‘Homesman’ heads to Magic Lantern

If you haven’t yet seen “The Homesman” – Tommy Lee Jones’ adaptation of the Glendon Swarthout novel – you’ll have another full week at least to see it. It may be leaving AMC River Park Square, but the Magic Lantern is picking it up.

“The Homesman,” which Jones co-wrote, directed and stars in (along with Hilary Swank and Meryl Streep), received an 81 percent rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes (just 54 percent for general audiences). Here’s what Moira MacDonald wrote in the Seattle Times: “Swank and Streep are big stars with famous faces, and yet disappear into their roles; these characters convey both quiet strength and gentle kindness.”

Historical aside: Novelist Swarthout also wrote novels that became the movies “Where the Boys Are,” “They Came to Cordura,” “Bless the Beasts and Children” and “The Shootist.”

That last one is a Don Siegel film that stars John Wayne in his final role.

Dan Webster

One of the best indicators of potential Oscar nominations comes less from other awards shows – the Golden Globes, for example – than from actual industry honors. When looking for Best Picture nominations, one good bet is to check out the Producer’s Guild preferences. And since the guild made its own nominations public Monday, we can get an early start on those Oscar ballots.

The full list can be found at www.producersguild.org. But it’s worthy to note that “Birdman,” ”Boyhood” and “Foxcatcher” – as well as Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – made the grade. And if nothing else, lists such as this make good viewing suggestions to anyone who didn’t catch the films first time around during their theatrical runs.

It’s never too late to see a good movie. The Oscar nominations will be announced Thursday.   

Dan Webster

Since he broke into the public consciousness with his second full feature, 1997’s “Boogie Nights,” director Paul Thomas Anderson has been a cinephile favorite. Whether examining biblical plagues visiting the contemporary world (“Magnolia”) or exploring the excesses of personal mania as couched in American history (“There Will Be Blood”), Anderson exhibits a command of film narrative that is rare for any age.

Which is why those of us who call ourselves Anderson fans are excited at the prospect of “Inherent Vice,” opening today. Based on a novel by Thomas Pynchon, “Inherent Vice” is a private-eye film set in the Southern California of the pot-sodden 1970s. Can’t wait.

Excepting last-second schedule changes, the weekend’s opening are as follows:

“Inherent Vice”: Joaquin Phoenix plays a perpetually stoned PI who is gets mixed up in a complicated case that involves kidnapping, extortion and murder. Imagine Philip Marlowe on the pipe.

“Taken 3”: Liam Neeson returns as the former government operative so skilled he can outwit both the FBI and, seemingly, the whole Russian mob. Just remember: He will find you.

“Selma”: Based on the real-life freedom march that was planned, and led, by Martin Luther King Jr. Unlike other historical studies, this one is scoring a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Director Ava DuVernay obviously had a dream …

And at the Magic Lantern:

“Keep On Keeping’ On”: This documentary tells the story of legendary jazz trumpeter Clark Terry, coming to the end of his life, just as one of his students – blind pianist Justin Kauflin – is beginning his own career. Talk about the blind leading the blind.

So, as always, go to a movie. And enjoy.

Dan Webster