Movie Reviews

I Know Who Killed Me

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The Story: A young woman -- minus a few body parts -- escapes from a mad killer and claims not to be the person everyone thinks she is. The Lowdown: Hysterically funny, impossibly convoluted, totally unbelievable, frightfully embarrassing and occasionally distasteful.

Brooklyn Rules

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The Story: The lives and fates of three Brooklyn boys and their brushes with organized crime are the crux of this low-budget drama. The Lowdown: The only astonishing thing about this wayward movie is that it actually secured a release.

My Brilliant Career

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The Hendersonville Film Society will show My Brilliant Career at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 29, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville. (From Asheville, take I-26 to U.S. 64 West, turn right at the third light onto Thompson Street. Follow to the Lake Point Landing entrance and…

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

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The Story: Two firefighters pretend to be a gay couple in order to secure domestic partner benefits so that the children of one of them may be insured. The Lowdown: Often offensive and largely unfunny -- unless you're on the Adam Sandler wavelength -- this latest Sandler opus doesn't work, but it at least seems…

Hairspray

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The Story: Overweight teen Tracy Turnblad becomes a local celebrity and role model thanks to a Baltimore dance show. The Lowdown: Energetic, fast-moving, tuneful fun that's hands-down the best of the summer movies to date.

You Kill Me

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The Story: An alcoholic hit man has to get his act together or face extinction by the mob who can no longer depend on him. The Lowdown: Black comedy -- with a touch of refreshing romance -- that scores on nearly every point with standout performances by Ben Kingsley and Tea Leoni.

Tortilla Soup

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Tortilla Soup is part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World being presented at 8 p.m. Friday, July 20 at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. For more information call 273-3332.

Becket

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The Hendersonville Film Society will show Becket at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 22 in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville. (From Asheville, take I-26 to U.S. 64 West, turn right at the third light onto Thompson Street. Follow to the Lake Point Landing entrance and park in…

Transformers

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The Story: Giant robots from outerspace battle each other to either save or destroy the earth. The Lowdown: Unbearably long, loud and pointless exercise in CGI destruction aimed at '80s nostalgia for a popular line of toys.

Once

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The Story: A Dublin street musician meets a young Czech woman and the two become a song-writing duo. The Lowdown: A sweet, simple, charming film that overcomes its limitations to become a truly fine work.

License to Wed

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The Story: In order to get married in the church of their choice, a young couple have to submit to the pastor's peculiar pre-marital course. The Lowdown: Monumentally unfunny and even downright disturbing. Hostel: Part II had more laughs.

If….

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If... is part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World being presented at 8 p.m. Friday, July 13 at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. For more information call 273-3332.

Ratatouille

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The Story: A rat with a passion for cooking ends up in Paris, and helps a young garbage boy become the city’s biggest chef. The Lowdown: A visually stunning animated film, Ratatouille nonetheless ends up being an overlong and predictable family film with a lot of eye candy and not much else to offer.