Smells Like Screen Spirit & Arc Entertainment invite you

to RSVP for passes to our special advance screenings of

FOR GREATER GLORY

May 22, 2012 at 7:30 PM in

Austin, Dallas, Houston & San Antonio, TX.

Synopsis: What price would you pay for freedom?  In the exhilarating action epic FOR GREATER GLORY, an impassioned group of men and women each make the decision to risk it all for family, faith and the very future of their country, as the film’s adventure unfolds against the long-hidden, true story of the 1920s Cristero War ­the daring people’s revolt that rocked 20th Century North America.

Academy Award® nominee Andy Garcia headlines an acclaimed cast as General Gorostieta, the retired military man who at first thinks he has nothing personal at stake as he and his wife (Golden Globe winner Eva Longoria) watch Mexico fall into a violent civil war.  Yet the man who hesitates in joining the cause will soon become the resistance’s most inspiring and self-sacrificing leader, as he begins to see the cost of religious persecution on his countrymen…and transforms a rag-tag band of rebels into a heroic force to be reckoned with.  The General faces impossible odds against a powerful and ruthless government.  Yet it is those he meets on the journey – youthful idealists, feisty renegades and, most of all, one remarkable teenager named Jose ­ who reveal to him how courage and belief are forged even when justice seems lost.

Director Dean Wright brings a visual power honed from years as a leading Hollywood effects guru­ on such blockbusters as TITANIC, THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and CHRONICLES OF NARNIA ­ to this real-life tale that has never been told on screen before.  The film is written by Michael Love.  The producer is Pablo Jose Barroso.  Garcia and Longoria lead a stellar multinational cast that includes the legendary Oscar®-nominated and Oscar® Lifetime Achievement recipient Peter O’Toole, rapidly rising star Oscar Isaac (DRIVE), recording star and actor Ruben Blades (SAFE HOUSE), Bruce Greenwood (STAR TREK, SUPER 8), Nestor Carbonell (THE DARK KNIGHT RISES), Bruce McGill (LINCOLN), Santiago Cabrera (“Heroes,” CHE), Oscar®-nominated Catalina Sandino Moreno (MARIA FULL OF GRACE) and Eduardo Verástegui (BELLA).

Shooting on historic locations throughout Mexico, the equally accomplished behind the scenes team includes director of photography Eduardo Martinez Solares (BAD HABITS), Oscar®-nominated editor Richard Francis-Bruce (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, SEVEN, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE), production designer Salvador Parra (VOLVER) and Oscar®-winning composer James Horner (AVATAR, TITANIC, BRAVEHEART).

Director: Dean Wright

Starring: Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Peter O’Toole, Oscar Isaac, Santiago Cabrera, Catalina Sandino Morena, Bruce Greenwood

Studio: Arc Entertainment

MPAA Ratinng: R

Release Date: June 1, 2012

Screening Info: Tuesday, May 22nd at 7:30PM

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Austin click here to RSVP

Dallas click here to RSVP

Houston click here to RSVP

San Antonio click here to RSVP

Arrive early. Screenings are over-booked to ensure a full house and to compensate for “no shows.” Tickets are not a guarantee of admission.

Smells Like Screen Spirit & Lionsgate invite you

to RSVP for passes to our special advance screenings of

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING

May 14, 2012 at 7:30 PM in

Dallas & San Antonio, TX.

Synopsis: Over the moon about starting a family, TV fitness guru Jules and dance show star Evan find that their high-octane celebrity lives don’t stand a chance against the surprise demands of pregnancy. Baby-crazy author and advocate Wendy gets a taste of her own militant mommy advice when pregnancy hormones ravage her body; while Wendy’s husband, Gary, struggles not to be outdone by his competitive alpha-Dad, who’s expecting twins with his much younger trophy wife, Skyler. Photographer Holly is prepared to travel the globe to adopt a child, but her husband Alex isn’t so sure, and tries to quiet his panic by attending a “dudes” support group, where new fathers get to tell it like it really is. And rival food truck chefs Rosie and Marco’s surprise hook-up results in an unexpected quandary: what to do when your first child comes before your first date?

Director: Kirk Jones

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro, Ben Falcone and Joe Manganiello

Studio: Lionsgate

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Release Date: Friday, May 18, 2012

Screening Info: Monday, May 14, 2012 at 7:30 PM

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Dallas click here to RSVP

San Antonio click here to RSVP

Arrive early. Screenings are over-booked to ensure a full house and to compensate for “no shows.” Tickets are not a guarantee of admission.

Smells Like Screen Spirit & Warner Bros. invite you

to RSVP for passes to our special advance screenings of

DARK SHADOWS

May 7, 2012 at 7:30 PM in

Austin, Dallas, Houston & San Antonio, TX.

Synopsis: In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles. Also residing in the manor is Elizabeth’s ne’er-do-well brother, Roger Collins, (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger’s precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family, to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David’s new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloë Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote

Studio: Warner Bros.

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Release Date: Friday, May 11, 2012

Screening Info: Monday, May 7, 2012 at 7:30 PM

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Austin click here to RSVP

Dallas click here to RSVP

Houston click here to RSVP

San Antonio click here to RSVP

Arrive early. Screenings are over-booked to ensure a full house and to compensate for “no shows.” Tickets are not a guarantee of admission.

The Comedy is the case study of Swanson (Tim Heidecker); a privileged thirty-something slacker hipster from the affluent Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. With his father withering away in hospice care, Swanson faces the inevitable inheritance of the family’s estate. Due to his complete lack of responsibilities as well as unlimited free time, Swanson has a desensitized perception of the world around him. He pushes social buttons and boundaries with the same abrasive curiosity of a child poking a dead animal with a stick, and plods through life with a drag on those around him.

For me, The Comedy was the most emotionally dynamic film at SXSW 2012 due to director Rick Alverson’s astonishing job of allowing the natural wit of his comedic stars to thrive while keeping it within the bounds of the ironic title.

We had the opportunity to met up with director Rick Alverson and star Tim Heidecker at SXSW 2012 and have a conversation about The Comedy, which had it’s world premiere at Sundance in January. Enjoy!

Dave Campbell’s full review of The Comedy

Director: Rick Alverson

Writers: Rick Alverson, Robert Donne, Colm O’Leary

Starring: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, James Murphy, Gregg Turkington, Kate Lyn Sheil, Alexia Rasmussen, Jeff Jensen

The Comedy is the case study of Swanson (Tim Heidecker); a privileged thirty-something slacker hipster from the affluent Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. With his father withering away in hospice care, Swanson faces the inevitable inheritance of the family’s estate. Due to his complete lack of responsibilities as well as unlimited free time, Swanson has a desensitized perception of the world around him. He pushes social buttons and boundaries with the same abrasive curiosity of a child poking a dead animal with a stick, and plods through life with a drag on those around him.

Swanson and his group of friends are reminiscent of the house destroying, gang of teenagers (The Wormsley Common Gang) in Graham Greene’s short story The Destructors, but rather than physical destruction these aging upper crust hipsters leave a path of social maliciousness in their paths.

For those already familiar with Tim Heidecker for his comedy team Tim and Eric with costar Eric Wareheim, drama isn’t something you associate with the actor. However, his remarkable deadpan talents in comedy always led me to believe that his range went much further than comedy alone…and that was an accurate assumption. Heidecker effortlessly portrays the extremely complex character with staggering realism. His natural approach to the character of Swanson is amusing, socially tragic and emotionally compartmentalized with such a great presence that you’d swear at times you are watching a documentary.

To further complement the profound storytelling, the supporting cast was perfectly assembled and the cinematography is clean and organic. Director Rick Alverson exhibits a keen strategic ability to approach what is revealed and what is withheld from his audience, provoking lingering intellectual thought from the viewer. For me, The Comedy was the most emotionally dynamic film at SXSW 2012 due to Alverson’s astonishing job of allowing the natural wit of his comedic stars to thrive while keeping it within the bounds of the ironic title.

Rating: 8/10

Smells Like Screen Spirit & The Weinstein Company invite you

to RSVP for passes to our special screening of

BULLY

April 11, 2012 at 7:00 PM in

Austin, TX.

Synopsis: Directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, BULLY is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America’s bullying crisis. BULLY follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. Stories include two families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year-old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. With an intimate glimpse into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals’ offices, the film offers insight into the often cruel world of the lives of bullied children.

Director: Lee Hirsch

Studio: The Weinstein Company

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Screening Info: Tuesday, April 11, 2012 at 7:00 PM

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Click here to RSVP

Arrive early. Screenings are over-booked to ensure a full house and to compensate for “no shows.” Tickets are not a guarantee of admission.

Smells Like Screen Spirit & LIONSGATE invite you

to RSVP for passes to our special advance screenings of

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

April 9, 2012 in Dallas, Houston & San Antonio, TX.

Synopsis: Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen.

If you think you know this story, think again. From fan favorites Joss Whedon (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, FIREFLY) and Drew Goddard (CLOVERFIELD) comes THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, a mind blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.

Produced by Whedon and directed by Goddard from a script by both, the film stars Kristen Connolly (THE HAPPENING), Chris Hemsworth (THOR, AVENGERS), Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz (LUST FOR LOVE), Jesse Williams (GREY’S ANATOMY), Richard Jenkins (LET ME IN) and Bradley Whitford (THE WEST WING).

Director: Drew Goddard

Starring: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Amy Acker

Studio: LIONSGATE

MPAA Rating: R: Restricted – 17 and up ONLY! Do not bring your small children and don’t RSVP unless you are of age.

Release Date: Friday April 13th, 2012

Screening Info: Monday, April 9, 2012

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Dallas click here to RSVP

Houston click here to RSVP

San Antonio click here to RSVP

Arrive early. Screenings are over-booked to ensure a full house and to compensate for “no shows.” Tickets are not a guarantee of admission.

Smells Like Screen Spirit & Warner Bros. invite you

to RSVP for passes to our special advance screenings of

WRATH OF THE TITANS

March 27, 2012 at 7:30 PM in

Austin, Dallas, Houston & San Antonio, TX.

Synopsis: A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Sam Worthington) –the demigod son of Zeus (Liam Neeson)–is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramirez), switch loyalties and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Starring: Sam Worthington, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Édgar Ramírez, Toby Kebbell, Danny Huston, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson

Studio: Warner Bros.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy violence and action.

Release Date: Friday, March 30, 2012

Screening Info: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 7:30 PM

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

Austin click here to RSVP

Dallas click here to RSVP

Houston click here to RSVP

San Antonio click here to RSVP

Arrive early. Screenings are over-booked to ensure a full house and to compensate for “no shows.” Tickets are not a guarantee of admission.

Director: Zal Batmanglij
Writters: Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling
Starring: Brit Marling, Christopher Denham, Nicole Vicius

Synopsis: In SOUND OF MY VOICE, Peter (Christopher Denham) and Lorna (Nicole Vicius), a couple and documentary filmmaking team, infiltrate a mysterious group led by an enigmatic young woman named Maggie (Brit Marling). Intent on exposing her as a charlatan and freeing the followers from her grip, Peter and Lorna start to question their objective and each other as they unravel the secrets of Maggie’s underworld.

SOUND OF MY VOICE opens in theaters via Fox Searchlight on April 27, 2012.

Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Writers: Michael Bacall, Jonah Hill

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Ellie Kemper, Rob Riggle, Ice Cube

Based on the original TV show by Patrick Hasburgh and Stephen J. Cannell that put Johnny Depp in every Bop/Tiger Beat magazine from 1987-1991, 21 Jump Street introduces us to Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) back in their high school days. As total opposites, Schmidt is a nerdy socially awkward Slim Shady wannabe, while Jenko is the not so sharp lady killing jock that picks on Schmidt. Jump ahead several years and the two cross paths again…this time at the police academy. This time around the two opposites attract as Schmidt needs to train next to Jenko’s muscle, while Jenko needs the tutoring of Schmidt’s mind for them to be able to pass the physical and written exams and make it to graduation together.

Once that hurdle is passed their dreams of being the next John McClane (Die Hard) are soon crushed as the reality sets in that they are the new bicycle cops at the city park. After a botched attempt to take down a biker gang for drugs in the park, Capt. Hardy (Nick Offerman) reassigns Schmidt and Jenko to report to Capt. Dickson (Ice Cube) at a special division on 21 Jump Street. Due to their remaining youthful appearances, the two go undercover as high school students to find the source of a new designer drug originating from a local high school. This time around high school has changed and the social stature of Schmidt and Jenko gets flipped on its head as they finally get to be the teenagers and cops that they never were before.

So…21 Jump Street the movie. The combination of my lack of passion for remakes (see: The A-Team, Transformers 2, Land of the Lost) and my (previous) adverse perception of Channing Tatum made the whole idea of this film existing a poor one, regardless of my fondness for Jonah Hill. My cynical attitude quickly changed as the usual stiff and unnatural Tatum had me laughing and savoring his presence just as much as Hill’s. Not only do I now appreciate his comedic timing and acting potential, but you could even consider me a convert in the House of Tatum.

Simply put, 21 Jump Street could have easily been just another stale ass action/comedy…but what a surprise. With the writing talents of Michael Bacall (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and the multiple hat wearing Jonah Hill, 21 Jump Street is successful in delivering to both genres with entertaining delight. This film seizes all the things that shouldn’t make it work, even going as far to openly make fun of Hollywood with direct jokes about their absence of originality and apathetic approach to recycled ideas. The laughs are well earned and generated often with this buddy cop bro-mance, which very much differentiates itself from the TV version of 21 Jump Street. We also get treated to arguably the best celebrity cameos ever with Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise, as directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller celebrate in the smart ways to “jump” an idea forward.

Rating: 7/10