Sherlock Holmes — Century Centre 9, Sundance Kabuki
I never realized Sherlock Holmes was James Bond.
Nine — The Castro, AMC Metreon, AMC Van Ness, Sundance Kabuki
Not to be confused with the sock puppet sci-fi movie, this is a musical based on Fellini’s classic 8 1/2 starring Daniel Day Lewis. I watched 8 1/2 in college. It took me 4 hours because I had to stop every 20 minutes to remind myself I wasn’t on drugs. It seems like a very American thing to do to take a beloved surrealist masterpiece and turn it into a musical by the guy who directed Chicago. I fucking love America.
Plays December 25 – January 20 at The Castro. Info. Website.
The Missing Person — Lumiere
I watched this last night and I’ll post a real review Friday. It’s a post 9/11 noir with a little absurdity, Michael Shannon, and Amy Ryan. To give a general sense: they make direct Bogart references, there’s a cab driver named Hero Furillo, and the friendliest, least judgmental character is a Mexican drug lord. A very smart and not unimportant film that will make a lot of best-of-2009 lists as a sleeper.
The Bicycle Thief — The Roxie
This is one of those holiday movies that never mentions a holiday. Just a poor man trying to get his bicycle back and unwittingly teaching his son a lot about life in the process. Plus a lot of hand gestures.
Info.
It’s Complicated — AMC Metreon, AMC Van Ness, Sundance Kabuki
Did anybody read that article a year back about how Alec Baldwin hates acting and his life and can’t stomach the fact that he’s past the point in his career when he could have a really seminal leading role in a movie? And this was right at the start of his 30 Rock/The Departed resurgence. There are rumors that he’s going to quit acting soon too. In It’s Complicated he plays a divorced man who takes his shirt off. Rumor has it he might win a Best Supporting Actor Award. I take my shirt off and all I win is my bed back. Let’s hope this Meryl Streep character doesn’t ruin everything. Buck up bro. It’s not complicated; It’s Christmas!