CBGB 2013

A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB. Director: Randall Miller  

Writers: Jody Savin, Randall Miller  
Stars: Alan Rickman, Malin Akerman, Justin Bartha  

Storyline
CBGB follows the story of Hilly Kristal's New York club from its conceit as a venue for Country, Bluegrass and Blues (CBGB) to what it ultimately became: the birthplace of underground rock 'n roll and punk. When Kristal had difficulty booking country bands in his club on the Bowery he opened his doors to other kinds of rock music. Kristal had one demand of the acts he booked; they could only play original music. No top 40's, no covers. It was the credo he lived by, support the artist at whatever the cost. Hilly Kristal ironically became known as the godfather of punk giving a chance to such bands as Blondie, Television, Ramones, Talking Heads, Dead Boys and The Police.  

Review
Look, full disclosure: I didn't have any of the baggage of ever hearing of or being at CBGB. I lied to get into the preview: (I'm sixty one and the cutoff was 60). I didn't fancy myself a fan of punk. Didn't really even know what it was. I LOVED this movie start to finish. The story, the texture, the music all lifted me into a different world. The cuts between this punk magazine and this story amazed me as they worked. The music is a dream collection and the quirky story of the accidental birth of this genre of music made me smile end to end. That there is a Jewish back story to punk music, the Godfather of punk, the lunacy of swastika sporting musicians given their chance in life by a Yid, just made it the sweeter. If this movie makes it to your area ever (which it probably won't in Portland, Oregon), race to it and enjoy!

Escape from Tomorrow

In a world of fake castles and anthropomorphic rodents, an epic battle begins when an unemployed father's sanity is challenged by a chance encounter with two underage girls on holiday.  

Director: Randy Moore  
Writer: Randy Moore  
Stars: Roy Abramsohn, Elena Schuber, Katelynn Rodriguez  

Storyline In a world of fake castles and anthropomorphic rodents, an epic battle begins when an unemployed father's sanity is challenged by a chance encounter with two underage girls on holiday.

Free Birds (In theaters January 2)

Two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history - and get turkey off the holiday menu for good. Director: Jimmy Hayward  

Writers: Jimmy Hayward (screenplay), Scott Mosier (screenplay), 2 more credits »
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, Dan Fogler

Storyline
Two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history - and get turkey off the holiday menu for good.  

Review This movie is not even out yet, and I have NO desire to see it at all. The whole premise is about not having turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner????? Are you kidding me? Hollywood, pulling for the PETA agenda, is not even trying to hide their indoctrination of children. Like The Lorax, it is a shameful attempt to brainwash children into their liberal, statist, animal-rights-whacko agenda. I hope this movie falls flat on its face as I expect it will. And, for the record, we will have a 21+ pound bird on our Thanksgiving table with all the fixings!!!!!

I recommend skipping it all together. Send a message to Hollywood that this kind of crap is not going to be watched.

About Time (In theaters October 17)

At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.  

Director: Richard Curtis  
Writer: Richard Curtis (screenplay)
Stars: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy  

Storyline
At the age of 21, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel in time... The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim's father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can't change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life-so he decides to make his world a better place...by getting a girlfriend. Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as you might think. Moving from the Cornwall coast to London to train as a lawyer, Tim finally meets the beautiful but insecure Mary (Rachel McAdams). They fall in love, then an unfortunate time-travel incident means he's never met her at all. So they meet for the first time again-and again-but finally, after a lot of cunning time-traveling, he wins her heart. Tim then uses his power to create the perfect romantic proposal, to save his wedding from the worst best-man speeches, to save his best friend from professional disaster and to ...  

Review
Really surprised by this one;was expecting the run of the mill rom-com, but it is so much more than that; it's about family and the smiles and cries of life. The whole film was filled with charm, wit and had its fair share of heartfelt moments. Time travel is a subject that has been visited many times in the film industry, but this had its own unique touch to it.

The film flows really nicely, it oozes class at some points. And the mere thought of having the ability to travel back in time sends your mind into a whirlwind of what-ifs? The acting is superb by all, but Bill Nighy was my favourite as Tim's Dad. When on screen with Domhnall Gleeson (Tim), the connection is very convincing and it was those scenes that i enjoyed the most. A very good film and worthy of a viewing by any standards

Ender's Game (In theaters October 24)

70 years after a horrific alien war, an unusually gifted child is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future invasion.  

Director: Gavin Hood
Writers: Gavin Hood (screenplay), Orson Scott Card (based on the book Ender's Game by)  
Stars: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld

Storyline
The Earth was ravaged twice by the Buggers, an alien race seemingly determined to destroy humanity. Seventy years later, the people of Earth remain banded together to prevent their own annihilation from this technologically superior alien species. Ender Wiggin, a quiet but brilliant boy, may become the savior of the human race. He is separated from his beloved sister and his terrifying brother and brought to battle school in orbit around earth. He will be tested and honed into an empathetic killer who begins to despise himself as he learns to fight in hopes of saving Earth and his family.

Bad Grandpa (In theaters October 24)

86-year-old Irving Zisman is on a journey across America with the most unlikely companion: his 8 year-old grandson, Billy.  

Director: Jeff Tremaine  
Writers: Fax Bahr (story), Spike Jonze (story), 3 more credits »  
Stars: Johnny Knoxville, Jackson Nicoll, Spike Jonze  

Storyline
Eighty-six-year-old Irving Zisman is on a journey across America with the most unlikely companion: his eight-year-old grandson Billy, in "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa". This October, the signature Jackass characters Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) and Billy (Jackson Nicoll) will take movie audiences along for the most insane hidden camera road trip ever captured on camera. Along the way Irving will introduce the young and impressionable Billy to people, places, and situations that give new meaning to the term "childrearing". The duo will encounter male strippers, disgruntled child beauty pageant contestants (and their equally disgruntled mothers), funeral home mourners, biker bar patrons, and a whole lot of unsuspecting citizens. Real people in unreal situations, making for one really messed up comedy.

The Counselor (In theaters November 28)

A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking.  

Director: Ridley Scott  
Writer: Cormac McCarthy  
Stars: Brad Pitt, Goran Visnjic, Michael Fassbender  

Storyline: A lawyer finds himself in over his head when he gets involved in drug trafficking.