2013-08-30

At the Movies: ‘Getaway,’ ‘The Grandmaster’

Ziyi Zhang, left, and Tony Leung face off in the martial arts action movie, ‘The Grandmaster.’ –The Weinstein Co.

OPENS TODAY

‘Cutie and the Boxer’

Ushio and Noriko Shinohara, both from Japan, met in New York in 1973 — he was a 41-year-old painter and sculptor and she was a 19-year-old student — and have lived there pretty much ever since. Their marriage is the subject of Zachary Heinzerling’s clear-eyed and touching documentary, which uses their work as background for exploring a complex, sometimes volatile relationship. At Kahala 8 (A.O. Scott, New York Times) (R, 92 minutes)

‘Getaway’ 1/2

“Getaway” has some of the elements of a good gear-grinder, a B-movie in which a car takes a pivotal role in the cast. The improbable setup: Ethan Hawke stars as disgraced racing driver Brent Magna, whose Bulgarian wife (Rebecca Budig) has been kidnapped. He gets a call and is told to steal a particular armored, camera-packed Mustang (owned by a young woman, played by Selena Gomez, who is taken for the action-packed ride) that he must drive to complete a series of “tasks.” The villain, whose chin stubble and martini-slurping lips are all we see, is played by Jon Voight with a German accent. (Roger Moore, McClatchy Newspapers) (PG-13, 100 minutes)

‘The Grandmaster’

Martial-arts master Ip Man (Tony Leung), who is 40 when the movie opens in 1936 China, practices a style of kung fu called “wing chun,” which is often translated as “beautiful spring.” In the film, his metaphoric season begins with him being called on to demonstrate his style for Gong Baosen (Wang Qingxiang), a grandmaster visiting from the Japanese-controlled north. Having decided to retire, Gong has arrived in Foshan, in the south, for a celebration and an exhibition of the local kung fu talent. His truer intention may be to find the worthiest martial-arts successor. (Manohla Dargis, New York Times) (PG-13, 118 minutes)

‘One Direction: This Is Us’

An all-access pass and an intimate behind-the-scenes look while on tour with Zayn, Liam, Harry, Louis and Niall, who make up the global phenomenon and British boy band One Direction, a group assembled in 2010 by Simon Cowell on his British television show “The X Factor.” (PG, 102 minutes)

OPENS THURSDAY

‘Riddick’ (not reviewed)

Vin Diesel reprises his role as the antihero/escaped convict Riddick in the latest saga following “Pitch Black” in 2000 and “The Chronicles of Riddick” in 2004, which finds him left for dead on a scorching planet and fending off alien predators in a fight for his life. His only hope of staying alive is to set off an emergency beacon that will send mercenaries his way. The problem is, they also want him dead. At Dole Cannery 18, Pearl Highlands 12 and Windward Stadium 10 (R, 103 minutes)

Eric Bana is a lawyer trying to survive in the law thriller ‘Closed Circuit.’ –Focus Features

LIMITED RELEASE

‘Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo?’

This Filipino film adaptation of the self-help book by Ramon Bautista is a romantic comedy about a bright and quirky girl who becomes depressed after a painful breakup and bounces back with revenge on her mind. At Pearlridge West (not rated, 100 minutes)

‘Blackfish’

Unapologetically designed to both inform and affect, Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s delicately lacerating documentary uses the tragic tale of Tilikum, a 12,000-pound bull orca, and his human victims as the backbone of a hypercritical investigation into the marine-park giant SeaWorld Entertainment. (Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times) At Kahala 8 (PG-13, 93 minutes)

‘Drug War’

Hong Kong’s Johnnie To, making his first action film in China, and lead actor Louis Koo are at the top of their game in this thriller about an important link in a drug chain who, rather than face the death penalty after he is captured, instead turns informant. Or does he? (G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle) At Pearlridge West (not rated, 107 minutes)

‘Secretly, Greatly’

This South Korean box-office smash is a comedy-drama about North Korean spies who infiltrate a village impersonating a fool, a rocker and a high school student until devastating orders arrive from the North. At Pearlridge West (not rated, South Korea, 123 minutes)

‘The Spectacular Now’

In a comedy-drama about the ecstasies and risks of imperfect young love, the movie tracks an end-of-school romance between a cool guy named Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) and a shy girl named Aimee Finicky (Shailene Woodley), with surprises that make it distinctive right from the beginning. (Michael Sragow, Orange County, Calif., Register) At Kahala 8 (R, 105 minutes)

‘The Terror Live’: SpotlightAsia!

A news anchorman must regain control of the “live news” medium within his broadcast studio as he finds himself caught in the middle of a grave situation between a terrorist, who calls in and threatens to set off destructive bombs in Seoul, and bosses, detectives and government officials telling him what to do. At Pearlridge West (not rated, 107 minutes)

‘The Way Way Back’ 1/2

A humorous coming-of-age story follows 14-year-old Duncan (Liam James) on summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and Trent’s daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). The introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in talkative Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park — then opens up and begins to find his place in the world. At Ward Stadium 16 (PG-13, 103 minutes)

NOW PLAYING

‘Blue Jasmine’

Woody Allen’s latest stars Cate Blanchett as a woman with a troubled New York financier of a husband (Alec Baldwin), who flees to San Francisco to stay with her sister (Sally Hawkins). Drinking heavily and self-medicating, she is unable to shake a belief in her own entitlement. It’s a leap forward for Allen; in its tonal range and in the depth of its lead character, “Blue Jasmine” is something new. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) (PG-13, 98 minutes)

‘Closed Circuit’

Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall play two lawyers (and ex-lovers) whose lives become endangered as they get closer and closer to a secret that powerful entities would like to keep under wraps. What’s peculiar about the movie — both a flaw and a virtue — is that neither is trying to do anything of tangible importance. That is, they’re not trying to prevent some terrible event from taking place. They’re really only trying to hold up concepts, but important ones, like honesty and the rule of law. And they’re trying to survive. Also stars Julia Stiles and Jim Broadbent. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) (R, 96 minutes)

‘The Conjuring’ 1/2

Drawn from an actual event, “The Conjuring” tells the tale of a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse, and the paranormal investigators who come to their aid. (R, 111 minutes)

‘Despicable Me 2′

Steve Carell returns to voice the once-dastardly mastermind Gru, who is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal. The brilliantly animated sequel leans more on the humor than the heart, especially with a much-expanded role for the jabbering yellow Minions. The characters are pure silliness, and that works beautifully. (Rick Bentley, Fresno, Calif., Bee) (PG, 98 minutes)

‘Elysium’

It is the mid-21st century. Life on Earth is hardly worth living, yet, all the while, in the sky, is a wheel-shaped paradise called Elysium, a beautiful colony built on a satellite. This is where the rich people live, and few others will ever get to visit. The cleverly constructed sci-fi action flick from director Neill Blomkamp (“District 9″) stars Matt Damon as Max and Jodie Foster as Mrs. Delacourt. On Elysium, Delacourt is hatching a political scheme that will thrust her to the center of power. Meanwhile, on Earth, a workplace accident makes it necessary for Max to get to Elysium soon. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) (R, 109 minutes)

‘Jobs’ 1/2

Ashton Kutcher is perfectly convincing in this Steve Jobs biopic, presenting the Apple co-founder as a man best seen from a distance, a coldhearted person who takes pride in his coldness, who sees it as a form of strength. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) (PG-13, 122 minutes)

‘Kick-Ass 2′

A weird mix of the refreshing and the dispiriting, “Kick-Ass 2″ stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the title character, still in high school, who joins a band of would-be superheroes, people as powerless as himself who want to make a difference. Then a group of evil superheroes, led by Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), target Kick-Ass’s new group for death. The trail leads to a very ugly place. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) (R, 107 minutes)

‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’

Occasionally moving, sweeping in ambition yet often haphazard in execution, Lee Daniels’ film covers more than 80 years of American history through the eyes of a White House butler and his family — decades of strife and conflict, from segregation to the election of Barack Obama. Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker is in the title role, Oscar nominee Oprah Winfrey co-stars, and Oscar-winners Robin Williams, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Vanessa Redgrave have supporting roles. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) (PG-13, 132 minutes)

‘Man of Steel’

Another retelling of the Superman story, this time by director Zack Snyder with a cast starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams and Michael Shannon. A young journalist (Cavill) confronts his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race. The attempt to put the iconic superhero back into flight falls flat; Snyder’s joyless film has nothing soaring about it. (Jake Coyle, Associated Press) (PG-13, 143 minutes)

‘Monsters University’ 1/2

Mike and Sulley return in this prequel to “Monsters, Inc.,” looking back on their college days, when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends. This Pixar feature is far more conventional, and not nearly as witty or clever as the original. The 3-D animation takes the art form to a new level, a few sentimental moments connect and the climax is a humdinger. But with the bar set so high by the first film, this can’t help but feel like a letdown. (Roger Moore, McClatchy Newspapers) (G, 110 minutes)

‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’

The first in an aspiring film franchise based on Cassandra Clare’s series of fantasy novels for young adults has rising actress Lily Collins playing Clary, an average teen who discovers that she’s actually a “shadowhunter,” or half-angel, half-human warrior. Clary must rise to the occasion when her mother is kidnapped. As if saving her mother weren’t challenging enough, Clary finds herself a major figure in a pitched battle between good and evil, with the fate of humankind hanging in the balance. (Associated Press) (PG-13, 130 minutes)

‘Percy Jackson: A Sea of Monsters’ 1/2

In a film based on Rick Riordan’s best-selling book series, Percy, the son of Poseidon, and his friends go on a fantasy journey through the Sea of Monsters on a quest to find the magical Golden Fleece. (PG, 110 minutes)

‘Planes’

Disney’s newest film, “from above the world of ‘Cars,’” is a high-flying animation about Dusty, a crop-duster who aspires to compete in an air race that circles the globe. Can he overcome his shortcomings and fear of heights? (PG, 92 minutes)

‘Red 2′ 1/2

Retired CIA agent Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) reunites a team of operatives for a mission that includes dodging assassins in Paris, London and Moscow. Also starring Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Lee Byung-hun and Catherine Zeta-Jones. (PG-13, 116 minutes)

‘The Smurfs 2′ Zero stars

The evil Gargamel (Hank Azaria) creates havoc once again, this time by Smurf-napping Smurfette (voiced by Katy Perry), who holds the secret to turning his newly created Smurf-like equivalents, the Naughties (voiced by Christina Ricci and JB Smoove), into real Smurfs in his latest effort to capture their magical Smurf mojo. Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays return as human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow. (PG, 105 minutes)

‘Star Trek Into Darkness’

The sequel finds the crew of the Enterprise finding an unstoppable force of terror from within its own organization, with Captain Kirk leading a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction. Director J.J. Abrams has sacrificed a lot of “Trek’s” idiosyncrasy and, worse, the large-spirited humanism that sustained the original, to put this movie squarely in the conventional revenge-driven action genre. (A.O. Scott, New York Times) (PG-13, 132 minutes)

’2 Guns’

After being set up to take the fall for a high-stakes robbery, two undercover agents (Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg) from competing bureaus form a reluctant partnership. Also stars Edward James Olmos, Bill Paxton and Paula Patton. (Los Angeles Times) (R, 101 minutes)

‘We’re the Millers’

Anchored by breakout performances from Jason Sudeikis and Will Poulter, “Millers” is a raunchy, hilarious and ultimately sweet-natured riff on the tried-and-true road-trip comedy. A pot dealer (Sudeikis) assembles a fake family to help move his stash across the Mexican border in this comedy. With Jennifer Aniston, Ed Helms and Emma Roberts. (Preston Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram) (R, 100 minutes)

‘The Wolverine’

Hugh Jackman returns to his famed “X-Men” role in a more contemplative fashion. Logan travels to Japan to bid farewell to a dying acquaintance, only to find himself protecting the life of an heiress, even as he struggles to come to terms with the tragic events of his past. (Gina McIntyre, Los Angeles Times) (PG-13, 126 minutes)

‘World War Z’

A United Nations employee traverses the world in a race against time to stop the zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself. Brad Pitt stars in this big summer movie directed by Marc Forster that is actually scary — and not just scary, but relentless, because the zombies are strong and they run, determined in their attack. Structured as a succession of disasters, the movie is almost punishing to watch. It’s nerve-wracking and it just keeps coming. (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) (PG-13, 116 minutes)

‘The World’s End’

This is the third installment of a comical, sci-fi trilogy following “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” all of which are connected by a silly running gag with the element of Cornetto ice cream. Five friends reunite to re-create an epic pub crawl from their youth and don’t realize that an alien invasion is taking place around them. (Star-Advertiser news services) (R, 109 minutes)

‘You’re Next’ 1/2

Crispian (A.J. Bowen) and his girlfriend Erin (Sharni Vinson) embark on a family reunion getaway, which turns into a grisly murder scene as a gang of masked killers crash the party and invade the remote mansion in which all are trapped and forced into survival mode. Review on D3. (R, 105 minutes)

Will Poulter, left, and Jason Sudeikis are a fake family smuggling pot into the US in ‘We’re the Millers.’ –Warner Bros. Pictures

SPECIAL

‘Live From the Red Square’

Watch a once-in-a-lifetime performance as two of Russia’s greatest singers, opera singer Anna Netrebko and acclaimed baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, appear together on stage for the first time in a June 19 performance in Red Square in front of 7,500 people, singing popular arias and duets from some of the world’s best-loved operas. 8 p.m. Thursday at Kahala 8, $20 (G, 160 minutes)

ARTHOUSE

DORIS DUKE THEATRE

Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St., entry on Kinau Street (532-8768); $10, $8 museum members (tickets also available online at www.honolulumuseum.org).

‘Opera in Cinema: La Traviata from the Teatro alla Scala, Milan’

1 and 6 p.m. Sunday

Liliana Cavani’s lavish production, performed in July 2007, features Angela Gheorghiu in her debut as Violetta. (150 minutes)

MOVIE MUSEUM

3566 Harding Ave. (735-8771); $5, $4 members; reservations recommended

‘Very Happy Alexander’

Noon, 3:30, 7 and 8:45 p.m. today; and noon and 6:45 p.m. Monday

After his tyrannical wife dies in a car crash, a farmer happily stops working and resorts to setting up a Rube Goldberg contraption (a complex device that completes simple tasks) to provide food, access to his tuba and other conveniences, never having to leave his bed, all while outraging his community. This amusing comedy is rated G. (1968, France, 100 minutes)

‘Love & Dance’ (‘Sipur Hatzi-Russi’)

1:45 and 5:15 p.m. today; and 10 p.m. Saturday

A preteen boy, raised by a cultured Russian mother and stern Sangra father, becomes smitten with a Russian girl and enrolls in her ballroom dance class, disregarding his father’s mandated order to learn judo. For ages 12 and older. (2006, Israel, 95 minutes).

‘The Great Gatsby’

Noon, 2:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1:45, 4:15 and 8:30 p.m. Monday

Adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic about a writer from the Midwest (Tobey Maguire) who ends up in bustling New York City during the Roaring ’20s and becomes fascinated with the lavish lifestyle of a mysterious millionaire (Leonardo DiCaprio), with music by Jay Z and will.i.am. Also stars Carey Mulligan. (2013, Australia/U.S., 143 minutes)

‘The Woman in the Rumor’ (‘Uwasa no onna’)

Noon, 3:45 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday

Kenji Mizoguchi’s newly restored contemporary drama about a madam who finds herself competing with her daughter in hopes of landing the same man. (1954, Japan, 84 minutes)

‘Petty Romance’ (‘Jjae Jjae Han Romaenseu’)

1:30, 5:15 and 9 p.m. Sunday

Hoping to win $100,000 in an adult comic competition, a struggling cartoonist advertises for a writer and selects a recently fired woman to help him create an erotic comic. Sparks begin to fly during the process. This comedy was a Korean box-office hit in 2010. For ages 17 and older. (2010, South Korea, 118 minutes)

’40 Years of Silence: An Indonesian Tragedy’

12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday

In this documentary, four individuals and their families discuss their experiences as survivors of the 1965 secret massacre ordered under General Suharto’s authoritarian rule in Indonesia. From 500,000 to 1 million people are believed to have been killed. For ages 13 and older. (2009, 86 minutes)

‘Two Lives Plus One’ (Deux vies … plus une)

2, 5 and 8 p.m. Thursday

A Jewish mother surprises her family when she decides to take some time off to write a memoir. She is ecstatic when it gains the attention of a publisher, much to the chagrin of her husband who notices the man is young and handsome. This comedy is for ages 12 and older. (2007, France, 90 minutes)

MONDAY MOVIE CAFE

TheVenue, 1146 Bethel St. (436-4326); $10, $5 students

‘The Singing Revolution’

7 p.m. Monday

Since the 1930s, Estonia had undergone many changes, and by the end of the World War II era, more than a quarter of its population had been deported or executed, or fled the country. Of all things, it is music that helped Estonia maintain its language and culture, and the people’s struggle for freedom between 1987 and 1991 became rightfully known as the Singing Revolution, a period when Estonians risked their lives by singing forbidden patriotic songs and sharing protest speeches, a quest that successfully led to Estonia regaining its independence. (2010, Estonia, 85 minutes)

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