Openings
The Covenant REVIEWED ON OUR WEB SITE MON. SEPT. 11. Handsome teens with paranormal powers must prevent the end of the world. Or something like that. (PG-13)
Half Nelson SEE REVIEW, PAGE 84. (R)
Burn to Shine SEE REVIEW, PAGE 84. (NR)
Hollywoodland SEE REVIEW, PAGE 85. (R)
The Protector REVIEWED ON OUR WEB SITE MON. SEPT. 11. Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior) now must kick ass to retrieve his stolen elephant in Australia. Those goddamn elephant-stealing Aussies. (R)
The Puffy Chair SEE REVIEW, PAGE 85. (NR)
Oddballs, Events, & Rep
Pedro Almodóvar Retrospective The "Viva Pedro" repertory series (Pedro-rama?) continues with three titles this week, all a part of the continuing countdown to Volver (opening Nov. 22). Unlike the torrid, campy melodramas of Almodóvar's early career, 2002's Talk to Her is a romance, yet its real love story is between two men who never sleep together. Both their beloveds end up in comas at the same hospital, where the two men form their unlikely bond—almost like Bogie and Claude Rains in Casablanca. From 1995, The Flower of My Secret is entirely feminine, as romance writer Marisa Paredes questions her career, marriage, and perhaps the very viability of love. All About My Mother (1999) famously turned Almodóvar to heavier themes of loss and mourning, as all manner of women (transsexuals, too) reach out to support bereaved mother Cecilia Roth. All are new prints, all are worth seeing. (R) Harvard Exit, 807 E. Roy St., 206-781-5755. Fri. Sept. 8-Thurs. Sept. 14.
Ingmar Bergman Lecture Everett Herald critic Robert Horton argues that the great Swedish filmmaker should be granted the Nobel Prize, and it's pretty hard to dispute his position. Clips from such masterworks as The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries are likely to be screened. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave., 206-622-9250. Free. 2 p.m. Sun. Sept. 10.
An Egyptian Story The 1982 midpoint in Youssef Chahine's autobiographical trilogy has his protagonist Yehia survey his misspent life from the heart surgeon's operating table, rather like Bob Fosse in All That Jazz (only without all the singing and dancing, of course). It's all a kind of extended fantasy flashback, like Fellini in Egypt, as our filmmaker hero is tried in court for betraying his ideals. (NR) Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., 206-523-3935. $5-$7.50. Fri. Sept. 8-Wed. Sept. 13.
Four Eyed Monsters This festival-circuit indie is screened on four successive Thursdays in September. Co-directors Arin Crumley and Susan Buice evidently incorporate part of their own dating history in their tale of two N.Y.C. artists who meet over the Internet, then decide to continue their romance via paintings, sketches, e-mail, videos—anything other than talking directly, in other words. It's probably no less improbable than any number of other love stories among the Funny Ha Ha/Meetup.com generation. (NR) Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., 206-523-3935. $5-$7.50. 8 p.m. Thurs. Sept. 7.
Independent Exposure Short films from around the world are screened. (NR) Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave., 206-686-6684. $5. 7 and 9 p.m. Wed. Sept. 13.
Jumping Off Bridges Four Texas teens are traumatized by the suicide of one boy's mother in this Austin indie, apparently inspired by events from writer-director Kat Kandler's own high-school days. Our Dallas Observer colleague Robert Wilonsky said of the four thrill-seeking kids, "[they try] to deal with life by pretending to cheat death. They're both unconventional and risky endeavors aching for your patience, but . . . they will reward your perseverance." (NR) Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 206-325-6500. $8. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Sept. 13.
Lost in Translation Bill Murray has never been more like Bill Murray than he is in Lost (2003), and Scarlett Johansson has never been more like Sofia Coppola. Writer-director Coppola spins her angel-hair fantasia around Murray's sturdy persona: a star repelled by stardom, a spiritual seeker, heroic ironist, and lounge singer extraordinaire. Ostensibly he's Bob Harris, a matinee idol despising himself for taking $2 million to do some quickie whiskey ads in Tokyo, but really he's only, always, Bill Murray. But Coppola is out to plumb Murray's depths, not just milk him for yocks. Nor does Bob's unlikely bond with unhappily married Charlotte (Johansson) result in easy romance. (R) TIM APPELO Egyptian, 801 E. Pine St., 206-781-5755. $6-$9. Midnight. Fri. Sept. 8-Sat. Sept. 9.
Oddballs In this low-budget Canadian rip-off of Meatballs, a guy wins a summer camp in a poker game. Then he's got to keep the camp running, keep the boys and girls from commingling, and so forth. Unfortunately Bill Murray was not in the poker pot, so you may want to rent Meatballs instead. (PG) Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., 206-523-3935. $5-$7.50. 11 p.m. Fri. Sept. 8-Sat. Sept. 9.
Open Screening Bring down your new work of genius (under 10 minutes and on VHS or DVD), then prepare to discuss. (NR) 911 Media Arts Center, 402 Ninth Ave. N., 206-682-6552. $2. 8 p.m. Mon. Sept. 11.
The Real Dirt on Farmer John This documentary profiles an Illinois farmer and artist who somehow turns his spread into a radical organic community of freethinking Midwestern sedition. His neighbors and Archer Daniels Midland do not look kindly on the situation. Discussion follows. (NR) Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Pl. N., 206-632-6021. Free. Fri. Sept. 8.
