Capitalism: A Love Story

Twenty years after his influential debut, Roger & Me, Michael Moore returns to his roots by pulling back the curtain on capitalism to reveal the insidious role it has played in the destruction of the American dream for many people in this Oct. 2009 Documentary showing Monday, December 5, 4 p.m. at Cine del Lago in Ajijic.

Back in 1989, auto workers in Flint, MI, were lamenting layoffs and wondering how they would support their families without jobs to pay the bills, or benefits to ensure their health. Flash forward two decades, when cities all across the country are feeling the same pressures that Flint residents were back when GM left them high and dry. With an average of 14,000 U.S. jobs lost every day and taxpayer money constantly being pumped into failing financial institutions, the question must be asked: how long can this go on before the entire system collapses? Is there really any hope for Americans who are losing their homes to foreclosure and seeing their savings get wiped out at an unprecedented rate? In order to seek out an answer to this question and many more, Moore takes a trip to our nation’s capitol, engaging average Americans in conversations about the prospect of repairing America’s failing, debt-ridden economy along the way. Director: Michael Moore. Cast: Michael Moore. Rated: R. Time: 2:07.

Contagion

Contagion follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart. Director: Steven Soderbergh. Cast: Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet. Rated: PG-13. Time: 1:46.

In Time

When scientists unlock the secret to immortality, time becomes the new currency and one desperate man comes under attack from a mysterious group known only as the “Time Keepers.” In the not-too-distant future, scientists have discovered a way to turn off the aging gene. As the threat of overpopulation looms over society, money becomes a thing of the past. Now, assets are measured in time; those with the most time also possess the most power. Meanwhile, the lower classes are forced to barter with the new elite if they want to live forever. Suddenly a young commoner stumbles across a treasure chest of time. With the “Time Keepers” in hot pursuit, however, he may never get a chance to use it. Director: Andrew Niccol. Cast: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Vincent Kartheiser, Olivia Wilde.  Rated:PG-13. Time: 1:55.

Moneyball

In Bennett Miller’s adaptation of Michael Lewis’ non-fiction best seller Moneyball, Billy Beane is a one-time phenom who flamed out in the big leagues and now works as the GM for the Oakland Athletics, a franchise that’s about to lose their three best players to free agency.

Because the team isn’t in a financial position to spend as much as perennial favorites like the Yankees and the Red Sox, Beane realizes he needs to radically change how he evaluates what players can bring to the squad. After he meets Peter Brand, an Ivy League economics major working as an executive assistant for scouting on another team, Beane realizes he’s found the man who understands how to subvert the system of assessing players that’s been in place for nearly a century. However, as the duo begin to acquire players that seem too old, injured, or inept to play major-league baseball, they face stiff resistance from both the A’s longtime scouts and the team’s manager Art Howe, who refuses to allow Beane’s more-nontraditional acquisitions to play.  Director: Bennett Miller. Cast: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt. Rated: PG-13. Time: 2:06

Paranormal Activity 3

‘Paranormal Activity 3’ continues the much-anticipated supernatural-horror series. The film is set in 1988, 18 years before the events of Paranormal Activity and Paranormal Activity 2, when Katie and Kristi were children. While trying to get video evidence of Bloody Mary, Katie and Kristi are first confronted by the monstrous demon that sets to haunt them. Directed By: Henry Joost , Ariel Schulman . Cast: Chloe Csengery, Jessica Tyler Brown and Christopher Nicholas Smith. Rated: R. Time: 1:24.

I don’t know how she does it

A working mother strives to balance her demanding career with the stress of raising two young children and maintaining a healthy marriage in this comedy adapted from the best-selling novel by Allison Pearson.

By day, Kate Reddy works for a Boston-based financial management firm; by night, she’s a devoted mother to two adoring children and the happily married wife of out-of-work architect Richard. Though balancing those two worlds has its fair share of challenges, Kate generally manages to come out on top thanks to the support of her best friend, Allison, who’s had plenty of experience balancing kids and a career.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, Kate’s sharp-as-a-tack junior associate assistant, Momo, possesses a fear of children and a strong work ethic. Just when Kate lands a lucrative new account that will see her traveling across the country on a regular basis, however, her new business associate Jack reveals his flirtatious side and Richard receives a job offer he can’t turn down.

Though it looks as if Kate and Richard couldn’t possibly take on any more responsibility, the demands of modern living ensure they’ll never have a dull moment, even if they try.

Director: Douglas McGrath. Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer, Christina Hendricks. Rated: PG-13. Time: 1:31.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1

At last, Bella and Edward are getting married. When Jacob finds out that Bella wants to spend her honeymoon as a human, he is horrified — for Edward’s passion could accidentally kill her. Bella does indeed survive her honeymoon, but a new complication arises when she discovers that she’s pregnant — and the child is growing at an alarming rate. The pregnancy sets the wolves against Bella and Edward, but Jacob vows to protect his friend. Director: Bill Condon. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz. Rated: PG-13. Time: 1:57.

Abduction

A thriller about a teen who finds himself in mortal danger after realizing that his entire childhood has been built on lies.

Realizing that the people who raised him aren’t his real parents after stumbling across a childhood photo of himself on a website devoted to missing children, the frightened teen flees for his life as FBI agents Frank Burton and Sandra Burns race to protect him and uncover the truth about his mysterious past.

Director: John Singleton. Cast: Taylor Lautner, Alfred Molina, Antonique Smith, Maria Bello, Jason Isaacs. Rated: PG-13. Time: 1:46.