MOVies
F R I D AY D ecember 6 — T H U R S D AY D ecember 1 2 Movie summaries by M at t hew St af fo r d l Black Nativity (1:32) Langston Hughes’ Yuleide musical about a streetwise young man’s spiritual journey stars Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker. l Blue Is the Warmest Colo r (2:59) Controversial Cannes-winner about the brief yet intoxicating lesbian love affair between a 15-year-old girl and a worldly art student. 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
A Century Ago: The Films of 1913
(2:00) Enjoy an evening of hundred-yearold one-reelers (including Lois Weber’s “Suspicion” and Lillian Gish in D.W. Griffith’s “The Mothering Heart”) presented on a vintage 1909 hand-cranked projector with musical accompaniment by Michael Mortilla. 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 Free Birds (1:31) Two terrified turkeys travel back in time to change the course of history and banish their fellow fowl from the holiday table forever. 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 Gravity (1:31) Venice Film Fest phenom about two astronauts who struggle to survive after they’re cast adrift in outer space; George Clooney and Sandra Bullock star. 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 The Hobbit Double Feature (5:26) Catch “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: The Desolation
of Smaug”, cop a free Hobbit poster and chow down on discounted snacks and soda pop, all for $18. l Hollywood Home Movies (2:00) Enjoy rare and revealing glimpses of movie folk at play (Bogie, Marlene, Hitch, Lucy and many others) in home movies culled from the Academy Film Archives; live piano accompaniment by Michael Mortilla. 28 Pacific Sun december 6- december 12, 2013
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
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 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 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1:37) All-American doofus Chevy
Chase tries to craft the perfect family Christmas, but Randy Quaid, Doris Roberts, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Juliette Lewis have other ideas.
l National Theatre London: 50 Years On Stage Join Britain’s greatest thespians
(Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith and 94 others) at a 50th birthday party for the acclaimed National Theatre, featuring excerpts from “Antony and Cleopatra,” “Guys and Dolls” and everything in between. 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 Oldboy (1:45) Spike Lee remakes Park Chan-wook’s cult actioner about a kidnapped stockbroker who goes into ultraviolent vengeance mode after 20 years as a hostage; Josh Brolin stars. l Out of the Furnace (1:56) Steelworker Christian Bale takes on crime boss Woody Harrelson after brother Casey Aff leck 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 Richard II (3:00) Direct from StratfordUpon-Avon it’s the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of the Bard’s incisive look at the vain, bloodthirsty monarch. 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 preCivil War South; Chiwetel Ejiofor stars. 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.
k New Movies This Week
Black Nativity (PG)
Northgate: Fri-Wed 12, 2:35, 5:05, 7:30, 9:55 Rowland: 12:25, 2:50, 5:15, 7:45, 10:05 Blue Is the Warmest Color (NC-17) Rafael: Fri, Sun 4:30, 8 Sat 1, 4:30, 8 Tue 7:15 The Book Thief (PG-13) Fairfax: Fri-Sat 1:10, 4, 6:45, 9:30 Sun-Thu 1:10, 4, 6:45 Marin: Fri-Sat 1:15, 4:15, 7:30, 10:25 Sun 1:15, 4:15, 7:30 Mon-Thu 4:15, 7:30 Regency: Fri-Sat 12:50, 4, 7:10, 10:15 Sun-Thu 12:50, 4, 7:10 * A Century Ago: The Films of 1913 (NR) Rafael: Thu 7 Dallas Buyers Club (R) Fairfax: Fri-Sat 12:50, 3:50, 6:50, 9:40 Sun-Wed 12:50, 3:50, 6:50 Thu 12:50, 3:50 Regency: Fri-Sat 1:15, 4:15, 7:20, 10:10 Sun-Thu 1:15, 4:15, 7:20 Sequoia: Fri 4:15, 7, 9:55 Sat 7, 9:55, 1:30am, 4:15am Mon, Tue, Thu 4:15, 7 Wed 1:50, 4:15 Delivery Man (PG-13) Northgate: Fri-Wed 11:50, 2:30, 5, 7:35, 10:15 Rowland: 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 7:55, 10:25 Ender’s Game (PG-13) Northgate: Fri-Wed 10:45, 1:30, 4:15, 6:55, 9:30 Free Birds (PG) Northgate: Fri-Wed 11:30, 4:40, 9:45; 3D showtimes at 2:10, 7:25 Frozen (PG) Fairfax: Fri-Sat 12:10, 1:30, 2:45, 5:20, 7, 8, 9:35; 3D showtime at 4:15 Sun-Thu 12:10, 1:30, 2:45, 5:20, 7, 8; 3D showtime at 4:15 Larkspur Landing: Fri 5, 10:15; 3D showtime at 7:40 Sat-Sun 11:30, 5, 10:15; 3D showtimes at 2:15, 7:40 Mon-Thu 9:30; 3D showtime at 6:45 Northgate: Fri-Wed 11, 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:35; 3D showtimes at 12:25, 3, 5:40, 8:15 Playhouse: Fri 3:10, 5:35, 8:10 Sat-Sun 12, 12:45, 2:30, 3:10, 5:35, 8:10 Mon-Thu 3:10, 5:35, 8:10 Rowland: 11:10, 4:30, 7; 3D showtimes at 1:40, 9:40 Gravity (PG-13) Larkspur Landing: Fri 5:25; 3D showtimes at 7:45, 10:10 Sat-Sun 12:40; 3D showtimes at 3, 5:25, 7:45, 10:10 Mon-Thu 7:15; 3D showtime at 9:35 Northgate: Fri-Wed 11:35, 4:50, 9:50 The Great Beauty (NR) Rafael: Fri 4:15, 7:30 Sat 1:15, 4:15, 7:30 Sun 1:15, 3:15, 8:30 Mon-Thu 7:30 * The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Fairfax: Thu 11:59pm Marin: Thu 11:59pm Northgate: Thu 11:59pm; 3D (PG-13) showtime at midnight Rowland: Thu 11:59pm; 3D showtime at midnight * The Hobbit Double Feature (PG-13) Cinema: Thu 9 Fairfax: Thu 8:45 Northgate: Thu 9 * Hollywood Home Movies (NR) Rafael: Wed 7 (the Academy Film Archive’s Randy Haberkamp and Lynne Kirste in person) Homefront (R) Northgate: Fri-Wed 11:25, 2:20, 4:55, 7:40, 10:10 Rowland: 11:50, 2:25, 5, 7:40, 10:10 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG-13) Cinema: Fri-Wed 12, 3:30, 7, 10:20 Fairfax: Fri-Sat 12, 1, 3:15, 4:15, 6:30, 7:30, 9:45 Sun-Thu 12, 1, 3:15, 4:15, 6:30, 7:30 Marin: Fri-Sat 12:30, 3:45, 7, 10:15 Sun 12:30, 3:45, 7 Mon-Thu 3:45, 7 Northgate: Fri-Sun 10:55, 11:45, 12:35, 1:25, 2:15, 3:05, 3:55, 4:45, 5:35, 6:25, 7:15, 8, 8:55, 9:40, 10:30 Mon-Wed 10:55, 11:45, 12:35, 1:25, 2:15, 3:05, 3:55, 4:45, 5:35, 6:25, 7:15, 8, 8:55, 9:40 Playhouse: Fri 3:45, 4:55, 7, 8 Sat-Sun 12:30, 3:45, 4:55, 7, 8 Mon-Thu 3:45, 4:55, 7, 8 Rowland: 11:05, 12:45, 2:20, 4, 5:35, 7:15, 8:50, 10:30 Last Vegas (PG-13) Northgate: Fri-Wed 12:10, 2:45, 5:20, 7:50, 10:20 Rowland: Fri-Wed 11:25, 1:55, 4:40, 7:20, 9:55; Thu 11:25, 1:55, 4:40, 7:20 * National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13) Regency: Sun 2 Wed 2, 7 Sequoia: Sun 2 Wed 2, 7 * National Theatre London: 50 Years On Stage (NR) Lark: Thu 1 Nebraska (R) Regency: Fri-Sat 11:55, 1:10, 2:45, 4:10, 5:35, 7, 8:25, 9:50 Sun 11:55, 2:45, 5:35, 7 Mon, Tue, Thu 11:55, 1:10, 2:45, 4:10, 5:35, 7 Wed 1:10, 4:10, 7 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-Thu 4:35, 7:20 * Oldboy (R) Northgate: Fri-Wed 2, 7:10 * Out of the Furnace (R) Larkspur Landing: Fri 7, 10 Sat-Sun 1:25, 4:10, 7, 10 Mon-Thu 6:30, 9:15 Regency: Fri-Sat 1:40, 4:35, 7:30, 10:20 Sun-Thu 1:40, 4:35, 7:30 Rowland: 11:15, 2, 4:45, 7:30, 10:15 Philomena (PG-13) Larkspur Landing: Fri 5:40, 8, 10:20 Sat-Sun 12:30, 2:55, 5:40, 8, 10:20 Mon-Thu 7, 9:20 Regency: Fri-Sat 12, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40, 10:05 Sun-Thu 12, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40 Richard II (NR) Rafael: Sun 1 * Sweet Dreams (NR) Rafael: Sun 7 (filmmakers Lisa and Rob Fruchtman, Mickey Hart and members of the Ingoma Nshya drumming troupe in person) Thor: The Dark World (PG-13) Northgate: Fri-Wed 11:05, 4:35, 10; 3D showtimes at 1:50, 7:20 12 Years a Slave (R) Northgate: Fri-Wed 1, 4, 7:05, 10:05 * Walking the Camino (NR) Rafael: Fri 4, 7 (filmmakers in person), 9:30 Sat 1:30, 4, 6:30, 8:45 Sun 1:30, 6:30 Mon-Thu 6:30, 8:45
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