Reel to Reel | Week of January 31, 2013

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Pacino, Walken and Arkin just might be too old for Stand Up Guys.

AMOUR

Georges and Anne are a couple in their 80s about to experience the perils of mortality. When Anne begins sliding downward through dementia, Georges is left to try to pick up the pieces. Rated PG-13. At Century and Chez Artiste. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

ANNA KARENINA

Leo Tolstoy’s novel of love and infidelity comes to life thanks to director Joe Wright. A unique narrative device illuminates the theatrical behavior of randy Russian nobles who can’t help trying to sleep with each other’s spouses. Rated R. At Chez Artiste and Mayan. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

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.

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

In a forgotten but defiant bayou community, a 6-year-old girl exists on the brink of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism, 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

BEWARE OF MR. BAKER

Ginger Baker’s first memory was running after a train that carried his father off to death in WWII. From his music to his life, at the expense of family and fortune, the world’s greatest drummer would never be left behind on the tracks again. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

BROKEN CITY

The mayor of New York City (Russell Crowe) hires a former cop (Mark Wahlberg) to spy on his wife. The private eye uncovers a scandal much larger than an extramarital affair. Rated R. At Twin Peaks.

BULLET TO THE HEAD

Sylvester Stallone plays a hitman who unites efforts with a cop when both have a similar mission: bringing down their partners’ killers. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

CLOAK AND DAGGER

Juvenile actor Henry Thomas of E.T. is the star of Cloak & Dagger. Given to telling whoppers, Thomas finds himself in a boy-who-cried-wolf dilemma when he overhears two spies plotting to smuggle valuable info out of the U.S. When his father won’t believe him, Thomas turns to a computer game called “Cloak and Dagger.” Part of The Watching Hour film series at SIE Theater. — Denver Film Society

DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE MUST TRAVEL

An intimate portrait and vibrant celebration of one of the most influential women of the 20th century, who has influenced fashion, beauty, publishing and culture. Vreeland edited several magazines, popularized the Met’s Costume Institute and advised Jackie Onassis. Rated PG-13. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

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. He and his partner, Dr. King Schultz, attempt to rescue Django’s wife. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

The Brothers Grimm fairy tale is the latest victim of the ever-expanding quest to produce a gritty reboot of every franchise or concept in history. Rising action stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton are the titular siblings, on a mission to exterminate witches from the planet. Rated R. At Century, 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 Twin Peaks.

HELLO I MUST BE GOING

A recent divorcée, demoralized and uncertain of her future, moves in with her parents and begins an affair with a 19-year-old actor that jumpstarts her passion for life. Rated R. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY 3D

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 and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE

This Oscar-nominated documentary is an in-depth, riveting account of a small group of people who made a crucial impact on the recognition of and treatments of HIV/ AIDS. We follow the lead players of ACT UP and TAG from the early ’80s to present day. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON

In June 1939 the King and Queen of England stay overnight at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s country estate in upstate New York. This was the first visit of an English monarch to America. Rated R. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

THE IMPOSSIBLE

Setting aside the oddly xenophobic premise that allows a horrific event, a 2004 tsunami, suffered by the entirety of Eastern Asia to be filtered through a decidedly Western lens, this is a beautiful-looking survival tale. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Mayan. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

KNIFE FIGHT

If a political candidate is personally flawed, but stands to make a positive difference in millions of lives, would you help him win? That question looms over the life of Paul Turner, a savvy strategist maneuvering politicians out of scandal and into public office. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

LA FILLE MAL GARDÉE

The simple story of Lise, her suitor Colas, and Lise’s larger-than-life mother who tries to marry her off to the simpleton son of a rich neighbor is both funny and touching. The cast includes Philip Mosley, the acclaimed dancer who inspired the film and musical Billy Elliot. Performed by The Royal Ballet. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

A LATE QUARTET

The quartet returns for an “encore” at The Boe for more classical drama, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken and Catherine Keener. Rated R. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

LES MISERABLES

Hugh Jackman gives his all as Jean Valjean, the unluckiest bread thief in history. Russell Crowe’s relentless Javert and Anne Hathaway’s Fantine are also great. Unfortunately, director Tom Hooper filmed this adaptation of the beloved stage classic in extreme close-up, making for a hideous, excruciating endeavor. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

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.

LOCAL FILMMAKERS’ SHOWCASE

Our inaugural showcase features three films from the experimental end of the spectrum. The three short subjects are: Brandon Losey’s “Child’s Play,” John Regalado’s “Deliver Us” and Nick Langley’s “Das Traumtagebuch.” At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

MAMA

Five years after they disappeared, sisters Victoria and Lilly are found in a half-collapsed cabin in the woods. But when they come to civilization to live with their relatives, the girls don’t come alone. Rated PG-13. At Twin Peaks.

THE MASTER

The Master unfolds the journey of a Navy veteran who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future — until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader. At SIE FilmCenter. — Denver Film Society

MOULIN ROUGE

Director Baz Luhrmann brings together gorgeous period design and modern-era pop tunes to create a unique musical experience starring Nicole Kidman as the star of the Moulin Rouge and the city’s most famous courtesan, and Ewan McGregor as a writer who finds himself plunged into this decadent world where anything goes — except falling in love. Rated PG-13. At Esquire — Landmark Theatres

MOVIE 43

The biggest ensemble cast in the history of ensemble casts carries this comedy about three kids searching for a banned video. The film’s 12 segments were directed by 12 different people, including Elizabeth Banks and Bob Odenkirk. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2013: ANIMATED

See full reviews. At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2013: LIVE ACTION

See full reviews. At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

PARKER

Jason Statham stars as a criminal with a troubling past but a strict code of ethics who finds a perfectly valid reason to fire a gun a bunch of times. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

QUARTET

The rumor circling the halls at Beecham House is that a star is coming to the home. For Reginald Paget, Wilfred Bond and Cecily Robson, this talk is par for the course. But they’re in for a shock when the new arrival is none other than their former singing partner. Rated PG-13. At Century and Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

VERSAILLES ’73 — AMERICAN RUNWAY REVOLUTION

In an era known for protests and sit-ins, the 1973 Grand Divertissement at Versailles made a statement of its own — a fashion statement. Part of DocNight series at SIE FilmCenter. ­— Denver Film Society

RUST AND BONE

Academy Award-winning actress Marion Cotillard gives a tour-de-force performance in Rust and Bone that rivals anything she has done before. She plays Stéphanie, a whale trainer at a marineland on the French Riviera who suffers a devastating injury. Rated R. At Mayan. ­— Landmark Theatres

SACRED SITES OF THE DALAI LAMAS

Join a spiritual pilgrimage and explore the Tibetan caves where the early Buddhist masters achieved enlightenment, and Oracle Lake, where they received visions. Our guides are Steve Dancz, composer for National Geographic, Glenn Mullin, author of more than 25 books on Tibetan Buddhism, and Khenpo Tashi, a Bhutanese monk and international teacher. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

How is it possible that a musician could bomb with two albums in the U.S., disappear into obscurity for years and then be resurrected as a successful, inspirational hero in a totally different country? At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

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. Rated R. At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

When Pat is released from court-mandated institutionalization after beating his wife’s lover, he meets Tiffany, a young widow struggling with grief. Although the film has the trappings of drama, everything is sanitized and clichéd enough to make this a feel-good romance between attractive people. Rated R. At Century and Colony Square. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

SOUND CITY

Deep in the San Fernando Valley was rock ’n’ roll’s best-kept secret: Sound City. America’s greatest unsung recording studio housed a one-of-a-kind console, and as its legend grew, seminal bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Tom Petty and Nirvana all came out to put magic to tape. At Mayan. — Landmark Theatres

STAND UP GUYS

Three retired gangsters (Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin) are reunited after jail time and a deal gone wrong with a mob boss for a final night out. Rated R. At Century.

THE STORY OF FILM: PARTS 3 AND 4

From the 1920s to the coming of sound to the movies, we visit Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Shanghai and Tokyo to discover the places where movie makers pushed the boundaries. At Boedecker. — Boedecker Theater

THE RABBI’S CAT

Based on the graphic novel by Joann Sfar, The Rabbi’s Cat tells the story of a rabbi and his talking cat ­— a sharp-tongued feline philosopher brimming with scathing humor and a less-than-pure love for the rabbi’s voluptuous teenage daughter. At SIE FilmCenter. ­— Denver Film Society

WARM BODIES

Adding some laughs to the paranormal teen romance genre, Warm Bodies tells the story of unlikely love in the zombie apocalypse. When zombie R (Nicholas Holt) meets still-human Julie (Teresa Palmer), human feelings begin filling his decayed heart. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

ZERO DARK THIRTY

Have you heard about the time we shot Osama bin Laden? Have you ever wondered the painstaking decade of research that went into that moment? Well, you’re in for a treat, as Maya (Jessica Chastain), the investigator who broke the case open, searches for bin Laden. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.