Volume V No. 3

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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Unleashed
Action-thriller about a developmentally disabled fighter, and what happens after his “owner” – who raised the fighter as a dog from childhood – falls into a coma. The “Transporter” team of director Louis Leterrier and screenwriters Luc Besson (“Wasabi,” “Taxi”) and Robert Mark Kamen (“Kiss of the Dragon”) reunite. With Jet Li (“Cradle 2 the Grave,” “Hero”), Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”), Bob Hoskins (“Son of the Mask”), Kerry Condon (“Ned Kelly”) and Christian Gazio (“The Transporter”). Also known as “Danny the Dog.” R: Strong violent content; language; some sexuality/nudity. April 8. Focus.

 

 

The Weather Man
Drama about a middle-aged TV meteorologist who attempts to bandage a tattered relationship with his estranged wife and children before moving from Chicago to New York. Directed by Gore Verbinski (“The Ring,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”) from a screenplay by Steve Conrad (“Wrestling Ernest Hemingway”). With Nicolas Cage (“National Treasure”), Michael Caine (“Around the Bend”), Hope Davis (“American Splendor”), Gemmenne de la Peña (“Erin Brockovich”), Nicholas Hoult (“About A Boy”), Michael Rispoli (“Mr. 3000”), David Darlow (“Road to Perdition”) and Judith McConnell (“The Thirsty Dead”). Flat. 102 min. R: Strong language; sexual content. April 1. Paramount.

 

Wasabi Tuna
Comedy, set on Halloween in West Hollywood, Calif., about a group of drag queens who conspire to return reality-show star Anna Nicole Smith’s kidnapped dog Sugar-Pie. Directed by Lee Friedlander from a screenplay by Celia Fox. With Smith (“Naked Gun 33 1/3”), Christian Keiber (“My Favorite Martian”), Federico Dordei (“The Journey”), John Williams (“The Whole Ten Yards”), Alanna Ubach (“Meet the Fockers”), Guillermo Díaz (“The Terminal”), Alexis Arquette (“Spun”), Jason London (“Grind”), Tim Meadows (“The Cookout”), Antonio Sabato Jr. (“The Big Hit”), Lisa Arning (“Hollywood Homicide”) and Dariush Kashani. Flat. 92 min. R: Sexual content. Indican.

 

 

XXX: State of the Union
NSA agent Augustus Gibbons recruits a new criminal into the XXX program, this time to track a dangerous military splinter group bent on overthrowing the U.S. government. Returnees from 2002’s “XXX” include Samuel L. Jackson (“Coach Carter”) as Gibbons and Michael Roof (“Black Hawk Down”) as Agent Shaver. Newcomers to the series include director Lee Tamahori (“Die Another Day”) and screenwriter Simon Kinberg as well as actors Ice Cube (“Are We There Yet?”), Willem Dafoe (“The Aviator”), Peter Strauss (“Nick of Time”), Nona Gaye (the “Matrix” series), Scott Speedman (“Underworld”), Ned Schmidtke (“Mercury Rising”), Sunny Mabrey (“The New Guy”) and John G. Connolly (“Mr. 3000”). April 29. Sony.

 

 

Beauty Shop
Comedy, set in Atlanta, about a strong-willed hairdresser who launches her own shop after her boss takes credit for her work. A spin-off of the “Barbershop” series. Directed by Bille Woodruff (“Honey”) from a screenplay by Kate Lanier (“Set it Off,” “Glitter”) and Norman Vance. With Queen Latifah (“Taxi”), Alicia Silverstone (“Scooby-Doo 2”), Mena Suvari (“Spun”), Andie MacDowell (“Crush”), Kevin Bacon (“The Woodsman”), Djimon Hounsou (“Constantine”), Golden Brooks (“Impostor”), Keshia Knight Pulliam (“The Last Dragon”), Wilmer Valderrama (“Party Monster”), Della Reese (“A Thin Line Between Love and Hate”) and Alfre Woodard (“The Forgotten”). PG-13: Sexual material; language; brief drug reference. March 30. MGM.

 

 

The Boat Is Full
Re-release of the 1981 German-language drama, set during World War II, about Jews who flee from Germany to Switzerland, only to attract the scrutiny of a suspicious local constable. Based on the novel by Alfred A. Haesler. Written and directed by Markus Imhoof. With Tina Engel (“The Promise”), Curt Bois (“Wings of Desire”), Hans Diehl, Martin Walz, Ilse Bahrs and Gerd David. Flat. 101 min. March 11. Castle Hill.

Kung Fu Hustle
Cantonese action-comedy, set in 1940s Canton, China, about slum residents who exhibit supernatural martial arts acumen when they’re challenged by members of the city’s all-powerful “Axe Gang.” Directed by Stephen Chow (“Shaolin Soccer”) from a screenplay by Chow, Tsang Kan Cheong (“Shaolin Soccer”), Huo Xin (“Quitting”) and Chan Man Keung. With Chow (“Shaolin Soccer”), Yuen Wah (“Supercop”) and Feng Xiaogang (“Happy Funeral”). Also known as “Gong Fu.” Scope. 99 min. R: Sequences of strong stylized action and violence. March 18 in New York and Los Angeles. Sony Pictures Classics.

 

 

Pure
Drama, set in London, about a son’s efforts to halt his recently widowed mother’s descent into drug addiction. Gillies MacKinnon (“Behind the Lines,” “Hideous Kinky”) directs from a screenplay by Alison Hume. With Harry Eden (“Peter Pan”), Vinnie Hunter (“Intimacy”), Keira Knightley (“King Arthur,” “The Jacket”), Molly Parker (“Max”), David Wenham (“Van Helsing”) and Nitin Chandra Ganatra (“Bride and Prejudice”). Flat. 96 min. Mar. 25. Indican.

 

 

Steamboy
Animated science-fiction adventure, set in 19th century London, about a youngster who finds himself on the run from a powerful organization that wants the strange silver ball his scientist grandfather gave him. Katsuhiro Ôtomo (“Akira”) directs from a screenplay by Ôtomo and Sadayuki Murai (“Perfect Blue,” “Millennium Actress”). The subtitled Japanese-language version features the voices of Kiyoshi Kodama, Manami Konishi, Katsuo Nakamura and Anne Suzuki. The dubbed English-language version features the voices of and Robin Atkin Downes, Patrick Stewart, Anna Paquin, Alfred Molina and David S. Lee. PG-13: Action violence. March 18 limited. Sony.

 

 

Walk on Water
German-, Hebrew- and English-language political thriller about a homophobic Israeli intelligence agent who befriends the homosexual grandson of the ex-Nazi officer he has been assigned to kill. Directed by Eytan Fox from a screenplay by Gal Uchovsky. With Carola Regnier (“Rosenstrasse”), Lior Ashkenazi (“Late Marriage”), Hanns Zischler (“Eyewitness”), Knut Berger, Caroline Peter, Gideon Shemer and Eyal Rozales. Flat. 104 min. March 4. IDP.

The Best of Youth
Six-hour Italian-language drama, set between 1966 and 2000, about two brothers – a cop and psychiatrist – whose separate lives reconnect after the psychiatrist’s wife becomes involved with terrorists. Directed by Marco Tullio Giordana (“Especially on Sunday”) from a screenplay by Sandro Petraglia (“The Truce,” “Perlasca”) and Stefano Rulli (“The Truce,” “Perlasca”). With Maya Sansa (“Gasoline”), Danilo Maria Vali (“Passion of the Christ”), Patrizia Punzo (“Cemetery Man”), Alessio Asti and Luigi Lo Cascio. Also known as “La Meglio gioventù.” Flat. 363 min. R: Language; brief nudity. March 2. Miramax.

 

 

The Boys And Girl From County Clare
Musical comedy about two brothers – leaders of rival Irish dance bands – who meet at the Ireland Traditional Music finals 20 years after parting on poor terms. Directed by John Irvin (“A Month by the Lake”,”City of Industry”) from a screenplay by Nicholas Adams. With Phil Barantini (“Ned Kelly”), Patrick Bergin (“Ella Enchanted”), Bernard Hill (“Wimbledon”), Colm Meaney (“Intermission,” “Layer Cake”) and Zelia Attzs. Scope. 90 min. March 11. IDP.

 

 

Milk and Honey
Drama, set in New York City, about a wife who publicly rejects her stockbroker husband’s offer to marry her again, and what happens when the couple impulsively make separate journeys into the city. Written and directed by Joe Maggio (“Virgil Bliss”). With Clint Jordan (“What Alice Found”), Kirsten Russell (“Virgil Bliss”), Greg Amici (“Virgil Bliss”), Eleanor Hutchins (“Margarita Happy Hour”), Dudley Findlay Jr., and Anthony Howard. March 18 in New York. Wellspring.

 

 

Sequins
French-language drama about a pregnant teen who finds refuge in a small embroidery studio, where she develops a friendship with the grieving woman who owns it. Directed by Éléonore Faucher from a screenplay by Faucher and Gaëlle Macé. With Lola Naymark (“Monsieur Ibrahim”), Ariane Ascaride (“The Town Is Quiet”), Jackie Berroyer (“The Swindle,” “Look at Me”), Anne Canovas (“Le Divorce”), Marina Tomé (“Happenstance”) and Elisabeth Commelin (“Chocolat”). Also known as “A Common Thread.” Flat. 88 min. March 25 in New York. New Yorker.

 

 

A Wake In Providence
Drama about a Los Angeles man who, while attending the Rhode Island funeral of his grandfather, introduces his African-American girlfriend to his disapproving Italian-American family. Directed by Rosario Roveto Jr. by a screenplay by Billy Van Zant & Jane Milmore (TV’s “Martin”) and Vincent Pagano & Mike Pagano. With Vincent Pagano, Victoria Rowell (“Eve’s Bayou”), Adrienne Barbeau (“Fatherhood”), John Capodice (“The Amati Girls”), Sarah Thompson (“America’s Most Wanted”), Sam Coppola (“Empire”), Mark DeCarlo (“Raising Helen”), John Ferus (“Pasionada”) and Louis Guss (“The Crew”). March 11. Flat. 100 min. R: Language; some sexual content. Indican.

 

 

 

 

"The Amityville Horror" — "Layer Cake"

"Look at Me" — "Torremolinos '73"

 

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