Movies This Week: Get Him to the Killers Marmaduke Lunch

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It's only the start of June, and it feels like July. What is up with that? Good thing there are plenty of theaters, and new movies coming out. But don't forget to check the listings and there are a lot of smaller releases still holding on around town.  But on to the new films...

9500 Liberty --  A timely doc about fear mongering and anti-immigration law in the web 2.0 era and in a country founded by immigrants. Read Don's review for more, and keep an eye out for Debbie's interview with one of the filmmakers. (Dobie) 

Get him to the Greek -- I am not a fan of Russell Brand, but this anti-buddy comedy looks like it actually might be funny. Record company intern Jonah Hill is teamed with outrageous rocker Brand, who has to be at the titular Greek for a concert. Written and directed by Nicholas Stoller, who penned Yes Man and the latest Fun with Dick and Jane, I'm not quite sold. Jette has a different view of Brand, so check out her review. (wide)

Killers -- The trailers make me think this is a poor ripoff of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, with Heigl and Kutcher attempting to outshine Pitt and Jolie. I just don't buy it, especially with "blank blank with a license to blank" as the humor it promotes in the trailers, not to mention the same writer behind The Ugly Truth writing this action comedy. (wide)

Marmaduke -- Oh Lee Pace, how I miss you films like Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Soldier's Girl. But Marmaduke? Was the financial crash that hard on you?  Et tu, William H. Macy? [Jette, editing this, took a peek at IMDb ... wow, that whole cast just makes me sad.]

Mid-August Lunch (pictured above)-- The same guy behind Gomorra brings us a middle-aged man living with his demanding elderly mother whose life may be changing when opportunity knocks on his door during the mid-August holidays. (Arbor)  

Princess Ka'iulani -- Based on an actual Hawaiian princess who attempted to fend off American colonization. *yawn* (Arbor)  

Raajneeti -- One of two new Bollywood films at Tinseltown South, this one centering "the moral hell that is Indian democracy." I'm not making that up. (Cinemark Tinseltown 17)

Splice -- Challenging and perhaps too ambitious, Vincenzo Natali's latest sci-fi film takes genetic manipulation to new heights as two geneticists create new life forms.  What starts as a classic sci-fi cautionary tale ends with in a mishugas of genres. Still worth watching; read my review for more. (wide)

Vedam -- All I know is it's Bollywood. (Cinemark Tinseltown 17)

 

Check our event calendar for special film events, and our personal picks below. Don't forget you can always alert us to special screenings, new film series, etc.

Debbie -- I don't know why I've been turned off by Russell Brand. However, the trailers for Get Him to the Greek are warming me up to Mr. Uncontrollable Hair. Hope to catch some laughs from him and Jonah Hill this weekend.

Don -- Holy nostalgia, Batman! The Paramount is presenting the original Batman (1966) movie in all its kitschy glory on Sunday, June 6 -- and everyone's favorite Caped Crusader, Adam West, will be there. This part of the Night of the Bat may be the highlight of my summer. 

Jette -- I'm still reluctant to spend my wedding anniversary evening at the Lovers of Hate benefit screening for TFPF, since it's practically an anti-date movie. However, I'd like to encourage everyone who isn't having an anniversary that day to see Bryan Poyser's latest comedy on Thursday night. The rest of us can go the following week during its run at Alamo South.