Chile Pages
BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT CUT
The Barbershop franchise returns for the first time since 2004’s
Barbershop 2: Back in Business. Many of the same characters are putting their aprons back on, including Ice Cube’s Calvin, Cedric the Entertainer’s Eddie, and Eve’s Terri. This time, the group expands to include characters played by Common, Nicki Minaj, and Regina Hall. In between their many jokes, they must confront increasing neighborhood violence. Rated PG-13. 112 minutes. Regal Stadium 14; DreamCatcher. (Not reviewed)
BILL
Rated PG. 94 minutes. Center for Contemporary Arts. See review, Page 33.
BORN TO BE BLUE
Rated R. 97 minutes. The Screen. See review, Page 32.
CRIMINAL
In this science-fiction thriller, Ryan Reynolds (fresh from
Deadpool) plays a CIA agent who dies in the middle of an assignment. This mission was so important, however, that his memory and skills were transferred to an ex-con (Kevin Costner) to finish the job. Gary Oldman and Tommy Lee Jones also star. Rated R. 113 minutes. Regal Stadium 14; Violet Crown; DreamCatcher. (Not reviewed)
J.C. ABBEY: GHANA’S PUPPETEER
This delightful documentary focuses on the Ghanian music scene as “performed” by J.C. Abbey’s collection of colorful rod puppets and marionettes, and, behind the scenes, by marvelous musicians Nii Otoo Annan and Nii Noi Nortey. Shot by anthropologist Steven Feld of Santa Fe and Nii Yemo Nunu of Ghana, the film also examines Abbey’s art as an influential force in nation-building following the West African nation’s 1957 independence from England. 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, only. Not rated. 55 minutes. In English and Ga with subtitles. Center for Contemporary Arts. (Paul Weideman) See story, Page 30.
THE JUNGLE BOOK
This adventure film is not so much an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 original as it is a live-action take on Disney’s 1967 animated version of the story. Neel Sethi plays young Mowgli, the human raised by wolves who must escape the deadly tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba). Bill Murray (as the bear Baloo), Ben Kingsley (as the panther Bagheera), Christopher Walken (as the monkey King Louie), and Scarlett Johansson (as the snake Kaa) also contribute their voices. Jon Favreau (Iron Man) directs. Rated PG. 105 minutes. Screens in 3-D and 2-D at Regal Stadium 14; Violet Crown; DreamCatcher. (Not reviewed)
LA BAMBA The latest Big Screen Classics screening to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Lensic Performing Arts Center is this 1987 biopic about Ritchie Valens, the 1950s rock singer who died in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly. Lou Diamond Phillips plays Valens, but the movie is perhaps best known for the music, including Los Lobos’ iconic take on the song for which the film is named. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 17, only. No charge. Rated PG-13. 108 minutes. Lensic Performing Arts Center. (Not reviewed) SWEET BEAN
Day after day, sullen restaurant proprietor Sentaro (Masatoshi Nagase) trudges past blossoming cherry trees and goes through the motions of making dorayaki, golden pancakes stuffed with sweet bean paste, which he spoons from an industrial vat. One morning a cheerful, round-faced elderly woman named Tokue (Kirin Kiki) stops by, chirpily asks for a job, and drops off a sample of her homemade bean paste. That it’s heavenly will come as no surprise to fans of other food-centric life-lessons cinema (Like Water for Chocolate and Tampopo come to mind), nor will the fact that Tokue has a thing or two to teach the jaded Sentaro — about bean paste and about living. This is a slow, pretty, heartwarming film from director Naomi Kawase, with restrained performances that help temper its sentimental tendencies. The drama involves a revelation about Tokue’s past, which will jerk a tear or two, no doubt, though it isn’t given the weight it deserves. Not rated. 113 minutes. In Japanese with subtitles. Center for Contemporary Arts. (Laurel Gladden)