MOViES
F R I D AY D E C E M B E R 1 3 — T H U R S D AY D E C E M B E R 1 9 Movie summaries by M at t hew St af fo r d
k New Movies This Week
About Time (R) All Is Lost (PG-13) * Bettie Page Reveals All (R) Blue Jasmine (PG-13) The Book Thief (PG-13)
Captain Phillips (PG-13) Dallas Buyers Club (R)
Delivery Man (PG-13) Ender’s Game (PG-13) Frozen (PG)
The Sugarplum Fairies terpsichore in the Royal Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker,’ at the Regency Tuesday night. About Time (2:04) A time-traveling doofus Londoner tries to use his unique gift to plan, program and preordain his love life. l All Is Lost (1:45) Robert Redford in a oneman tour de force about a mariner guiding his damaged yacht though the stormy, sharkinfested Indian Ocean with only a map and a sextant. l Bettie Page Reveals All (1:41) Kaleidoscopic documentary about the legendary sex symbol features no-holds-barred narration by the whip-wielding icon herself. l Blue Jasmine (1:38) Woody Allen dramedy considers the case of a tightly strung New York socialite restructuring her life in the wilds of Marin and S.F.; Cate Blanchett stars. l The Book Thief (2:11) A German girl endures the horrors of WWII by losing herself in books she steals and shares with others, including a Jewish refugee hiding under her parents’ staircase. l Captain Phillips (2:13) Paul Greengrass docudrama about the 2009 hijacking of a U.S. cargo ship and the relationship between its captain (Tom Hanks) and the leader of the Somali pirates (Barkhad Abdi). l Dallas Buyers Club (1:57) Biopic of Ron Woodroof, the HIV-positive Texas cowboy who established a clearing house for legal and illegal alternative AIDS treatments from around the world. l Delivery Man (1:43) Vince Vaughn stars as a consistent underachiever whose greatest life achievement is fathering over 500 children through anonymous donations to a fertility clinic. l Ender’s Game (1:54) A geeky Earthling takes on an invading force of aliens with a little help from mentor Ben Kingsley; Harrison Ford costars. l Frozen (1:42) The kingdom of Arendelle is trapped in an eternal winter, so Anna sets off to find her sister Elsa, who has isolated herself to protect her family and kingdom from her frosty powers; Kristen Bell and Josh Gad vocalize. l The Great Beauty (2:22) Felliniesque satirical dramedy about an aging writer’s bittersweet adventures in beautiful, bizarre Rome. l The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2:41) Bilbo Baggins is back, joining 13 dwarves and a wizard in their quest to reclaim a lost kingdom; Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee and Orlando Bloom star. l Homefront (1:40) Suspense thriller finds ex-DEA agent Jason Statham taking on the not-so-neighborly inhabitants of a seemingly bucolic little town. l
28 Pacific Sun December 13 - december 19, 2013
l The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2:26) Jennifer Lawrence is back as Games top dawg Katniss Everdeen, whose victory lap is met with angry, violent rebellion; Lenny Kravitz costars. l It’s a Wonderful Life (2:11) Frank Capra’s much-loved “Christmas Carol” update stars James Stewart as an average man who discovers his own greatness. l Last Vegas (1:45) When dedicated bachelor Michael Douglas finally gets hitched, pals Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline whisk him to Vegas for one last wingding…but whither the Rat Pack days of yore? l
Marlinsky Theatre’s The Nutcracker in 3D
(1:45) Direct from St. Petersburg it’s the classic fairies-and-sugarplums holiday ballet served up in three dazzling dimensions. l The Metropolitan Opera: Falstaff (3:20) Live from New York it’s Verdi’s tuneful look at the fallen yet unbowed Shakespearean knight, rediscovered here in the mid 20th century. l Nebraska (1:54) Alexander Payne dramedy follows a cantankerous old coot and his estranged son on a Midwestern road trip to claim a million-dollar grand prize; Bruce Dern and Will Forte star. l Out of the Furnace (1:56) Steelworker Christian Bale takes on crime boss Woody Harrelson after brother Casey Affleck goes missing; Sam Shepard costars. l Philomena (1:37) Stephen Frears docudrama about an unwed mother’s attempts to track down her long-lost son; Judi Dench stars. l Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker (2:10) Peter Wright’s celebrated Covent Garden production of the Tchaikovsky classic about Clara, the Mouse King and the magic of Christmas. l Sweet Dreams (1:24) Inspiring documentary follows Ingoma Nshya, Rwanda’s first all-female drumming troupe, as they open the country’s first ice cream parlor. l Thor: The Dark World (1:51) When Natalie Portman discovers an ancient Norse god weapon, it’s up to Chris Hemsworth to prevent an evil elf from using it to destroy Earth, or something. l 12 Years a Slave (2:14) Steve McQueen directs the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black New Yorker who was abducted and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War South; Chiwetel Ejiofor stars. l Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (1:45) The rambunctious grandma is back and riding herd on her ungrateful kinfolk, Yuletide style. l Walking the Camino (1:24) Award-winning documentary follows six pilgrims as they trek Spain’s ancient 500-mile Camino de Santago Trail in search of spiritual awakening.
The Great Beauty (NR) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (PG-13)
Homefront (R) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG-13)
Lark: Fri 8 Sat 2:15, 8 Sun 1:45, 7:30 Mon-Thu 7:30 Rafael: Fri 4:15, 6:45, 9 Sat 2, 4:15, 6:45, 9 Sun 4:15 Mon-Wed 6:45, 9 Thu 9:15 Rafael: Fri-Sun 4, 8:45 Mon-Thu 8:45 Regency: Fri-Sat 11:50, 2:30, 5, 7:50, 10:25 Sun 5, 7:50 Mon-Tue 11:50, 2:30, 5, 7:50 Fairfax: Fri-Sat 1:10, 4, 6:45, 9:30 Sun-Tue 1:10, 4, 6:45 Marin: Fri 1, 4:15, 7:30, 10:25 Sat 10, 1, 4:15, 7:30, 10:25 Sun 1, 4:15, 7:30 Mon-Tue, Thu 4:15, 7:30 Regency: Fri-Sat 12:50, 4, 7:10, 10:15 Sun, Mon, Wed 12:50, 4, 7:10 Tue 12:50 Marin: Fri 12:30, 4, 7:15, 10:10 Sat 4, 7:15, 10:10 Sun 12:30, 4, 7:15 Mon-Tue, Thu 4, 7:15 Fairfax: Fri-Sat 12:50, 3:50, 6:50, 9:40 Sun-Tue 12:50, 3:50, 6:50 Regency: Fri 1:15, 4:15, 7:20, 10:10 Sat 4:15, 7:20, 10:10 Sun-Wed 1:15, 4:15, 7:20 Sequoia: Fri 4:15, 7, 9:55 Sat 10:45, 1:30, 4:15, 7, 9:55 Sun 4:50, 7:30 Mon, Tue, Thu 4:15, 7 Northgate: Fri-Tue 11:45, 2:30, 5, 7:35, 10:10 Rowland: Fri-Tue 12:15, 2:45, 5:15, 7:50, 10:25 Northgate: Fri-Tue 1:55, 7:10 Fairfax: Fri-Tue 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 8 Larkspur Landing: Fri 5, 10:20; 3D showtime at 7:40 Sat-Sun 11:45, 5, 10:20; 3D showtimes at 2:20, 7:40 Mon-Thu 9:30; 3D showtime at 6:45 Northgate: Fri-Tue 11, 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:35; 3D showtimes at 12:50, 3, 5:40, 8:15 Playhouse: Fri, Mon-Thu 5, 7:30 Sat-Sun 12, 2:30, 5, 7:30 Rowland: Fri-Tue 11:15, 4:30, 7:10; 3D showtimes at 1:50, 9:50 Rafael: Fri 4:30, 7:30 Sat-Sun 1:15, 4:30, 7:30 Mon-Thu 7:30 Cinema: 3:20, 10:30; 3D showtimes at 11:40, 7 Fairfax: Fri-Tue 12, 3:30, 7; 3D showtimes at 1, 4:30, 8 Marin: Fri-Sat 3:30, 10:25; 3D showtimes at 12, 7 Sun 3:30; 3D showtimes at 12, 7 Mon-Thu 3:30; 3D showtime at 7 Northgate: Fri-Tue 11:50, 1:20, 4:50, 6:50, 8:20; 3D showtimes at 10:30, 11:10, 12:30, 2, 2:40, 3:20, 4, 5:30, 6:10, 7:30, 9, 9:40, 10:20 Playhouse: Fri, Mon-Thu 3:30, 4:30, 7, 8 Sat-Sun 12, 1, 3:30, 4:30, 7, 8 Rowland: Fri-Tue 1:10, 3:30, 5:50, 8:10; 3D showtimes at 10:50, 12, 2:20, 4:40, 7, 9:20, 10:30 Northgate: Fri-Tue 11:20, 4:40, 9:55 Fairfax: Fri-Sat 12, 3:15, 6:30, 9:45 Sun-Tue 12, 3:15, 6:30 Larkspur Landing: Fri 7, 10:15 Sat-Sun 12:30, 3:45, 7, 10:15 Mon-Thu 6:30, 9:45 Northgate: Fri-Tue 10:55, 12:35, 2:15, 3:55, 5:35, 7:15, 8:55, 10:30 Rowland: Fri-Tue 12:50, 4:05, 7:20, 10:35 Regency: Sun 2 Wed 2, 7 Sequoia: Sun 2 Wed 2, 7 Northgate: Fri-Tue 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 7:50, 10:25
* It’s a Wonderful Life (PG) Last Vegas (PG-13) * Marlinsky Theatre’s The Nutcracker in 3D (NR) Rafael: Sun 1:30 Thu 7 * The Metropolitan Opera: Falstaff (NR) Lark: Sat 9:55am Marin: Sat 9:55am, Wed 6:30 Regency: Sat 9:55am, Wed 6:30 Sequoia: Sat 9:55am, Wed 6:30 Nebraska (R) Regency: Fri-Sat 1:10, 4:10, 7, 9:50 Sun-Tue 1:10, 4:10, 7 Wed 1:10 Sequoia: Fri 4:35, 7:20, 10:05 Sat 1:55, 4:35, 7:20, 10:05 Sun 1:55, 4:35, 7:20 Mon-Tue, Thu 4:35, 7:20 Wed 3 Out of the Furnace (R) Larkspur Landing: Fri 7:15, 10 Sat-Sun 11, 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10 Mon-Thu 6:50, 9:40 Regency: Fri-Sat 1:40, 4:35, 7:30, 10:20 Sun-Wed 1:40, 4:35, 7:30 Rowland: Fri-Tue 11:20, 2, 4:45, 7:30, 10:15 Philomena (PG-13) Larkspur Landing: Fri 5:15, 7:45, 10:05 Sat-Sun 12, 2:30, 5:15, 7:45, 10:05 Mon-Thu 7:15, 9:35 Regency: Fri-Sat 12, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:05 Sun-Wed 12, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40 * Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker (PG) Regency: Tue 7 Sweet Dreams (NR) Rafael: Sun 7 (filmmaker Lisa Fruchtman in person) Thor: The Dark World (PG-13) Northgate: Fri-Tue 11:05, 4:35, 10; 3D showtimes at 1:50, 7:20 12 Years a Slave (R) Lark: Fri-Sat 5 Sun-Thu 4:30 Northgate: Fri-Tue 12:45, 3:50, 7:05, 10:05 * Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (PG-13) Northgate: Fri-Tue 12, 2:35, 5:10, 7:45, 10:15 Rowland: Fri-Tue 12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:10 Walking the Camino (NR) Rafael: Fri, Mon-Thu 6:30 Sat-Sun 1:45, 6:30
James Stewart awakes and sings in Frank Capra’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ at the Regency and Sequoia Sunday and Wednesday.
Showtimes can change after we go to press. Please call theater to confirm schedules. CinéArts at Marin 101 Caledonia St., Sausalito • 331-0255 | CinéArts at Sequoia 25 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley • 388-4862 | Cinema 41 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera • 924-6505 | Fairfax 9 Broadway, Fairfax • 453-5444 Lark 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur • 924-5111 | Larkspur Landing 500 Larkspur Landing Cir., Larkspur • 461-4849 Northgate 7000 Northgate Dr., San Rafael • 800-326-3264 | Playhouse 40 Main St., Tiburon • 435-1234 Rafael Film Center 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael • 454-1222 | Regency 80 Smith Ranch Rd., Terra Linda • 479-5050 Rowland 44 Rowland Way, Novato • 800-326-3264