a professor of film studies at CU-Boulder, Phil Solomon has exhibited in every major venue for experimental cinema in the United States and Europe. Join Solomon as he shares the Colorado premiere of the 2012 revision of his epic American Falls and other films. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

FRANKENWEENIE 3D

Tim Burton applies his brilliant and grim creative palette to the story of a young boy who brings his dog back to life. Rated PG. At Colony Square, Century and Twin Peaks.

THE FRIGHTENED WOMAN

This erotic thriller follows journalist Maria and wealthy philanthropist Sayer through a kidnapping in which predator and prey swap places. IFS at VAC Basement.

GIRL MODEL

Despite a lack of obvious similarities between Siberia and Tokyo, a thriving model industry connects these distant regions. Girl Model follows two protagonists involved in this industry: Ashley, a deeply ambivalent model scout who scours the Siberian countryside looking for fresh faces to send to the Japanese market, and one of her discoveries, Nadya, a 13-year-old plucked from her rustic home in Russia and dropped into the center of bustling Tokyo with promises of a profitable career. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

HERE COMES THE BOOM

A high school biology teacher turns to mixed martial arts to save his failing school’s soon to be closed music program. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3D

Dracula invites some of the world’s most famous monsters to celebrate his daughter’s 118th birthday at Hotel Transylvania, a lavish resort where humans will not be able to bother them. Rated PG. At Century and Colony Square.

HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET

A divorced woman and her daughter move into a house in a small, upscale, rural town. Soon, they learn of the town’s chilling secret. Rated PG-13. At Twin Peaks.

KUBRICK’S ODYSSEY

Kubrick’s Odyssey presents compelling evidence of how Stanley Kubrick directed the Apollo moon landings and how he secretly worked on the Apollo footage for NASA. IFS at Muenzinger.

LAST CALL AT THE OASIS

The global water crisis will be the central issue facing our world this century. Last Call at the Oasis is a powerful new documentary that shatters myths behind our most precious resource. Rated PG-13. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

LED ZEPPELIN “CELEBRATION DAY”

A documentary of Led Zeppelin’s Dec.10, 2007, concert in London O2’s Arena, headlining a tribute for friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmert Ertegun. Rated R. At Century.

LIBERAL ARTS

Uninspired and 35, Jesse Fisher meets a beautiful young girl when he is given the chance to speak at his favorite college professor’s retirement dinner. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

LOOPER

This time-travel tale features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a young Bruce Willis. In the future, the mob sends victims back in time to be killed by special assassins, called loopers. But when “old Joe” (Willis) is sent back to be killed by “young Joe” (Gordon-Levitt), all hell breaks loose. Chock full of drugs you put in your eyes and telekinetic kids, this mostly clever sci-fi tale is another solid base hit for writer/director Rian Johnson, who could really use a home run. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. Rated R. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

THE MASTER

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest challenging character sketch is set against a backdrop of pseudo-Scientology, as Joaquin Phoenix plays a troubled soldier fresh out of WWII, and Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a quasi-L. Ron Hubbard. Depressing, challenging and muted, it’s guaranteed to spark discussion and mainstream teeth-gnashing. Rated R. At Century and Esquire. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

THE NEVERENDING STORY

A boy is drawn into the fairytale land from a book he is reading. Rated PG. At Esquire.

THE ORANGES

The Oranges is a comedy about two families who have been lifelong friends, and the hilarity that ensues when a rebellious daughter returns home for the holidays and causes a scandal. Rated R. At Esquire. –– Landmark Theatres

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4

In the fourth installment of this popular horror franchise, a suburban family witness strange events in their home and neighborhood when a woman and a mysterious child move in. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

THE PAPERBOY

Lured by imploring letters from the beautiful siren Charlotte, handsome, hard-nosed reporter Ward James and his partner, Yardley Acheman, return to Ward’s hometown in Florida to investigate the seemingly unjust imprisonment of Charlotte’s lover, alligator hunter Hillar Van Wetter. Rated R. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres

PAT METHENY: THE ORCHESTRION PROJECT

Based on a childhood fascination with his grandfather’s player piano, Pet Metheny commissioned and built The Orchestrion, a mechanically controlled mini-orchestra capable of responding to his touch on the guitar. At Boedecker –– Boedecker Theater

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

A funny and touching coming-of-age story, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the dizzying highs and crushing lows of growing up. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square, Century and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

PITCH PERFECT

Itty-bitty pretty Anna Kendrick stars as a college freshman sucked into the world of competitive college singing. With the aid of a group of misfits, an all-female group hopes to make it to the final bout and gain redemption and respect. And along the way ladies make snow angels in pools of vomit and talk a lot about sex. So it’s Glee and anti-Glee all at the same time. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

SAMSARA

“Samsara” is a Sanskrit word that means “the ever turning wheel of life,” and it is the point of departure for filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson (Baraka, Chronos). At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

How is it possible that a musician named Rodriguez could bomb with two albums in the U.S., disappear into obscurity for years and then be resurrected as an inspirational hero in a totally different country? Rated PG-13. At Century. –– Landmark Theatres

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS

A writer and his friends are willing to go to all means necessary to help finish a screenplay called Seven Psychopaths. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

THE SHINING

When a family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter, the father is possessed by an evil spirit that turns him dangerous and violent. IFS at Muenzinger.

SINISTER

A true crime novelist moves his wife and kids into the home of a murdered family, hoping to find clues on the whereabouts of the family’s missing daughter. Instead, he finds a box of home movies in the attic that calls a supernatural horror back into the house. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

SLEEPWALK WITH ME

See full review. At Mayan and Boedecker Theater.

TAKEN 2

In this sequel, Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills. He and his wife are being captured in Istanbul by the father of one of the kidnappers he’d killed back in Europe while saving his daughter. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE

An aging baseball scout refuses to quit and accepts help from his daughter to check a hot batting prospect. Rated PG-13. At Century and Colony Square.

V/H/S

When a group of petty criminals is hired by a mysterious party to retrieve a rare piece of found footage from a rundown house in the middle of nowhere, they soon realize that the job isn’t going to be as easy as they thought. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

WE MUST REMEMBER

Sixteen high school broadcasting students spend two years producing a remarkable film on the Holocaust. The documentary is a “film about a film” that documents the experiences of students as they interview survivors of the Holocaust and travel to film in former Nazi concentration camps. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Wuthering Heights is an excitingly fresh and distinct take on the classic novel by Emily Brontë, an epic love story that spans childhood well into the young adult years. At Esquire. –– Landmark Theatres

WON’T BACK DOWN

Two mothers are unwavering in their efforts to transform their children’s failing school. Rated PG. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks.