35TH STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL
Denver Film Society celebrates its 35th anniversary by screening more than 250 films featuring acclaimed individuals in the movie industry, as well as many other entertaining events. The festival runs Nov. 1 to Nov. 11.
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, and six Americans escape to the home of a Canadian ambassador. A CIA agent comes forward to get them out of the country before they’re found. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
BEST OF THE NY INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL
Fabulous short subjects have been selected as the best in kids movies not cooked in the cauldron of Hollywood’s big studios. Kid Flix Mix is ideal for ages 4-8, with no advanced verbal or reading skills needed to appreciate their charm. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater
BROOKLYN CASTLE
Brooklyn Castle tells the stories of five members of the chess team at I.S. 318, a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The documentary follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories. Rated PG. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres
CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER
Married young and growing apart, she’s on her way up, he’s on his way nowhere, and they’re navigating a split while remaining supportive friends. Jesse passively accepts the transition, even though he’s still in love with Celeste. As the reality of their separation sets in, she slowly realizes she’s been cavalier about their relationship, and the decision which once seemed mature and progressive now seems impulsive and selfish. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater
CHASING MAVERICKS
When 15-year-old Jay discovers that one of the biggest waves on Earth, the mythic Mavericks, exists just miles from his home in Santa Cruz, he seeks the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to help to train him to conquer it. Rated PG. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
CLOUD ATLAS
This overly ambitious tale covers six stories written and directed by three people and multiple actors in multiple roles. Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess and Hugo Weaving attempt to share intersecting tales of humanity and spirituality, some of which involve intergalactic travel and a cloned Asian woman who becomes a deity. The best art is unafraid to fail. This is definitely art. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
COMPLIANCE
Based on true events, we see how far an average restaurant manager goes when instructed by an “authority” in the investigation of an alleged crime. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater
DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL
This documentary chronicles 50 years of international fashion and Diana Vreeland as a visionary with the ability to invent and discover fashion ideas, designers, personalities and photographers. Rated PG-13. At Esquire. –– Landmark Theatre
THE DOORS: LIVE AT THE BOWL ‘68
The Doors: Live at the Bowl ‘68 is widely held as the band’s best performance ever captured on film. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres.
FIVE EASY PIECES
An upper-middle-class dropout struggles to find his place as he picks up work on oil rigs. IFS at Muenzinger.
FLIGHT
Denzel Washington stars in this action-packed mystery thriller as a seasoned pilot who saves his plane after a mid-air disaster, rescuing almost all his passengers. He’s dubbed a hero but learns that the plane’s malfunctions reveal something different. Rated R. At Colony Square, Century and Twin Peaks.
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.
FUN SIZE
Wren, a high school senior eager to distance herself from her dysfunctional family, is forced to babysit her little brother on Halloween. Her brother goes missing in a crowd of trick-or-treaters and Wren seeks the help of her nerdy friends to find her brother before her mother finds out. Rated PG-13. 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.
THE HOUSE I LIVE IN
Filmed in more than 20 states, this documentary captures heart-wrenching stories from individuals at all levels of America’s War on Drugs. From the dealer to the grieving mother, the film offers a penetrating look inside America’s longest war, offering a definitive portrait and revealing its profound human rights implications. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres
THE INVISIBLE WAR
The Invisible War focuses on the powerful emotional stories of several young women to reveal the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the U.S. military. IFS at Muenzinger.
KISS ME
Romance unfolds at the most inopportune moment when hetero-inclined Mia and selfaware lesbian Frida meet while celebrating the engagement of Frida’s mother and Mia’s father. At Boedecker. ––Boedecker Theater
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
Documentary filmmaker Erik and closeted lawyer Paul meet on a cruising chat line, but soon find a deeper connection and become a couple. The narrative checks in on Erik and Paul’s relationship every few years over a decade, revealing in rich and telling detail the highs and lows of a memorable love story. At Boedecker. –– Landmark Theatres
LA SCALLA’S SIEGFRIED
The Ring Cycle continues, starring Lance Ryan as the ubermensch youth, in this new production from La Scala, Milan. The tale of gods and mortals, all set to Wagner’s incomparable music, is a must-see (and must-hear!) for any true opera lover. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater
THE LONELIEST PLANET
The summer before their wedding, Alex and Nica are backpacking through the scenic Caucasus Mountains in Georgia. The fit young couple hires a local guide to lead them on a camping trek, and the three set off into a stunning wilderness. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres
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. Rated R. At Century. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS
In 19th century China, Russell Crowe stars alongside Lucy Liu in this epic story of warriors, assassins and a lone outsider who must unite to kill the clan traitor. Rated R. At Twin Peaks and Century.
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 Esquire. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
MIAMI CONNECTION
Motorcycle ninjas tighten their grip on Florida’s narcotics trade, viciously annihilating anyone who dares move in on their turf. At Esquire and Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres
THE OTHER DREAM TEAM
This is the story of the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team, a group of trailblazing athletes who won the bronze at the Barcelona Olympics and left an indelible mark on the history books. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres.
THE OTHER SON
The Other Son is the moving and provocative tale of an Israeli and a Palestinian who discover they were accidentally switched at birth, and the complex repercussions on themselves and their respective families. Rated PG-13. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4
In the fourth installment of this popular horror franchise, a suburban family witnesses strange events in their home and neighborhood when a woman and a mysterious child move in. Rated R. At Century 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. Starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey and John Cusack. Rated R. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres
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 —The Reader of Omaha, Neb.
PLANET OF SNAIL (DOCUMENTARY)
Young-Chan learned to speak as a child before losing both hearing and vision. Soon-Ho is half his height, with a twisted spine, and speaks to him through finger-braille, a language made up of finger taps. With no narration or interviews, we see them rely heavily on each other and ponder what one would do without the other. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater
THE ROOM
The Room is an electrifying American black comedy about love, passion, betrayal and lies, starring Tommy Wiseau as a successful banker with a great respect for –– and dedication to — the people in his life, especially his future wife Lisa. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres
SMASHED
Smashed is a dramatic comedy about fidelity — and what it means to be committed to someone, to love someone, and to need to change your life … when your partner isn’t capable of change. At Esquire. –– Landmark Theatres
THE SESSIONS
The Sessions tells the triumphant story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined — at age 38 — to lose his virginity. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres.
SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS
An ensemble cast that includes Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Woddy Harrelson and Tom Waits play a writer and his friends willing to go all ends necessary to help with finishing the screenplay “Seven Psychopaths.” Rated R. At Century and Colony Square.
SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D
A young girl’s father disappears on the eve of her 18th birthday, and she discovers that she is not who she thinks she is. This revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her forever. Rated R. At Colony Square, Century and Twin Peaks
SIMON AND THE OAKS
Simon and the Oaks is the gripping story of Simon, who grows up in a loving, working-class family on the outskirts of Gothenburg but always feels out of place. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres
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 and Twin Peaks.
SKYFALL
See full review. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.
STRAIGHT TO HELL
Three inept hitmen decide to rob a bank but encounter the McMahons, a quintet of caffeine-addicted gunslingers who ride motorcycles across the range wreaking havoc. IFS at Muezinger.
WILD HORSE, WILD RIDE (DOCUMENTARY)
The Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge is an annual contest in which 100 people each have 100 days to tame a totally wild mustang so it can be adopted into a better life. Follow a handful of diverse and unforgettable characters as horses and trainers push each other to the limit, showing how much can come from these intense relationships between person and animal. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater
WRECK-IT RALPH (3D)
See full review. At Colony Square, Century and Twin Peaks.
WAKE IN FRIGHT
A bonded teacher arrives in the rough outback town of Bundanyabba. His initial plan of just staying one night before leaving stretches longer as he loses his identity by turning into an alcoholic. Rated R. IFS at VAC Basement Auditorium.
WAR OF THE BUTTONS
Set in rural occupied France during World War II, War of the Buttons tells the tale of pre-teen rebel Lebrac and the “war” he leads between two rival kid gangs from neighboring villages. Rated PG-13. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres
YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED
A group of proud Scottish homeowners take on tycoon Donald Trump as he prepares to destroy one of Britain’s last coastal wildernesses by building a luxury golf resort right on it. IFS at Muenzinger.
