Movie Reviews

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…

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…

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.

Britannia Hospital is part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World being presented at 8 p.m. Friday, July 27, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.

SoundBites plays for one show only at the Fine Arts Theatre, Thursday, August 2, at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.

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 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.

Playing at 9:30 p.m. only July 20-26 at Fine Arts Theatre.

The Story: A model is kidnapped and tortured by an unknown madman. The Lowdown: Low on scares, high in laughs that oughtn't be there and tarted up with random gore and perversity.

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…

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.

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.

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... 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.

The Story: New developments take place at Hogwarts School as the Ministry of Magic sets out to discredit Harry and headmaster Albus Dumbledore and their claims that Lord Voldemort has returned. The Lowdown: Rich, dark and very sinister, this is a terrific addition to the series.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Cyrano de Bergerac at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 15 in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

Walk-in Theatre is presented by Orbit DVD and the merchants of the Bledsoe Building, in the parking lot behind the Bledsoe Building in West Asheville at dark on Friday, July 13. Free.

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.

A Zed and Two Noughts is part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World being presented at 8 p.m. Friday, July 6, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville (enter at Walnut next to Scully's or at 13 Carolina Lane.) Info: 273-3332.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Sleuth at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 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 park in…

The Story: Michael Moore takes on the U.S. health care system. The Lowdown: Entertaining, but more sober-minded and subdued than usual, Moore's latest continues to prove he knows how to make documentaries that work.