Volume V No. 12

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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Munich
Drama about a Mossad agent on the trail of the Palestinian terrorists who assassinated Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics. Directed by Steven Spielberg (“The Terminal,” “War of the Worlds”) from a screenplay by Eric Roth (“The Horse Whisperer,” “The Insider,” “Ali”), Charles Randolph (“The Interpreter”) and playwright Tony Kushner (“Angels in America”). With Eric Bana (“Troy”), Geoffrey Rush (“Intolerable Cruelty”), Daniel Craig (“Layer Cake”), Ciaran Hinds (“Phantom of the Opera”), Matthieu Kassovitz (“Amen”) and Jean Smart (“I Heart Huckabees”). Dec. 23 limited; wide Jan. 6. Universal.

 

 

R-Point
Spanish-language comedy, set in 1913, about a pregnant wife who, with the help of her besotted brother-in-law, sets out to track down her missing, Freud-obsessed husband. Directed by Joaquín Oristrell from a screenplay by Oristrell, Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri. With Leonor Watling (“Cronicas”), Luis Tosar (“Mondays in the Sun”), Alex Brendemühl, Mercedes Sampietro (“Second Skin”), Juanjo Puigcorbé, Ana Rayo, Núria Prims. Flat. Jan. 20. Regent.

 

Unconscious
Spanish-language comedy, set in 1913, about a pregnant wife who, with the help of her besotted brother-in-law, sets out to track down her missing, Freud-obsessed husband. Directed by Joaquín Oristrell from a screenplay by Oristrell, Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri. With Leonor Watling (“Cronicas”), Luis Tosar (“Mondays in the Sun”), Alex Brendemühl, Mercedes Sampietro (“Second Skin”), Juanjo Puigcorbé, Ana Rayo, Núria Prims. Flat. Jan. 20. Regent.

 

Why We Fight
Documentary arguing that the unchallenged expansion of the U.S. defense industry since World War II has created a constant economic and political need for war. Written and directed by Eugene Jarecki (“The Trials of Henry Kissinger”). Featuring John McCain, John S.D. Eisenhower, Ahn Duong, Wally Saeger and Gore Vidal. 99 min. Jan. 20. Sony Pictures Classics.

World's Fastest Indian
Drama, based on a true story, about 72-year-old New Zealander with a heart condition who in 1971 set a world record when he raced his self-modified 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle across Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. Directed by Roger Donaldson (“Thirteen Days,” “The Recruit”) from his own screenplay. With Anthony Hopkins (“Proof”), Bruce Greenwood (“Capote”), Diane Ladd (“28 Days”), Paul Rodriguez (“A Cinderella Story”), Chris Lawford (“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”) and Jessica Cauffiel (“D.E.B.S.”). 127 min. Jan. 27. Magnolia.

Nanny McPhee
Comedy about a magical nanny who uses her charm on the world’s seven worst children. Based on the “Nurse Matilda” book series by Christianna Brand. Directed by Kirk Jones (“Waking Ned Devine”) from a screenplay by Emma Thompson (“Sense and Sensibility”). Thompson (“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”), who played “Nanny Gee” on TV’s “Cheers,” plays Nanny McPhee. Co-stars include Colin Firth (“Where the Truth Lies”), Angela Lansbury (“The Company of Wolves”), Derek Jacobi (“Gosford Park,” “Underworld: Evolution”), Kelly Macdonald (“Finding Neverland,” “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story”) and Thomas Sangster (“Love Actually”). PG: Mild thematic elements; some rude humor; brief language. Jan 27. Universal.

 

 

Running Scared
Crime thriller about what happens after a mobster’s young son finds an important piece of evidence – a discarded pistol recently used as a murder weapon. Written and directed by Wayne Kramer (“The Cooler”). With Cameron Bright (“Godsend,” “Birth”), Paul Walker (“Into the Blue”), Elizabeth Mitchell (“The Santa Clause 2”), Chazz Palminteri (“Analyze This,” “Into the Mix”), Johnny Messner (“Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”), Michael Cudlitz (“Forces of Nature”), Ivana Milicevic (“Just Like Heaven”) and Vera Farmiga (“The Manchurian Candidate”). Scope. R: Pervasive strong brutal violence; language; sexuality; drug content. Jan. 6. New Line.

 

Underworld: Evolution
Sequel to the 2003 hit finds the lovers from the first film as they trace the origins of the ancient feud that pits the vampiric Death Dealers against the Lycan tribe of werewolves. Returnees from part one include director-screenwriter Len Wiseman, screenwriter Danny McBride and actors Kate Beckinsale (“The Aviator”), Scott Speedman (“XXX: State of the Union”), Bill Nighy (“The Constant Gardener”), Shane Brolly (“Impostor”), Scott McElroy (“The Mask”) and Michael Sheen (“Laws of Attraction”). Newcomers to the franchise include Derek Jacobi (“Gosford Park,” “Nanny McPhee”) and Tony Curran (“Flight of the Phoenix”). Jan. 20. Sony.

 

Wolf Creek
Thriller, based on a true story, about three backpackers in remote Australia who find themselves terrorized by a serial killer. Greg McLean makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With John Jarratt, Kestie Morassi (“Darkness Falls”), Cassandra Magrath, Andy McPhee, Nathan Phillips, Guy Petersen and Jenny Starwall. Flat. 95 min. Jan. 6. Weinstein.

Electric Shadows
Mandarin-dialect coming-of-age film, set against China’s Cultural Revolution, about a friendship that blossoms between a troubled girl and a young boy who share a passion for movies. Directed by Jiang Xiao from a screenplay by Xiao and Qingsong Cheng. With Yu Xia (“China: The Panda Adventure”), Yijing Zhang, Xiaotong Guan and Yihong Jiang. 99 min. Dec. 16 in New York. First Run.

 

 

 

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Drama about a taciturn ranch hand who sets out to keep a promise made to his recently deceased friend – to bury the man in his hometown in Mexico. Actor Tommy Lee Jones (“The Missing,” “Man of the House”) makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga (“Amores Perros,” “21 Grams”). With Jones, Barry Pepper (“The 25th Hour”), January Jones (“Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights”), Melissa Leo (“Hide and Seek”), Vanessa Bauche (“Amores Perros”), Cecilia Suárez (“Spanglish”), Julio Cedillo (“The Alamo”) and Dwight Yoakam (“Wedding Crashers”). 121 min. R: Language; violence; sexuality. Dec. 14. Sony Pictures Classics.

Goose!
Family comedy about a youngster determined to save the talking goose he’s befriended from his principal’s Christmas cook-off. TV director Nicholas Kendall (“Just Deal”) directs from a screenplay by Charles Dennis (“Finders Keepers”). With Chevy Chase (“Orange County”), James Purefoy (“Vanity Fair”), Joan Plowright (“Bewitched”), Kari Matchett (“Angel Eyes”), and Tom Arnold voicing the goose. Dec. 2. IFG.

 

 

 

 

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