Films Opening
50 First Dates Sure, watching Rob Schneider dress up as a woman
and get lambasted with a baseball bat can be pretty darn funny. But
this sure as heck better not be as sappy and chick-flickish as
“The Wedding Singer.” At Showcase: 12:10, 12:40, 1:10,
2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:15, 4:45, 5:15, 5:45, 6:40, 7:10, 7:40,
8:10, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:10, 11:40, 12:10 (Fri. and
Sat.), 12:40 (Fri. and Sat.). At Madstone: 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:15,
9:15.
Films Holding
21 Grams It seems as though most of what’s good about this
movie is obvious: Sean Penn is sweet in yet another role and
Benicio Del Toro plays an exceptionally good wild crackhead.
Remember “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?” At Madstone:
1:00, 4:20, 7:00, 9:35.
Along Came Polly It’s because of crap comedies like this
that mildly amusing movies like “Barbershop 2” get rave
reviews. Damn the system. At Showcase: 1:25, 3:25, 5:25, 7:25,
9:25, 11:30.
Barbershop 2: Back in Business Oops. The criticism of this movie
probably should have been more strategically placed, i.e., not in
the bit about the movie directly above it. Oh, well. At Showcase:
12:45, 1:15, 1:45, 3:05, 4:00, 4:30, 5:30, 6:45, 7:15, 7:45, 9:10,
9:40, 10:10, 11:20, 11:50 , 12:20 (Fri. and Sat.).
Big Fish You have to savor, mainly for Tim Burton’s own
sake, a movie that really captures all of his quirky creative
mastery. I just can’t wait for his “Willy Wonka and the
Chocolate Factory” remake starring Johnny Depp. At Showcase:
12:50, 3:25, 6:10, 8:45, 11:25. At Madstone: 1:05, 4:30, 7:10,
9:45.
The Butterfly Effect Aww … it’s so sad to hear that
little Ashton rendered a potentially great psychological thriller
worthless. I guess Von Dutch can only get you so far. At Showcase:
12:25, 2:50, 5:20, 7:50, 10:15, 12:40 (Fri. and Sat.).
Catch That Kid Note to self: Never attempt to continue in the
footsteps of the “Spy Kids” trilogy. At Showcase:
12:35, 2:40, 4:50, 6:55, 9:05, 11:05.
City of God It’s basically a big free-for-all in South
America with a bunch of hoodlums and cop killaz. Funny, exactly
what I always pictured God’s city to look like. At Madstone:
1:25, 4:00, 7:00, 9:40.
Cold Mountain Is it me, or are critics far too generous to films
with star-studded casts and big budgets? Expensive and with many
famous stars doesn’t equate to good. At Showcase: 12:20,
3:20, 6:35, 9:35, 12:35 (Fri. and Sat.).
The Cooler It’s hard to think of anything to say about
this movie that tops highlighting the fact that Wild Bill Macy
shows some skin. Finally, a movie for the ladies and their guys. At
Madstone: 1:10, 7:25.
The Last Samurai Yeah, this movie was pretty solid. But we can
only imagine, as stressed in the past, how much better it would
have been with ninjas. Oh, boy. At Showcase: 12:05.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King It’s not
even worth trying anymore for this flick. Everybody loves the gang,
but witty taglines can’t be expected after this many weeks in
the theater. It’s just not going to happen. All we can do is
make another “Sam is gay” comment and be done with it.
At Showcase: 12:15, 4:20, 8:15.
Lost in Translation Bill and Scarlett accompany one another so
well: When you get tired of his jokes, you can just stare in
delight at her. At Showcase: 3:10, 5:40, 8:00, 10:25, 12:30 (Fri.
and Sat.) At Madstone: 4:20, 9:30.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Do you ever
wonder where Russell Crowe would be today if it weren’t for
big action epics? Probably dead drunk, waiting to start a fight in
some ratty Aussie pub. At Madstone: 3:30, 9:40.
Miracle Just because the overwhelming majority of warm-hearted
films are bad doesn’t mean that we can’t give props to
this rockin’ pic about the U.S. icers. How ya doin’
now, Russia? We win again! At Showcase: 12:50, 1:20, 3:40, 4:10,
6:30, 7:00, 9:20, 9:50, 12:05 (Fri. and Sat.), 12:35 (Fri. and
Sat.).
Monster You’ve gotta wonder whether the monster title is
in reference to Theron’s character in the movie or simply to
Christina Ricci, the actress. That’s debatable. At Showcase:
12:55, 3:15, 5:35, 7:55, 10:20, 12:30 (Fri. and Sat.).
Mystic River This, like “Return of the King,” has
fully exhausted the witticism-creating talents of those at The
Michigan Daily. Go see it; it’s good. End of story. At
Showcase: 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 9:55, 12:35 (Fri. and Sat.) At
Madstone: 1:30, 4:15, 7:05, 9:45.
The Perfect Score It oughtn’t to come as a surprise to
anyone that a movie starring Darius Miles about stealing SAT
answers has a remarkably short shelf life. At Showcase: Noon.
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! It’s hard to explain how
satisfying it is to see pubescent Topher Grace and his TV buddy
Ashton Kutcher with simultaneously horrible movies in theaters.
It’s like some terrible conspiracy. At Showcase: 12:45, 2:55,
5:05, 7:20.
You Got Served This movie will get served very soon when
it’s canned from theaters’ play lists. B2K will dance
their way right back into crappiness. What we need is another
“Bump Bump Bump.” At Showcase: 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:30,
9:15, 9:45, 11:25, 11:55.
Thursday
THEATRE
The Quick Change Room A powerful and hilarious comedy of the
struggle between artistic integrity and commercial viability during
the disintegration of the Soviet Union, this play offers political
satire with a bittersweet theatrical twist. Mendelssohn Theatre, 8
p.m. $8-$20; 764-2538.
Madness in Valencia This weekend, Basement Arts presents an
enchanting production of the play, “Madness in
Valencia.” Arena Theatre in the Frieze Building, 7 p.m.
Free.
She’s All Yours A slice of marital life served up with
delicious incongruities and linguistic verve, this play promises to
be an enjoyable evening. Trueblood Theatre, 8 p.m. $8.
764-2538.
CAMPUS CINEMA
In America Three cheers for Irish folk. At State Theater: 7:00,
9:15.
Elephant Strangely, contains no actual elephants. At Michigan
Theater: 7:00, 9:00.
Girl with a Pearl Earring Mmm … Scarlett Johansson is
quite a pearl. At Michigan Theater: 7:15, 9:15.
Monster See Above. At State Theater: 7:15, 9:30.
MUSIC
The Ron Brooks Trio What haven’t we said about you, Ron?
Bird of Paradise, 312 S. Main St., Ann Arbor 9 p.m. $5.
662-8310.
Benevento & Russo Like Sacco and Vanzetti, only they
haven’t been killed because they’re communists. Yet.
Blind Pig, 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor 9:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. $10.
996-8588.
Hillary Hahn Born in 1979, this violinist has astonished critics
and audiences everywhere with her youthful exuberance and passion
for performing, and is the violinist highlighted in this concert.
Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m. $10-$50. 764-2538.
Orpheus Singers In this concert, works by Gabrielli, Victoria,
Monteverdi and Bach will share the spotlight. 8 p.m., School of
Music, Blanche Anderson Moore Hall, free.
Friday
THEATRE
The Quick Change Room See Thursday.
Madness in Valencia See Thursday. 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
She’s All Yours See Thursday.
CAMPUS CINEMA
In America At State Theater: 7:00, 9:15.
Elephant At Michigan Theater: 7:00, 9:00.
Fog of War Go check out the real story on Gen. Bobby McNamara.
At Michigan Theater: 7:15, 9:30.
Girl with a Pearl Earring At State Theater: 7:15, 9:30.
Modern Times Chazz Chaplin, coming at ya. At Michigan Theater:
4:00.
MUSIC
Chamber and University Choir Highlighted in this concert is Sara
Guttenberg, who will be performing works by Mendelssohn and Dove. 8
p.m., Hill Auditorium, free.
The Sights So the “Sights” are playing at the
“Blind” Pig. Get it? Nah, me neither. Blind Pig, 208 S.
First St., Ann Arbor, 9:30 p.m. $10. 996-8588.
Thornetta Davis Thornetta previously had a job as the second
level endboss in the Dungeons and Dragons, edition 17. Caverb Club,
210 S. First St., Ann Arbor, 10 p.m. $8. 332-9900.
Saturday
THEATRE
The Quick Change Room See Thursday.
Madness in Valencia See Thursday. 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
She’s All Yours See Thursday.
CAMPUS CINEMA
In America See Above. At State Theater: 2:15, 4:30, 7:00,
9:15.
For of War See Above. At Michigan Theater: 4:30, 7:15, 9:30.
Girl with a Pearl Earring See Above. At State Theater: 2:30,
4:45, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45.
Romeo and Juliet Oh, boy … it’s Leo DiCaprio!! At
State Theater: Midnight.
MUSIC
Mr. B’s Birthday Bounce Go Mr. B, it’s yo birfday,
we’re gonna party, like it’s yobirfday, and we
don’t fuckin’ care if it’s your birfday.
Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave., Ann Arbor 7 & 9 p.m.
$15-30. 769-2999.
Sunny Wilkinson Between Sunny and the birds of paradise,
there’s a lot of fucking good vibes rollin’
‘round this joint. Bird of Paradise, 312 S. Main, St., Ann
Arbor, 9 p.m. $10. 662-8310.
Canadian Brass Love is in the air when the Canadian Brass
returns to Ann Arbor for a special Valentine’s Day concert this
Saturday. Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m. $10-$40; 734-764-2538.
Sunday
THEATRE
The Quick Change Room See Thursday, 2 p.m.
She’s All Yours See Thursday, 2 p.m.
CAMPUS CINEMA
In America At State Theater: 2:15, 4:30, 7:00, 9:15.
Fog of War See Above. At Michigan Theater: 4:00, 6:15, 8:30.
Girl with a Pearl Earring See Above. At State Theater: 2:30,
4:45, 7:15, 9:30.
MUSIC
River Raisin Ragtime Revue Like any of you can afford to pass up
a ragtime revue. Towsley Auditorium, Morris Lawrence Building, 4800
E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor 5 p.m. Free. 677-5085.
Jud Branham & Kevin Brown When your first name is
“Jud,” there’s a limited range of music
you’re allowed to play. And you should definitely play at
places like “Old Town.” Old Town, 122 W. Liberty St.,
Ann Arbor, 8 p.m. Free. 662-8283.
Phone Numbers: Michigan Theater: 668-8397; Quality 16: 827-2837;
Showcase: 973-8380; State: 761-8667.
Showtimes are effective Friday through Thursday. Matinee times
at State Theater are effective for Saturday and Sunday only.