filmland / By Ryan Burns

Dirty Rogen

Observe and Report, a sadly revolting piece of film

(April 16, 2009) Previews

In the latest take on life “redo,” Matthew Perry (of Friends fame) stars in 17 Again as Mike O’Donnell, a middle-aged father that wakes up one day to find himself returned to the ripe young age of 17, yet still in the year 2009. Zac Efron (High School Musical 1-3)stars as Perry’s young counterpart, who must face fact that his older life wasn’t so bad after all. Rated PG-13 for language, some sexual material and teen partying. 102m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek, the Minor and Fortuna.

A more unusual comedy coming to town is Sunshine Cleaning, a story about the lengths a broke mom will go to pay for her son’s education. Amy Adams (Doubt, Charlie Wilson’s War) portrays the mom, who teams up with her slacker sister, played by Emily Blunt (another Charlie Wilson’s War alum), to start up a crime scene clean-up service to get those bills paid. Whatever it takes, huh? Rated R for language, disturbing images, some sexuality and drug use. 92m. At the Minor.

Also opening this weekend is State of Play, a remake of a 2003 London crime thriller TV series. The U.S. take on this dramatic mystery stars Russell Crowe as Cal McAffrey, a brash newspaper reporter on a mission to crack a conspiracy involving murder, collusion and a congressman. Rated PG-13 for some violence, language including sexual references and brief drug content. 127m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

Two comedies, one thriller and now, to round out the openings, one action flick entitled Crank: High Voltage, a continuation of the 2006 flick Crank. Jason Statham (Transporter 3, Death Job) returns as hitman Chev Chelios to continue his battle against his rival, a Chinese mobster that stole his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered one. Rated R for frenetic strong bloody violence throughout, crude and graphic sexual content, nudity and pervasive language. Sweet! 95m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.

This week also brings the 42nd Annual Humboldt Film Festival, which has bragging rights as the oldest student-run film festival in the world. The movie bonanza opens Sunday with Local Filmmakers Night, a “fun raiser” for the Humboldt Film Commission featuring food, drink and a menagerie of local film and media shorts. Monday night features a 4/20 special, “The Dark Side of the Rainbow,” a screening of The Wizard of Oz with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon as accompaniment. Wednesday brings a Damon Packard workshop/screening and Experimental Film Night, Thursday the 23rd features Tom McPhee and Documentary Night, Friday has Brian O’Halloran and Narrative (Fiction) Night and Saturday the 25th is the final day and will feature the Best of the Fest. Get starttimes and details at humboldtfilmfest.org.

— Emily Hobelmann

Review

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