Reel to reel | Week of September 20, 2012

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2 DAYS IN NEW YORK

See full review. At Esquire.

2016: OBAMA’S AMERICA

A film by Dinesh D’Souza, author of Obama’s America: Unmaking the American Dream, speculates on another four years of Obama as president. Rated PG. At Century.

THE AMBASSADOR

International provocateur Mads Brügger rips the corroded lid off the global scheme of political corruption in the Central African Republic. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. –– Denver Film Center 

BALLET: MOVE TO MOVE (NEDERLANDS DANS THEATER)

Dance lovers, take note: “If you see one live performance this year … Nederlands Dans Theater is the one to see.” (New York Times). At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

Forget concerns about star power and familiarity. We have never needed a coming-of-age fable set against environmental and poverty concerns as much as we need this. Rated PG-13. At Century and Mayan. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING

Beauty Is Embarrassing chronicles the vaulted highs and the crushing lows of a commercial artist struggling to find peace and balance between his work and his art. At Denver Film Center/Colfax –– Denver Film Center

THE BOURNE LEGACY

As the Bourne series continues minus its star, Matt Damon, we find out about another super-secret spy program that produced super-secret super spies. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square, and Twin Peaks.

BROOKLYN BROTHERS BEAT THE BEST

Recently dumped, Alex embarks on an impromptu road trip with his new bandmate, Jim. By channeling their inner children and giving a new meaning to the term “lo-fi,” Alex and Jim find their own unique style. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

THE CAMPAIGN

Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis play dueling politicians who are only slightly more addled and alarming than our real ones. Rated R. At Century. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

Director Christopher Nolan’s D.C. superhero legacy comes to an end as unwelcome and reluctant hero Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) dons his cape and deepens his voice once more. Rated PG-13. At Century.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS

The latest installment in this series based on the popular books sends the wimpy kid off on appropriately wimpy summer misadventures. Rated PG. At Colony Square.

DREDD 3D

In the irradiated wasteland of a future America, the war on drugs continues in the hands of urban cops who are now judge, jury and executioner. Rated R. At Century, Twin Peaks and Colony Square.

A DRUMMER’S DREAM

Explosive talent, passion, humor and irresistible personality come together in a magical setting with seven diverse drummers. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

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, Twin Peaks and Colony Square.

THE EXPENDABLES 2

A bloody film that features a bulked up cast. Rated R. At Twin Peaks.

FINDING NEMO 3D

A re-release in 3D of the 2003 film about a clown fish on a mission to save his son from a life of captivity. Rated G. At Colony Square, Century and Twin Peaks.

FIRST POSITION

For the young dancers at one of the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions, lifelong dreams are at stake. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

GIRLS ROCK

At Rock ’n’ Roll Camp, girls ranging in age from 8 to 18 are taught that it’s OK to sweat like a pig, scream like a banshee, wail on their instruments with complete and utter abandon, and that “it is 100 percent OK to be exactly who you are.” At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

GOD’S FIDDLER

Jascha Heifetz was the first truly modern virtuoso, a man about whom Itzhak Perlman said, “When I spoke with him, I can’t believe, I’m talking to God.” A legendary but mysterious figure, Heifetz embodied the paradox of how a mortal man lives with immortal gifts. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

FOR A GOOD TIME CALL

Two girls with little in common team up to rent a New York apartment by launching a phone sex business. Rated R. At Century.

HOW TO GROW A BAND

When his platinum-selling bluegrass band goes on indefinite hiatus, Chris Thile, a perfectionist prodigy who’s defied expectations since he learned the mandolin at age 5, has a plan to recruit some of the nation’s best young musicians to challenge the very foundations of bluegrass music. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

HOPE SPRINGS

Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones play a married couple seeking to rekindle a big romance in the hands of a couples counselor (Steve Carell) in a small town. Tommy Lee at his most endearingly gruff and Meryl at her most blushingly flustered. Rated PG-13. 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 Century, Twin Peaks and Colony Square.

IT MIGHT GET LOUD

The personal stories, in their own words, of three generations of electric guitar virtuosos: The Edge (U2), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and Jack White (The White Stripes). At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

THE INTOUCHABLES

The Intouchables is the inspiring true story of two men who should never have met — a quadriplegic aristocrat and a young man from the projects. Rated R. At Century and Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

LAST OUNCE OF COURAGE

The son of a young man killed in combat inspires his grandfather, mayor of a small town, to stand up against big-money Washington to protect religious expression. Rated PG. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

THE LAST WALTZ

Thanksgiving, 1976, San Francisco’s Winterland: The Band performs its last concert after 16 years on the road. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

LAWLESS

Because when the law says you can’t drink, only criminals will have alcohol. Based on the true story of the bootlegging Bondurant brothers. Rated R. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

MARLEY

The definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary and legend, from his early days to his rise to international super-stardom. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

THE MASTER

The Master unfolds the journey of a Navy veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future — until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Rated R. At Century and Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

MOONRISE KINGDOM

Once more, writer/director Wes Anderson dips his stylish pen into murky, melancholy tales of whimsy. This time out, the Royal Tenenbaums auteur follows a young “Khaki Scout” who flees from his troop while camping on an island to unite with his troubled gal pal. At Mayan. ­— The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS

Director Isao Takahata wryly tweaks the everyday activities of family life with his depiction of an irresponsible, slovenly and lazy family. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Center

THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN

A young couple learns to expect the unexpected when it comes to children in this frolicky romp of a story. Rated PG. At Century, Twin Peaks and Colony Square.

OSLO, AUGUST 31ST

A young man realizes that overcoming his drug addiction hasn’t brought the redemption he desperately seeks. At Muenzinger Auditorium.

PARANORMAN 3D

Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) sees dead people. This comes in handy when a witch who haunts his hometown is on the verge of creating mass hysteria and destruction. Rated PG. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks. — The Reader of Omaha, Neb.

PORCO ROSSO

The film follows the life of a world-weary flying ace turned bounty hunter. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Center

THE POSSESSION

A little girl buys a box full of trouble at a yard sale. The spirit inside is determined to inhabit and then eat her. Rated PG-13. At Colony Square and Twin Peaks.

PREMIUM RUSH

A bike messenger picks up a delivery that puts him at risk from more than texting drivers. Rated PG-13. At Century and Colony Square.

THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH

When it was built in the 1950s, the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St. Louis was a model example of affordable urban housing. But by 1972, the area had declined and the government abandoned its experiment. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Center

PSYCHO II

Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates, who has just been released from an insane asylum after 22 years, having been judged clinically sane by the state of California. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Center

QUADROPHENIA 

This film version of the Who’s rock opera Quadrophenia makes a few tentative stabs at “explaining” the alienation of 1960s British working-class youth. At Boedecker. –– Boedecker Theater

RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION 3D

Alice returns in this installment of resident evil to battle against the Umbrella Corporation, and of course, more zombies. At Colony Square. Century and Twin Peaks.

ROBOT & FRANK

See full review. At Chez Artiste and Century.

SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED

An unusual classified ad inspires three cynical Seattle Magazine employees to look for the story behind it. They discover Kenneth, a likable but paranoid supermarket clerk. At Denver FilmCenter/Colfax. — Denver Film Society

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 Esquire. — Landmark Theatres

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN

How is it possible with that a musician named Rodriguez could in person followed by bomb a with two albums in the U.S., disappear into obscurity for years and then be unknowingly resurrected as an performance at inspirational at hero in a totally different country? At Chez Artiste. — Landmark Theatres

SLEEPWALK WITH ME 

Unable to confront his anxieties, a struggling stand-up comedian finds them manifesting in ridiculous, dangerous and surreal bouts of sleepwalking in which his sub-conscious runs wild. At Mayan. –– Landmark Theatres

SPIRITED AWAY

Wandering through an abandoned carnival site, 10-year-old Chichiro stumbles into a dream-like spirit world where she is put to work in a bathhouse for the gods. At Denver Film Society/Colfax. –– Denver Film Society

STOLEN

Upon being released from prison, master thief Will Montgomery is ready to put his criminal past behind until a former partner kidnaps his daughter. Rated R. At Colony Square.

STEP UP TO THE PLATE

French chef Michel Bras has won many awards. In 2009, he decides to hand over his legendary restaurant to his son Sébastien Bras. At Chez Artiste. –– Landmark Theatres

THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Motivated by greed and power, a miner becomes obsessed with building an empire until he meets a prophet. International Film Series at VAC Basement Auditorium.

TOYS IN THE ATTIC

A teddy bear, a mechanical mouse and a marionette team up to save their friend, Buttercup the doll, from the Land of Evil. Rated PG. At Colony Square.

TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE

An aging baseball scout (Clint Eastwood) refuses to quit and has to accept help from his daughter in checking a hot batting prospect. Rated PG-13. At Century, Twin Peaks and Colony Square.

TURN ME ON, DAMMIT

This coming of age movie is manifested through Alma, a 15-year-old Norwegian girl who frequently fantasizes about sex. International Film Series at Muenzinger.

WHY STOP NOW

The story of Eli Smith (Jesse Eisenberg), a piano prodigy, dealing with his troubled mother, Penny, and enlisting help from a hapless drug dealer, Sprinkles, on the day he has an audition for a prestigious music program. Events spiral comically out of control. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Center

WILD HORSE WILD RIDE

A handful characters set out on a 100-day quest to tame a totally wild mustang for a Texas competition. At Denver Film Center/Colfax. –– Denver Film Center

THE WORDS 

Those lessons about plagiarism just didn’t stick, but now the guilt has a firm hold on a writer who made his fame with someone else’s novel in The Words. Rated PG-13. At Century, Colony Square and Twin Peaks.