Orphan adopts horror formula
Plus: Something fun-Ugly for the guy-chicks, and a Food, Inc. screed for the believers
(July 30, 2009) Previews
Opening Friday, July 31, is the third film from Judd Apatow as director, Funny People. Adam Sandler is stand-up comedian George who is given a year to live by his doctor. When he meets struggling comic Ira (Seth Rogen), George becomes his mentor. Rated R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality. 146m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna.
The family fantasy adventure film Aliens in the Attic finds a group of kids trying to fight off alien invaders out to destroy the Earth. The parents are useless but the kids have an advantage: The aliens’ weapons don’t work on children. Rated PG for action violence, some suggestive humor and language. 86m. At the Broadway, Mill Creek and Fortuna.
The Collector is a horror thriller set in motion when a burglar (Josh Stewart) breaks into a house intending to rob it, but discovers that a masked man is already there and threatening the family. Theft becomes the last thing on his mind. Also starring Madeline Zima from Californication. Rated R for pervasive sadistic bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity. 88m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.
Moon is a science fiction film about an astronaut (Sam Rockwell) who is completing a three-year mission on our satellite where he oversees a mining operation that supplies earth with its energy. Kevin Spacey provides the computer’s voice. In his first feature, Duncan Jones emphasizes minimalism over special effects. Rated R for language. 97m. At the Minor.
Reviews
ORPHAN: In the world of horror films, Orphan is far from the worst example of the genre. Firmly in The Bad Seed sub-category, the film is a marked advance for director Jaume Collet-Serra over his debut in 2005 with House of Wax, although Wax did have one very satisfying moment when Paris Hilton met a particularly grisly end.
The aspect of the film that lifted it somewhat above its formulaic plot was the strong acting of Vera Farmiga (The Departed; the only good thing about The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) and the appropriately creepy performance by Isabelle Fuhrman as adopted orphan Esther.
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Today
Open Celtic Music Session
music / 3 p.m. Cafe Veritas/Mosgo's, 180 Westwood Center, Arcata. Informal monthly gathering of musicians playing Irish and other Celtic music. Hosted by Seabury Gould. seaburygould.com. 845-8167.
Nonviolence Action Camp
etc. / 10 a.m. Chinmaya Mission near Piercy. Weekend-long direct action orientation features workshops, role playing, seminars, ceremonies and field trips. Bring food, bedding, warm clothes, signs, banners, bikes, drums, acoustic instruments. Pre-register. saverichardsongrove.org. 932-5898.
Audubon Society Field Trip
outdoors / 9 a.m. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta. Meet at Refuge Visitor Center off Hookton Road. Leisurely, two- to three-hour trip intended for people wanting to learn birds of Humboldt Bay area. 822-3613.
Look Back in Anger Matinee
theater / 2 p.m. Ferndale Repertory Theatre, 447 Main Street. John Osborne’s sharply funny, fiercely honest exploration of political disillusionment and basic human yearning. Directed by John Heckel. $15/$13 students and seniors. ferndale-rep.org. 800-838-3006.
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ONE Comments
Comment / By Mara / July 30, 2009, 10:37 a.m.
A lot of adoptive parents are angry about one line in this film: It must be hard to love an adopted child like your own.
They are angry about this movie line but are perfectly content that their adopted child has a birth certificate that was permanently sealed from him/her and a falsified “amended” one issued.
Adoptees have to live their lives carrying around amended birth certificates and are NEVER allowed to see their original birth certificates containing their true names and the names of his/her true biological parents. Adopting parents get to have their names placed on the amended certificates as the birth parents! What lies!!!! These violations of a childs rights does not concern the protestors because it works for them! It is not their ethnicities, their heritages that are sealed. No, their newly purchased child will be forced to accept these lies are his/her truth. These self-righteous people own the copyrights to their adopted child’s identity and could care less that it’s FICTION that is on their child’s birth certificate.
It is downright disgraceful and pathetic what people choose to protest.
Getting angry over one-liners and not giving a hoot about our (adoptees) civil rights is laughable.
If you agree with me, you’ll want to sign the petition is support of Esther’s rights: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/orphan-movie-t-shirts-for-open-records because no one should have to kill for their birth records.
I enjoyed the movie. She should win an academy award.