Film Clips: September 9
With the Contagion of Bucky Larson knock out Warrior?
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- "HE SAW THAT HE WAS FIGHTING TOM HARDY, AND FAINTED IN FRIGHT." Tom Hardy (standing) in 'Warrior'
OPENING FRIDAY
BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR (R) Bucky Larson (Nick Swardson) is an average Midwestern bag boy contented with his life and his “don’t thank me, thank the bowl” haircut from his Mother. When he is fired from Fooder’s and some dusty porn movies from the garage reveal his parents’ porn star past, Bucky’s future becomes clear. He must move to L.A. and learn the family trade. Don Jonson also stars as Bucky’s porn director/mentor, and the hilarious Kevin Nealon makes a cameo.
CREATURE (NR) An ex-Navy SEAL and his friends run afoul of Lockjaw, a mythic half-man, half-alligator being while camping.
CONTAGION 4 stars (R) A virulent disease spreads across the globe, beginning with Gwyneth Paltrow’s corporate traveler. Can intrepid CDC workers (including Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet and a scene-stealing Jennifer Ehle) find a cure? Director Steven Soderbergh brings both a compelling cinema verite style and an A-list cast to what’s essentially a throwback to a 1970s disaster movie. After an agonizingly creepy first half, Contagion loses some of its focus with some oddly sharp critiques of rumor-mongering bloggers and the Chinese. — Curt Holman
GRIFF THE INVISIBLE (NR) “True Blood’s” Ryan Kwanten plays a shy office worker with an elaborate fantasy life as a superhero.
JIG (PG) In this documentary, young dancers from across the globe convene in Glasgow, Ireland in March 2010 for the heavily anticipated 40th Irish Dancing World Championships. With the curly wigs and sequined costumes, think Riverdance with stage Moms.
WARRIOR (PG-13) Directed by Gavin O'Connor, Warrior depicts two brothers, a Marine veteran (Tom Hardy) and an ex-fighter-turned-teacher (Joel Edgerton), who each return to the mixed martial-arts ring and end up on a collision course. Hardy might be the biggest draw after his breakout role in Inception and upcoming turn as roided-out Batman villain Bane in next summer's The Dark Knight Rises.
DULY NOTED
THE CONQUEROR WORM (1968) (NR) Vincent Price stars as a brutal witch hunter in 1645 England. Originally released with the awesome title Witchfinder General, this horror film had an unusually high level of gore for its time. Splatter Cinema. Tue. Sep. 13, 9:30 p.m. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave., $8-$12. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com
DEAR GOD NO! (NR) James Bickert’s microbudget homage to ultraviolent drive-in movies from the 1960s and 1970s proudly showcases bikers, broads and Bigfoot. Sep. 9, 9:30 p.m. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave., $8-$12. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com
PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE (1985) 4 stars (PG) Eccentric man-child Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) hits the road to track down his stolen bicycle in Tim Burton’s first feature film as a director. “Tell ’em Large Marge sent you!” 9:30 p.m. 3 p.m. Sat., Sep. 10. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave., $7-$12. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com