Synopses of movies playing the week of Feb. 12-18
Published 12:00 am Friday, February 12, 2016
- Submitted photoStephan James stars as track and field superstar Jesse Owens in “Race.”
Reviews by Richard Roeper, unless otherwise noted.
Heads Up
“The Age of Love” — A documentary about seniors finding love, “The Age of Love” follows the humorous and poignant adventures of thirty seniors in Rochester, New York, who sign up for a first-of-its-kind speed dating event exclusively for 70- to 90-year-olds. From anxious anticipation through the dates that follow, it’s an unexpected tale of intrepid seniors who lay their hearts on the line, and discover how dreams and desires change — or don’t change — from first love to the far reaches of life. This film screens at 2:30 p.m. today at the Bend Senior Center. Free admission. 78 minutes. (No MPAA rating)
— Synopsis from the film’s website
“Cam Zink — Reach for the Sky” — Cam Zink sits atop the freeride mountain biking world, having won its most coveted titles. Yet these accolades have not come without a physical price. “Reach for the Sky” takes a behind-the-scenes look into Cam Zink’s life, riding and the psychological elements of physical punishment and self-doubt to uncover why he perseveres through adversity, even when all the odds are against him. Benefits the Central Oregon Trail Alliance. Cost is $5, cash only. This film screens Thursday at 9 p.m. at McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend. 74 minutes. (No MPAA rating)
— Synopsis from the film’s website
“Pretty in Pink” — Celebrate the 30th anniversary of this bittersweet love story by John Hughes. Molly Ringwald is a high school girl from the wrong side of town. Andrew McCarthy is the wealthy heartthrob who asks her to the prom. As fast as their romance builds, it’s threatened by the painful reality of peer pressure. Includes a behind-the-scenes look at an alternate ending that would have changed everything. This film screens at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday at Regal Old Mill Stadium 16 & IMAX in Bend. Cost is $12.50. 130 minutes. (PG-13)
— Synopsis from Fathom Events
“Race” — Based on the incredible true story of Jesse Owens, the legendary athletic superstar whose quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy. This film opens Feb. 19 with early screenings Thursday. Running time unknown. (PG-13)
— Synopsis from Focus Features
“Risen” — The epic biblical story of the resurrection, as told through the eyes of a nonbeliever. Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a powerful Roman military tribune, and his aide, Lucius (Tom Felton), are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem. This film opens Feb. 19 with early screenings Thursday. 107 minutes. (PG-13)
— Synopsis from the film’s website
“TED 2016: ‘Dream’ Opening Night Live” — Hosted by TED’s curator Chris Anderson from Vancouver, Canada, featuring world-renowned thinkers, artists and storytellers who will share their “ideas worth spreading” about the greatest dreams we are capable of dreaming. What emerges is a spirit of wonder and optimism that represents the world at its best. This event screens at 5 p.m. Monday at Regal Old Mill Stadium 16 & IMAX in Bend. Cost is $20. 120 minutes. (No MPAA rating)
— Synopsis from Fathom Events
“Underwater Dreams” — The 2014 documentary that shows the epic story of how the sons of undocumented Mexican immigrants learned how to build an underwater robot from Home Depot parts and defeat engineering powerhouse MIT in the process. This film screens at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Rodriguez Annex, Jefferson County Library, Madras. Free admission. 60 minutes. (No MPAA rating)
— Synopsis from the film’s website
“The Witch” — The age-old concepts of witchcraft, black magic and possession are innovatively brought together to tell the intimate and riveting story of one family’s frightful unraveling in the New England wilderness circa 1630. This film opens Feb. 19 with early screenings Thursday. 92 minutes (R)
— Synopsis from the film’s website
“Women of Faith: An Amazing Joyful Journey” — The untold story behind “Women of Faith” through the years, on stage and off, on their travels with World Vision and their impact on audiences worldwide. Includes some of the most popular pieces from the speaking team, never-before-seen interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and musical performances from the tour. This event screens at 7 p.m. Thursday at Regal Old Mill Stadium 16 & IMAX in Bend. Cost is $15 or $12.50 for AARP members. 100 minutes. (No MPAA rating)
— Synopsis from Fathom Events
WHAT’S NEW
“45 Years” — Charlotte Rampling, Oscar-nominated for her performance, and Tom Courtenay, pretty darn brilliant himself, star as a long-married couple whose comfortable, seemingly close relationship is challenged when news arrives from afar — and from far off in the past. A study in economy, in the beautiful symmetry of word and image and music, and a study of a marriage shaken to its core. Rating: Four stars. 95 minutes. (R)
— Steven Rea,The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Deadpool” — Self-satisfied to the point of irritation, this Ryan Reynolds vehicle serves notice that it’s as much about spoofing the superhero genre and winking at the audience as it is about serving up a genuine storyline. If only “Deadpool” were as clever, dark and funny as it believes itself to be. This film also screens in IMAX. Rating: Two and a half stars. 108 minutes. (R) — Roeper
“How to Be Single” — Dakota Johnson and Rebel Wilson are the standouts in one of the most endearing romantic comedies in recent memory, with some laugh-out-loud dialogue, gorgeous photography and charming performances from the entire cast. Rating: Three and a half stars. 110 minutes. (R) — Roeper
“Where to Invade Next” — In this occasionally poignant but ham-handed and only semi-funny commentary, Michael Moore is at his shtickiest as he travels from one foreign country to the next, cherry-picking one thing each nation does better than we do. Rating: Two and a half stars. 119 minutes (R) — Roeper
“Zoolander 2” — Ben Stiller’s shallow and grating male model character reunites with best friend Hansel (Owen Wilson) to help solve some pop star murders. Celebrity cameos abound, but with few exceptions, their visual sight gags or one-liners fall flat with a resounding thud. Rating: One and a half stars. 100 minutes. (PG-13) — Roeper
STILL SHOWING
“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” — Michael Bay’s tribute to CIA contractors who resisted a terrorist attack in Libya is no “Zero Dark Thirty” or “The Hurt Locker.” Lacking in nuance and occasionally plagued by corny dialogue, “13 Hours” is nonetheless a solid action thriller with well-choreographed battle sequences and strong work from the ensemble cast. Rating: Three stars. 144 minutes. (R) — Roeper
2016 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animation — View all five 2016 Academy Award nominees in this category, including “Historia de un Oso (Bear Story),” “Prologue,” “Sunjay’s Super Team,” “We Can’t Live Without Cosmos” and “World of Tomorrow.” Running time unknown. (No MPAA rating)
— Synopsis from Tin Pan Theater
2016 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Documentary — View all five 2016 Academy Award nominees in this category, including “Body Team 12,” “Chau, Beyond the Lines,” “Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah,” “Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness” and “Last Day of Freedom.” Running time unknown. (No MPAA rating)
— Synopsis from Tin Pan Theater
2016 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Live Action — View all five 2016 Academy Award nominees in this category, including “Ave Maria,” “Day One,” “Alles Wird Gut (Everything Will Be Okay),” “Shok (Friend),” and “Stutterer.” Running time unknown. (No MPAA rating)
— Synopsis from Tin Pan Theater
“The Choice” — This love story starring Teresa Palmer (a winning presence) and Benjamin Walker (never hitting his stride) is classic Nicholas Sparks, and by that I mean it’s a mediocre, well-photographed, undeniably heart-tugging, annoyingly manipulative and dramatically predictable star-crossed romance. Rating: Two stars. 110 minutes. (PG-13) — Roeper
“Daddy’s Home” — Just when aggressively nice Brad (Will Ferrell) is achieving breakthrough status as stepdad to two kids, who shows up but his wife’s ex (Mark Wahlberg), a muscled-up stud worshiped by the children. Wahlberg’s character never seems all that dangerous, while Ferrell’s goes from bland to desperate to off the rails — and very little about that transition is genuinely funny. Rating: Two stars. 96 minutes. (PG-13) — Roeper
“Dirty Grandpa” — Robert De Niro is capable of being funny as hell in the right vehicle, but this dreck just makes you hang your head for the great actor, playing a foul-mouthed widower obsessed with sex. Revolting and odious, this is a contender for worst movie of 2016. Rating: Zero stars. 97 minutes. (R) — Roeper
“The Finest Hours” — As crew members try to keep their wrecked tanker afloat, a four-man Coast Guard team rushes to their rescue. Based on true events in 1952, “The Finest Hours” plays like a hokey, cornball 1950s-era drama filled with stock characters and weakened by a sappy ending. This film also screens in 3-D. Rating: Two stars. 114 minutes. (PG-13) — Roeper
“The Good Dinosaur” — Partnered up with a boy, a timid dinosaur tries to steer clear of a seemingly endless supply of dangerous creatures. One strange, aggressively gross and dark adventure, this second-level Pixar family film could give the little ones some serious nightmares. Rating: Two stars. 95 minutes. (PG) — Roeper
“Hail, Caesar!” — As they recount the adventures of a 1950s Hollywood “fixer” (Josh Brolin), the Coen brothers pay homage to genres from noir to Westerns. “Hail, Caesar!” is pure popcorn fun — a visual treat, a comedic tour de force and a sublime and sly slice of satire. Rating: Four stars. 106 minutes. (PG-13) — Roeper
“Kung Fu Panda 3” — The engaging and heartfelt story, coupled with eye-popping animation, makes “Kung Fu Panda 3” a total knockout. The story is actually rather simple — there’s a bad guy that panda and Dragon Warrier, Po (Jack Black) and his friends have to face; Po learns about where he comes from and embraces who he really is. But, the story is sincere and heartfelt, rendered with sweet emotional moments, humor, and epic, sweeping action scenes. There’s no shortage of humor, but the animation is the real standout in the film. This film also screens in 3-D. Rating: Three and a half stars. 95 minutes. (PG)
— Katie Walsh,Tribune News Service
“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” — In this extra-weird twist on Jane Austen’s classic story, Mrs. Bennet tries to marry off her daughters against the backdrop of a great zombie apocalypse. Director Burr Steers does a nifty job of rocketing from period-piece romance to gory bloodshed, with sprinkles of dark humor here and there. Rating: Three stars. 107 minutes. (PG-13) — Roeper
“The Revenant” — Enormously talented “Birdman” director Alejandro G. Inarritu strikes again with this 19th-century American fable, one of the most brutally beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers one of his most impressive performances as a frontiersman left for dead in the 1823 wilderness. Rating: Four stars. 156 minutes. (R) — Roeper
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — What a beautiful, thrilling, joyous, surprising and heart-thumping adventure this is. The seventh “Star Wars” film pops with memorable battle sequences, gives us chills with encore appearances by stars from the original trilogy and introduces more than a half-dozen terrific Next Generation characters. It’s a return to greatness. Rating: Four stars. 136 minutes. (PG-13) — Roeper