Films

Film Listings

2012 A ludicrous apocalyptic romp from Roland Emmerich, who has destroyed civilization a few times now (“Independence Day,” “The Day After Tomorrow”). It’s a grab bag of every kind of disaster movie set piece: earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, “Titanic”-esque cruise ship calamity, all of which befall a ‘70s-style cast of thousands (John Cusack, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson and George Segal among them). It is what it is: a big, dumb disaster movie, full of not-quite-A-list-anymore stars running for their lives. (MS) Des Sources 6:40pm, 7pm, 9:45pm, 10:05pm; Fri-Sun 12:30pm, 12:50pm, 3:35pm, 3:55pm, 6:40pm, 7pm, 9:45pm, 10:05pm Colisée Kirkland Fri-Tue 1pm, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, 5pm, 8pm, 8:30pm, 9:10pm; Wed-Thu 1pm, 1:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, 8pm, 8:30pm, 9:10pm Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal Fri, Sun-Mon 12:20pm, 1:10pm, 2pm, 4:10pm, 5:15pm, 6:20pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10:05pm; Sat 12:20pm, 1:10pm, 4:10pm, 5:15pm, 6:20pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10:05pm; Tue 12:20pm, 1:10pm, 2pm, 4:10pm, 5:15pm, 8pm, 9pm; Wed-Thu 1:10pm, 2pm, 5:15pm, 6:20pm, 9pm, 10:05pm Lacordaire 6:40pm, 7pm, 9:45pm, 10:05pm; Fri-Sun 12:30pm, 12:50pm, 1:05pm, 3:35pm, 3:55pm, 4:10pm, 6:40pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:45pm, 10:05pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11pm Colossus Laval Fri-Sat 11:30pm, 12:45pm, 3pm, 4:15pm, 6:45pm, 7:50pm, 10:15pm; Sun-Mon, Wed 12:45pm, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 5:25pm, 7:50pm, 9pm; Tue 12:45pm, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 5:25pm, 7:50pm, 10:15pm; Thu 12:45pm, 1:45pm, 4:15pm, 5:30pm, 7:50pm, 9pm Cavendish Fri-Sat, Sun, Tue 1:30pm, 4:40pm, 8pm, 9:20pm; Mon 8pm, 9:20pm; Wed-Thu 8pm Côte-des-Neiges Fri-Sun 1:50pm, 5pm, 8:15pm; Mon-Thu 8:15pm Mega Plex Marché Central 18 12:30pm, 12:50pm, 1:05pm, 3:35pm, 3:55pm, 4:10pm, 6:40pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:45pm, 10:05pm; Wed-Thu 12:30pm, 12:50pm, 3:55pm, 6:40pm, 7pm, 9:45pm, 10:05pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11pm Lasalle Fri-Sun 12:50pm, 1:15pm, 4:05pm, 4:40pm, 7:30pm, 8pm; Mon-Thu 7:30pm, 8pm Spheretech 6:40pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:45pm, 10:05pm; Fri-Sun 12:30pm, 12:50pm, 1:05pm, 1:30pm, 3:35pm, 3:55pm, 4:10pm, 5pm, 6:40pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9pm, 9:45pm, 10:05pm

A Serious Man Joel and Ethan Coen’s latest may be their best: a movie-star-less black comedy set in the ’60s Minnesota of their upbringing. Michael Stuhlbarg plays Larry Gopnik, a math professor whose life is starting to unravel for reasons that bewilder him, just as the counterculture of the time has slowly begun to seep into the hermetic, very Jewish enclave he lives in (“Do you take advantage of the new freedoms?” asks a pot-smoking neighbour?). The movie’s a morality play about man’s place in a universe where God is far removed; it’s hilarious, but it’s not a typical Coen comedy. One of the best of the year. (MS) AMC Forum Fri-Sun 11:10am, 1:45pm, 4:20pm, 7:05pm, 9:40pm; Mon-Wed 1:45pm, 4:20pm, 7:05pm, 9:40pm; Thu 1:45pm, 4:20pm, 9:40pm Cavendish Fri-Sat, Sun, Tue 1:10pm, 3:40pm, 7:25pm, 9:40pm; Mon 7:25pm, 9:40pm; Wed-Thu 7:25pm

Absurdistan In a desert village “somewhere between Europe and Asia,” a teenage couple’s plan to consummate their relationship is complicated by the sudden drying up of the local water supply, and the village women’s decision to go on a sex strike until the layabout men fix the problem. The hijinks that ensue are best defined by an adjective that may fill your heart with either anticipation or dread: whimsical. We’re talking cartoonishly broad performances, “naughty” humour that might make your grandma titter, copious exoticism and nauseating cuteness. (MF) Cinéma du Parc See Repertory.

Amelia Passionless Amelia Earhart biopic directed by Mira Nair (“Monsoon Wedding”) staring Hillary Swank as the groundbreaking female flyer. What should be a fascinating look into a fascinating life devolves into the worst biopic of the year, no thanks to a script so bereft of life it sucks any momentum created by simply cataloguing Earhart’s amazing aeronautical feats. Richard Gere is also horribly miscast as husband and chief strategist George Putnam. (CS) Cavendish Fri-Sat, Sun, Tue 1:40pm, 4:10pm, 7pm; Mon 7pm

Amreeka A frustrated divorcée (Nisreen Faour) moves with her 15-year-old son (Melkar Muallem) from the West Bank to exurban Illinois, where their new lease on life is compromised by the challenges of post-9/11 America. Writer-director Cherien Dabis blends Ken Loach-style social realism with dollops of melodrama worthy of Tyler Perry, resulting in an unsubtle and occasionally rickety film. It’s all redeemed by Faour, a disarming presence who overcomes the film’s flaws and makes it generally very hard to dislike. (MF) AMC Forum Fri-Tue 12:45pm, 3:10pm, 5:40pm, 8:05pm, 10:35pm

An Education Newcomer Carey Mulligan stars opposite Peter Sarsgaard in this '60-set coming-of-age story. She's a precocious schoolgirl; he's the charming older man who woos her and seems to offer a way out of bleak suburban London. The film gently evokes the flavour of life in the Britain of the time and the sense, probably common to teenagers everywhere, that there must, somehow or somewhere, be something greater or more important out there. Though not a masterpiece, it's a sweet little film. (MS) AMC Forum 12:30pm, 3pm, 5:30pm, 8pm, 10:30pm

Antichrist A deranged and frequently brilliant work of art from Lars von Trier. Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe are a married couple who lose their son after he falls out of a window while they engage in vigorous intercourse; to deal with the loss, they retreat to “Eden,” a cabin in the woods where they wrestle with their demons. And there are a lot of them. A vicious, strange and sometimes hilarious trip into insanity. Warning: featuring some very graphic violence and mutilation. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. (MS) Beaubien (FST) 10am, 2:40pm, 5pm, 7:15pm, 9:30pm; Mon 10am, 2:40pm, 5pm, 8pm Cinéma du Parc See Repertory.

Art & Copy A tedious tribute to the ad industry from director Doug Pray (“Surfwise,” “Hype”). Randomly organized, the film intersperses famous advertising campaign success stories with unnecessarily poetic interludes where factoids about advertising appear on the screen juxtaposed with images of billboards going up. The film’s complete disinterest in presenting any kind of critical perspective whatsoever is dismaying—and it makes for boring viewing, like an endless clip reel at an industry trade show. (MS) Cinéma du Parc See Repertory.

Astro Boy CGI reboot of Osamu Tezuka’s classic 1951 manga. Fans of the wildly popular 1980 television series must be warned there’s absolutely no fan service in writer Timothy Harris’ (Space Jam) script. While Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is still the good-hearted protagonist of old, taking on war-mongering Metro City mayor Stone (voiced by Donald Sutherland) after being banished to Earth, the infantilized screenplay is so chock-filled with lame-o slapstick quips that only a five year-old could love this abomination. (CS) Des Sources Fri-Sun 1pm, 3pm, 5pm Mega Plex Marché Central 18 Fri-Tue 1:15pm, 3:15pm, 5:15pm Lacordaire Fri-Sun 1:05pm, 3:05pm, 5:05pm AMC Forum 12:10pm, 2:35pm Spheretech Fri-Sun 1:10pm, 3:10pm, 5:10pm

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans See page 28 for review. AMC Forum 11am, 1:55pm, 4:50pm, 7:40pm, 10:30pm; Mon 1:55pm, 4:50pm, 10:30pm; Tue-Thu 1:55pm, 4:50pm, 7:40pm, 10:30pm

Blind Side, The The astounding true story of Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher. Abandoned by his crack addicted mother as a young teen, Oher (played by Quinton Aaron) is admitted to a redneck private school hoping to profit from the boy’s enormous physical stature (Republicans sure love their football). After bouncing around foster homes, Aaron is taken in by Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) and her family. Bullock is memorable as the family matriarch with a funny accent. The story is inspiring, too. But it’s a terrible movie. (CS) Mega Plex Marché Central 18 1pm, 3:30pm, 7pm, 9:30pm; Late show Fri-Sat 12am AMC Forum Fri-Sun, Tue-Thu 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 3:15pm, 4:15pm, 6:15pm, 7:15pm, 9:15pm, 10:15pm; Mon 1:15pm, 4:15pm, 10:15pm Colisée Kirkland Fri-Tue, Thu 12:50pm, 3:40pm, 6:50pm, 9:40pm; Wed 3:40pm, 6:50pm, 9:40pm Spheretech 7pm, 9:30pm; Fri-Sun 1pm, 3:30pm, 7pm, 9:30pm; Late show Fri-Sat 12am Des Sources 7pm, 9:30pm; Fri-Sun 1pm, 3:30pm, 7pm, 9:30pm; Late show Fri-Sat 12am Colossus Laval Fri-Tue, Thu 12:45pm, 3:45pm, 6:45pm, 9:55pm; Wed 3:45pm, 6:45pm, 9:55pm Lacordaire 7pm, 9:30pm; Fri-Sun 1pm, 3:30pm, 7pm, 9:30pm; Late show Fri-Sat 12am

Box, The Oh the moral dilemma! Cameron Diaz plays an über-vanilla high school teacher whose middle-class life is torn apart by…. A wooden box! But this isn’t your average amalgam of pine and glue: this box contains a button that, if pressed, will award the possessor with…. $1,000,000! Cha-ching! But that’s not all: in order to take the cash you have to live with the fact that… someone died from your pressing the button! I’ll pass on the button I’d like my two hours back instead. (CS) Côte-des-Neiges Fri-Sun 4:10pm, 6:50pm, 9:40pm Mon-Thu 6:50pm, 9:40pm AMC Forum 1:40pm, 4:25pm, 7:10pm, 10pm; Fri-Sun 11:05am

Cannes Lions 2009 Let your inner consumer rejoice! Here’s your chance to see the best commercials (or “creative advertising” as the promoters would prefer me to call it) from around the globe, as voted by a panel of international ad execs in Cannes. FYI, there were 23 “Lions” handed out to Canadian advertising agencies. Things I learned at the screening: the Dutch are an incredibly creative people, and São Paulo seems to be an avant-garde advertising hotbed. Who’da thunk it? (CS) Cinéma du Parc See Repertory.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs I’ve said it a couple of times in the last year: someone is eventually going to put the in-vogue RealD 3D technology to good use and make one hell of a children’s film. Here it is. What could be more fun than watching jelly beans fall from the sky? I can answer that: an ice cream snowstorm. Not only is it fun for the eyes, but there’s some very witty banter that will fly over the kiddies’ heads but keep mum and dad glued to their seats. (CS) AMC Forum Fri-Tue 12pm, 2:25pm Spheretech Fri-Sun 1:15pm, 3:15pm, 5:15pm

Coco avant Chanel Audrey Tautou will undoubtedly be feted for her turn as fashionista Coco Chanel, and rightfully so. Yet as good as the acting is, the ultra-conventional build of the film leaves much to desire. Sure, it tells the story of Chanel’s rise from orphan to icon as any good biopic would, but the film is hampered by the love triangle that develops between elder officer Étienne, (Benoît Poelvoorde) Englishman Boy Capel (Alessandro Nivola), and Tautou. More fashion, less passion, please. (CS) Beaubien 12:20pm, 4:50pm Quartier Latin Fri, Sun, Tue 12pm, 3pm, 6:25pm; Sat 6:25pm; Mon 12pm, 3pm

Couples Retreat Comedy staring Vince Vaughn about four couples who find their relationships in varying states of dysfunction. Finding a group rate to a tropical island retreat that combines relationship therapy with good old-fashioned fun in the sun, the gang embarks on a journey to save their respective marriages. The film is fatally wounded by the worst editing I’ve ever come across. So bad, in fact, that its title is entirely misleading. The punctuation is all wrong—it should be “Couples, Retreat!” (CS) Des Sources Fri-Tue 7pm, 9:20pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:40pm AMC Forum Fri-Sun 11:25am, 2:10pm, 5:05pm, 7:55pm, 10:40pm; Mon-Wed 2:10pm, 5:05pm, 7:55pm, 10:40pm; Thu 1:10pm, 3:50pm, 10:40pm Colossus Laval Fri, Sun-Tue 1:20pm, 4:10pm, 6:50pm; Sat 4:10pm, 6:50pm Spheretech Fri-Tue 7pm, 9:20pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:40pm

De Dana Dan Bollywood flick. AMC Forum 12:25pm, 3:20pm, 6:20pm, 9:25pm (EST)

Demain dès l'aube A costume drama about addiction and the power struggle between brothers Mathieu (Jérémie Renier) and Paul (Vincent Perez). In order to save his younger brother from completely detaching from reality, Renier is asked by his mother to put a stop to his obsession with historical battlefield re-enactments. Writer/director Denis Dercourt is onto something regarding this strange subculture of mostly single, middle-aged men. Strong acting from both leads makes this curious little film well worth watching. (CS) Beaubien 2:30pm

Disney's A Christmas Carol Animated version of Charles Dickens’ classic cautionary tale in 3-D by Robert Zemeckis (“Polar Express”). The seamless animation – especially the intricate facial detailing – will have animation buffs on board, but the flashback segments of Xmas past and Xmas future may be too downright scary for young viewers. Jim Carrey voices a handful of characters including Ebenezer, and does an adequate job doing so. Not as good as the 1951 version staring Alastair Sim, but it’s not a piece of cinematic coal in your stocking, either. (CS) Mega Plex Marché Central 18 12:55pm, 3pm, 5:05pm, 7:10pm, 9:15pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:20pm Des Sources 7:10pm, 9:15pm; Fri-Sun 12:55pm, 3pm, 5:05pm, 7:10pm, 9:15pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:20pm Spheretech 7:10pm, 9:15pm; Fri-Sun 12:55pm, 3pm, 5:05pm, 7:10pm, 9:15pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:20pm Lacordaire 7:10pm, 9:15pm; Fri-Sun 12:55pm, 3pm, 5:05pm, 7:10pm, 9:15pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:20pm Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal 1:15pm, 3:55pm, 7:05pm, 9:30pm Cavendish Fri-Sat, Sun, Tue 1:50pm, 4pm, 6:40pm, 9:10pm; Mon, Wed-Thu 6:40pm, 9:10pm Colisée Kirkland Fri-Thu 12:30pm, 2:40pm, 4:50pm, 7pm, 9:15pm Colossus Laval Fri-Sun 11:50pm, 2:15pm, 4:40pm, 7:05pm, 9:25pm; Mon-Thu 2:15pm, 4:40pm, 7:05pm, 9:25pm

Fais-moi plaisir See page 32 for review. AMC Forum 2:15pm, 4:40pm, 6:55pm, 9:20pm; Fri-Sun 11:55am Quartier Latin 12:25pm, 2:35pm, 4:45pm, 6:55pm, 9:05pm Beaubien 10am, 11:50am, 1:40pm, 3:30pm, 7:45pm, 9:40pm; Tue 11:50am, 1:40pm, 3:30pm, 7:45pm, 9:40pm

Fantastic Mr. Fox Wes Anderson adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel. Opens next Wednesday. Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal Wed-Thu 1:05pm, 4:15pm, 6:55pm, 9:25pm Colossus Laval Wed-Thu 1:30pm, 3:40pm, 6:50pm, 9:10pm Colisée Kirkland Wed-Thu 1:10pm, 3:15pm, 5:20pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pm Lasalle Wed-Thu 7:05pm, 9:45pm

Fourth Kind, The Egregiously exploitative “alien abduction” flick staring Milla Jovovich, who is meant to portray Dr. Abigail Tyler, an Alaskan psychologist whose family, friends and neighbours are being stalked by aliens who--oddly enough--speak ancient Sumerian and make digital camcorders go fuzzy whenever they’re around. Uses split-screen to simultaneously show the “real” footage the filmmakers have found and the “re-enactments” by Jovovich and co. Both “real” and “re-enacted” scenes are equally painful to watch. (CS) Côte-des-Neiges Fri-Sun 2:10pm, 4:40pm, 7pm, 9:35pm; Mon-Thu 7pm, 9:35pm

Gentlemen Broncos In the latest from Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite”), Michael Angarano plays a teenage science fiction writer whose manuscript is plagiarized by his novelist idol (Jemaine Clement of “Flight of the Conchords”) and optioned by an opportunistic lo-fi filmmaking duo. Hess doesn’t seem to like his characters much, merely reveling in their grotesquerie with gleefully juvenile gross-out humour, but if you can get past that the film is enjoyable enough. As a 15-year-old boy, I would have declared it a masterpiece. (MF) AMC Forum 2:15pm, 7pm

Good Hair Funnyman Chris Rock single-handedly turns what could have been an utterly boring documentary about African-American hairstyles into an insightful, damning look into the global hair industry. From “hair relaxers”—a highly toxic paste of sodium hydroxide used to rid hair of unwanted curl—to the billion-dollar hair extension industry, it’s all covered. It’s impossible not to compare Rock to Michael Moore in this exposé, yet he’s far less intrusive and obtuse than his counterpart. And funnier, too. Highly recommended. (CS) AMC Forum 4:35pm, 9:25pm, Fri-Sun 11:45am

Inside Hana's Suitcase See page 32 for review. AMC Forum 1pm, 3:30pm, 5:55pm, 8:15pm, 10:35pm

J'ai tué ma mère Precocious local writer/producer/director/actor Xavier Dolan’s first feature, a multiple prize-winner at this year’s Cannes, taps into a raw nerve of emotion. Dolan plays Hubert, a gay 17-year-old ridden with angst, which he furiously unloads on his hopelessly uncool mother (Anne Dorval). As you might expect from a barely post-adolescent director, the cinematic style is uneven and occasionally heavy-handed. The strength of the film is the courage with which Dolan and Dorval go to embarrassingly real places, capturing some universal existential truths about being human. (MF) Quartier Latin 12:20pm, 3:35pm, 6:40pm, 9:05pm

Je l'aimais Biting account of infidelity and heartbreak by French director Zabou Breitman. The innovative thing about this film is that the viewer is provided an intimate look into the complex reasoning that accompanies infidelity. The incomparable Daniel Auteuil gives a compelling account of his own decade-long affair after finding out the marriage of his daughter-in-law (Florence Loiret) is ending due to another woman. Marie-Josée Croze gives a captivating performance as Auteuil’s lover. (CS) Quartier Latin Fri, Sun-Tue 12:10pm, 6:35pm; Sat 7:05pm Beaubien 10am, 2:20pm, 5:30pm

L' Armée du Crime Veteran French director Robert Guédiguian’s WWII drama tells the true story of a group of ordinary French citizens, mostly foreign-born, who joined the resistance movement against the occupying Nazis. The film is slow for the first hour, only picking up thereafter with a number of action-packed attacks on the Germans, along with a complicated web of double-crossing and divided loyalties. It ends up being pretty interesting, but the film’s early slog makes it strictly for period-piece fans. (MF) AMC Forum 2:05pm, 5:10pm (EST) Quartier Latin 11:55am, 3pm, 6:25pm, 9:30pm

La Donation Élise Guilbault delivers an enthralling performance in this slow-moving drama by Quebecois auteur Bernard Émond, filmed on location in picturesque Abitibi. Dr. Jeanne Dion (Guilbault) is sick of the hustle and bustle of Montreal and seeks an escape. Fortunately, Dr. Yves Rainville (Jacques Godin) is looking to retire and she answers his call for a town doctor. She quickly finds that these small town folk require a much more intimate doctor-patient bond when she sees them on the streets each day. Eloquent and moving piece of filmmaking by Émond. (CS) Beaubien 10:20am, 12:30pm, 2:45pm, 7:10pm, 9:20pm

Last Train Home See page 30 for interview with director Lixin Fan. AMC Forum 12:15pm, 2:45pm, 5:15pm, 7:45pm, 10:10pm

Law Abiding Citizen A mash-up of legal thriller, high-tech actioner, vigilante flick and sketchy morality play à la “Seven.” Jamie Foxx is a blustery attorney and Gerard Butler is a mysteriously powerful prisoner. A strange pastiche where clichés and sappy sentimentality collide with brutality and Riefenstahl-worthy audience manipulation, it’s pretty terrible, but in a way that’s almost heavy—like something that perhaps future historians will study as they puzzle over the bizarre times we live in. (MF) Colossus Laval 1:35pm, 4:25pm, 7:25pm, 10:05pm Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal Fri, Sun-Thu 12:50pm, 3:50pm, 6:45pm, 9:45pm; Sat 6:45pm, 9:45pm Colisée Kirkland Fri, Mon-Tue 12:55pm, 3:25pm, 6:55pm, 9:25pm; Sat 12:55pm, 6:55pm, 9:25pm; Sun 12:55pm, 3:25pm, 6:55pm Spheretech Fri-Tue 7:10pm, 9:25pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:40pm Lasalle Fri-Sun 1:25pm, 4:25pm, 7:05pm, 9:45pm; Mon-Tue 7:05pm, 9:45pm

Legacy Too late for review. AMC Forum Fri-Tue 4:55pm, 7:40pm, 10:25pm

Love and Savagery Montreal filmmaker John Smith's latest film is a melancholic look back at a romance that could never be. In 1969, a poet/geologist heads to small-town Ireland to examine the unique landscape. There, he meets a lass who is the love of his life. Sadly, she's already got a booking with God and is set to become a nun. Conflict ensues. "Love and Savagery" works primarily as an Ireland travelogue, with the film's central conflict falling a bit flat. If the romance doesn't get you, the landscape will--Ireland is one stunning place, without a doubt. (MH) AMC Forum 1:35pm, 4:10pm, 6:40pm, 9:10pm

Mary and Max Academy award-winning animator Adam Elliot’s (Harvey Krumpet) story of two outcasts who develop an unlikely, cross-continental pen-friendship over nearly two decades. Mary (voiced by Toni Collette), an 8-year-old Aussie, is constantly harassed at school and lives in a troubled family. On a whim she writes a letter to 44-year-old Max (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a Jewish New Yorker with Asperger’s. Essentially a story of neglect and perseverance, this eccentric claymation feature marries stunning visuals with a tragi-comic script that is remarkably fulfilling to watch. (CS) AMC Forum Fri-Sun 12:05pm, 2:20pm, 4:30pm, 6:45pm, 9pm; Mon 12:05pm, 2:20pm, 4:30pm, 9:40pm; Tue-Thu 12:05pm, 2:20pm, 4:30pm, 6:45pm, 9pm Beaubien 12:10pm, 4:40pm, 6:50pm, 9pm; Tue 12:10pm, 4:40pm, 9pm

Men Who Stare at Goats, The Based on the non-fiction book by Jon Ronson, Grant Heslov’s comedy stares Jeff Bridges and George Clooney as U.S. Army “remote viewers,” or psychic spies. The real-life, top-secret program that inspired the book and film is truly bizarre, combining New Age ideas with modern warfare. It’s great material and makes for some very funny scenes, though as the movie tries to make a coherent plot out of the madness and shifts to Iraq, it becomes less convincing. (MS) Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal Fri, Tue-Thu 12:05pm, 2:25pm, 4:45pm, 7:20pm, 10:20pm; Sat 4:45pm, 7:20pm, 10:20pm; Sun 12:05pm, 2:25pm, 4:45pm, 7:20pm; Mon 12:05pm, 2:25pm, 4:30pm, 10:20pm

Metropolitan Opera: Aida (Verdi) Live opera presentation. Colisée Kirkland Sat 1pm Colossus Laval Sat 1pm Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal Sat 1pm Quartier Latin Sat 1pm, 1:05pm

Michael Jackson's This is It Behind-the-scenes look at what would’ve been had MJ rocked those 50 “farewell” concerts in London. And those concerts would’ve been epic. The King of Pop could still move with the best of them, pulling off incredible dance numbers on a lavish, multimedia-enhanced stage. Disheartening in that we see almost nothing of who Michael was, although there’s one scene involving a malfunctioning ear piece that shines a brief light on MJ’s staggering hubris. The ultimate piece of fan service, for better or for worse. (CS) Colisée Kirkland Fri, Mon-Tue, Thu 1:20pm, 4pm, 6:45pm; Sat, Wed 4pm, 6:45pm; Sun 1:20pm, 4pm Cavendish Fri-Sat, Sun, Tue 1:15pm, 4:30pm; Wed-Thu 9:45pm Côte-des-Neiges Fri-Sun 2pm, 4:30pm, 6:45pm, 9:10pm; Mon-Thu 6:45pm, 9:10pm Lacordaire Mon, Tue, Fri-Sun 1:10pm, 3:30pm, 7:10pm, 9:30pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:50pm Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal Fri-Sat, Mon-Wed 12:40pm, 3:40pm, 6:50pm, 9:35pm; Sun, Thu 12:40pm, 3:40pm, 9:35pm Colossus Laval Fri, Sun-Thu 1:10pm, 3:50pm, 7pm, 9:40pm; Sat 1:10pm, 7pm, 9:40pm (FST) Mega Plex Marché Central 18 Fri-Tue 1:10pm, 3:30pm, 7:10pm, 9:30pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:50pm Des Sources Mon-Tue 7:10pm, 9:30pm; Fri-Sun 1:10pm, 3:30pm, 7:10pm, 9:30pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:50pm

Ninja Assassin The name basically says it all, doesn’t it? Too late for review. Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal Wed-Thu 1:20pm, 4:20pm, 7:25pm, 10:10pm; Colossus Laval Wed-Thu 2:05pm, 4:35pm, 7:35pm, 10:15pm Colisée Kirkland Wed-Thu 1:15pm, 3:35pm, 7:05pm, 9:25pm

Old Dogs Flick with John Travolta and Robin Williams. Opens next Wednesday. Des Sources Wed-Thu 7:15pm, 9:15pm Colossus Laval Wed-Thu 2:05pm, 4:20pm, 7:10pm, 9:30pm Lacordaire Wed-Thu 7:15pm, 9:15pm Mega Plex Marché Central 18 WEd-Thu 1:20pm, 3:20pm, 5:20pm, 7:20pm, 9:20pm Colisée Kirkland Wed-Thu 12:55pm, 3:05pm, 5:15pm, 7:25pm, 9:35pm Spheretech Wed-Thu 7:15pm, 9:15pm Cavendish Wed-Thu 7:20pm, 9:40pm AMC Forum 12pm, 2:15pm, 1pm, 3:15pm, 4:40pm, 5:40pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9:20pm, 10:20pm

Paranormal Activity A “Blair Witch”-style lo-fi horror movie where all of what you see onscreen is what the characters in the film captured on video. In this case, it’s a young couple who believe they’re haunted by demons; setting up a camera in their bedroom every night, they start to see evidence of otherworldly activity. Mostly compelling and good for a few scares, though it sort of peters out by the climax. Also, director Oren Peli’s trick of suggesting you’re watching real footage of real people isn’t going to fool anyone at this point. (MS). Colossus Laval 1:25pm, 3:55pm, 6:55pm, 9:15pm Colisée Kirkland Fri-Tue 3:50pm, 9:50pm AMC Forum 5pm, 7:25pm, 9:45pm Lacordaire Fri-Tue 7:05pm, 9pm

Pirate Radio It's a great story. Back in the '60s, when the UK was being rocked by the rock and roll cultural revolution, the old-school suits running the country were so repressed they banned the music from the airwaves. But a band of diehard enthusiast DJs took their crusade to the sea, where they could broadcast from a boat outside of Britain--and thus above the law. Like I said, it's a great story, but the movie is a superficial, largely unfunny attempt to make these zany DJs into heroes. Sadly, despite the great cast and a terrific premise, "Pirate Radio" feels like a lost opportunity. (MH) AMC Forum Fri-Sun 11:15am, 2pm, 4:45pm, 7:30pm, 10:20pm; Mon-Thu 2pm, 4:45pm, 7:30pm, 10:20pm Colisée Kirkland Fri-Tue 1:15pm, 7:05pm Colossus Laval Fri-Tue 9:30pm Mega Plex Marché Central 18 Fri-Tue 7:15pm, 9:35pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:55pm

Planet 51 See page 32 for review. Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal 12:15pm, 2:45pm, 5:05pm, 7:20pm, 9:55pm Lasalle Fri-Sun 12:30pm, 2:45pm, 4:50pm, 7pm, 9:20pm; Mon-Thu 7pm, 9:20pm Colossus Laval Fri-Sun 12pm, 2:30pm, 5pm, 7:30pm, 9:50pm; Mon-Thu 2:30pm, 5pm, 7:30pm, 9:50pm Côte-des-Neiges Fri-Sun 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pm; Mon-Thu 7:30pm, 9:30pm Cavendish Fri-Sat, Sun, Tue 12:50pm, 2:50pm, 4:50pm, 6:50pm, 9pm; Mon, Wed, Thu 6:50pm, 9pm Mega Plex Marché Central 18 1:05pm, 3:05pm, 5:05pm, 7:05pm, 9:05pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:05pm Lacordaire 7pm, 9pm; Fri-Sun 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11pm Colisée Kirkland 12:45pm, 3pm, 5:10pm, 7:20pm, 9:30pm Spheretech 7pm, 9pm; Fri-Sun 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11pm Des Sources 7pm, 9pm; Fri-Sun 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11pm

Sacrifice, The Too late for review. AMC Forum Fri-Sun 11:20am, 2:50pm, 6:10pm, 9:35pm; Mon-Thu 2:50pm, 6:10pm, 9:35pm (EST)

September Issue, The R.J. Cutler’s documentary lets us see the usually camera-shy Vogue editor Anna Wintour as she and her team put together the year’s most important issue. The film shows a duality between fantasy (the shoots, the trips) and reality (the retailers’ breakfast, the meetings) through interviews with Wintour and charming creative director Grace Coddington. And it’s as fabulous as you’d expect. (SJ) AMC Forum 12:20pm, 2:40pm, 5:05pm, 7:35pm, 9:55pm

Twilight Saga: New Moon Latest in the popular teen vampire series. Colisée Kirkland Fri-Tue 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 1:45pm, 3:30pm, 4pm, 4:30pm, 5pm, 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 7:45pm, 9:45pm, 10pm, 10:15pm, 10:30pm; Wed-Thu 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 4pm, 4:30pm, 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:45pm, 10pm, 10:15pm Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal 12:30pm, 3:30pm, 7:15pm, 10:15pm Côte-des-Neiges Fri-Sun 1:20pm, 1:40pm, 4pm, 4:20pm, 6:40pm, 7:10pm, 9:20pm, 9:50pm; Mon-Thu 6:40pm, 7:10pm, 9:20pm, 9:50pm Mega Plex Marché Central 18 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:20pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm; Fri-Sun 12:45pm, 1pm, 1:15pm, 3:20pm, 3:35pm, 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:20pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:55pm Lacordaire 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:20pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm; Fri-Sun 12:45pm, 1pm, 1:15pm, 3:20pm, 3:35pm, 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:20pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:55pm Des Sources 6:45pm, 7pm, 9:20pm, 9:35pm; Fri-Sun 12:45pm, 1pm, 1:15pm, 3:20pm, 3:35pm, 3:50pm, 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:20pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:55pm Lasalle Fri-Sun 12:45pm, 1:10pm, 1:25pm, 3:30pm, 4:10pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 6:55pm, 7:10pm, 9:15pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm; Mon-Thu 6:30pm, 6:55pm, 7:10pm, 9:15pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm Cavendish Fri-Sat, Sun, Tue 1pm, 1:20pm, 3:50pm, 4:20pm, 6:45pm, 7:10pm, 9:30pm, 9:50pm; Mon, Wed, Thu 6:45pm, 7:10pm, 9:30pm, 9:50pm Colossus Laval Fri-Sun 12pm, 1pm, 3:10pm, 4pm, 6:25pm, 7pm, 9:45pm, 10pm; Mon-Thu 1pm, 3:10pm, 4pm, 6:25pm, 7pm, 9:45pm, 10pm Spheretech 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:20pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm; Fri-Sun 12:45pm, 1pm, 1:15pm, 3:20pm, 3:35pm, 6:45pm, 7pm, 7:15pm, 9:20pm, 9:35pm, 9:50pm; Late show Fri-Sat 11:55pm

Welcome Too late for review. AMC Forum 2:30pm, 6pm, 9:30pm; Fri-Sun 11am (EST) Beaubien (FR) 10am, 12:15pm, 4:45pm, 7pm, 9:10pm

Where the Wild Things Are Ingenious adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic book by director Spike Jonze. Max (Max Records) is a troubled young boy growing up in a broken home. After running away from home, Max stumbles upon an island inhabited by 10-foot-tall monsters. Adults will enjoy Jonze and Eggers’ witty banter, and hipsters will thrill to the Karen O soundtrack, but the film’s real strength is the way it gets so successfully inside a kid’s psychology. It’s one of the finest children’s stories ever told on film. (CS) AMC Forum 8:20pm, 10:45pm; Fri-Sun 11:30am Côte-des-Neiges Fri-Sun 1:45pm

WWE Survivor Series Live wrestling onscreen! Cinema Banque Scotia Montréal Sun 8pm Colossus Laval Sun 8pm Colisée Kirkland Sun 8pm

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg This is the strange, largely overlooked story at one of the first women to become a trailblazing TV entrepreneur. Gertrude Berg created, wrote and starred in a long-running comedy radio show which would eventually move to TV, effectively becoming the first family TV sitcom. Berg would win the first Emmy for best actress, but the show's fortunes took a terrible turn in the '50s, when the actor playing her husband would be blacklisted in the McCarthy witch hunts. A fascinating bit of American pop culture history. (MH) AMC Forum 12:35pm, 2:55pm, 5:25pm, 7:50pm, 10:05pm