Honolulu Weekly

Unattributed film synopses indicate movies not yet reviewed by HW staff.

Indicates films of unusual interest

Opening

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Public Enemies

Whatever Works

Continuing

Angels and Demons Exciting prequel to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, but lacking a certain passion of the Christ. –Ryan Senaga

Away We GoSee review, page 21.

Departures Film follows out of work cellist as he partakes in his new job working with death. Comedy and tragedy ensue as he finds the meaning of life and the joy that living brings. –Bob Green

My Sister’s Keeper A desperate couple concieves a daughter in hopes that she’s a genetic match for their ailling daughter. If there’s any chance for the family to rebuild their lives, the moral and ethical questions must be answered.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian While in the vein of in-vain money-making sequels, this Ben Stiller flick still offers some hidden treasures. –Dean Carrico

Year One Starring Michael Cera and Jack Black. Arrested Development fans will recognize Cera’s haircut from the take-your-daughter-to-work-day episode.

Star Trek J.J. Abrams’ amazing, revisionary version of the classic series is one that both true and new fans will love. –R.S.

The Hangover A men-will-be-boys comedy that is like most alcohol: mass-produced and homogenized. But sometimes you can find a truly great brand to your liking. Whether it will age well…is yet to be determined. –D.C.

The Proposal Sandra Bullock plays a tough-as-nails boss who forces her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her in lieu of getting deported to Canada. The chemistry shines as the “couple” fakes a new marriage through the antics of Bullock’s new on-screen in-laws.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 As good as Denzel Washington is, he can’t save what amounts to an uninspired retread of a summer thriller. This one, a remake of the 1974 classic, tells the story of a hostage situation on a NYC train. –R.S.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen See review, page 20.

Up Yet another piece of thoroughly enjoyable poignancy to add to Pixar’s already impressive catalog…With its deceivingly simple title–it’s downright award-worthy. –R.S.

Doris Duke Theatre

Honolulu Academy of Arts, 900 S. Beretania St., $8 general, $7 seniors/students/military, $5 Academy members, [honoluluacademy.org], 532-8768

Please Vote For Me (China, 2007) Doc about an experimentation in democracy in a Chinese third-grade class. Students get a chance to elect their own class monitor, and a series of culturally revelatory exercises in “elections” take a peculiarly Chinese turn–and fascinating, they say.

Wed 7/1–Fri 7/3, 1pm & 7:30pm; Sun 7/5 1pm, 4pm & 7:30pm & Tue 7/7, 1pm & 7:30pm.

Second Annual Surf Film Fest Four Hawaii premieres; two other films; two nights of free beer, a Wade Tokyo board giveaway and surf art by Charles Bartlett; Runs 7/10–7/14.

Info: 532-8700, [honoluluacademy.org].

Movie Museum

3566 Harding Ave. #4, $4 members, $5 general, 735-8771

Casablanca (1942) You must remember this; this story was set to star Ronald Reagan and Ann Sheridan but everything changed suddenly. The usual suspects were dumped, and Bogart/Bergman stepped in. As time went by, this Warner Bros. backlot special became a cult classic. Dooley Wilson plays the nightclub pianist/singer. Look for the last scenes, in which everyone gets out of the same side of the car (at the airfield).

Sat 7/4, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 8:30pm.

The International (2008) This underrated action thriller about people in big business has a terrific climax. Clive Owen and Naomi Watts star, along with Armin Mueller-Stahl. Director Tom Twyker (Run Lola Run) makes this one sleek and occasionally witty.

Thu 7/2 & Sun 7/5, 12:30pm, 3pm, 5:30pm & 8:30pm.

Tango (1993) Dark comedy. After getting by with killing his wife and lover, a stunt pilot is blackmailed by the crooked judge to do some more homicides. Filched from a Patricia Highsmith story, this film was directed unerringly by Patrice Leconte (Monsieur Hire).

Mon 7/6, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm.

Two Lovers (2008) Do not miss the smartest movie of the year with direction and story by James Gray and performances by Joaquin Phoenix, Gwenyth Paltrow and Isabella Rosselini in this love triangle. This is a movie that knows what it’s talking about.

Fri 7/3, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 8:30pm.

Coming Soon

Coraline She’s baaack. A replay of the story of a curious little girl who finds a strange parallel dimension where everything in her life is as she has always known it to be–only better but also more sinister. It’s Alice in Wonderland meets the Nightmare Before Christmas.

Inglorius Basterds Do you really thing Quentin Tarantino gives a f**k about spelling “bastards” conventionally? This flick’s about scalping Nazis, naturally.

Avatar Bring on the 3-D glasses for this James Cameron-written sci-fi battle between humans and aliens.

Moon An astronaut stationed on the moon discovers what may be a sinister plot developed by the company that employs him.

Watchmen (Director’s cut premiere)

The studio’s version of the graphic novel classic clocked in at 2:43, but director Zack Snyder has given it a new cut anyway.

Conversations With My Gardener (France, revival) Daniel Auteuil and Fanny Cottencon star in this sentimental French drama.

Food, Inc. (return) We are what we eat, and you’re corn.

Outrage (documentary) A new documentary that purports to “out” anti-gay crusaders such as former U.S. Sen. Larry Craig and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.