Oct. 13-19, 2006

Send listings two weeks in advance to film@seattleweekly.com

Openings

Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker SEE REVIEW, PAGE 77. (PG)

49 Up SEE REVIEW, PAGE 79. (NR)

The Grudge 2 REVIEWED MON. OCT. 16 ON OUR WEB SITE. Takashi Shimizo continues to spin off English-language versions of his J-horror originals; here Amber Tamblyn is the girl in trouble. (PG-13) Alderwood 16, Factoria, Redmond Town Center, Woodinville 12, Kirkland Parkplace Cinema 6, Metro, Lincoln Square Cinemas, Crossroads 8, Issaquah 9, Mountlake 9

A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints SEE REVIEW, PAGE 77. (R) Uptown Cinema, Varsity

Infamous SEE REVIEW, PAGE 78. (R)

Lunacy SEE REVIEW, PAGE 78. (NR)

Man of the Year SEE REVIEW, PAGE 78. (PG-13) Factoria, Oak Tree, Redmond Town Center, Woodinville 12, Kirkland Parkplace Cinema 6, Metro, Lincoln Square Cinemas, Alderwood 7, Crossroads 8, Issaquah 9, Mountlake 9

The Marine REVIEWED MON. OCT. 16 ON OUR WEB SITE. Following the Rock out of the ring, former pro rassler John Cena stars, yes, as a Marine whose wife has been kidnapped. (PG-13) Alderwood 16, Factoria, Woodinville 12, Pacific Place 11, Lincoln Square Cinemas, Crossroads 8, Issaquah 9, Mountlake 9

Nearing Grace SEE REVIEW, PAGE 78. (R) Redmond Town Center, Uptown Cinema, Metro, Lincoln Square

Oddballs, Events, & Rep

The Amazing Colossal Man New dialogue is ad-libbed for this cheesy 1957 sci-fi flick, in which an A-bomb test turns an Army officer into a brooding hulk wearing what looks to be an enormous diaper. (NR) Renton Ikea Performing Arts Center, 400 S. Second St., 425-204-3455. $10-$14. 7 p.m. Fri. Oct. 13.

The Breaking Point SAM's noir series continues with this lesser-known 1950 adaptation of Hemingway's To Have and Have Not. (The Bogart-Bacall version had been made six years earlier, but maybe people had forgotten by then?) John Garfield and Patricia Neal star, Michael Curtiz directs. On an interesting note of current political relevance: Garfield's skipper/smuggler is here convinced to ferry a load of illegal Mexican immigrants along the California coast. (NR) Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E., 206-654-3121. $58-$65 (series), individual ticket price not provided. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 12.

Broken Limbs: Apples, Agriculture, and the New American Farmer Refreshments and discussion follow this documentary screening about Eastern Washington apple growers struggling in the face of big agribusiness and other evils familiar from Fast Food Nation. (NR) Queen Anne Manor, 100 Crockett St., 206-285-2452. Free. 7 p.m. Sat. Oct. 14.

Democracy on Deadline With Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya recently assassinated for her critical reporting on Chechnya, this documentary offers a sad but timely look at other embattled agents of the press in Afghanistan, Israel, Nigeria, and the U.S. (NR) Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., 206-267-5380. Free with RSVP to rsvp@communitycinema.org. 4 p.m. Sat. Oct. 14.

Ebony Chunky Love Preceded by dinner (at 6:30 p.m.) and followed by discussion with the director, Lonnie Renteria looks at the plight of gay black comedians in her short documentary—asking why such performers "can't get a date" in comedy clubs or in real life. (NR) New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., 206-722-2453. $6.50 (includes dinner). 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 19.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch With his Shortbus opening next week, you owe yourself another look at John Cameron Mitchell's 2001 adaptation of his off-Broadway show, a rollicking, funny, near-classic movie musical. Teetering on high heels, Hedwig never outruns its origins, nor does it pretend to. Born a boy in East Berlin, young Hansel grows up to suffer a botched sex change operation and a twofold sense of loss. We learn Hedwig's life story in stops along her band's desultory U.S. tour as she pursues her former lover to claim songwriting royalties and reclaim a piece of her heart. In its debt to Tommy, Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Toni Tennille (believe it), the movie is almost impossible not to enjoy. Hedwig takes a simple song of hope and makes it sound like an arena-filling anthem. (R) Egyptian, 801 E. Pine St., 206-781-5755. $6-$9. Midnight. Fri. Oct. 13-Sat. Oct. 14.

High Score The curious tale of one man's attempt to capture the No. 1 world ranking at Missile Command, played on original Atari hardware, High Score follows Oregonian Bill Carlson on his quest. He needs over 80.3 million points to unseat the champion, who set the score 20 years ago, a feat that will take at least two days. (How does he pee? We never find out.) Score begins philosophically with Carlson recounting the advice given to him during his youth by a local gamer-hero: "Be good at any one thing, and it'll be easier to be good at something else later." Useful wisdom to be sure, but it leaves one wondering if mastering Missile Command at age 38 is worth the 15 minutes of fame and improved hand-eye coordination. It's a case of geeks gone wild as Carlson's coterie of enthusiasts supports his weekend-consuming challenge. Then technical problems lend extra drama as the vintage game keeps resetting prematurely. Unwilling to give up, fearing a life of regret, he doggedly persists. NOTE: Carlson is expected to attend the screening. (NR)NEIL CORCORAN Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave., 206-686-6684. $5. 7 & 9 p.m. Fri. Oct. 13.

Independent Exposure No advance information provided, but this monthly compendium of short films is usually worth the ticket, and you can wash them down with a few beers. "Halloweird" is the theme. (NR) Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave., 206-686-6684. $5. 7 & 9 p.m. Wed. Oct. 11.