Movies

by Chris Grap

This week’s picks

Thursday, January 1
Swing by your local video store to rent a copy of Wall-E, the animated film that’s shaping up to be the surprise critical favorite of 2008.

Friday, January 2
“While some bands find Rock ‘N’ Roll after taking the most circuitous path possible,” writes Jon Behm, “Nightinghales take a straight path from A to B minor.” Catch them tonight at the 331 Club, where Dwight Hobbes praises the courteous barstaff—who don’t “saunter over with a kiss-my-grits disposition like they’re doing you a favor to let you spend your bread.” MORE »

I saw over 200 films in 2008, and narrowing a list down to the top ten films is tough. In 2002, I bought a blank book and started writing down every film I saw, making it easier to create a top-ten list each year. Going through my book brought back a lot of memories of films that I hardly remember anything about. For instance, how did the French film Roman de Gare end? I don’t recall. Does that mean it’s forgettable? Not exactly, but the ones that jumped out are denoted with a little star—if anyone asked me about one of those movies, I could tell him or her what I enjoyed about it or why it worked. MORE »

by Jay Gabler

A few weeks ago I was at my parents’ house in St. Paul, and my father was watching Driving Miss Daisy on Comcast digital cable. Summoning the onscreen program description, he was disgusted to read a capsule review that gave the movie—winner of the 1989 Academy Award for Best Picture—three out of four stars. “Come on!” he exclaimed.

This week’s picks

Thursday, December 25
The Roundup Beer Hall opens at 1 p.m.

Friday, December 26
There are just a few days left to catch “the Twin Cities’ most honest holiday tradition,” the British Television Advertising Award Winners at the Walker. Many screenings are already sold out, so order your tickets now. MORE »

Valkyrie, the much-hyped and heavily advertised Tom Cruise action vehicle, opens on Christmas Day. After some reshoots were done last June, and after no fewer than four different release dates were announced—at one point, release was even going to be delayed until February 2009—everyone can now witness this amazing story told with lifeless imprecision. MORE »

This week’s picks

Thursday, December 18
Enough of this thinking crap…it’s time to kick back with a Premium at Jimmy’s Bar and Lounge in Northeast (1828 4th St. N.E.) for some good ol’ bingo. You can win up to $1,000! That’s a lot of cocktail weenies.

Friday, December 19
Whisk your sweetheart, or your family, or the hobo sleeping on the abandoned couch in front of your building (thanks, UPI) to the magical queendom of St. Catherine in the Grove Land of Ramsey County, where thee and thine might perchance to see a “classic” Nutcracker (in other words, Mother Ginger is probably the only performer in drag) presented by Ballet Minnesota. MORE »

by Erica Mauter • Celebrate with Riverview —

On Thursday, December 30, 1948, the Riverview Theater’s doors opened for the first time. Now, nearly six decades later, we are proud to continue the tradition of providing film entertainment to Minneapolis and the Longfellow Neighborhood.