filmland / By Charlie Myers

Up the River

This week’s Hollywood openings don’t completely suck, but Yangtze is the real gem

(Aug. 21, 2008)  Previews

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Opening Wednesday, Aug. 20 is The Rocker, a story of a musician kicked out of a fictional ’80s band only to be given a second chance in his nephew’s garage band. Directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty), the film stars Rainn Wilson (The Office) and Christina Applegate. Do you think the new band will meet the old? Rated PG-13 for drug and sexual references, nudity and language. 102m. At the Broadway, Fortuna and Mill Creek.

Opening Friday is Bottle Shock, a film about an American victory over France that will probably not rate up there with Michael Phelps’ recent Olympic exploits. But in some circles, a small American winery’s victory in 1976 over elite French wineries might rank higher. This film recreates the events leading up to the famous blind tasting near Paris. This is clearly the oenophile’s answer to the underdog sports film. Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual content and a scene of drug use. 110m. At the Broadway.

In a film remake of the 1981 TV series based on Evelyn Waugh’s novel, Brideshead Revisited, set before World War II, tells the story of Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) who becomes enmeshed with an aristocratic family. His relationship with first Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) and then Ben’s sister Julia (Hayley Atwell) is meant to symbolize the state of British society at the time. Looks very promising. Rated PG-13 for some sexual content. 133m. At the Broadway.

Starring Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane and Tyrese Gibson, Death Race is set in a prison where liberty may come to the winner of a “death race,” but I bet it’s all a fix. Based on the trailers, the film appears to be a sort of homage to extreme sports. Despite the cast, it also appears from the trailers to be one of the year’s worst films. Rated R for strong violence and language. Running time 84 to 105m depending on source. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

The House Bunny is a comedy about a Playboy Bunny who is ejected from the mansion and becomes a “social advisor” for a sorority. Will they be fast learners? Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor, partial nudity and brief strong language. 97m. At the Broadway, Fortuna and Mill Creek.

Speaking of inspirational underdog sports films, The Longshots stars Ice Cube as a former high school football star who becomes a Pop Warner coach and with the help of Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee) as an 11-year-old star, leads the team into the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Rated PG for some thematic elements, mild language and brief rude humor. 94m. At the Broadway.

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