Author:   Ken Hanke

Showing 2017-2037 of 5225 results
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Stephen Fry, Rachel McAdams

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson square off against the "Napoleon of Crime," Professor Moriarty. The Lowdown: An even stronger-than-hoped-for follow-up to the 2009 Sherlock Holmes. Fast, funny, entertaining and more in tune with the stories and legacy of Holmes than may appear on the surface.
Starring: Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Cary Elwes, Nick Frost, Toby Jones

The Adventures of Tintin

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: Boy reporter Tintin and the frequently intoxicated Captain Haddock go on a search for the lost treasure of Haddock's ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock. The Lowdown: It's beautifully crafted -- if you don't mind motion-capture animation -- and blessed with technical wizardry and visual invention, but dramatically, there's not much here.
Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Jenny Slate, Justin Long (voice), Matthew Gray Gubler (voice)

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: Alvin and his rodent pals get stranded on a tropical island with a lone inhabitant, while Dave and the mercenary Ian search for them. The Lowdown: Stupifying in its stupidity, this sloppy mess is perhaps the worst film of the year.
Starring: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Julia Ormond, Emma Watson, Judi Dench

My Week with Marilyn

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: Fact-based look at the brief relationship between Marilyn Monroe and a young man working for Laurence Olivier Productions on The Prince and the Showgirl. The Lowdown: A charming, sweet memoir about not just one man's experiences with the legendary actress, but an examination of the woman and her appeal, anchored to a wonderful…
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Tova Stewart, Shea Whigham, Kathy Baker

Take Shelter

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: A man's life starts to fall apart when he begins having troubling visions that are either actual warnings or the onset of mental illness. The Lowdown: A disturbing -- and rather depressing -- film that works more than it doesn't, and which can be read in several different ways.
Starring: Elizabeth Berridge, Shawn Carson, Kevin Conway, Herb Robins, Wayne Doba, William Finley, Sylvia Miles

The Funhouse

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Funhouse Thursday, Dec. 15, 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.
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, Collette Wolfe, Jill Eikenberry

Young Adult

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: A writer of teen fiction goes to her hometown to rekindle her high-school romance -- regardless of the fact that the object of her affection is married and has just had a child. The Lowdown: A hardcore comedy-drama about a woman sliding more and more out of control and into self-delusion and alcohol.…

Cranky Hanke’s Weekly Reeler Dec. 7-13: Anonymous Descendant­s of the Sitter Into New Year’s Abyss

Posted on by Ken Hanke

Even though we get two mainstream releases—New Year’s Eve and The Sitter—and two art titles—The Descendants and Into the Abyss—plus one impossible-to-classify offering—Anonymous—this week feels like the calm before the storm that is Christmas. And while I can’t say I’m quivering in anticipation for the mainstream titles, I’m pretty happy with the other ones.

Starring: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, Sebastian Armesto, Rafe Spall, David Thewlis, Jamie Campbell Bower, Joely Richardson

Anonymous

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: The supposed "dirt" on who "really" wrote Shakespeare's play -- with numerous liberties. The Lowdown: Utterly absurd revisionist nonsense that is very nearly as entertaining as it is ridiculous -- and that's saying something.
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Patricia Hastie

The Descendants

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: A Hawaiian real-estate lawyer faces his wife's impending death, two daughters he doesn't understand and a large circle of dissolute relatives bent on selling the family land. The Lowdown: A relatably human comedy-drama that is both surprisingly funny and moving, cemented by a terrific performance from George Clooney.
Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Ilona Massey, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi, Maria Ouspenskaya, Lionel Atwill

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man on Thursday, Dec. 8, 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.
Starring: Václav Neckár, Josef Somr, Vlastimil Brodský, Vladimír Valenta, Jitka Bendová

Closely Watched Trains

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Closely Watched Trains at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Liam Neeson, Ruth Negga, Stephen Rea, Gavin Friday, Brendan Gleeson

Breakfast on Pluto

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Asheville Film Society will screen Breakfast on Pluto on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 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.

Cranky Hanke’s Screening Room: Nymphomani­acs, Nuns, and Messiahs: Ken Russell As I Knew Him

Posted on by Ken Hanke

This is far and away the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write. The very idea that Ken Russell could be dead is unthinkable to me. This isn’t just the passing of one of the—not always fully appreciated—true giants of cinema. This is the passing of a friend of nearly 30 years—a man I unreservedly loved. The very fact that I am—for the very first time—writing something that he will not be reading is strange and saddening in itself. And that makes this even harder, making various regrets snowball into something almost paralyzing.

Cranky Hanke’s Weekly Reeler Nov. 30-Dec. 6: The Melancholi­a week

Posted on by Ken Hanke

The title for this week’s rather short “Weeky Reeler” may be taken figuratively—since the week is inevitably and inextricably marked by the passing of the great British filmmaker Ken Russell—but it’s also quite literally true. The only movie opening locally this week is Lars von Trier’s Melancholia, which comes to The Carolina on Friday. Some times may shift around, but it’s otherwise pretty much the same as last week—apart from the arrival of Melancholia and the depature of The Rum Diary. Considering that last week gave us Scorsese’s Hugo, I’m not complaining about a dearth of product. For that matter, Melancholia is nothing to sneeze at.

Starring: (Voices) James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton

Arthur Christmas

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: When a child is missed at Christmas, Santa's younger son, Arthur, teams up with Grandsanta to get her present to her. The Lowdown: A wholly pleasant and pleasing outburst of family-friendly seasonal fare that's both winning and funny.
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt

Melancholia

Reviewed by Ken Hanke on
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The Story: The end of the world -- and the effects of its approach on a small group of the fabulously wealthy. The Lowdown: Dark, strange and somehow terrible, but also compelling and a masterful, powerful film.