Dollar movie

NO MOVIE

Just going to forewarn you: If you’re going to see the movie on Thursday, fill up today but don’t eat tomorrow.

Ichi The Killer 7:30 10 12:30

Director Takashi Miike must have decided that Audition, his last film (among the most depraved films this reviewer has ever seen) was too kid-friendly. That would explain Ichi The Killer. Billed as the most violent movie ever, this one has bits and pieces of Yakuzas flying all over the screen for two hours. If you think you haven’t seen enough heads and limbs sliced off, this might be the perfect Thursday night diversion. Go: The critical community seems to think that “ultra violent” doesn’t quite encompass the scope of this movie. That alone makes me curious. No go: May induce vomiting; don’t wear nice clothes to this movie.

A Scanner Darkly 8 10 12

This rotoscoped (means: real purdy animation) adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s novel follows Keanu Reeves as an undercover narcotics agent trying to stop a drug epidemic. I guess everyone needs a break from exchanging letters across dimensional rifts with Sandra Bullock. The movie also stars Robert Downey Jr. and Woody Harrelson, the perfect people to star in a movie with an anti-drug message, don’t ya think? Go: Trippy animation style is perfect for this material, and helps Keanu appear to be a more expressive actor than, well, ever. Also, it looks really, really cool. No go: Kind of a downer. The movie is less action and more chit-chat.

Mission: Impossible 3 7:30 10 12:30

I know you don’t want to see crazy couch-jumping Tom Cruise, but trust me, you want to see this. Paired with director J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias, Felicity), a brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) and a script filled with summer action delights like a helicopter chase through a windmill farm and a BASE jump from Shanghai skyscrapers, Cruise leads the perfect flick to help you forget that it’s probably snowing outside. Go: You would expect it to stink, but really, it doesn’t. Trust me. Watch Keri Russell (Felicity) brandish a firearm. No go: As nonsensical and ridiculous as you would expect from anything involving Tom Cruise. It’ll still be cold outside when it’s over.

Saving Face 8 10 12

Two Chinese lesbians (Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen) living in New York under the watchful eye of a strict but secretly pregnant mother (Joan Chen) who is herself under the watchful eye of her own parents... I smell a sitcom! This charming little romantic comedy/culture clash/mystery movie has something for everyone. A charming debut from new director Alice Wu. Go: Great performances from everyone. I promise you, just because there are lesbians doesn’t mean that it’s porn. No go: I read the description and my first snarky thought was, “Is this My Big Fat Chinese Wedding?” So that might paint the wrong picture for you.