[Avon-theatre-news] AVON THEATRE NEWS---JANUARY 7th, 2011

[Skip Huston]

AVON THEATRE NEWS & VIEWS  
Showtimes, Programs, Erudition and Miscellaneous Folderol 
"All of Life's Answers are in the Movies!"  
-Dr. Skippy P. Huston

"The darkness that settles over a movie theater is equivalent to the act of closing the eyes. 
Then, on screen, as within the human being, the nocturnal voyage into the unconscious begins." 
--Luis Bunuel

WEEK OF FRIDAY, JAN. 7th thru THURSDAY, JAN. 13th  ONLY!!  
Check out our way cool website at: www.TheAvon.com

CONTINUING:
TRUE GRIT (PG13) Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin in the new Coen Bros. instant-classic!
BLACK SWAN (R) Natalie Portman and a great cast in the mind-blower you have doubtless heard about already!
THE FIGHTER (R) This will be an Oscar contender! Mark Walhberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams are knock-outs!

COMING SOON:
JAN 21st: ALL GOOD THINGS (R) Kirsten Dunst & Ryan Gosling in an engrossing true-crime murder story.
JAN 21st: FAIR GAME (PG13) Naomi Watts & Sean Penn in the ripped-from-the-headlines story of Valerie Plame, the exposed CIA agent!
JAN. 28th: 127 HOURS (R) James Franco in THAT one! One of the most acclaimed movies of the year!
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HELP WANTED!!
Do you fancy an exciting career in show biz? Well, this ain't it!

BUT, if you want to be part of an extraordinary team, and you...
*Have Your Own Transportation
*Are willing to work NIGHTS, WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS (NO EXCEPTIONS)
This could be for YOU!!!
APPLY TO G.M. ASHLEY PETTY IN PERSON BETWEEN SHOWS AT THE AVON!!
NO PHONE CALLS!
Experience not necessary, but prior food service experience is a plus.
Prefer students, but all ages are welcome to apply!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE FIGHTER (R)
Here is a really terrific movie that I was just certain would get lost at the mall and multiplex theaters, and it appears I was 100% correct.
Honestly, these days any movie aimed at anyone above a 12 year old mentality tends to get "lost" at the "McTheaters" (and even several of the big insipid 3D holiday hoo-hahs have proved rather, uh... ineffectual  this season).
Here, as we do sometimes, is LEONARD MALTIN'S review>>
The Fighter doesn’t just take place in Lowell, Massachusetts; it reeks with the atmosphere of this working-class New England town, making vivid use of its look, feel, and sounds. Director David O. Russell clearly immersed himself in the community and worked overtime to capture its flavor, going so far as to cast some local non-actors (notably, police officer and fight trainer Mickey O’Keefe as himself). What makes the movie work as well as it does is that Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and especially Melissa Leo blend seamlessly into this setting alongside the real-life residents.

Wahlberg, who also produced the film, is completely credible as a small-time boxer whose fate is in the hands of his large, dysfunctional family. Bale completely disappears into the role of Wahlberg’s older stepbrother who is still living off his glory days in the ring and now functions as the younger sibling’s trainer, when he isn’t busy smoking crack. In many ways the most astonishing performance is given by Leo, who is so physically unrecognizable as Wahlberg’s feisty, arrogant mother—who acts as his manager and thinks she knows it all—that if you didn’t see her name in the credits you’d think the director cast yet another local.

With so many fine performances and a dynamic, real-life story to tell, The Fighter could not have been a better movie. (The screenplay is written by Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson, from a story by Tamasy, Johnson and Keith Dorrington.) It takes a lot of time to unfold, and loses some of its punch (pun intended) in the final act, where, it must be said, forgiveness and resolution command less attention than the sparks that ignite the drama in its earlier stages. Still, these performances demand to be seen, and Russell’s extraordinary depiction of a unique family, in a distinctive community, will stay with me for a long time to come.
By Leonard Maltin

So come and prove I was justified in having the faith to bring this in after it did only lukewarm business at the "McTheaters"...
Sometimes, it takes THE AVON to properly showcase a worthy film! 
THE FIGHTER (R)
(Showtimes in brackets are $6.50 'Bargain Matinees")
FRI: (5:15) - 8:15
SAT: (2:15) - (5:15) - 8:15
SUN: (2:15) - (5:15) 
MON thru THURS: 6:30
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TRUE GRIT (PG13)
Waaaal, I'll tell ya', pilgrim, all the talk about it was "blasphemy" to re-make a John Wayne movie sure evaporated once people started to see and talk about this new re-telling of the great story! 
In fact, this version is a more literal adaptation of that original best-selling book from 1968.
And, to belabor the point even more: This is one great movie!!

JEFF BRIDGES underscores that fact that he was long-overdue for that "Best Actor" Oscar last year; MATT DAMON continues to impress me with his versatility; JOSH BROLIN as a great bad guy (with maybe a few vague redeeming qualities); and newcomer HAILEE STEINFELD is an absolute marvel as the 14 year old girl who is the real one with "grit". 
A musical score that will also surprise you with its inventive reliance on a traditional gospel tune, and powerful writing and directing by JOEL AND ETHAN COEN.
If you miss seeing this one, don't come crying to me.
TRUE GRIT (PG13)
(Showtimes in brackets are $6.50 'Bargain Matinees")
FRI: (4:00) - 7:00
SAT: (1:00) - (4:00) - 7:00
SUN: (1:00) - (4:00) 
MON, TUES & WED: 7:15
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BLACK SWAN (R)
NATALIE PORTMAN is blowing everyone's mind these days. All of a sudden, many are realizing that this is not only one of the most gorgeous actresses working today, but she has so much talent it is nearly illegal!
Joining her is BARBARA HERSHEY, WINONA RYDER, MILA KUNIS and, one of my favorite actors, French superstar VINCENT CASSEL.
And just what IS this movie? 
To say it is a "Hitchcockian thriller set in the world of ballet" is like saying a leaf is just a part of a tree.
No, this is much more than that.
Some may find it shocking.
Some may find it downright scary.
Some may find it disturbing.
Some may not like it.
Some will find it incredibly awesome.
(And, some may feel at first they didn't like it and find themselves thinking about it for days afterward!)
BLACK SWAN (R)
(Showtimes in brackets are $6.50 'Bargain Matinees")
FRI: (5:00) - 8:00
SAT:  (2:00) - (5:00) - 8:00
SUN: (2:00) - (5:00) 
MON thru THURS: 6:40
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RANTS, RAVINGS & RUMBLINGS FROM THE HEAD HONCHO...

NEW MOVIE CLASS STARTS THURSDAY, JAN. 13th @ 6:30 sharp!

Bogart Movies – Part 2 – FILM8835

Sect. 01:  Thurs., Jan. 13 thru March 3

Time:  6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Instructor:  Skip Huston 

Location:  Avon Theatre, Downtown, Decatur, IL

Cost:  $80

The Richland-at-the-Avon film classes revisit “Bogey” and spend an entire 8 weeks screening and discussing some of his greatest classics, and some of his not-so-well-known films.  As is always the case with Richland-at-the-Avon film classes, we NEVER divulge the titles of what you are going to see…  But, rest assured with Avon Theater owner and class instructor Skip Huston at the helm (as he has been for the past 10 years of these classes) there will be an offering of films that will have much thought behind it!

So come and join a bunch of nice people of all ages and walks of life as we remember, and discover, the classic movie star that was Humphrey Bogart!

YOU CAN SIGN-UP THE NIGHT OF THE FIRST CLASS.
AN OFFICIAL FROM RICHLAND WILL BE THERE TO HANDLE ALL THE HOO-HAH!!

Come See Me Soon!!
I'll Be Looking for you and you and....YOU!!

-Skip Huston  


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