Author:   Ken Hanke

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The Help

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: A young college graduate writes a book -- with the help of the black maids -- that exposes the hypocrisy and racism in 1963 Jackson, Miss. The Lowdown: Solidly entertaining crowd-pleaser with terrific performances overcoming an overstuffed narrative and a too-careful approach to the subject matter.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: Parallel stories -- using the same actresses -- about two lifelong friends in 19th-century China and modern-day Shanghai. The Lowdown: A sumptuously photographed film that works more than it doesn't in interweaving its two stories. Much better than the bulk of reviews have it.

The Future

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: Two 30-somethings try to find fulfillment in the 30 days they have before they accept the responsibility of caring for a cat. The Lowdown: Nicely crafted with some pleasing quirks and flights of fantasy, but with two unlikable characters at its center which keeps the film itself from being likable.

Come and See

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Come and See at 8 p.m. Friday, August 19, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

Cranky Hanke’s Weekly Reeler Aug 17-23: Barbarians­, vampires, spy kids, talking cats, romance!

Posted on by Ken Hanke

All manner of things come our way this week—some of them are even movies, and one of them is in smell-o-vision. That seems fair. Lots of movies smell, this one’s honest about it. So what’s on tap? Well, from the mainstream side of the ledger, there’s Conan the Barbarian, Fright Night, One Day and Spy Kids: All the Time in the World. The art/indie side finds The Future opening at the Fine Arts and If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front at The Carolina.

Belle of the Nineties

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Asheville Film Society will screen Belle of the Nineties Tuesday, August 16, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the A.F.S.

Woman in the Dunes

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Woman in the Dunes at 8 p.m. Friday, August 12, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

Cranky Hanke’s Weekly Reeler Aug. 10-16: Help, Snowflower­s, Destinatio­ns, Mountains, Glee and more

Posted on by Ken Hanke

Lots of titles this week—six of them, in fact. We have four mainstream ones—The Help, 30 Minutes or Less, Final Destination 5 and Glee: The 3D Concert Movie—and two art/indie films—The Last Mountain (Fine Arts) and Snowflower and the Secret Fan (The Carolina). I’ve no earthly idea why The Help opens on Wednesday, but it’s perhaps just as well with this much. Then again, except for movie critics, I don’t see a whole lot of crossover appeal here.

Cranky Hanke’s Screening Room: The 100 Best?

Posted on by Ken Hanke

Last week sometime I was approached to be part of a group of critics submitting—for Lubitsch knows what reason—their picks for the 100 greatest or favorite films of all time. Somewhat against my better judgment, I said yes. I probably would not have said yes if that “or favorite” phrase had not been attached. Anyone who believes him or herself actually qualified to categorically name the 100 greatest movies ever made is frankly deluded—for a variety of reasons.

48 Hour Film Project Awards

Posted on by Ken Hanke

Well, it’s all over but the prize-winner screening—and that’s tonight, Aug. 3 at 9:30 p.m. at Asheville Pizza and Brewing (675 Merrimon Ave.). Once again, Marcianne Miller, James Cassara and I were called in as judges for the 48 Hour Film Project. And once again, after a great deal of discussion—but only one threat of actual violence that I recall—we arrived at a consensus, resulting in the list of categories and films below.

The Smurfs

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: Several tiny blue beings and their tormentor Gargamel get swept through a portal to modern-day New York. The Lowdown: So bad that it makes you dream of sitting through Mr. Popper's Penguins again -- twice.

Cowboys & Aliens

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: When aliens kidnap loved ones and relatives, a gang of cowboys -- and later Indians -- set out to rescue the victims and put down the invasion. The Lowdown: It's called Cowboys & Aliens. It has both. It's hardly great cinema, but it's mostly fun within its aims.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: When his marriage goes on the rocks, a middle-aged man lets himself be "remade" by a younger, successful ladies' man. The Lowdown: Invariably pleasant, entertaing romantic comedy -- with drama -- that comes off better than the script probably deserved thanks to the performances and direction.

The Trip

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon go on a tour of restaurants in Northern England. The Lowdown: A preposterous idea for a movie that turns out to be remarkably entertaining and a good deal deeper than the concept sounds.