Howdy folks, Bobert here. This weekend there is only ONE movie everyone is going to see, and I’m sure you know which one I’m talking about. But I would like to point out the limited releases as good counterprogramming for those of you not into the Big Studio films, no matter how progressive they might be for a particular spandex wearing genre. And speaking to those residing locally in the greater Sacramento area, we finally got a couple of worthy independent films coming to our resident art house theater. WENDY AND LUCY, the melancholy tale of a young woman and her lost dog that serves as an inquiry on the current state of American society, comes to The Crest alongside the Joaquin Phoenix starring TWO LOVERS. Be sure to give those a shot if you’re in the Downtown neighborhood. Go beyond the break to see the rest of this week’s offerings…

In Wide Release…

As I’ll be writing up a review of WATCHMEN, I’ll keep this preview sweet and short. After decades of false starts, legal wrangling, and studio interference that left a trail of filmmakers that included Sam Hamm, Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, and Paul Greengrass in its wake, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ revolutionary graphic novel has finally arrived. With the amount of pre-release hype and viral marketing this one’s been embroiled in, it’s a safe bet that anyone and everyone knows who’ll be watching the WATCHMEN this weekend. If you can, go see the IMAX EXPERIENCE edition, as it’s an amazingly immersive way to absorb Zack Snyder’s adaptation of one of the most revered pieces of Comic Book art in existence…

In Limited Release…

Long time filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov’s 12 is the Russian remake of the American classic 12 ANGRY MEN, the story of 12 jurors that must decide the fate an 18-year-old boy accused of murder. Just as the original film was an exploration of the various American ideals that made up that group of citizens performing their civic duty, 12 looks to be entrenched in modern-day Russian culture. The film was nominated for an Academy Award a couple of years back, but lost to THE COUNTERFIETERS. Probably why it’s taken as long as it has to make its way over here. Hit up your local art house theater and see if you can catch a showing…

Swedish director Jonas Akerlund, best known for his Madonna Concert films, is finally getting his long-delayed Serial Killer/Religious Thriller/Torture Horror film released in theaters this weekend. Starring Dennis Quaid, who seems to be on a mediocre/bad movie streak with VANTAGE POINT and the upcoming G.I. JOE to his credit, as a widowed Detective on the trail of a killer that likes to reference the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Chinese waif Ziyi Zhang, the Swedish madman Peter Stormare, and actor Clifton Collins Jr. also lend their talents to the diverse enterprise. HORSEMEN looks to take the three aforementioned genres and smash ‘em up together. So it’s like a SEVEN/FRAILTY/SAW amalgamation. What comes out the other end of the Cinematic Trash Compactor you ask? You may find out this weekend if there’s a theater nearby showing the flick…

The anthology film TOKYO! Reaches American shores today, albeit in select markets. Attempting to capture the same sort of magic PARIS, JE T’AIME conjured up, three filmmakers attempt to encapsulate the nature of the ever-evolving Japanese Megalopolis and its contrasting inhabitants. Academy Award winning visualist Michel Gondry (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND), the controversial French director Leos Carax (POLA X), and Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho (MEMORIES OF MURDER and THE HOST) all lend their eclectic visions to the project. And while the flick has garnered mixed reaction while on the film festival circuit, you’d be a fool to pass this one up considering the talent and subject matter involved. Keep an eye out for a screening at a theater near you…

Well, that’s all folks. I don’t know about you, but I’ll probably be hitting up WATCHMEN one more time before the weekend’s through. I need that second showing to truly absorb the film. I’ll try to piece together my thoughts and post a review before the day’s end, so keep your peepers peeled. Until then, see ya at the movies!