Movie Reviews

The Story: An utterly bogus "fact-based" tale of alien abduction. The Lowdown: Dishonest, tedious and lacking in the way of thrills, this is one of the key films to miss this year.

The Story: A couple in financial straits is given a box with a button on top, which -- if they decide to press the button -- will give them $1 million, but also kill someone they do not know. The Lowdown: A surprisingly engaging thriller that’s too odd and un-Hollywood -- but in a fascinating…

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Breaking In at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will show The H-Man at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St., downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.

One Crazy Ride will be shown at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, and Riding Solo at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, both at the Carolina Asheville Cinema 14. Riding Solo will also be screened at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Firestorm Cafe & Books. All screenings are free admission.

The Story: A multi-storied film about the lives of a number of people in Paris. The Lowdown: An often brilliant drama -- or series of dramas -- that focuses more on characters than plot, resulting in a satisfying, if not quite great, work.

The Story: The early life of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, charting her rise from poverty to the very edge of being the name in fashion. The Lowdown: A nicely drawn, beautifully produced biopic that benefits from a clear idea of what it wants and a wonderful performance from its star, Audrey Tautou.

The Story: A twentysomething attempts to teach his elderly grandfather how to “play the game of love” while also trying to woo his own dream girl. The Lowdown: Dull, formulaic, uninspired, stylistically inert tripe that’s better suited as lower-tier film-festival fodder or maybe as an insomnia aid.

The Story: A Catholic priest recieves a blood transfusion that turns him into a vampire. The Lowdown: A long, unusual, thoughtful, bloody and frequently very funny horror film from Park Chan-wook that rethinks -- or at least reshuffles -- the vampire movie.

The Story: A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Michael Jackson's This Is It show that was nearly ready to be performed at the time of Jackson's death. The Lowdown: While your taste for this will depend almost entirely on your fondness or lack thereof for Michael Jackson, the film itself is an intriguing look…

The Hendersonville Film Society will show All That Jazz at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

Herb and Dorothy will be presented by the Asheville Art Museum for one show only Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. at the Fine Arts Theatre.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will show Kika at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St., downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.

The Story: The story of the rise and fall of the originators of the German terrorist group the Red Army Faction. The Lowdown: Unblinking in its violence and complex in its epic structure, this is powerful, unsettling filmmaking.

The Story: Biopic of Amelia Earhart structured as flashbacks during her final flight in 1937. The Lowdown: A glossy, superficial bio that won't frighten the horses, but might put them to sleep.

The Story: A robotic boy attempts to save his futuristic city from the machinations of its war-thirsty president. The Lowdown: A run-of-the-mill animated adventure that’s gussied up with a sardonic sense of humor and political satire.

The Story: A teen becomes a vampire and joins a traveling freak show in order to save the life of his friend. The two friends end up being thrown into the middle of a war between vampire factions. The Lowdown: Absolutely nothing new, but the movie does have an occasional streak of dark humor and…

The Story: Observations on a young woman who is at the mercy of a demon that's haunted her since childhood. The Lowdown: A slow-moving, low-budget affair that succeeds in being creepy without quite being terrifying.

The Story: Jigsaw reaches out from the dead to exact revenge on a vile insurance-company executive. The Lowdown: More of the same, with a slightly more interesting plot than usual.

The Story: Biopic about the French painter Séraphine de Senlis and her patron Wilhelm Uhde. The Lowdown: A leisurely-paced biographical drama that benefits from strong performances and a respect for the mystery of both the creative and appreciative process.

Dante's Inferno, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.