Reel to reel | Week of August 15, 2013

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Yes, the actor playing a technology genius played a guy who couldn\'t find a car.

20 Feet From Stardom

Director Morgan Neville shines a spotlight on the untold true story of backup singers. At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

2 Guns

Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington and Bill Paxton star in this saga of drugs and money. Rated R. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.

The Act of Killing

When approached to make a film about their role in an Indonesian genocide, Anwar Congo and his friends eagerly comply — but their idea of being in a movie is not to provide reflective testimony, but to dance their way through musical numbers, twist arms in film noir gangster scenes and gallop across the prairies as yodeling cowboys. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

The Attack

Israeli Palestinian surgeon Amin Jaafari’s picture-perfect life is turned upside down when a suicide bombing in a restaurant leaves 19 dead. At Chez Artiste and SIE FilmCenter.— Landmark Theatres

Blackfish

The documentary Blackfish unravels the complexities of our relationship with orca whales, employing the story of notorious performing whale Tilikum, who has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. So what exactly went wrong? At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Blue Jasmine

After everything in her life falls to pieces, elegant New York socialite Jasmine moves into her sister Ginger’s modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together again. Rated PG. At Esquire and Century. — Landmark Theatres

The Canyons

Unbeknownst to either film producer Christian or his assistant Gina, their significant others, Tara and Ryan, were a couple three years ago. When Ryan comes back into Tara’s life during the auditions for a movie, they reignite their affair. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

The Conjuring

When disturbing things start happening at the Perron family’s farmhouse, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine must step in to help the family. At Twin Peaks and Century.

The Day After Tomorrow

For the Science on Screen series. Julienne Strove and Ted Scambos, scientists from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, will discuss the reality of climate change before the big-budget, special-effects-laden (hysterically implausible) weather disaster movie starring Dennis Quaid. Rated PG-13. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

Dazed and Confused

This American Graffiti for the marijuana set looks at the comic exploits of jocks, stoners and whiz kids from the class of ‘76, who can’t get enough of bell-bottoms, doobies and Led Zeppelin. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

Dealin’ With Idiots

Max Morris, a famous comedian, decides to get to know the colorful parents and coaches of his son’s baseball team better in an attempt to find the inspiration for his next movie. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

Desperately Seeking Susan

Roberta (Rosanna Arquette) seeks vicarious thrills through other people’s personal ads. But via a jacket, amnesia and mistaken identity, Roberta comes to believe she’s Susan (Madonna), a wild Soho vamp wanted by the mob. Part of the Watching Hour film series. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

Despicable Me 2

It’s time for more Minion madness in this animated sequel. Rated PG. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.

Drug War

Manufacturing just 50 grams of meth in China will earn you a death sentence. Timmy Choi has manufactured tons, and after a violent lab accident, he has only one chance to avoid execution: Turn informant and help police take down the powerful cartel he’s been cooking for. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

Elysium

In the future, two classes of people exist: the very rich who live a beautiful life on a space station called Elysium, and the very poor who carry on a dreadful existence down on Earth. Rated R. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.

Europa Report

A unique blend of documentary, alternative history and science fiction thriller, Europa Report follows a contemporary mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa to investigate the possible existence of alien life within our solar system. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Fruitvale Station

See full review, page 48. At Mayan and Century.

Grown Ups 2

This sequel to Grown Ups features Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade learning lessons from their kids on the last day of school. At Twin Peaks.

The Heat

A foul-mouthed, dirty methods cop (played by Melissa McCarthy) is forced to team up with a suit-wearing, micro-managing FBI agent (Sandra Bullock) to go after a drug lord. Rated R. At Colony Square.

How to Make Money Selling Drugs

A shockingly candid examination of how a street dealer can rise to cartel lord with relative ease, How to Make Money Selling Drugs is an insider’s guide to the violent but extremely lucrative drug industry. At Boedecker.— Boedecker Theater

The Hunt

This film is a disturbing depiction of how a lie becomes the truth when gossip, doubt and malice are allowed to flourish. At Boedecker and SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

Jobs

This biopic starring Ashton Kutcher as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs follows Jobs’ power struggles in Silicon Valley. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

Kick-Ass 2

Homemade superheroes return to the screen as Red Mist plots his revenge against Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl, who get help from friendly imitators. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Forest Whitaker stars as a White House butler whose 34-year tenure sees incredible social change. Based on the life of Eugene Allen. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger and Tonto take to the Western landscape. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square.

Monsters University

This prequel to Monsters, Inc. follows Mike and Sulley through their scare training. Rated G. At Colony Square.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

A teen girl discovers she’s the descendant of a line of half-human, half-angel warriors who prevent demons from destroying the world. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square.

Museum Hours

When a Vienna museum guard befriends an enigmatic visitor, the grand Kunsthistorisches Art Museum becomes a crossroads that sparks explorations of their lives, the city and the ways artworks reflect and shape the world. At SIE FilmCenter and Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

Off Label

Off Label examines our runaway pharma-culture by weaving together the stories of drug-testing subjects, Big Pharma representatives and others touched by the use of pharmaceuticals. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

Only God Forgives

Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn and star Ryan Gosling reunite for this intense crime drama set in Thailand. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

Pacific Rim

When giant monsters rise from the Pacific Ocean, mankind turns to massive robots piloted by soldiers to defeat them. At Century.

Paranoia

Liam Hemsworth, younger brother of action star Chris, is an entry-level corporate employee told to spy on his boss’s mentor. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

Paris Opera Ballet: La Sylphide

A beautiful fairy disappears into the mist — how will the amorous farmer find her again? And what will his fiancee think of all this? At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

Planes

Kids will love this Disney spinoff of the company’s animated classic Cars. Rated PG. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

In this sequel, Percy teams up with his other-wordly friends to go after the Golden Fleece. Rated PG. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.

RED 2

While trying to clear his name, Frank must defuse a Cold War project involving an activated nuclear weapon in Russia. At Century.

Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers

Fascist soldiers battle massive insects in an over-dramatic sci-fi film. It’s familiar turf for the film mockers who made Mystery Science Theater 3000. At Century.

Silent Voice

Three stories of love, treachery and redemption come together in the visitors’ center of a prison in this drama from France. Part of the J’adoré Cine Club series. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

The Smurfs 2

The Smurfs turn to their human friends for help rescuing Smurfette from an evil wizard. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.

The Spectacular Now

With sly humor and an intensity of feeling, The Spectacular Now creates a vivid, three-dimensional portrait of youth confronting the funny, thrilling and perilous business of modern love and adulthood. At Century and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

Star Trek Into Darkness

When the crew of the Enterprise returns to Earth they find the whole place in chaos. Captain Kirk takes his merry band of space pals to a forbidding prison planet to restore order and exact revenge. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square.

Still Mine

In his first lead role after decades of playing supporting characters, James Cromwell (The Artist, L.A. Confidential) gives a tour de force performance in Still Mine, an exquisitely crafted and deeply affecting love story about a couple in their twilight years. Rated PG-13. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

Touch of Evil

A car-bomb murder blows the lid off police corruption in a pestilent border town. Rated PG-13. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

Turbo

Theo the garden snail’s racing dreams come true when an accident with nitrous oxide gives him the power of incredible speed. At Century and Twin Peaks.

Wasteland

After being released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Harvey Miller has revenge on his mind. He recruits his three best friends to help him rob the local drug kingpin. At At SIE FilmCenter. — Boedecker Theater

The Way, Way Back

A lonely and awkward yet intelligent teenage boy begins his transition into adulthood. At Century, Colony Square and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

We’re the Millers

Everything that can go wrong does in this comedy when a small-time pot dealer to the soccer mom world decides to help out some local kids. Rated R. At Twin Peaks, Colony Square and Century.

The Wolverine

Logan must travel to Japan to battle an old acquaintance while stripped of his immortality. At Twin Peaks, Century and Colony Square.