In theaters today...

By Kip Mooney

Blog Editor

“Changeling”

Starring Angelina Jolie, Jeffrey Donovan, John Malkovich

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Eastwood’s ’30s-set thriller stars Jolie (who’s supposed to be a Best Actress frontrunner) as the mother of a missing child. She takes on the corrupt LAPD when she claims the child they return is not her own flesh and blood.

(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)

Poster courtesy Blogger

“The Haunting of Molly Hartley”

Starring Haley Bennett, Chace Crawford, Jake Weber

Directed by Mickey Lidell

On her 18^th birthday, Molly Hartley turns evil. Blah blah blah. Go rent “Carrie” instead.

(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

“RocknRolla”

Starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Ludacris, Jeremy Piven

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Perhaps his marital troubles with Madonna have allowed Ritchie to reclaim his awesomeness as a filmmaker. Buzz says this British gangster flick brings him back to the fun-loving, f-word laden glory days of “Snatch.”

(Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

“Zack and Miri Make a Porno”

Starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Craig Robinson

Directed by Kevin Smith

You may find the words “Make a Porno” excised from ads and tickets, but that’s really cheating you out of what you’re getting yourself into. Basically, two platonic roommates resort to making an amateur skin flick to pay their bills. In hands other than Kevin Smith’s, I would expect this to be terrible.

(Denton Movie Tavern, Cinemark Denton, AMC Highland Village, Rave Hickory Creek, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall) 

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

Showtime: Oct. 17

By Kip Mooney
Blog Editor

For my full take on this week's releases, check out NTDaily.com.

































































In theaters today:

• "Max Payne" (PG-13)
• "The Secret Life of Bees" (PG-13)
• "Sex Drive" (R)
• "W." (PG-13)
  

Local theaters:

• Denton Movie Tavern
• Cinemark Denton
• Rave Hickory Creek
• AMC Highland Village
• Studio Movie Grill Lewisville
• Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall

Reviews:

• Metacritic
• Rotten Tomatoes

All posters courtesy moviegoods.com

TV Review: Kath & Kim

Australian remake satisfies with quirky comedy

By Kip Mooney

Blog Editor

When it comes to television remakes, they don't all work. For every "Office," there's a "Coupling." For every "American Idol," there's an "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me out of Here!"

Luckily, "Kath and Kim" falls into the former category.

While its jokes are hit-or-miss, this comedy is, on the whole, solidly funny.

"Kath and Kim" follows the lives of a mother and daughter, both recently divorced (or on the brink of), both starved for attention, and both hilariously self-obsessed (Kim more so than Kath).

Kath Day (Molly Shannon) now has a budding romance with sandwich mogul Phil Knight (who proposes to her asking if she'll turn Day into Knight) and Kim's weeks-old marriage is on the skids once she (Selma Blair) discovers the challenges it faces.

Both of their significant others continually steal the show (even though both lead actresses are talented). John Michael Higgins, a veteran of Christopher Guest's films, plays his role with gusto. Phil doesn't mess around when it comes to sandwiches like the Wam Bam Thank You Ham. And Mikey Day, so funny on Nick Cannon's improv series "Wild 'n' Out" and David Blaine videos, shows a bit of sadness under his big-doe eyes and slack-jawed demeanor as Craig, who's desperate to win back his new bride. 

The show takes obvious cues from ultra-quirky shows like "Arrested Development" but frankly, if you're going to crib from a past show, why not crib from the best. 

The show still has a way to go to prove itself worthy of your limited time, but for now, it's a humorous distraction. And given the dark state of the world, maybe that's enough for now.

In theaters today...

By Kip Mooney
Blog Editor

“Body of Lies”

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong

Directed by Ridley Scott

Featuring the hardest working group of individuals in Hollywood (Leo, Crowe, and Scott—whose “American Gangster” is still vastly underappreciated), “Body of Lies” goes a step further than the “Bourne” franchise to deal directly with spying and counter-intelligence in the Middle East.

(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

“City of Ember”

Starring Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Toby Jones, Mary Kay Place

Directed by Gil Kenan

Post-apocalyptic kids’ movie is probably a phrase you never thought you’d hear, but this adaptation of the first book in the Ember series follows two youngsters (Ronan and Treadaway) who try to escape from a dying underground city led by a corrupt mayor (Murray).

(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

“The Duchess”

Starring Keira Knightley, Ralph Feinnes, Charlotte Rampling

Directed by Saul Dibb

Oscar buzz is strong for this “wig movie,” starring Keira Knightley as the independent title character and Ralph Feinnes as her cruel husband. The movie expands after its limited release on Sept. 19.

(Rave Hickory Creek, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

“The Express”

Starring Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton

Directed by Gary Fleder

This biopic tells the true story of Ernie Davis, the lightning-fast Syracuse runningback, and the first African-American to take home the Heisman Trophy.

(Cinemark Denton, Denton Movie Tavern, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Studio Movie Grill Lewisvile)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

“Quarantine”

Starring Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris, Columbus Short

Directed by John Erick Dowdle

In this remake of the Spanish horror flick “[rec]” a reporter and her cameraman attempt to investigate strange goings-on in an apartment complex sealed off by the CDC.

(Cinemark Denton, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

In theaters today...

By Kip Mooney

Blog Editor

“Beverly Hills Chihuahua”

Starring the voices of Drew Barrymore, George Lopez, Andy Garcia

Directed by Raja Gosnell

George Lopez voices a “street” Chihuahua who falls in love with an heiress’ puppy. And they made this movie why?

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Rave Hickory Creek, Denton Movie Tavern, AMC Highland Village, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)

Poster courtesy popcritics.com

“Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”

Starring Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Jay Baruchel, Alexis Dziena

Directed by Peter Sollett

Adapted from David Leviathan and Rachel Cohn’s sharp if whiny novel, Michael Cera fills his role as the shy boy who falls in love with the gorgeous girl. The two meet at a punk rock show and spend the night wandering around New York City.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com 

“Blindness”

Starring Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Gael García Bernal, Danny Glover

Directed by Fernando Meirelles

From Pulitzer Prize winner José Saramago’s novel, an epidemic of blindness hits most of the planet, and the U.S. government rounds up those affected. That’ll go over well.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village)

Poster courtesy collider.com

“Flash of Genius”

Starring Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Alan Alda

Directed by Marc Abraham

Buzz is surprisingly strong for a movie about the dude who invented the intermittent windshield wiper (Kinnear). The man fought for decades to claim his patent on the product, which Ford and other automakers stole.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, AMC Highland Village)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

 

“An American Carol”

Starring Kevin Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Jon Voight, Trace Adkins

Directed by David Zucker

Whether or not it will be funny, you have to give Zucker (“Airplane!”) props for wanting to make a pro-conservative movie, this one a parody of Michael Moore.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Rave Hickory Creek, Denton Movie Tavern)

Poster courtesy screenhead.com

 

“How to Lose Friends and Alienate People”

Starring Simon Pegg, Jeff Bridges, Megan Fox

Directed by Robert B. Weide

Simon Pegg, one of the funniest men in the world, plays Toby Young, whose memoir followed the awkward situations a British writer gets into when he moves to write at a New York magazine.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Rave Hickory Creek, AMC Highland Village)

 Poster courtesy thecia.com.au

 

“Appaloosa”

Starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons

Directed by Ed Harris

After last year’s dark Western “3:10 to Yuma,” Ed Harris gives his take, toting guns alongside Viggo Mortensen as two lawmen who try to clean up a small town.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Rave Hickory Creek, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)

Poster courtesy screenhead.com

In theaters today...

By Kip Mooney

Blog Editor

“Miracle at St. Anna” 

Starring Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Turturro

Directed by Spike Lee

Notorious director Spike Lee frames the tale of African-American soldiers in WWII Italy inside a murder mystery. If he puts story before message, this will probably be one of the year’s best.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, AMC Highland Village, Rave Hickory Creek)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com

“Eagle Eye”

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton, Rosario Dawson

Directed by DJ Caruso

When a slacker and a single mom receive mysterious phone calls, it’s a battle against the clock pitting technology against human ingenuity.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, AMC Highland Village, Denton Movie Tavern, Rave Hickory Creek, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)

Poster courtesy Apple.com

“Nights in Rodanthe”

Starring Richard Gere, Diane Lane

Directed by George C. Wolfe

The deeply wounded couple from “Unfaithful” reunite here as a much more generic but loving couple who meet at a beach and dare to give love a second chance. Adapted from a Nicholas Sparks (“A Walk to Remember,” “The Notebook”) novel. Blech.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, AMC Highland Village, Rave Hickory Creek, Studio Movie Grill Lewisville)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com 

“Choke”

Starring Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly McDonald

Directed by Clark Gregg

On the other end of the romantic comedy spectrum, is this twisted tale of a sex addict who cons people out of money by choking at restaurants. Adapted from a Chuck Palahniuk (“Fight Club”) novel. Those with weak stomachs and a straight-line sense of humor need not apply.

(Cinemark Denton)

Poster courtesy movieposter.com

“The Lucky Ones”

Starring Rachel McAdams, Michael Peña, Tim Robbins

Directed by Neil Burger

This dramedy follows three soldiers returning home from Iraq, and the ensuing road trip and realization that life will never be the same.

(Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall)

Poster courtesy moviegoods.com 

“Fireproof”

Starring Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea

Directed by Alex Kendrick

If you want a sermon in movie form, check out banana enthusiast Kirk Cameron in the latest from the Kendrick Brothers (“Facing the Giants”), basically a two-hour ad for a marriage building class/PSA for firefighters.

(Cinemark Denton, Cinemark Vista Ridge Mall, Rave Hickory Creek)

Poster courtesy zimbio.com

Austin City Limits Survivor's Guide

5 tips to enhance this year's fest

By Kip Mooney

Blog Editor

So if you still want catch any act on the lackluster lineup, there's still a chance. Tickets are still available for Friday and Sunday (and scalpers are everywhere). But if you've never been there before, here are some tips that'll make the world's best fest even better:

1) Wear comfortable shoes (and socks)

Sorry, but those Converse, Vans, and other trendy footwear won't cut it when you're trekking back and forth across Zilker Park and (unless you're obscenely rich) walking miles back to your vehicle, you'll need some honest-to-God tennis shoes. Something with arch support.

2) Hydrate before you get there

They only let you bring in two bottles of water, so drink a lot before you get there. Beer will dehydrate you further, so plain ol' H2O (or I suppose Vitamin Water or some other useless trendy drink will suffice) is what you need to keep from dropping in the sweltering Texas heat. (And if you have allergies: keep your meds handy.)

3) Gamble on the lesser-known acts

Sometimes you can discover great bands if you skip the bigger stages (many of which host vain, self-serving sets from top acts). It's worth it.

4) Pace yourself

Sometimes it's OK to miss a band. The AT&T Oasis and H-E-Beach are the perfect opportunities to take a break. ACL's not supposed to be an endurance contest. Enjoy it.

5) Take advantage of the freebies

They're anxious to give you stuff. Grab all the stuff you can (especially the iTunes giftcard).

TV Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Anarchy rules on TV's most absurd comedy

You won't see the cast of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" at the Emmys this Sunday, but that's OK. Let those stuffy folks have their pretentious shows. We'll be laughing ourselves silly with this FX comedy.

The show began in 2005, after FX picked up the cheaply-shot pilot. It premiered after the high-concept "Starved," about compulsive eaters. While that show quickly fell by the wayside, audiences flocked to its polar opposite "Sunny," about four friends who run a bar in Philly. Many comparisons have been drawn to "Seinfeld," which also had the same dynamic (three guys, one girl) and almost no plot or story arc.

But this season takes its lack of plot to new heights. Early episodes dealt mainly with the struggles of the foursome running their small business. Now, each episode deals with one outrageous crisis after another.

In Season Four's premiere episode, "Mac and Dennis: Manhunters," the two buddies take the premise of "The Most Dangerous Game" to new heights as they set out to track down and assault a homeless man. Meanwhile, Frank (Danny DeVito) tries to prevent Dee and Charlie from gorging on his stockpile of meat by telling them he served them human flesh. The plan backfires, however, when the duo start craving the mysterious dish.

In the follow-up episode, "The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis," the boys devise increasingly ridiculous concepts to save on gasoline, but of them end up with them running from police or security. Over on the other side of town, Frank and Dee spy on the new husband of Bonnie (Frank's ex-wife and Dee's mother), but Frank grows suspicious of Dee and tortures her for information.

If this brand of outrageous, tasteless humor doesn't sound like your cup of tea, that's OK. "Sunny" is definitely not a show for everyone. But if you jump on board and expect to be appalled, mortified and hurting from laughter, "Sunny" is a show that will, in its own disturbing way, brighten your day.

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