Honolulu Weekly

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

Indicates films of particular interest

Opening

Law Abiding Citizen Clyde Shelton, played by Gerard Butler, turns out not to be such a law-abiding citizen after discovering that one of the criminals who murdered his wife and daughter has escaped persecution. Butler says “fuck that shit”–300-style–and takes matters into his own hands.

The Stepfather A boy returns home after serving in the military and suspects something’s a little “off” about his new stepfather–like he’s a psychopathic serial killer out for blood (or something). A remake of the 1987 horror film of the same name.

Where the Wild Things Are After riding a tsunami of hype, the wild things are finally off the pages of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book and onto the big screen. Spike Jonze, the purveyor of accessibly weird cinema, brings the enchanted world of furry creatures and childhood rebellion to life via Sesame Street costumes and tunes from Karen O. One word: RAAWWWR.

Continuing

The Baader Meinhof Complex Based on the formation of the Red Army Faction, a group of West German radicals who promoted communist-inspired terrorism during the ’70s. In hopes of creating a more “human” world, the members of the RAF end up losing their own humanity.

Capitalism: A Love Story Especially after the timeliness of Bowling for Columbine and the necessity of Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore taking on the broad and complex nature of our economy seems obvious and simplistic. And it’s also a subject more complicated and all-encompassing to be covered in a two-hour movie. –Ryan Senaga

Couples Retreat Four couples retreat to a tropical island resort to undergo couples therapy, resulting in a series of comedic shenanigans. No, it’s not the premise for another VH1 reality television show, just another bro-tastic dude fest featuring Vince Vaughn.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Forecast: Kiddy flick with a chance of nostalgia. This animated adaptation of the famous children’s book has all the raining sausages and drizzling pizzas you could possibly stomach, but beware–they’ll be coming at you in 3-D, too!

Fame If you thought regular high school was bad, cue the stage lights and watch the drama unfold at the New York City High School of Performing Arts. A modern spin on the 1980 Oscar-winner of the same name.

The Invention of Lying To tell the truth, only the first third of this overrated, overstretched comedy is above average. –Bob Green

The September Issue A look at fashion’s notorious ice queen, Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine and muse for The Devil Wears Prada. Watch Wintour give birth to her five-pound baby, aka the September 2007 issue, which clocked in at 840 pages.

Surrogates By the end of its laughably bad FX and even dumber logistics, you realize it would have worked better as a Mike Judge or Judd Apatow comedy. –R.S.

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D A double feature staring Buzz Lightyear and co., who made their debut way back in 1995, and the sequel that inconceivably turned out to be even better than the original. This go around, get even closer to the plastic figurines in Disney Digital 3-D.

Whip It Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, which stars Juno’s Ellen Page and an ample serving of girl power! Page, who’s secured her role as America’s favorite tomboy, plays a rebellious teenage girl who trades beauty pageants for the roller derby.

Zombieland Some people will want to avoid this like the zombie plague. It’s their loss. As one of Columbus’ rules states, we should enjoy the little things, and there are a lot of little moments to enjoy in this horror/comedy/road movie. –Dean Carrico

Doris Duke Theatre

The Horse Boy (Mongolia/India, 2009) A documentary about a family’s quest through Mongolia following two year-old Rowan’s diagnosis with autism. Rowan’s parents dabble in shamanism and discover their son’s connection with horses. An official selection at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Wed 10/14, Thu 10/15, 1pm, 4pm & 7:30pm.

Jerichow (Germany, 2008) An intricate, haunting portrait of a love triangle between an ex-soldier, a Turkish businessman and his restless wife that takes place in a desolate town in East Germany. An official selection at both the Venice and Toronto film festivals.

Fri 10/16, Tue 10/20 , 1pm, 4pm & 7:30pm.

Movie Museum

Whatever Lola Wants (France, 2007) Lola, a perky New York Postal worker, moves to Cairo in pursuit of an Egyptian hunk and falls head over heels for belly dancing instead. A modern day fairy tale featuring sequined outfits and a spirited sound track.

Thu 10/15, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 8:30pm.

That Man From Rio (Italy/France, 1964) A madcap action thriller staring a French soldier who treks through Paris, Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon jungle via motorcycle and plane in pursuit of his kidnapped fiancée. Winner of the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Fri 10/16, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 8:30pm.

Drag Me To Hell (2009) A romp of a horror film, as campy as it is frightening. After denying a gypsy an extension on her loan, Christine, a bank loan officer, gets cursed to hell. For three days she must endure the psychological and physical torture of a demon luring her to the underworld.

Sat 10/17, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 8:30pm.

The Proposal (2009) A romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock as a tyrannical book editor who forces her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to marry when her citizenship is threatened. At first, the two are repulsed by one another, though over time…well, you can guess the rest.

Sun 10/18, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 8:30pm.

The Stolen Children (Italy/France/Switz, 1992) When the authorities discover that Rosetta is being prostituted by her mother, she and her brother are sent to an orphanage. After being rejected, the siblings are taken in by a cab driver who attempts to give them a sense of family. Winner of two awards at Cannes Film Festival.

Mon 10/19, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 8:30pm.

University of Hawaii

The Soul Saviour Film Festival: The Second Showing A second chance to witness the ongoing series of short films about everyday people who are chosen by God to save human souls.

Sun 10/18, 3–5pm.