New Quick Flicks for the week of 4/29/08

27 Dresses By Fletcher, Anne View Windows Media-formatted Preview Tired of being a perpetual bridesmaid after helping 27 friends tie the knot, altruistic Jane finds herself facing her worst nightmare as her younger sister announces her engagement to the man Jane secretly adores. ...More

Bernard & Doris By Balaban, Bob Inspired by the true story of tobacco billionairess Doris Duke and her devoted Irish butler Bernard Lafferty. ...More

Golden Compass By Weitz, Chris View Windows Media-formatted Preview After overhearing a shocking secret, precocious orphan Lyra Belacqua trades her carefree existence roaming the halls of Jordan College for an otherworldly adventure in the far North, unaware that it's part of her destiny in this adventure based on the first book of the Philip Pullman trilogy His Dark Materials. ...More

How She Move By Rashid, Ian Iqbal Armstrong, Tracey Following her sister's death from drug addiction, a high school student is forced to leave her private school to return to her old, crime-filled neighborhood. There, she defies all the rules to achieve her dreams as she re-kindles her passion for the competitive world of step dancing. She gets the chance to get out of her drug and crime infested neighborhood to attend an exclusive academy.

New Quick Flicks for the week of 4/22/08

Bobby Z By Herzfeld, John Marked for death by a biker gang, ex-Marine convict Tim Kearney just got one last chance to walk out of jail alive. A scheming DEA agent needs somebody to impersonate recently deceased druglord Bobby Z and Tim happens to be a dead ringer. It's a risky proposition, but if Tim plays his part right, he may be able to claim Bobby's hot ex-girlfriend and a cool fortune in illegal profits. Unfortunately, taking on Bobby's name also means taking on his bloodthirsty enemies. Caught in the crossfire, Tim runs for his life as he tries to find a way out of his deadly masquerade.

Charlie Wilson's War By Nichols, Mike View Windows Media-formatted Preview Texas congressman Charlie Wilson sets a series of earth-shaking events in motion when he conspires with a rogue CIA operative to aid Afghan mujahedeen rebels in their fight against the Soviet Red Army. ...More

Cloverfield By Reeves, Matt Rob is getting ready to leave New York in order to take an executive job at a company in Japan. At his goodbye party in a crowded loft, Rob's brother Jason hands a camcorder to best friend Hud, who proceeds to tape the party over old footage of Rob's ex-girlfriend, Beth. Beth shows up at the party with a new beau, which upsets Rob. Then the unexpected happens: New York is suddenly under attack from a Godzilla-like monster who stomps through midtown, destroying everything and everybody in sight. Rob and his friends take to the streets, but instead of running away with the other evacuees, they head toward the center of destruction so that Rob can rescue an injured Beth.

Helvetica By Hustwit, Gary Helvetica is a documentary film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. An exploration of urban spaces and the type that inhabits them, Helvetica invites us to take a second look at the thousands of words we see every day.

I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With By Garlin, Jeff James is a struggling actor, living with his widowed mother in Chicago, who wants three things in life: someone to love, a great part, and to lose weight. Unfortunately, he is 0 for 3. His girlfriend dumps him, he loses a title acting role, and he sneaks out of an Overeaters Anonymous meeting only to wind up at an ice cream parlor. There, he meets Beth who quickly wins his heart, but will this cause James more problems than it solves? Or has he finally found someone to eat cheese with?

Lars and the Real Girl By Gillespie, Craig Lars is a sweet but shy guy who has a hard time talking with his family, coworkers, and neighbors. Although his family fears the worst when Lars brings home a life-sized companion doll who he thinks is a real girlfriend, named Bianca, a doctor encourages them to play along with him so that he can work through his delusions. The whole community rallies to his support, and Lars begins to deal with all of his emotions. He even begins to develop feelings for Margo, an attractive co-worker, in what becomes "a hilariously unique love triangle."

The Savages By Jenkins, Tamara 2008/04 - 20th Century Fox BL10880DVD Check Our Catalog Carrying the emotional scars of an abusive childhood, siblings Wendy Savage, a long-aspiring playwright, and Jon Savage, a professor of drama, now face the challenge of caring for their ailing elderly father, Lenny, despite their emotional disconnect from him and each other. ...More

Starting Out in the Evening By Wagner, Andrew Battling illness and unable to finish a novel that has taken him ten years to write, aging novelist Leonard Schiller is slipping into literary obscurity. At one time a famous author, Schiller has been all but forgotten by the readers, colleagues and critics who once praised his works. When Heather Wolfe, an ambitious graduate student, convinces Schiller that her thesis could reintroduce his writing to the world, the reclusive writer is forced to confront his past regrets.

Wristcutters: A Love Story By Dukic, Goran Distraught over breaking up with his girlfriend, Desiree, Zia slashes his wrists. Zia discovers that there is no real ending, only a run-down afterlife that is strikingly similar to his old one, just a bit worse. Discovering that Desiree has also "offed" herself, he sets out on a road trip with his Russian rocker friend to find her. Their journey takes them through an absurd purgatory where they discover that being dead doesn't mean you have to stop living.

New Quick Flicks for the week of 4/15/08

The 11th Hour Explores the indelible footprint that humans have left on this planet, and the catastrophic effects of environmental neglect and abuse, and calls for restorative action through a reshaping of human activity.

Before the devil knows you're dead By Lumet, Sidney A stock broker, who is having financial troubles and in need of extra cash, and his younger brother conspire to pull off the perfect, victimless crime. No guns, no violence, no problem. The only problem is that the owners of the jewelry store are their own parents. But when an accomplice ignores the rules and crosses the line, his actions trigger a series of events in which no one is left unscathed.

The Final Season By Evans, David Mickey View Windows Media-formatted Preview Norway, Iowa, loves baseball games played by the high school team. So when authorities decide the town is too small for its own school, the residents are devastated. Now, rookie coach Kent Stock must lead the Tigers to victory for one last season. Based on a true story. ...More

Juno By Reitman, Jason View Windows Media-formatted Preview Facing an unplanned pregnancy, worldly teen Juno devises a plan to locate the proverbial perfect parents to adopt her baby. But the seemingly ideal couple Juno chooses appears to still have some growing up to do. Now, everyone in Juno's world must do a little soul-searching. ...More

New Quick Flicks for the week of 4/8/08

Eagle vs Shark By Waititi, Taika When Lily, an oddball fast-food waitress and hopeless romantic, and Jarrod, another forsaken eccentric, connect at a 'dress as your favorite animal' party, it's a match seemingly made in outcast heaven.

Footsteps = Padakshepa By Ghosh, Suman A lonely widower begins an unusual bond with a 5-year-old girl, where he rediscovers what life is really like in his twilight years.

Lions for Lambs By Redford, Robert Two determined California college students, Arian and Ernest, follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley, and attempt to do something important with their lives. The two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan. Dr. Malley is both moved and distraught. Now, as Arian and Ernest fight for survival in the field and the human consequences of war becomes clear for these two students trapped behind enemy lines. They become the string that binds together the two opposite sides of America. In California, the anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged but disaffected student who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the charismatic presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving, is about to give a bombshell story to a probing TV journalist that just might affect Arian and Ernest's fates.

Reservation Road By George, Terry View Windows Media-formatted Preview The lives of Ethan and his wife, Grace, are thrown into chaos after their 10-year-old son is killed in a hit-and-run accident. When the case stalls, Ethan makes it his mission to hunt down and punish the person responsible. ...More

Resurrecting the Champ By Lurie, Rod View Windows Media-formatted Preview Ambitious sports reporter Erik discovers that a local homeless man named Champ was once a famous boxer, long presumed dead. Erik digs deeper into the fascinating story and becomes friends with the down-and-out former star but soon uncovers several disturbing questions about Champ's background. ...More

Sense & sensibility By Alexander, George Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve when she falls in love with the charming but unsuitable John Willoughby, ignoring her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behavior leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Elinor, sensitive to social convention, struggles to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Will the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love?

The ten commandments By Stronach, John To escape death for being a Jew, Moses is put in the River Nile by his mother, and rescued and raised by the daughter of a Pharaoh. When his true identity is exposed, he is touched by God to lead his people out of Egypt.

There Will Be Blood By Anderson, Paul Thomas View Windows Media-formatted Preview At the turn of the 20th century, Daniel Plainview becomes a tycoon when he buys the oil rights to a Texas family's ranch. Meanwhile, as the simple village becomes a boomtown, a charismatic young preacher, fights his community's growing greed. Based on Upton Sinclair's novel Oil! ...More

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story By Kasdan, Jake View Windows Media-formatted Preview John C. Reilly stars as fictional pop star Dewey Cox in this parody of the increasingly predictable rags-to-riches music biopic. On his hard-knocks journey toward stardom, Dewey crosses paths with the likes of Elvis, Buddy Holly and the Beatles. Before long, Dewey is writing hits, making women swoon and doing food endorsements -- in between over-the-top moments of silliness. ...More

The Water Horse By Russell, Jay Present day Scotland. A tale is told to a couple of American tourists by a kindly gentleman in a pub. Angus is a lonely boy who pines for his father, who is serving in the Royal Navy during World War II. Angus, along with his sister and mother, live on an estate that has been billeted by soldiers in the Scottish Highlands, near Loch Ness. The troop's commander has an eye for mom, is suspicious about a mysterious handyman, Lewis, who is also a war hero, and an absurd contention that the Highlands are the real frontline in the war against Germany. Angus discovers a mysterious egg that hatches a sea creature of Celtic mythology. The creature befriends Angus and will eventually be known as the Loch Ness Monster. Trying to hide the dinosaur-like creature, nicknamed Crusoe, Angus enlists Lewis to transfer it to the lake, where boy and serpent have extraordinary adventures together until human stupidity threatens Crusoe's existence.

New Quick Flicks for the week of 4/1/08

Alvin and the Chipmunks By Hill, Tim Check Our Catalog View Windows Media-formatted Preview This production, starring Jason Lee, marks the critters' first feature-length comedy. Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and Janice Karman provide the voice talent that brings to life the hilarious high jinks of Alvin, Simon and Theodore, the trouble-making chipmunks who want to become superstars. ...More Madea's family reunion By Perry, Tyler Check Our Catalog In addition to being saddled with an unruly foster teen, Madea has two troubled nieces to deal with. Lisa is engaged to an abusive and controlling investment banker and Vanessa is finding it difficult to open herself to the affection of a bus driver/artist Frankie because of childhood abuse. Wreaking havoc on both of the girls's lives is their mother Victoria.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street By Burton, Tim Check Our Catalog View Windows Media-formatted Preview Adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Johnny Depp plays Sweeney Todd, a man who becomes a deranged murderer seeking revenge after being falsely imprisoned. To add to the macabre nature of his crimes, he enlists the help of his lover, Mrs. Lovett, who disposes of the victims by baking them into meat pies -- sought after by all of London. ...More