Volume III No. 1

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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