Movie Reviews

Little Miss Marker

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The Asheville Film Society will screen Little Miss Marker Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the Asheville Film Society.

Jack Goes Boating

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The Story: A pair of social misfits are set up on a blind date by their friends -- and become cautiously interested in each other. The Lowdown: A leisurely paced character-based film that works mostly because of the sympathetic observations of the characters. It can't quite overcome the film's stage origins, but it's a worthy…

Buried

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The Story: An American truck driver in Iraq is buried alive and held for ransom. The Lowdown: An interesting gimmick and a vague political message aren't enough to make up for the film's shoddy plot and lack of suspense.

Catfish

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The Story: A documentary about a man's online relationship with a family and the truth behind them. The Lowdown: A controversial and mildly intriguing documentary that's more or less a cautionary tale about online relationships.

Saw 3D

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The Story: The theoretical climactic entry in Lionsgate's seasonal cash cow. The Lowdown: It's exactly what you would expect -- but in 3-D. Assuming, what you would expect is what you want, it's probably adequately juicy.

Synecdoche, New York

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The Asheville Film Society will screen Synecdoche, New York Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the Asheville Film Society.

Heartbreaker

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The Story: A fellow who specializes in breaking up mismatched couples lands an almost impossible assignment that circumstances force him to take. The Lowdown: A frothy and charming romantic comedy from France that cleverly trades in Hollywood conventions -- and generally improves on them.

Hereafter

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The Story: Three people affected by death, near-death and out-of-body experiences are involved in circumstances that will cause their paths to cross. The Lowdown: A deliberately, but not slowly paced supernatural drama with little payoff or seeming purpose.

On Coal River

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The Fine Arts Theatre will show On Coal River at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20, and Thursday, Oct. 21, and at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23. The director will be present at both screenings. Proceeds benefit environmental programs at Marsh Fork Elementary School in W. Va.

Never Let Me Go

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The Story: A dystopian sci-fi that takes place in alternate history. The film follows the lives of three children at a sheltering private school -- and the purpose behind that school. The Lowdown: Intense and methodical, Never Let Me Go is a film of considerable power, but it's also such a downer that its appeal…