Portman, McBride, Franco and Deschanel in Your Highness
Your Highness, directed by David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express), starring Danny McBride, Zooey Deschanel, James Franco and Natalie Portman. What a weird concept: a stoner comedy starring an assortment of the most A-list Hollywood stars from a respected, smart even, director. This apple has fallen far from the Cheech & Chong, Scary Movie, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle tree. This stoner fantasy is about a hedonistic and slothful knight (McBride) who must go on a quest to save a princess held captive by an evil wizard. Dude where’s my suit of armor? (Regal Meridian, 1501 7th Ave, 12:10, 1:30, 2:40, 4:20, 5:20, 7, 8, 9:30, 10:30 p.m.; Landmark Metro, 4500 9th Ave NE, 1:10, 4:40, 7:20, 9:50 p.m.)
Arthur, directed by Jason Winer, starring Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, and Jennifer Garner. Another day another Russell Brand “comedy” in the theaters. If they couldn’t bring Liza back for the remake, then why even bother? (Pacific Place, 600 Pine St, 11:10 a.m., 12:20, 1:35, 3, 4:15, 5:40, 7, 8:20, 9:40, 10:50 p.m.; Landmark Metro, 4500 9th Ave NE, 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:45 p.m.)
Saoirse Ronan in Hanna
Hanna, directed by Joe Wright (The Soloist), starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana. Hanna is an adolescent girl (Ronan) raised in total isolation by her CIA father (Bana) and trained as a master assassin. Between the girl with the dragon tattoo and the darlingest child killer in Kick Ass!, where do all these young female vigilantes come from? It seems like every week there’s a new one in the theaters. Is this what Angelina is training her brood to become? Here’s an idea–Having trouble with Ghadafi? Just send the Jolie-Pitt assassination squad to Tripoli. He’ll be dead in less than half an hour. (Regal Merician, 1501 7th Ave, 1, 2:10, 3:40, 4:50, 6:20, 7:30, 9, 10:10 p.m.; Big Picture, 2505 First Ave, 4:30, 7, 9:25 p.m.; Landmark Metro, 4500 9th Ave NE, 1:30, 4:20, 7, 9:40 p.m.; Columbia City Cinema, 4816 Rainier Ave S, 1, 3, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40 p.m.; Majestic Bay Theatres, 2044 NW Market St, 11:55 a.m., 2:25, 4:55, 7:25, 10 p.m.)
Quaid, Robb and Hunt in Soul Surfer.
Soul Surfer, directed by Sean McNamara, starring AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and Carrie Underwood. Based on a true story! A young and beautiful surfer (Robb) loses her arm to a shark attack, but doesn’t give up her dreams to win some kind of surfing contest. What a gloriously cheesy premise. Why you should see this movie: Dennis Quaid still looks good shirtless at 57, Helen Hunt has to pay the rent and it’s the acting debut for American Idol’s Carrie Underwood, who plays Robb’s friend who supports her in a time of need like any good Christian would do. (Pacific Place, 600 Pine St, 11:20 a.m., 1:55, 4:50, 7:40, 10:15 p.m.)
Rubber, directed by Quentin Dupieux, starring Stephen Spinella, Roxane Mesquida, and Wings Hauser. A discarded tire suddenly becomes aware of its telekinetic powers and uses them to terrorize a small desert town. Faster rubber tire! Kill! Kill! (Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 7 and 9 p.m.)
Seattle Screenings:
Curtis and Lancaster in Sweet Smell of Success
Central Cinema:
This weekend: Sweet Smell of Success (1957) directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Susan Harrison. Tony Curtis plays the unforgettable Sidney Falco, a two-bit show biz promoter who brown noses powerful Broadway Columnist played by Burt Lancaster. (Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 7 p.m.)
Rushmore (1998) directed by Wes Anderson, starring Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray and Olivia Williams. Jason Schwartzman plays Max Fisher another truly unique character: part nerd, part rebel, part wise-ass who develops an unlikely rivalry with bitter Herman Blume (Murray). (9:30 p.m.)
Monday: Bad Movie Art presents Grease 2 (1982) starring Michelle Pfeifer and Maxwell Caulfield in sing-a-long form. Text will be provided during all of the singing parts, but if you don’t already know all the words to “Cool Rider” you are dead to me.
http://youtu.be/DIsETmNtNTs
(Monday, 7 p.m.)
The Stepford gang's all here!
Wednesday: Sylvia O’Stayformore presents The Stepford Wives (1975) starring Katherine Ross, Paula Prentiss, and Tina Louise, as part of the Central Cinema’s on-going Favorites series. For this series Seattle notables get to take over programming for one night to present one of their favorite movies. This selection just screams O’Stayformore: the zombie housewife trapped in a 1950s mental bubble. A total must-see.
Siff Cinema:
This weekend: A tribute to director Danny Boyle with the zombie apocalypse thriller 28 Days Later (2002) and the definitive 90s Scottish junkies movie Train Spotting (1996). (SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer St, 7 p.m.(Train Spotting), 9:30 p.m.(28 Days Later))
Later this week: Danny Boyle directs two versions of Frankenstein by Nick Drear, based on Mary Shelley’s novel. Both versions star Johnny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbach as Dr. Frankenstein and the Creature and vice versa.
http://youtu.be/0FEakgJj-uA
(Saturday, 2 p.m. (Johnny as the Creature), Monday, 7:30 p.m. (Benedict as the Creature))
Grand Illusion:
Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore, presented by Something Weird Video. This documentary about the famed exploitation director features interviews with cult icons such as John Waters, drive-in movie critic Joe Bob Briggs and good ol’ HG himself. (Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 7 & 9 p.m.)
Blood Feast (1962) directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis, the first ever gore film set in suburban Miami where an Egyptian cultist posing as a party caterer attempts to resurrect the goddess Ishtar through what else, a blood feast! (Friday & Saturday, 11 p.m.)
Paramount Theater: Trader Joe’s Silent Movie Mondays:
Speedy (1928) directed by Ted Wilde, starring Harold Lloyd, cameo by Babe Ruth. You can catch a rare glimpse of Jazz Age 1920s New York in this fast-paced romantic comedy from one of Chaplin and Keaton’s biggest box-office rivals, Harold Lloyd. Filmed on location in Coney Island, Columbus Circle, Wall Street and Yankee Stadium, Speedy should entertain silent film fans and history and architecture buffs alike. (Paramount Theater, 911 Pine St, Monday, 7 p.m.)
Ryan Hicks is Development Manager for Three Dollar Bill Cinema, which is currently presenting Outlaw: Jean Genet On Film, the next film in the series is Deathwatch starring Leonard Nimoy April 16th. Ryan is also a film fan and contributor to Seattle Gay Scene.
