OPENING THIS WEEK - 7/2/2013 & 7/5/2013

Five new films grace the shores of Lake Erie (and Ontario - we don't discriminate for those in the extreme North Towns) this week, including two early Wednesday (well actually Tuesday night) openings just in time for America's birthday (we will not be upstaged by Canada Day! Said me as I wade through the friendly Canadians infiltrating the Walden Galleria today - leaving behind their boxes and receipts to cheat Boarder Services).

@ The Art House (opening FRIDAY)

Midnight's Children - Dipson Amherst Theatre

Speaking of Canadians - Deepa Mehta returns with Midnight's Children - it looks like a compelling narrative spanning a swath of history in a vastly changing India (following independence from Britain to modernization). Based on the novel by Salman Rushdie. (who despite Gene of Bob's Burgers, is not the author of The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe .... skip ahead to 1:23 here)

The Attack - Dipson Eastern Hills

While that title could describe virtually any big budget studio film - the Lebanese produced The Attack has been allegedly banned throughout the Arab world, the film looks like a powerful, complex study of the Israeli zeitgeist wrapped in a political thriller.

@ The Multiplex (opening TUESDAY NIGHT)

Despicable Me 2 - AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Market Arcade, Regal Quaker Crossing, Regal Elmwood, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Hollywood 12, Dipson Flix, Transit Drive-In

Gru is back (but did he ever really leave) - I loved the first Despicable Me - especially its use of 3D (which, unlike many a film was a true upgrade), the trailers makes me laugh every time I see one....

The Lone Ranger -AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Market Arcade, Regal Quaker Crossing, Regal Elmwood, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Hollywood 12, Dipson Flix, Transit Drive-In

Because you didn't ask for it - another big budget bloated studio movie with Johnny Depp - with a 2 hour and 20 minute running time (see at at Regal and you'll be there for three hours - - seriously Regal, 25 minutes of previews the other day at White House Down!). I've enjoyed Gore Verbinski's earlier films but this looks like what happens when you have a director unchecked doing what he will...

Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain This - Regal Quaker Crossing, Regal Elmwood, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Hollywood 12

I enjoyed Hart's first theatrically released concert movie, 2011's Laugh at My Pain, so his new one should be fun to check out (and its only 75 minutes - half the length of The Lone Ranger)

In The Cheap Seats

The Bling Ring - Dipson McKinely Mall  (review)

Reparatory Screenings

Grease - The Screening Room Cafe

Continuing In Town... (our reviews)

Monsters University

Stories We Tell

White House Down

[In Theatres: REVIEW] THE BLING RING (7/10)

Coming off of Somewhere, a deliciously abstract film that didn't quite emotionally resonate with me, Sophia Coppola's The Bling Ring is an apt summer time comic send up of a certain culture of reality TV stardom. Staring Emma Watson as Nicki, the ring leader - and featuring a supporting cast inluding Katie Chang, Claire Julien and the only guy in the group, Marc (Israel Broussard) they break into the homes of famous people, desiring the life style.

It's not entirely their fault - as Nicki's mom (played by Leslie Mann) teachest her girls to aspire to stardom as they place their fantasies on a board with photo cuts outs and glittery-glue. Perhaps this is an LA thing. The Bling Ring is an effective mash-up, critiquing celebrity culture from, essentially within. Coppola allegedly was granted permission to shoot inside the real home of Paris Hilton (which is one of those aspirational home made poster boards taken to an extreme: no one should have that many photos of them self hanging up).

The conceit is wild and what's awfully interesting about The Bling Ring is it provides us with a look behind the curtain if you will - so that's what Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom live like. And they don't lock their doors (Hilton has more than enough and barely notices anything is missing - - then again those jewels were likely all gifts anyways).

The Bling Ring is a light hearted study of youth culture - it's not quite as over the top as this spring's Spring Breakers (but then again was any movie you've seen this year?), I still imagine it might be a little polarizing. Don't get me wrong, this isn't perfect, but it sure is fun.

Screening: Regal Elmwood*, Regal Walden Galleria, Regal Quaker Crossing
*continuing on Friday at Regal Elmwood only :(     - - all the more reason to see it soon....