At the theaters

Tue, 10/31/2017 - 12:00pm

Harbor Theater

“Rebel in the Rye” - J.D. Salinger (portrayed by Nicholas Hoult)  is one of the most enigmatic authors of modern American literature. Everybody reads “Catcher in the Rye” in high school, but nobody understands much about the life of this recluse whose first and only work became a classic. This biopic delves deep into his thought process on writing, his romance with Oona O’Neill ( Zoey Deutch) who later became Charlie Chaplin’s wife; his experiences in World War II; and the complicated relationship Salinger had with his editor (Kevin Spacey) who was the only one who could coax Salinger into being himself.

"Rebel In the Rye" is rated PG13. Final screening: Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

"Stronger" - The inspirational and heroic true-life story of Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal), the man whose iconic photo from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing captured the hearts of the world. Jeff goes to the marathon to watch his ex-girlfriend, Erin (Tatiana Maslay) and is caught in the bomber’s path, losing both legs above the knee. After regaining consciousness in the hospital,  Jeff is able to help law enforcement identify one of the suspects, but his own battle is just beginning. Family problems, his new condition and new-found fame plague him as he embarks on a  long journey to physical and emotional rehabilitation. Based on Bauman's New York Times bestselling book, co-authored with Bret Witter.

Wrote reviewer Kate Erbland for IndieWire, "It's a film about heroes and what we require from them, and why that often leads to wounds that may never heal. For Gyllenhaal, that amounts to a riveting and raw performance that never hits a false note.”

"Stronger" is rated R and plays Thursday, Nov. 2 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. (Thursday and Friday matinee tickets $6)

“Battle of the Sexes” - In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women's movement, the 1973 tennis match between women's World #1 Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men's champ, and serial hustler, Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the “Battle of the Sexes” and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time, reaching 90 million viewers around the world.

As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was not only championing for equality, but also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court, sparking discussions in bedrooms and boardrooms that continue to reverberate today.

"It's game, set and match for Battle of the Sexes, a massively entertaining account of the momentous 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs that also deftly deals with the numerous social issues inherent in the carnival-like contest". Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

Rated PG13, "Battle of the Sexes” plays at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, Saturday, Nov. 4, and Wednesday, Nov. 8; on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2 and 7 p.m.

Harbor Theater ~ 185 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor ~ 633-0438 ~ www.boothbaycinema.org

Lincoln Theater

“Lucky” - Lucky follows the spiritual journey of a 90-year-old atheist and the quirky characters that inhabit his off the map desert town. Having out lived and out smoked all his contemporaries, the fiercely independent Lucky finds himself at the precipice of life, thrust into a journey of self-exploration, leading towards that which is so often unattainable: enlightenment. This film is acclaimed character actor John Carroll Lynch's directorial debut. It is at once a love letter to the life and career of the late Harry Dean Stanton as well as a meditation on morality, loneliness, spirituality, and human connection. Final screenings at 2 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1 and Thursday, Nov 2.

Lincoln Theater’s Classic Film Club presents: “The African Queen” (1959) - In Africa during World War I, a gin-swilling riverboat captain is persuaded by a strait-laced missionary to use his boat to attack an enemy warship. Starring Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance). Friday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m., doors open at 1.

“Stronger” - The inspirational and heroic true-life story of Jeff Bauman, the man whose iconic photo from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing captured the hearts of the world. Based on Bauman's New York Times bestselling book, co-authored with Bret Witter. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Rated R, it plays at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov 3 and Sunday, Nov. 5; at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, Wednesday, Nov. 8 (2 .m. show with open captions), and Thursday, Nov. 9.

“The Exterminating Angel” (1962) - In this jet black and surrealist comedy, a formal dinner party starts out normally enough. After the sophisticated guests retire to the host's exquisite music room, they find that they cannot leave. Hours pass and then days, and as the time plods by, disturbing changes in the formerly-genteel guests occur. Written and directed by Luis Buñuel. In Spanish, with subtitles. The film is the basis for the upcoming opera, a U.S. premiere, to be broadcast live from the Met in two weeks. Saturday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Free.

Lincoln Theater ~ 2 Theater Street, Damariscotta ~ 207-563-3424 ~ www.atthelincoln.org.