This Week in Film: March 28th 2008

Before we move onto the films playing this week, I must urge every filmgoer to see The Counterfeiters, which is still playing at Tinseltown. I saw it last weekend and it's incredible. Telling the true story of how the Nazis forced Holocaust concentration camp prisoners into making them millions of dollars in counterfeit money, the film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film and it truly deserved it. All the performances are fantastic and it's very realistic. Make sure to catch it before it leaves the theatres.

Also starting at Tinseltown is the new film Honeydripper from acclaimed director John Sayles. Filmed and set in Alabama, the film stars Danny Glover as the owner of a failing blues club that gets a jumpstart when he hires a young new guitarist. If you want something original, Sayles is always a reliable filmmaker.

The brilliant Simon Pegg stars with Thandie Newton and Hank Azaria in David Schwimmer's directorial debut Run Fatboy Run. He plays an out-of-shape guy who tries to win back his former flame by entering a marathon. I'm not a big fan of rom-com's, but hopefully it helps Pegg gets his name out to the unfortunate ones who are unaware of the great comedy of Spaced or Hot Fuzz.

Also opening in wide release, you have your Iraq war movie, Stop Loss, made with the help of MTV Films. Ryan Phillipe stars as a war hero who is called back to fight in Iraq against his will and it (in the words of the official synopsis) tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor. Sounds like a cheesefest to me, but I'm probably in the minority.

Last but not least, Across the Universe's pretty boy Jim Sturgess stars with Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Spacey in 21, about a group of math students who take millions from the Vegas casinos by mastering the art of card counting.

Playing at the Vancity Theatre this weekend: Heddy Honigmann's documentary Forever, about the famous Paris cemetary Pere-Lachaise. Also playing is Note By Note: The Making of the Steinway L1037, a documentary on the genesis of a Steinway grand piano.

Starting Wednesday at Vancity is the much-acclaimed Romanian film 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days, which tells the story of a woman who assists her friend in getting an illegal abortion in 1980's Romania. It won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and has been featured on tons of critics' top ten lists for 2007.

On March 28 at 8:00, The Paul & Ben Film Festival showcases short films, documentary, animation and sound pieces created by independent filmmakers, journalists and artists at the Emily Carr Institute. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Support more local film by attending a screening of rare, renowned and recent shorts by local underground filmmakers at Terminal Cinema on April 1 at 8:00. It's at Pacific Cinematheque and admission is free!

As mentioned last week, The Vancouver Jewish Film Festival runs until April 6th. Check out www.vjff.org for more details.