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Volume
III No. 4
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
©
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| Bollywood/
Hollywood
Romantic comedy, set in Toronto, about a young,
wealthy professional who, in a frenzied attempt
to appease his traditional Indian family, hires
a beautiful professional escort of Indian ancestry
to accompany him to his sister’s wedding.
Written and directed by Deepa Mehta (“Fire,” “Earth”).
With Rahul Khanna (“The Emperor’s
Club”), Lisa Ray, Moushumi Chatterjee,
Dina Pathak (“A Passage To India”),
Kulbhushan Kharbanda (“Monsoon Wedding”)
and Ranjit Chowdhry (“King of the Jungle”).
Scope. 103 min. May 16 in New York and Los Angeles.
Magnolia. 
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Buffalo Soldiers
Drama, set at an American Army base in 1989 Germany
just before the fall of the Berlin Wall, about
a scheming army clerk who develops a prosperous
black market trade – until the arrival
of a new ironhanded sergeant who wants to “clean
up” the operations. Based on the novel
by Robert O’Connor. Directed by Gregor
Jordan from a screenplay by Jordan, Eric Weiss
and Nora MacCoby. With Joaquin Phoenix (“Signs”),
Anna Paquin (“25th Hour”), Ed Harris
(“The Hours”), Scott Glenn (“The
Shipping News”), Gabriel Mann (“The
Life of David Gale”) and Dean Stockwell
(“CQ”). Also known as “Army
Go Home.” Scope. 98 min. R: Violence; drug
content; strong language; some sexuality. May
9 in New York and Los Angeles. Miramax.

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Dracula:
Pages From A Virgin’s Diary
Silent drama, shot in black, white and red, that
tells the story of Bram Stoker's classic novel
through ballet and dance. Based on Mark Godden's
Royal Winnipeg Ballet production. Written and
directed by Guy Maddin. Featuring Zhang Wei-Qiang
as Dracula, Tara Birtwhistle as Lucy Westernra,
David Moroni as Dr. Van Helsing, CindyMarie Small
as Minia Murray, Johnny Wright as Jonathon Harker
and Stephanie Leonard as Arthur Holmwood. Featuring
excerpts from Gustav Mahler’s Symphony
No. 2 in C Minor an “Titan” Symphony.
Flat. 75 min. May 16 in New York. Zeitgeist.
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Finding
Nemo
Animated comedy-adventure, set in the Great Barrier
Reef, about a neurotic, overprotective clownfish
who must recover his rebellious son after the
youngster is captured by scuba divers. Screenwriter
Andrew Stanton (the “Toy Story” series, “Monsters,
Inc.”), who co-wrote and co-directed “A
Bug's Life,” makes his solo feature directorial
debut from his own screenplay. Featuring the
voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem
Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, Alexander Gould, Brad Garrett,
Barry Humphries, Allison Janney, Richard Kind,
Vicki Lewis, Stephen Root and Austin Pendleton.
May 30. Buena Vista.

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I
Capture the Castle
Drama, set in 1930s England, about a 17-year-old
who finds her complacency shaken when a pair
of wealthy American brothers move in next door
to her eccentric family’s dilapidated castle.
Based on the novel by Dodie Smith (“The
One Hundred and One Dalmatians”). Directed
by Tim Fywell from a screenplay by Heidi Thomas.
With Romola Garai (“Nicholas Nickleby”),
Rose Byrne (“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack
of the Clones,” “City of Ghosts”),
Henry Cavill (“The Count of Monte Cristo”),
Marc Blucas (“Wes Craven Presents: They,” “View
From the Top”), Bill Nighy (“Lawless
Heart”), Tara Fitzgerald (“Dark Blue
World”) and Sinéad Cusack (“Passion
of Mind”). 111 min. May 9. IDP.

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The
Italian Job
Remake of the 1969 British crime comedy, this time
about a career criminal whose plan to steal a large
gold bullion supply hinges on creating the largest
and most debilitating traffic jam in the history
of Los Angeles. Directed by F. Gary Gray (“The
Negotiator,” “A Man Apart”) from
a screenplay by Donna & Wayne Powers. With
Mark Wahlberg (“The Truth About Charlie”),
Charlize Theron (“Waking Up in Reno”),
Edward Norton (“25th Hour”), Donald
Sutherland (“The Art of War”), Seth
Green (“Knockaround Guys”), Jason Statham
(“The Transporter”), Franky G. (“Confidence”)
and Mos Def (“Brown Sugar”). Scope.
May 30. Paramount.

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And
Now ...
Ladies & Gentlemen
English-, Arabic-, Italian- and French-language
romantic thriller, set in Morocco, about a British
jewel thief and a French jazz singer who discover
they have something in common besides a mutual
attraction: both suffer from mysterious memory
blackouts. Directed by Claude Lelouch (“Les
Misérables,” “One 4 All”)
from a screenplay by Lelouch, Pierre Leroux (“One
4 All”) and Pierre Uytterhoeven (“A
Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later,” “One
4 All”). With Jeremy Irons (“The
Time Machine”), Patricia Kaas, Thierry
Lhermitte (“The Closet”), Alessandra
Martines (“One 4 All”), Ticky Holgado
(“Amélie”) and Jean-Marie
Bigard. Scope. 126 min. PG-13: Momentary language.
May 9 limited. Paramount Classics.

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Bruce
Almighty
Comedy about an unlucky man who curses God, only
to have God appear, make the man omnipotent
and issue this challenge: Do a better job with
the universe over the next 24 hours, or see
the world return to chaos. Directed by Tom
Shadyac (“Liar Liar,” “Patch
Adams,” “Dragonfly”) from
a screenplay by Steve Oedekerk (“Kung
Pow: Enter the Fist,” “Jimmy Neutron:
Boy Genius”), Steven Koren (“A
Night at the Roxbury,” “Superstar”)
and Mark O’Keefe (TV’s “Newsradio”).
With Jim Carrey (“The Majestic”),
Jennifer Aniston (“The Good Girl”),
Morgan Freeman (“The Sum of All Fears,” “Dreamcatcher”),
Emilio Rivera (“Confessions of a Dangerous
Mind,” “A Man Apart”) and
Lisa Ann Walter (“The Parent Trap”).
Flat. 105 min. May 23. Universal.

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Daddy
Day Care
Comedy about a father who, after losing his “dotcom” job,
joins with male friends to operate a “guy-run” day-care
center out of his house. Directed by Steve Carr
(“Dr. Dolittle 2”) from a screenplay
by Geoff Rodkey (TV’s “LateLine”).
With Eddie Murphy (“I Spy”), Steve
Zahn (“National Security”), Jeff
Garlin (“Full Frontal”), Anjelica
Huston (“The Man from Elysian Fields”),
Leila Arcieri (“XXX”), and Michelle
Krusiec (“Sweet Home Alabama”). May
9. Sony.
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Envy
Comedy about the jealousy one man feels when
his longtime friend and neighbor suddenly becomes
absurdly rich from selling an invention. Directed
by Barry Levinson (“Bandits,” “An
Everlasting Piece”) from a screenplay
by Steve Adams. With Ben Stiller (“The
Royal Tenenbaums,” “Duplex”),
Jack Black (“Orange County”) Christopher
Walken (“Poolhall Junkies”), Amy
Poehler (“Wet Hot American Summer”),
Rachel Weisz (“About a Boy,” “Confidence,” “The
Shape of Things”) and Ving Rhames (“Dark
Blue”). May 30. DreamWorks.

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The
Hairy Tale
Action comedy about a martial arts expert and
animal lab employee who rescues a chimp named
Clemens from a life of dangerous missions.
Written and directed by Gene Quintano (“Loaded
Weapon 1”). With Matthew Modine (“Any
Given Sunday”), Roma Downey (TV’s “Touched
By An Angel”), Seth Adkins (“Jane
Austen’s Mafia”), Jason Flemyng
(“Below,” “The Good Thief”),
Heio Von Stetten (“Bandits”) and
Jeffrey Tambor (“Never Again”).
May 16. Warner Bros.

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In
America
Drama about an aspiring Irish actor who moves with
his wife and daughter to New York, where they’re
befriended by a struggling Harlem artist. Directed
by Jim Sheridan (“In the Name of the Father,” “The
Boxer”) from a screenplay by Sheridan and
Kirsten Sheridan. With Paddy Considine (“24
Hour Party People,” “Hypnotic”),
Djimon Hounsou (“Biker Boyz”), Samantha
Morton (“Morvern Callar”), Sarah
Bolger and Emma Bolger. Also known as “East
of Harlem.” Flat. 103 min. May 21 limited.
Fox Searchlight.

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