Movie Reviews

The Story: An underdog tale of a Major League Baseball team trying to subvert the system through statistics, and the repercussions of their attempt. The Lowdown: An interesting idea for a biopic by way of character study, although never as engaging or dramatically alive as it should be.

The Story: A hunky teen finds out he’s the son of two CIA agents, and must escape some evil secret agents out to kill him and his would-be girlfriend. The Lowdown: A showcase for the supposed talents of Taylor Lautner that’s too dumb and bloodless for any action fan and too violent for his fanbase.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show part one of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen The Night Strangler on Thursday, Sept. 29, 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.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Brazil at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 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.

The Story: In order to save his mentor's life, an ex-secret service operative has to undertake "one last job" for a vengeful sheikh. The Lowdown: Enjoyable -- if not very distinguished -- action thriller that gets the good out of its name cast without actually taxing their abilities.

The Story: Documents the rise and eventual tribulations of hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. The Lowdown: Works better as a hip-hop primer than when it attempts to show the complexities of the group's relationships, where the film falls apart due to lack of depth.

The Story: An American journalist in Paris working on a story about WWII France uncovers things about the past involving her husband's family. The Lowdown: A definite film to see -- a richly powerful work with an interesting structure and excellent performanmces -- but also a film with a subplot that detracts from the real…

The Story: A career woman juggles the perils of work and her hectic home life. The Lowdown: Unfunny, unromantic, cliched, tiresome and generally not good.

The Asheville Film Society will screen The Ruling Class on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 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.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Dr. Phibes Rises Again on Thursday, Sept. 22, 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.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present The Last Laugh at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Story: When his pregnant wife is kidnapped, a man has no choice but to follow the instructions of mobsters. The Lowdown: Breathlessly -- but elegantly -- paced thriller of a kind we don't see very often. A witty, intelligent film with real characters, style and magnificently staged action.

The Story: A stuntman who moonlights as a criminal wheelman gets involved in a heist -- which ultimately goes wrong -- in order to keep his neighbor and her son safe. The Lowdown: An endlessly stylish action flick that’s more arthouse fare than Hollywood entertainment, yet remains an infinitely fascinating -- and singular -- piece…

The Story: A bucktoothed Iowan heads to California to become -- like his parents once were -- a porn star. The Lowdown: Painfully idiotic and infinitely unfunny.

The Story: An unorthodox Irish police sergeant with elastic ethics finds himself partnered with the straightest FBI agent imaginable to solve a drug-smuggling case. The Lowdown: Irreverent, vulgar, darkly funny comedy with thrill sequences that sets itself up as standard movie fare -- only to deliver something refreshingly deeper. A must-see.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present The Exterminating Angel at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Hendersonville Film Society will show part one of Gone with the Wind at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Story: A new and seemingly unstoppable airborne virus goes global and threatens to wipe out a large portion of the world. The Lowdown: Exciting, engrossing thriller with a solid all-star cast and taut direction. It's not particularly deep, but it works in its own matter-of-fact approach.

The Asheville Film Society will screen The Music Lovers Tuesday, Sept. 20, 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.