January 15, 2010 -- The Annual Spring Art and Foreign Film Series at the Wyo Theatre opens January 31 with “The Men Who Stare at Goats.” Other critically acclaimed films in the series include “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “An Education,” “Crazy Heart,” “The White Ribbon,” (Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte) “Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos)” and “Up in the Air.” See the complete list, schedule, along with ratings, reviews and synopses below. All but two of these films had not been shown in Laramie previously as of this writing. Even if the Fox does decide to show some of these films first, it is up to $3.50 per ticket cheaper to see it in the series than it is to see it at the Fox, and the Wyo has a much bigger screen. The price difference will be up to $5.50 per ticket cheaper at the Wyo Theatre.

The spring film series runs from January 31, to May 2 every Sunday (except April 4) at the Wyo Theatre, 309 S. Fifth St. in Laramie. All shows start at 7 p.m. The regular price for films in the series is $6.50, or $5 for holders of a Wyo Film Society membership card. Membership cards can be purchased for $5 at Wyo Theatre box office from now until the end of the series. Those who bought memberships for the recent fall film series don't need to buy another one for this series. The same card is also good for the Spring Film Series. If you don't have a membership and plan to watch four or more films in the spring series, the purchase of a membership card will save you money.

Following is a schedule and list of films in the series, followed by a brief synopsis of each film. For updates and possible changes in the film series, sign up for the Laramie Film Society's email announcement list at http://www.topica.com/lists/film.laramie.wy.us/ (average of less than one message per week). You can also keep up to date on this series by checking this web page or the web page of The Laramie Film Society (http://film.laramie.wy.us). This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Check back here frequently, or subscribe to the email list to be notified of possible changes in the film schedule.

Each title below is linked to reviews. Titles with an asterisk are linked to Online Film Critics Society (ofcs.org) reviews. Ratings (stars) are those provided by Laramie Movie Scope, or are an average of OFCS ratings, or an average calculated by toptenreviews.com or metacritics.com (marked by an asterisk). Ratings are equivalent to the following school-type grades: 2 stars equals a C, 2.5 stars equals a C+ 3 stars equals B, 3.5 stars equals B+ (same as an A-):

January 31 -- The Men Who Stare at Goats
February 7 -- Fantastic Mr. Fox
February 14 -- An Education
February 21 -- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
February 28 -- The Road*
March 7 -- Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos)*
March 14 -- Up in the Air
March 21 -- The Young Victoria
March 28 -- The White Ribbon (Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte)*
April 11 -- The Last Station*
April 18 -- Nine
April 25 -- Crazy Heart
May 2 -- The Lovely Bones

January 31 -- The Men Who Stare at Goats: A journalist (played by Ewan McGregor of the “Star Wars” movies) stumbles across a wacky military project designed to use extra-sensory perception and telekinesis as weapons. This, in turn, lands him in a wild, hilarious adventure in the Middle East, accompanied by an elite mental soldier, a “Jedi Warrior” (played by George Clooney). What's even stranger, this film is based on a non-fiction book! Also starring Kevin Spacey. Rated R, 94 minutes.

February 21 -- Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire: A young girl (played by Gabourey Sidibe) rises up out of her terrible situation in the ghetto despite all the odds against her. Mo'Nique, who plays the girl's abusive mother, is considered a shoo-in for the best supporting actress Oscar. She has already picked up a Golden Globe for her performance. The film also stars Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz. The film won an award for best ensemble acting from the Boston Society of Film Critics. It won the top audience award at five different international film festivals. Both Mo'Nique and Gabourey Sidibe have won numerous acting awards at film festivals, from film critics associations and professional organizations. Rated R, 110 minutes.

February 28 -- The Road: A man and his son wander through a wasteland after most of humanity has been wiped out and chaos reigns. Based on a novel by Cormac McCarthy (“No Country for Old Men”). Javier Aguirresarobe won the top cinematography prize from the San Diego Film Critics Society for his work in this film. The film was nominated for a Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival and leading actor Viggo Mortensen was nominated for a best acting award from two film critics associations. Rated R, 111 minutes.

March 7 -- Broken Embraces (Los abrazos rotos): A blind man lives in darkness, living off the movie scripts he writes. In his past is something far darker than his blindness. Starring Penélope Cruz, written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, this film won the Critic's Choice Award from the broadcast critics as the best foreign language film of 2009. It won the audience award at the São Paulo International Film Festival. Won the best foreign language film award from the Phoenix Film Critics Society. It won a European Film award and was nominated for numerous other international and domestic film awards. In Spanish with English subtitles. Rated R, 127 minutes.

March 14 -- Up in the Air: A business man (George Clooney) is about to set an air travel distance mark few have broken when he is forced to take on a young apprentice (Anna Kendrick) who thinks of him as a fossil. His business is firing people. His well-ordered world is about to fall apart when he begins to realize how empty his life is. Nominated for six Academy Awards and winner of a Golden Globe for best screenplay, this film has won 43 international film awards, including eight awards for best picture of the year, including a Best Picture award from the National Board of Review. Rated R, 108 minutes.

March 21 -- The Young Victoria: This follows the story of Victoria (played by Emily Blunt of “Sunshine Cleaning”), the young woman who became the longest reigning monarch in British history. This covers a time roughly the year before she became queen, through the first year of her reign and her marriage to Prince Albert (played by Rupert Friend of “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”). This is a story of drama, romance and political intrigue. Blunt has been nominated for several acting awards and the film has won a couple of audience choice awards at international film festivals. Rated PG, 105 minutes.

March 28 -- The White Ribbon (Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte): Strange accidents befall families in a village in Protestant northern Germany on the eve of World War I. The story centers on children and teenagers of a choir run by the village schoolteacher, and their families. This film won a number of international awards from critics associations and from international film festivals. The film won a Golden Globe award for best foreign film. It won a Golden Palm award at the Cannes International Film Festival. It was named best foreign language film by the Chicago Film Critics Association and by the Toronto Film Critics Association. Cinematographer Christian Berger won three American critics association awards for his work on this film. Writer-director Michael Haneke also won several international awards, including best director and best screenplay at the European Film Awards, where the movie was named Best Film of the year. In German with English subtitles. Rated R, 144 minutes.

April 11 -- The Last Station. This historical drama, based on Jay Parini's 1990 novel, explores the final year in the life of the Russian writer and philosopher Tolstoy and his struggles to balance fame, fortune and his marriage against his non-materialism philosophy. Starring James McAvoy, Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren and Paul Giamatti. Helen Mirren won the best actress award at the Rome Film Fest for her performance in this film. Writer-director Michael Hoffman won a Hessian Film Award for best literary adaptation, and was nominated for several other international awards. Rated R, running time 112 minutes.

April 18 -- Nine. This elaborate musical is based on the life of film director Guido Contini as he tries to balance his career and the women in his life, including his wife, his mistress, his film star. Starring Kate Hudson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Fergie, Penélope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren and James McAvoy. This film won an award for best ensemble acting from the The International Press Academy Satellite Awards. It also won best art direction from the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association. Rated PG-13, running time 118 minutes.

April 25 -- Crazy Heart. Bad Blake (played by Jeff Bridges of “Iron Man”) is a country-western singer who once was famous, but is now playing one-night stands in bowling alleys. He's had too much booze and too many marriages. Then he meets a pretty young woman (played by Maggie Gyllenhaal of “The Dark Knight”) who inspires him to become a better man. Also starring Collin Farrell and Robert Duvall. T-Bone Burnett has won several awards, including a Golden Globe, for the haunting songs he wrote for this film (performed by Bridges and Farrell). Bridges has won several acting awards for his performance in this film, including a Golden Globe, and is expected to be a contender for an Academy Award. Rated R, running time 112 minutes.

May 2 -- The Lovely Bones: This unusual story from writer-director Peter Jackson (“Lord of the Rings” trilogy) combines elements of murder mystery, romance, drama, humor and the supernatural. A young girl who is murdered is caught between this life and the next until her family members are able to move past their need for closure and justice. Starring Saoirse Ronan (“Atonement”), Mark Wahlberg (“The Departed”), Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener”), Stanley Tucci (“Julie and Julia”) and Susan Sarandon (“In the Valley of Elah”). Rated PG-13. Running time, 135 minutes.

Copyright © 2010 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.