At the Movies: ‘Best Man Holiday,’ ‘RamLeela,’ more
Terrence Howard, left, and Harold Perrineau star in the romantic comedy sequel ‘The Best Man Holiday.’ –Universal Pictures
Wide-release film synopses from the Los Angeles Times.
OPENING AS OF FRIDAY, NOV. 15
‘The Best Man Holiday’ 1/2
Old rivalries and romances resurface when college friends reunite over the Christmas holidays in this sequel to the 1999 film “The Best Man.” With Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall and Terrence Howard. (R, 2:02)
‘Blue Is the Warmest Color (La vie d’Adele)’
A 15-year-old French girl enters into a long, passionate relationship with an older female art student. With Lea Seydoux and Adele Exarchopoulos. In French with English subtitles. At Kahala 8 (France/Belgium/Spain, NC-17, 2:59)
‘RamLeela’
Ram and Leela come from two squabbling families — sworn enemies dating back 500 years — but that doesn’t stop them from falling in love with each other. They must fight to save their love but at what cost? In Hindi with English subtitles. At Dole Cannery 18 (India, not rated, 1:55)
NOW PLAYING
‘About Time’
A young man discovers that he can travel through time and also meets the love of his life, but he comes to realize his gift doesn’t necessarily make life’s ups and downs any easier to deal with. With Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy. Written and directed by Richard Curtis. (R, 2:04)
‘All Is Lost’ 1/2
“All Is Lost” begins in darkness. There is a voice, though. And a face. Weathered and worn by time, Robert Redford is our man, stranded on a sinking ship. In this spare and unsparing film, the man’s fate hangs in the balance, and all the existential questions are there in the doubt and the decisions. It was written and directed by J.C. Chandor, who has given Redford the role of a second lifetime. The actor delivers a star performance in return. At Kahala 8 (PG-13, 1:47)
‘Blood and Ties’ (not reviewed)
A fledgling reporter’s close relationship with her doting father is rocked when an infamous child abduction case comes back into the news and she is struck by some chilling similarities. With Son Ye-jin and Kim Kap-soo. Written by Bin Sun Hwa. Directed by Kook Dong-seok. In Korean with English subtitles. At Pearlridge West 16 (South Korea, not rated, 1:35)
‘Captain Phillips’ 1/2
A dramatic account of the story of Capt. Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates. With Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi and Barkhad Abdirahman. (PG-13, 2:14)
‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2′
Having previously endangered the world and then saved it from a machine that turned water into food, a young inventor learns that his contraption survived and is now creating dangerous food-animal hybrids. With the voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan and Will Forte. (PG, 1:34)
‘The Counselor’ 1/2
A respected lawyer’s dabbling in the drug-trafficking business quickly spirals out of control. With Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz and Javier Bardem. (R, 1:51)
Lea Seydoux, left, and Adele Exarchopoulos are two French students who explore love in ‘Blue Is the Warmest Color.’ –Sundance Selects
‘Ender’s Game’
Alien invasions of Earth prompt the International Military to prepare the next generation of young soldiers for another attack. Based on the novel by Orson Scott Card. With Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley. Written and directed by Gavin Hood. (PG-13, 1:54)
‘Enough Said’
A divorced single mother who works as a masseuse finds her personal and professional lives uncomfortably intersecting when a new client turns out to be her new beau’s ex-wife. With Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener and Toni Collette. (PG-13, 1:32)
‘Escape Plan’
An expert on structural security agrees to take on one last job “breaking out of a top-secret high-tech prison” but is then duped and wrongly imprisoned, spurring him to recruit a fellow inmate to help him escape. With Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Caviezel. (R, 1:56)
‘The Face Reader’
A skillful face reader who is able to identify culprits in murder cases catches the attention of the king, who demands that he identify traitors threatening his reign. After the king unexpectedly dies, the face reader becomes involved in a huge power struggle to determine the king’s successor. (Los Angeles Times) At Pearlridge West 16 (South Korea, not rated, 2:19)
‘Free Birds’ 1/2
Two turkeys set out to alter the course of Thanksgiving by traveling back in time and preventing their kind from becoming the holiday’s main course. With the voices of Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson and Amy Poehler. Written by Scott Mosier and Jimmy Hayward. Directed by Hayward. In 3-D. (PG, 1:31)
‘Gravity’
When their shuttle is destroyed during a routine spacewalk, a veteran astronaut and a brilliant engineer are stranded in space together. With Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. (PG-13, 1:31)
‘The Haumana’ 1/2
Jonny Kealoha (Tui Asau) is a lounge performer in Waikiki who is asked by his dying kumu hula (Marlene Sai) to help prepare a group of high school boys for the upcoming Royal Hula Festival. The film is an enjoyable re-creation of the classic underdog story line that finds the protagonists beaten down and dealt setback after setback. How will they react? At Pearlridge West 16 (1:35)
‘Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa’
An elderly man and his 8-year-old grandson embark on a series of misadventures in this hidden-camera comedy. With Johnny Knoxville and Jackson Nicoll. (R, 1:31)
‘Last Vegas’
Four aging childhood friends celebrate the engagement of the last single member of their group with a bachelor party in Las Vegas. With Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline. Written by Dan Fogelman. Directed by Jon Turteltaub. (PG-13, 1:54)
‘She’s the One’
Filipino romantic comedy about a young couple — best friends — whose relationship grows complicated when another man shows a romantic interest in the girl. Stars Dingdong Dantes, Bea Alonzo and Enrique Gil. In Tagalog (no subtitles). At Pearlridge West 16 (R, 1:36)
‘Thor: The Dark World’
The hammer-wielding demigod Thor battles to save Earth and his home world of Asgard from an ancient enemy in this sequel to the 2011 movie “Thor.” With Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Stellan Skarsgard. Written by Christopher L. Yost, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Directed by Alan Taylor. (PG-13, 1:52)
’12 Years a Slave’ 1/2
In the antebellum United States, a free black man from upstate New York is abducted and sold into slavery, forcing him to fight for years to survive and maintain his dignity. With Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Dano. Written by John Ridley. Directed by Steve McQueen. At Kahala 8 (R, 2:14)
‘Wedding Palace’
After being abandoned at the altar and pressured by his family to find a new bride, a Korean-American man meets his dream girl on a business trip to the old country, but she arrives in the U.S. with a startling revelation. With Brian Tee, Kang Hye-jung, Bobby Lee and Margaret Cho. At Pearlridge West 16 (not rated, 1:38)
Tom Hiddleston returns as Loki in the sequel to the Marvel franchise ‘Thor: The Dark World.’ –Walt Disney Studios
SPECIAL
‘Nabucco at La Scala’
Leo Nucci stars in Verdi’s opera about Babylonian emperor Nabucco, who holds Jews captive under his rule and faces struggles with his loved ones, ultimately leading to his divine punishment and final salvation. 2 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kahala 8, $20
‘UFC 167: St-Pierre vs. Hendricks’
Broadcast of the Ultimate Fighting Championship bout between Georges St-Pierre and Johny Hendricks. 5 p.m. Saturday at Dole Cannery 18, $15 (not rated, 3 hours)
University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs. San Diego State Aztecs football game
5:30 p.m. Saturday at Koko Marina 8 and Koolau Stadium 10, $12
National Theater Live: ‘Hamlet’
Olivier Award-winning actor Rory Kinnear portrays Hamlet in director Nicholas Hytner’s 2010 production of Shakespeare’s tragic play. 2 p.m. Sunday at Kahala 8, $20 (not rated, 4 hours)
‘RUSH: Clockwork Angels Tour’
Features a night of legendary rock music and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews by the 2013 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. 7 p.m. Monday at Dole Cannery 18, $12.50 (PG-13, 2:25)
‘Royal Opera House: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’
Lewis Carroll’s colorful tale is portrayed through Christopher Wheeldon’s dance production with a magical score and great theatrical effects. 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dole Cannery 18, $15 (not rated, 3:10)
Hana Hou Picture Show: ‘Big Trouble in Little China’
A tough truck driver (Kurt Russell) is sent to pick up his friend’s beautiful fiancee at the San Francisco airport, and becomes entangled in a supernatural battle when the woman is kidnapped by a Chinatown crime lord. 7 and 10 p.m. Wednesday at Ward Stadium 16, reserved seating, $10 (PG-13, 1986, 1:38)
National Theatre Live: ’50 Years on Stage’
A cast of 100 of the best British actors perform in this unique event featuring unforgettable performances broadcasted from London to cinemas around the world. 7 p.m. Thursday at Kahala 8, $20
In ‘Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,’ Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara star as a young outlaw couple on an extended crime spree sends the man to prison–until he breaks out. –IFC Films
ARTHOUSE
DORIS DUKE THEATRE
Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St., entry on Kinau Street. (532-8768, honolulumuseum.org) $10, $8 for members
Friends of Film Friday: ‘Into the Mind’
7:30 p.m. today, with a 6 p.m. reception featuring global cuisine from Da Spot for purchase. Glass of wine or soda included in ticket cost. $15, $12 for members.
With stunning cinematography and engaging storytelling techniques, this film, directed by Eric Crosland and Dave Mossop, explores the daredevil skiers who risk their lives doing what they love and whisks viewers off to Alaska, Bolivia, the Himalayas and beyond. (2013)
Family Film Sunday: ‘Happily Ever After’
11:10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday; $1-$3
Animated collection of fables, legends and tongue-in-cheek fairy tales include “Happily Ever After” (Taiwan), “The Town Musicians of Bremen” (Japan), “The Fairy Tale of the Gipsy and the Snake” (Poland), “The Boy in the Bubble” (Ireland), “The Changeling” (Germany), “Waseteg” (Canada) and “Bonifacio in Summertime” (Canada). Three films have subtitles. (0:59)
‘Escape from Tomorrow’
4 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Director Randy Moore’s film, shot almost entirely in Disneyland and Disney World (in secret) and in black and white, is a mystery-thriller about a man who packs up his family and embarks on a fun journey at the theme park to escape the reality of having lost his job. But the fantasy begins to unravel, and the family vacation turns into a nightmare. (2013, 1:30)
‘Ain’t Them Bodies Saints’
1 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday
A young outlaw couple (Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara) on an extended crime spree engage in a shootout with law enforcement that results in an officer being shot and the man taking the blame. Four years later he escapes from prison and sets out to find his girlfriend and their young daughter, who was born during his incarceration. Directed by David Lowery. (2013, 1:36)
MOVIE MUSEUM
3566 Harding Ave. (735-8771) $5, $4 members
’1 Litre of Tears’ (‘Ichi rittoru no namida’)
Noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. today
Touching drama about a 14-year-old girl who develops spino-cerebellar ataxia after falling at school. Based on a true story that later inspired a popular television series. For ages 10 and older. In Japanese with English subtitles. (2005, Japan, 1:38)
‘Kinamand’ (‘Chinaman’)
1:45, 5:15 and 8:45 p.m. today; and 1:45 and 5:15 p.m. Sunday
A Danish plumber, depressed after his wife leaves him, shuts down his business and eats Chinese takeout every night all by his lonesome. When the restaurant’s owner offers to pay him to marry his sister (so she can remain in Denmark), he accepts the deal to help pay for the divorce; then a bond forms between the new “couple.” For ages 12 and older. In Danish with English subtitles. (2005, Denmark/China, 1:28)
‘I Hired a Contract Killer’
Noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 2, 5:30 and 9 p.m. Thursday
In this quirky comedy, a depressed and unemployed Henri hires a hit man for himself, but soon afterward he meets the girl of his dreams and is unable to find his would-be killer. For ages 15 and older. (1990, Finland/U.K./Germany/ Sweden/France, 1:19)
‘Roman de Gare’
1:30, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday
No one is as he or she seems in this thriller involving a successful novelist, a single mother and a man with “a squinched face.” In French with English subtitles. Rated R. (2007, France, 1:43)
‘Lackawanna Blues’
Noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday
Heartwarming true story about a man who was left to be cared for by the owner of a small boarding house in Lackawanna, N.Y., in the 1950s and ’60s. Stars S. Epatha Merkerson, Marcus Carl Franklin, Mos Def, Louis Gossett Jr., Terrence Howard, Rosie Perez and Liev Schreiber. Rated PG-13. (2005, 1:35)
‘Jack Irish: Bad Debts’
Noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Monday
Smart and funny adaptation of Peter Temple’s mystery novel about a former criminal lawyer whose ex-client who turns up dead, leaving him entangled in a web involving crooked ex-cops and murder. For ages 15 and older. With English subtitles. (2012, Australia, 1:39)
‘Jack Irish: Black Tide’
1:45, 5:15 and 8:45 p.m. Monday
Adaptation of Peter Temple’s second “Jack Irish” novel about a man who agrees to help find the missing son of his late father’s close friend, only to become embroiled in a dangerous world of drug smuggling and corruption in finding the truth. For ages 15 and older. With English subtitles. (2012, Australia, 1:33)
‘Still Mine’
Noon, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Thursday
Uplifting tale of marital devotion about a New Brunswick farmer (James Cromwell) who faces constant roadblocks in his goal to hand-build a more navigable home for his beloved wife (Genevieve Bujold), who is exhibiting early signs of dementia. Rated PG-13. (2012, Canada, 1:42)
MONDAY MOVIE CAFE
Cupola Theatre, Honolulu Design Center, second floor, 1250 Kapiolani Blvd. (436-4326); $10, $5 students
‘A Girl Like Her’
7 p.m. Monday, followed by a discussion with Hawaii’s adoption community.
Ann Fessler directs this film that reveals the hidden history of more than a million pregnant young women who were banished to maternity homes in the 1950s and ’60s to give birth and surrender their children. Hear their voices today as they talk about the long-term impact of their experiences. Includes footage from educational films and newsreels about dating, sex, “illegitimate” pregnancy and adoption. (2013, 0:52)
EAST-WEST CENTER
In conjunction with the “Bollywood & Beyond: Costume in Indian Film” exhibition at East-West Center Gallery, John A. Burns Hall, 1601 East-West Road (corner of Dole Street and East-West Road). (944-7177, arts.eastwestcenter.org) Free
‘Jodhaa Akbar: Part 2′
2-4 p.m. Sunday
Continuation of director Ashutosh Gowariker’s film about the romance between a Muslim emperor and a Hindu princess. (2008, India, combined 3:33 for Parts 1 and 2)
KOREAN FILM SERIES
Center for Korean Studies’ Fall 2013 Film Series, “Two Koreas, Shattered Lives,” 1881 East-West Road, UH-Manoa. (956-7041); free.
‘The Journals of Musan’
6:30 p.m. Tuesday
A North Korean defector must help his roommate recover lost funds after the broker is conned by an uncle who had been funneling other defectors’ money into the North instead of to their families. Winner of multiple awards at film festivals across Asia. (2011, 2:07)
CIVIL RIGHTS FILM SERIES
“Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle” film series: ‘Freedom Riders’
1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Kapolei Public Library, followed by discussion with historian Jon Davidann of Hawaii Pacific University. Free. 693-7050
Documentary based on Raymond Arsenault’s book about the brave activists who challenged segregation in the Deep South and redefined America.