SAC Cinema presents a night at the theater

Tonight, March 12, is yet another SAC Cinema movie night hosted by the Viking Theater here in Decorah. This month’s selection offers a wide variety of choice for any movie-goer. Whether you’re looking for a chick-flick, explosions or just some old-fashioned Nazis, SAC Cinema will not disapoint.

Valkyrie - 9:15 Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hrs

Tom Cruise stars in “Valkyrie,” a movie based on the true story of a group of Nazi officers who, toward the end of World War II, began to oppose Hitler’s rule. The group made several attempts to take Hitler’s life, and although the ending should already be known by the average movie-goer, the film still creates an atmosphere of tension and suspense.
While some people had negative reactions to early pictures of Tom Cruise dressed as a Nazi officer, most critics agree that he pulled off a well-crafted performance. It didn’t hurt that he had the support of an amazing supporting cast, including Bill Nighy and Kenneth Brannagh. Although this drama, released on Christmas Day, has received mixed reviews, don’t underestimate the draw of a WWII flick.

New in Town - 9:25 Rated: PG
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins

Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr. star in this chick-flick set in the great state of Minnesota. Zellweger plays a business executive who is quickly climbing her career ladder to CEO. However, life throws her a curveball when she ends up on assignment in a small town in Minnesota. While working with the employees of the factory she is overseeing, she comes across Connick in his role as a hard-working union rep, and you guessed it, they fall in love.
While this movie is a bit formulaic (as some chick-flicks tend to be), and it doesn’t pull the punches when making fun of Midwesterners with thick accents, “New in Town” still manages to pull off some charm. With this movie being the shortest of the three offered, it may be popular with those of us with 8 a.m. classes the next day.

Watchmen - 10:00 Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hrs 43 mins

“Watchmen,” starring Billy Crudup and Malin Akerman, tells the story of an alternative version of 1985, where superheroes exist but aren’t always what you would expect. The mostly unknown actors in the movie do the source material justice wth their sometimes chilling but nonetheless empathetic perfromances.
The movie opened last weekend to the top spot in the box office tally with about $55 million. It’s popularity was even felt here in the Decorah bubble with the full midnight premiere last weekend. However, the movie’s length and late start may keep people away.