The Woodsman

The Woodsman

The Woodsman (87 min, Rated R)
With a 12-year prison stretch reaching an end, Walter (Kevin Bacon) faces an uncertain walk back into the free world in THE WOODSMAN. Attempting to keep his past indiscretions sheltered from prying eyes, he tries to piece together his shattered life by finding a job and an apartment. Employment at a lumberyard comes easily thanks to his natural talent for woodcraft. An apartment comes less easily, but Walter manages to secure a roof over his head in a building, which--in a cruel twist of irony--is located opposite an elementary school. Walter's brother-in-law Carlos (Benjamin Bratt) remains the only member of his family willing to keep in contact with him. Meanwhile, Sgt. Lucas (Mos Def) keeps a watchful eye over Walter's activities while Walter makes faltering strides towards romance with his tough-as-nails co-worker, Vickie (Kyra Sedgwick). But as wary neighbors steal worried glances at him and gossip, Walter finds it inordinately difficult to keep his past life a secret. For this reformed character, the path to redemption comes strewn with cracked paving stones, which need to be carefully navigated with every tentative step he takes.

Beyond the Sea

Beyond the Sea (98 min, Rated R)

For BOBBY DARIN (Kevin Spacey), performing was his life. After suffering from rheumatic fever at the age of seven, Bobby is told he'll be lucky to live to be fifteen. Modern medicine and determination keep him alive, and by 20, with the help of his manager Steve Blauner (John Goodman), he's working his way up from tacky clubs to performing in Vegas, finally scoring a hit with 'Splish Splash'. "Mack the Knife" makes him the star he's dreamed of becoming, but never satisfied with success, he continues to reinvent himself. He falls for the actress Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth) while filming a movie in Italy, and despite her mother's protests, Bobby and Sandy get married. Though they are the perfect-looking Hollywood couple, their life together is conflicted by her acting career and his touring. His dogged pursuit of fame and fortune isolates him from the very people who love him and believe in him. "A hugely entertaining, highly empathetic portrait." -- Kirk Honeycutt, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER "Beyond the Sea is a beautiful whirlwind musical homage to crooner Bobby Darin's remarkable career and astonishing life..." -- Emily Blunt, BLUNT REVIEW

The Grand Cinema, Tacoma WA