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Volume III No. 1
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
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Animated
comedy about a boy who leaves his new girlfriend
and his human life behind to return to the old
friends and life in the jungle where he was raised.
Sequel to the 1967 blockbuster. Straight-to-video
animation director Steve Trenbirth (“Lion
King II,” “Lady and the Tramp II”)
makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay
by Karl Geurs (the straight-to-video title “Pooh’s
Grand Adventure”). Featuring the voices
of Haley Joel Osment as Mowgli, John Goodman
as Baloo, Tony Jay as Shere Khan, Phil Collins
as Lucky the Vulture, Bob Joles as Bagheera and
Jim Cummings as Colonel Hathi. Flat. Feb. 14.
Buena Vista.

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Dramatic
thriller, set in Texas, about a young philosophy
professor and anti-death-penalty activist who
winds up on death row for the rape and murder
of a fellow protestor. Directed by Alan Parker
(“Evita,” “Angela’s Ashes”)
from a screenplay by short filmmaker and philosophy
professor Charles Randolph. With Kevin Spacey
(“The Shipping News”), Laura Linney
(“The Mothman Prophecies”), Kate
Winslet (“Enigma”), Rhona Mitra (“Sweet
Home Alabama”), Matt Craven (“Dragonfly”),
Gabriel Mann (“Abandon”) and Leon
Rippy (“Eight Legged Freaks”). Scope.
131 min. Feb. 21. Universal.

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Comedy
about a thirtysomething named Mitch who moves
out on his cheating girlfriend and into a huge
house near a university campus – which
quickly becomes a frat-like party zone for Mitch,
his two best pals and a good chunk of the school’s
student body. The “Road Trip” team
of writer-director Todd Phillips (“Bittersweet
Motel”) and screenwriter Scott Armstrong
reunite. With Luke Wilson (“The Royal Tenenbaums”),
Vince Vaughn (“Domestic Disturbance”),
Will Ferrell (“Austin Powers in Goldmember”),
Leah Remini (“Glory Daze”), Ellen
Pompeo (“Moonlight Mile,” “Catch
Me if You Can,” “Daredevil”),
Andy Dick (“Scotland, PA”), Juliette
Lewis (“Enough”) and Sean William
Scott (“Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”).
R: Some strong sexual content; nudity; language.
Feb. 21. DreamWorks.

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Crime
drama about a rising star pool player who finds
himself the target of threats and ultimatums
after parting with his manager. Directed by Gregory ‘Mars’ Martin
from a screenplay by Martin and Doug Klein. With
Martin (“That Thing You Do!”), Chazz
Palminteri (“Down to Earth”), Rick
Schroder (“Crimson Tide”), Alison
Eastwood (“Breakfast of Champions”),
Christopher Walken (“Catch Me If You Can”),
Rod Steiger (“End of Days”) and Michael
Rosenbaum (“Sorority Boys”). Flat.
94 min. R: Language; some sexual content. Feb.
21. IDP.

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American
cowboy Roy O’Bannon and Chinese imperial
guard Chon Wang find themselves in 1880s London
just as Jack the Ripper is undertaking his spree
of serial murders. Sequel to the 2000 blockbuster “Shanghai
Noon.” Returnees from part one include
screenwriters Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
(“Showtime”), and actors Jackie Chan
(“The Tuxedo”) and Owen Wilson (“I
Spy”). Newcomers to the series include
director David Dobkin (“Clay Pigeons”),
as well as actors Gemma Jones (“Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets”), Donnie Yen
(“Blade II”) and Tom Fisher (“Enigma”).
Scope. PG-13: Action violence; sexual content.
Feb. 7. Buena Vista.

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Australian
drama about a man who, after returning to his
rural hometown, encounters the ghost of a woman
he once knew. Screenwriter Michael Petroni (“The
Queen of the Damned,” “The Dangerous
Lives of Altar Boys”) makes his feature
directorial debut from his own screenplay. With
Guy Pearce (“The Time Machine”),
Helena Bonham Carter (“Novocaine”),
Frank Gallacher (“Dark City”), Dawn
Klingberg (“Innocence”), Peter Curtin
(“Darkness Falls”) and Brooke Harman.
101 min. R: A scene of sexuality. Feb. 21 limited.
Paramount Classics.

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Action
drama about an FBI “deep-woods tracker” who
finds himself teaming with an urban counterpart
in the bureau when a thrill-killer who preys
on deer hunters escapes to the city. Directed
by William Friedkin (“Jade,” “Rules
of Engagement”) from a screenplay by David & Peter
Griffiths (“Collateral Damage”).
With Tommy Lee Jones (“Men in Black II”),
Benicio Del Toro (“The Pledge”),
Connie Nielsen (“One Hour Photo”),
Mike White (“We Were Soldiers”),
Leslie Stefanson (“Unbreakable”),
Ron Canada (“In Too Deep”), John
Finn (“True Crime”), Carrick O’Quinn
(“Pay it Forward”), Mark Pellegrino
(“Mulholland Drive”), Robert Blanche
(“Men of Honor”) and Jose Zuniga
(“The Crew”). Flat. R: Strong bloody
violence; some language. Feb. 28. Paramount.

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Romantic
comedy, set on the British island of Man, about
three young men who separately make changes
in their lives following the drowning death
of a contemporary. Written and directed by “Boyfriends” team
of Tom Hunsinger and Neil Hunter. With Bill
Nighy (“Lucky Break”), Tom Hollander
(“Possession”), Douglas Henshall
(“The Man with Rain in His Shoes”),
Clémentine Célarié (“Les
Misérables”), Ellie Haddington
(“Beautiful Creatures”) and Sukie
Smith (“Topsy-Turvy”). 86 min.
R: Strong sexuality/nudity; language. Feb.
7 in New York. First Look.

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Drama,
set in South Yorkshire, England, about a group
of railway track workers whose sense of unification
and pride begins to crumble with the privatization
of the British Rail. Directed by Ken Loach
(“My Name is Joe,” “Bread
and Roses”) from a screenplay by Rob
Dawber. With Dean Andrews, Tom Craig, Joe Duttine,
Steve Huison (“Among Giants”),
Kevin Carroll (“Pipe Dream”), Nigel
Harrisson (“Christopher Columbus: The
Discovery”) and Wayne Clark (“Full
Metal Jacket”). 92 min. R: Language;
some sexuality. Feb. 21 limited. First Look.

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Drama
about three college students who, amid a small-town
atmosphere of racism, bigotry and abuse, try
to solve the murder of a gay friend. John Henry
Davis makes his feature directorial debut from
a screenplay by William Mahone. With Brendan
P. Hines, Joshua Harto (“The Believer”),
Kris Park (“Bamboozled”), Elizabeth
Banks (“Swept Away”), Chris Messina
(“Turn it Up”), Daniel Sherman
(“Wendigo”) and A Martinez (“What’s
Cooking?”). Flat. 91 min. Feb. 14 in
New York. Jour De Fete.

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Romantic
drama, set in 1950s Vietnam, about the love
triangle that forms between a visiting young
American, a substance-abusing Brit and the
Vietnamese girl they both fall for. Based on
the story by Graham Greene (“The End
of the Affair,” “Double Take”).
Directed by Phillip Noyce (“The Bone
Collector,” “Rabbit-Proof Fence”)
from a screenplay by Christopher Hampton (“Mary
Reilly”) and Robert Schenkkan. With Brendan
Fraser (“The Mummy Returns”), Michael
Caine (“Austin Powers in Goldmember”),
Do Thi Hai Yen, Rade Serbedzija (“Snatch”),
Tzi Ma (“Catfish in Black Bean Sauce”)
and Robert Stanton (“Happy Accidents”).
Scope. 100 min. R: Images of violence; some
language. Jan. 10 limited; wider Feb. 7; wider
Feb. 14. Miramax.

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Thriller,
set in East London, about a recently released
mental patient who stops taking his medication
and finds himself revisiting childhood nightmares.
Based on the novel by Patrick McGrath (“Asylum”).
Directed by David Cronenberg (“Crash,” “eXistenZ”)
from a screenplay by Cronenberg and McGrath.
With Ralph Fiennes (“Red Dragon,” “Maid
in Manhattan”), Lynn Redgrave (“Hansel & Gretel”),
Gabriel Byrne (“Ghost Ship”), Miranda
Richardson (“Get Carter,” “Nicholas
Nickleby,” “The Hours”),
John Neville (“Harvard Man”), Gary
Reineke (“Millennium”) and Bradley
Hall. Flat. 98 min. R: Sexuality; brief violence;
language. Feb. 28 in New York. Sony Pictures
Classics.

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