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Show Life M O V I E Monday • October 6, 2008 B3 R E V I E W S Nick And Norah's Infinite Play list Religulous Columbia Pictures i Charming Kat Dennings as Norah. Lionsgate Maher interviews Jesus in a Holy Lands amusement park. One-sided documentary Teen comedy emits adult charm // only reality had an "Infinite Playlist" misses potential Movie more ridiculous than its claim • LUKEHICKMAN Life writer Political comedian Bill Maher has been pissing people off for years by being open with his ultra-leftwing beliefs. While he has aspired to be in the ranks of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert when it comes to political satire, Maher has always missed the mark. Lionsgate Religulous' Bill Maher, political comedian. Slap the word "controversial" on the side of any product and you'll get a lot f more buyers than before. With his new "documentary" Religulous — a play on the words "religious" and "ridiculous" — Maher is hopelessly trying to join their ranks through nothing but intentional controversy and ignorance. The advertisements for Religulous made Maher appear like his comedic documentary was all about visiting authoritative figures from organized religions looking for indications of hypocrisy. If that had been the drive and purpose of this arrogant film, then it might have been worthwhile. Instead, Religulous shows Maher talking with random people of different faiths, pissing them off and making fun of them any chance he gets. Oftentimes, he doesn't even let his interviewees answer the questions he poses without butting in with some rude remark. While Maher could actually be learning something from what these people are saying, he decides to browbeat them, shut them up and break their faith. While the end product may make Maher look like he's said, "I told you so," to each person he talks to, in reality, it just shows how closed-minded he is. Three days before Religulous' nationwide release, Maher and director Larry Charles, who also di- rected the mostly impromptu Borat, gave interviews claiming that the film was outrageously controversial. What a lame, last-minute attempt at getting your film noticed. Slap the word "controversial" on the side of any product and you'll get a lot more buyers than before. One of the opening scenes of Religulous shows Maher speaking with his mom about being brought up Catholic even though she was Jewish. Her response was that both religions teach people to do good things. And that's what the moral of the story should've been. Not a pessimistic outlook on one of the only positive, life-changing things allowed in current society. No, it isn't perfect. Yes, it has its faults. But it helps a lot more people along in these troubling times than a downer of a so-called documentary. l %^ u Platinum GelinAbaci L^LUKEHICKMANj Life writer Every 10 years, we need a good teen movie. The '80s have Fast Times At Ridgemont High. The '90s have Can't Hardly Wait. And now the '00s have Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist. In Nick And Norah, Michael Cera (Arrested Development, Superbad) plays his typical awkward teenage self as one of the titled characters, Nick. Just like usual, it works really well. Nick is having a hard time recovering after having his heart ripped to shreds by his hot girlfriend, Triss. In an attempt to win her back, Nick makes mix tapes (on CD) dedicated to her and leaves them on her doorstep. Little does he know that she throws them away after mocking him with her friends. Enter Norah, the other titled character, played by Kat Dennings {The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Charlie Bartlett). Norah is friends-by-association with Triss, whom she can't even stand to be around. The only reason Norah puts up with Triss is because she collects Nick's amazing mix tapes out of the trash when she's gone. Not even knowing who he is, Norah is musically in love with Nick. Later that night, the entire teen community is thrown into a frenzy when the under-the-radar popular band Where's Fluffy announces a secret concert at an undisclosed location. It's during Columbia Pictures Michael Cera as the mope, Nick. this mad teenage scavenger hunt around New York City that Nick and Norah's paths cross, changing everything. Nick And Norah is a musically driven film. Almost every scene has fitting, obscure music playing in the background, always setting a perfectly matching mood. It's the type of movie to have several discs of soundtrack re- leased over time; no one disc will contain all of the songs you'd want from the movie. Other than an over-thetop drunken character that distracts from the overall mood and one running gag involving a disgusting piece of gum, Nick And Norah is a surprisingly pleasant pick for this week. Festival Cinemas Wait for it to come to the dollar theater!! call 226-1770 or go to www.festivalcinemasutah.com 959 South 700 East - Orem (behind University Mall) / m TttJinum .Wvt/'f : with .\Un\ Purilf.tu J *i,, /><v -fOl Dhwittiul /: / i n pr.it it'ir.imlwithhunb. of ic HfryfluwoHtl ,i>nl nw> . )itwjf>»tl Cr AT/z/jr I'mvlu >r Sierra-West 2S (titter h\c Sinncy III h.ut tin otily.J.(r.S. .utrcilit gemItthin the L'fnli (\nnity J E W E L E R S 1344 5ouih BOOEajf. Orem • Soutftcail Of University Mall • 801-226-6006 • 800-658-8478 60 East 10600 South. Sandy • Easf of South Town? M.ilf • 801-984-6870 6I90A Soulh Strife Street, Murray • Wat ol F.uhton Race M.ifl • 801 7131900 1214 North 500 West. Vernal • E*\i of KFC • 435 789 3337 www.jicrrflwejtjewclerJ com wtn Utah County's Premier Dollar Theater Showing major Hollywood movies mixed with quirky independent films |