Let us examine the pitfalls of revisiting some long unseen favorite movie or TV show from your younger years.
Author: Ken Hanke
Showing 3235-3255 of 5225 results
He’s Just Not That Into You
The Story: A multicharacter look at the dating and mating habits of a group of interconnected 30-somethings with intimacy and maturity issues. The Lowdown: A large cast of recognizable -- if not quite box-office -- actors can do nothing to save this unromantic, unfunny, unreal and unlikable mess centered on a group of people it's…
The Hole
The Hole, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.
7th Heaven
The Hendersonville Film Society will show 7th Heaven at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, 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…
Coraline
The Story: A young girl finds a portal to another world -- one that appears to offer everything she could want. The Lowdown: A beautifully made, richly detailed and wonderfully developed film, but one that lacks much in the way of an emotional core, and is ultimately a horror movie made with kids in mind.
Cranky Hanke’s Screening Room: Screening Room is one year old
The comments and debates — along with readers’ personal anecdotes — have been lively, civilized, fun and thought-provoking, which is exactly what online exchanges ought to be. Now, that I’ve established the fact that I think highly of the folks who post here, let me put something to you: where do we go from here?
Pennies From Heaven
The Hendersonville Film Society will show Pennies From Heaven at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, 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…
The Uninvited
The Story: A young girl fresh out of a mental hospital has visions of her late mother that inform her that Mom's death was actually murder by the nurse who is now engaged to Dad. The Lowdown: A nice-looking, but fairly dreary and dull exercise in psychological horror that tries to pass itself off as…
Carrington
Carrington, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.
New in Town
The Story: A career woman goes to a small town in Minnesota to downsize a dairy-products plant. The Lowdown: A flat, unfunny romantic comedy that makes fun of "traditional values" only to turn around and endorse them in the end.
I’ve Loved You So Long
The Story: A woman fresh out of prison for the murder of her young son tries to adapt to the world and her family. The Lowdown: A beautiful film from first-time director Philippe Claudel that's built around a transcendent performance by Kristin Scott Thomas. A must-see.
Cranky Hanke’s Screening Room: Madmen and movies — a fleeting look at loquacious loons
Madness has been a staple of movies as long as there have been movies, and it affords us an absolute treasure trove of great moments in film, because — at least so far as the cinema is concerned — madmen are amazingly gregarious.
A Shot in the Dark
The Hendersonville Film Society will show A Shot in the Dark at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 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…
Inkheart
The Story: A man with the ability to conjure characters out of books finds himself pursued by two such characters, each wanting his services -- for very different reasons. The Lowdown: An intriguing premise and strong supporting characters (and actors) almost overcome scripting troubles and a lame ending.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
The Story: Tired of being abused by their oppressors, werewolves revolt against their vampire masters. The Lowdown: More of the same from this franchise -- only decked out in prequel form. If you liked the first two, fine. If not, this isn't likely to convert you.
Frost/Nixon
The Story: A dramatization of the events leading up to and the taping of David Frost's landmark series of TV interviews with disgraced President Richard Nixon. The Lowdown: Though hampered by the dictates of providing a stronger narrative, which colors the story, Frost/Nixon comes across as solidly entertaining, and becomes something more thanks to Frank…
How to Get Ahead in Advertising
How to Get Ahead in Advertising, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.
Cranky Hanke’s Screening Room: And the nominees are…
I’m not that impressed by the Oscars, period. They simply have too long a history of overlooking anything and anyone that might frighten the horses in favor of the safely middle-brow. All the same, it’s impossible to be interested in movies and completely ignore the damned things however irrelevant you think they are.
Good Bye Lenin!
The Hendersonville Film Society will show Good Bye Lenin! at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 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…
The Wrestler
The Story: The story of a washed-up 1980s wrestling icon in his declining years, following his desperate bid to stay afloat and find some kind of meaning to his life. The Lowdown: A harsh, sometimes brutal character study that goes far beyond what could have been the limitations of its subject, thanks to a strong…
Hotel for Dogs
The Story: A pair of orphans -- with a little help from their friends and a convenient script -- turn a disused hotel into a shelter for homeless dogs. The Lowdown: Harmless fun for kids -- and possibly for those who are very keen on dogs and have a penchant for oohing and ahhing on…