ANNA KARENINA
Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel of love and infidelity comes to life thanks to director Joe Wright. A unique narrative device illuminates the theatrical behavior of the randy Russian nobles who can’t seem to help trying to sleep with each other’s spouses. Rated R. At Esquire. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
In
a forgotten but defiant bayou community cut off from the rest of the
world by a sprawling levee, a 6-year-old girl exists on the brink of
orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and extraordinary
imagination, she believes that the natural world is in balance with the
universe until a fierce storm changes her reality. At SIE FilmCenter. —
Denver Film Society
ARGO
Ben Affleck’s latest directing project (in which he also stars) is based on true events from the Iranian revolution in 1979. Militants storm the U.S. embassy and take 52 Americans hostage. Rated R. At Esquire.
THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE
Based on Sarah Burns’ riveting book and co-directed by her renowned father, this incendiary film tells of innocent young men scapegoated for a heinous crime, and serves as a mirror for our times. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
CHASING ICE
Acclaimed National Geographic photographer James Balog was once a skeptic about climate change. But through his Extreme Ice Survey (EIS), he discovers undeniable evidence of our changing planet. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
DJANGO UNCHAINED
Quentin Tarantino does to slave owners what he did to Nazis in Inglourious Basterds, taking
therapeutic cinematic revenge upon them with Django, a freed slave
turned bounty hunter. He and his partner, Dr. King Schultz, attempt to
rescue Django’s wife from the watchful eye of Calvin Candie and his head
slave. Things do not end peacefully. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square
and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
FILM/STILL: LUST FOR LIFE
Vincente Minnelli’s 1956 biopic Lust for Life is arguably the best of several films about the painter Vincent Van Gogh. The film is based on Irving Stone’s romanticized biography of the artist published in 1934. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society
GANGSTER SQUAD
In the violent underground of 1940s Los Angeles, Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) calls the shots with the police firmly in his pocket. But some cops can’t be controlled, and John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) form a group of tough, civic-minded police determined to protect their city from crime. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
GREGORY CREWDSON: BRIEF ENCOUNTERS
An acclaimed photographer, Gregory Crewdson has created some of the most gorgeously haunting pictures in the history of the medium. His meticulously composed, large-scale images are stunning narratives of small-town American life. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society
THE GUILT TRIP
Before
setting off on one of the biggest trips of his life, Andy Brewster
makes a quick stop at his mom’s house and unexpectedly picks her up to
join on his personal adventure. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square and Twin
Peaks.
A HAUNTED HOUSE
In the vein of the Scary Movie series he helped create, Marlon Wayans stars in this parody of found-footage haunted house films like Paranormal Activity and The Devil Inside. Rated R. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
HITCHCOCK
Lurking
behind Alfred Hitchcock — cinema’s “master of suspense” — was a hidden
side: his creatively explosive romance with his steadfast wife and
filmmaking collaborator, Alma Reville. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY 3D
Peter Jackson goes back for an Unexpected Journey that produces expected results, as this adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s original tale of hobbits and wizards is every bit as good as the Lord of the Rings series (and is, in some ways, even better). Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
HOLY MOTORS
Over the course of a day, Monsieur Oscar travels by limousine around Paris to a series of nine “appointments,” transforming into new characters or incarnations at each stop. At Boedecker and SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society
HYDE PARK ON HUDSON
In June 1939 the King and Queen of England stay overnight at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s country estate Hyde Park in upstate New York. This was the first-ever visit of a reigning English monarch to America. At Century and Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
THE IMPOSSIBLE
Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand, looking forward to a few days in tropical paradise. But as the family relaxes around the pool, a huge wall of black water races across the hotel grounds. At Century and Mayan. — Landmark Theatres
JACK REACHER
See full review. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
LES MISERABLES
The classic 19th century tale about the survival of the human spirit features outlaw Jean Valjean and the factory worker’s daughter he agrees to watch over, Cosette. This version features Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Sacha Baron Cohen. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
LIFE OF PI 3D
A storm ravages a boat carrying a zookeeper’s family and menagerie, and the only survivors are the family’s son, Pi, and a Bengal tiger, Richard Parker. Shot in 3-D, the film is a visual feast and is almost certain to receive a Best Picture nomination. Rated PG. At Century and Colony Square. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
LINCOLN
This is all about the creation of the penny. OK, kidding. This is Daniel Day-Lewis proving he’s the best there is (maybe ever) at embodying the emancipatory president as he works to get the 13th Amendment through a divided Congress in the midst of war. Rated PG-13. At Century and Colony Square. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
MONSTERS, INC. 3D
This Pixar feature returns to the silver screen in 3D. Sully and Mike have to figure out what to do with a little girl named Boo who has followed them back into the world of monsters. Rated G. At Twin Peaks.
NOT FADE AWAY
This rock ’n’ roll drama is a deeply felt love letter to the music of the 1960s. It’s a film about dreams that come true — and the ones that never do. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres
PARENTAL GUIDANCE
A grandfather and his wife face new challenges when they babysit their three grandchildren while the parents are away, and they find they must adjust their methods when faced with the problems of a younger generation. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
PROMISED LAND
Matt Damon plays a slick corporate salesman sure he can snag the drilling rights from a small town in economic decline, but meets surprising resistance from a grassroots campaign. Rated R. At Century.
PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA PARTS I & II
Madoka Kaname is offered the opportunity for magical powers if she agrees to a contract with a strange being called a Kyubey. The Kyubey will also grant her one wish, but in exchange she must fight witches. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society
RISE OF THE GUARDIANS 3D
Childhood
legends such as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny team up with Jack
Frost to protect the imagination and beliefs of children. Rated PG. At
Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
THE ROOM
Mid-level
banker Johnny pours his heart and soul into his relationship with Lisa,
but Lisa’s beginning to have eyes for Johnny’s best friend. Oh, hi,
Mark, indeed. At Esquire.
A ROYAL AFFAIR
The
true story of an ordinary man who wins the queen’s heart and starts a
revolution. Based on the love triangle among the insane Danish King
Christian VII, the royal physician, and the young but strong Queen Caroline Mathilda. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
RUST AND BONE
See full review. Rated R. At Mayan.
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 as
they search for the elusive current of interconnection that runs
through our lives. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society
THE SESSIONS
Based on the autobiographical writings of journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the
story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined — at age 38 —
to lose his virginity. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Bradley Cooper plays a man who loses everything and has to move in with his parents while he puts the pieces back together, aided by a mysterious girl. Rated R. At Century.
SKYFALL
Skyfall is a return to form for 007. Action, beautiful dames, interesting gadgets and snappy one-liners abound in this thriller. No surprises there. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
The Royal Ballet’s signature work is a perfect marriage of Pepita’s choreography and Tchaikovsky’s music, and a challenge for every dancer onstage. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
What if you were struck by lightning and died before you even finished high school? That’s the starting point of this hilarious black comedy written by and starring Chris Colfer (Glee) and directed by Brian Dannelly (Saved!, Weeds). At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society
TCHOUPITOULAS
This
documentary is a sensory trip through the bustling streets of New
Orleans. Three young brothers wander for a night through the
cacophonous, rhythmic city. At SIE FilmCenter.
TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D
This film takes up the narrative from the earlier Texas Chainsaw tales. A young woman inherits a house that once housed a vicious killer. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
THIS IS 40
Judd Apatow’s latest writing and directing effort depicts the marriage of two of the characters from Knocked Up. Paul
Rudd and Leslie Mann play a couple struggling through marriage in this
emotional comedy. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
A TRIP TO THE MOON/THE EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE
A
hand-painted color version of the Melies masterpiece has been fully
restored and set with an original score by Air. A must-see for Hugo fans, it is paired with The Extraordinary Voyage, the
story of how three experts launched the most ambitious restoration in
the history of cinema. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
VACATION!
Ah, summertime. Good friends, good cocktails, good times, lots of sex … and death? What
starts as a (somewhat) wholesome summer vacation soon turns into a
twisted nightmare in this dark comedy. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film
Society
WHEN THE IRON BIRD FLIES
Follow
the path of one of the world’s great spiritual traditions from the
caves of Tibet to the mainstream of Western culture. Along the way, the
film tackles the provocative exchanges between Buddhist practitioners
and scholars and Western scientists, psychologists and educators. At
Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
Mel
Brooks’ mercilessly funny, thoroughly zany spoof of horror films stars
Gene Wilder as Freddy Frankenstein, Peter Boyle as the tap-dancing
monster, and bug-eyed Marty Feldman as Igor, with Madeline Kahn, Teri
Garr and Cloris Leachman. At Esquire. — Landmark Theatres
ZERO DARK THIRTY
Questions
swirl around this based-on-real-events thriller that depicts the hunt
for Osama bin Laden. Its treatment of torture and classified materials
breaches aside, Zero Dark Thirty is the story of Maya (Jessica
Chastain), a CIA officer who tracks bin Laden for years. Rated R. At
Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
