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Volume
III No. 5
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
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Once
Upon a Time in the Midlands
Comedy, set in contemporary Nottingham, England,
about a Scottish criminal who decides to
visit his ex-wife after he spots her turning
down a marriage proposal on a live, nationally
televised confessional show. The “TwentyFourSeven”-”Room
For Romeo Brass” team of writer-director
Shane Meadows and screenwriter Paul Fraser
reunite. With Robert Carlyle (“Formula
51”), Rhys Ifans (“Formula 51”),
Kathy Burke (“Love, Honor and Obey”),
Shirley Henderson (“Harry Potter and
the Chamber of Secrets,” “Hypnotic”),
Ricky Tomlinson (“Formula 51”)
and Finn Atkins. 104 min. June 20 in New
York and Los Angeles. Sony Pictures Classics.

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Rugrats
Go Wild
Animated comedy-adventure
about what happens when a
cruise ship carrying the cast of “Rugrats” crashes
into an island deserted by all save the cast
of “The Wild Thornberrys.” The
third installment of the “Rugrats” movie
series and the second of the “Thornberrys” movie
series. Directed by Norton Virgien (“The
Rugrats Movie”) and John Eng (TV’s “Duckman” series)
from a screenplay by Kate Boutilier (“Rugrats
in Paris: The Movie,” “The Wild
Thornberrys Movie”). Featuring the
voices of Nancy Cartwright, Lacey Chabert,
Tim Curry,
E.G. Daily and Danielle Harris. Bruce Willis
voices Spike the dog. Scope. 84 min. June
13. Paramount.

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Valentin
Spanish-language
drama, set in 1960s Argentina, about a 10-year-old
whose father uses him to attract women, and
what happens when the boy connects with one
of his dad’s girlfriends. Written and
directed by Alejandro Agresti. With Agresti,
Julieta Cardinali, Carmen Maura (“Alice
and Martin”), Jean Pierre Noher, Mex
Urtizberea and Rodrigo Noya. Flat. 86 min.
June 27 in New York and Los Angeles; wider
July 2. Miramax.

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Prozac
Nation
Drama, set in the mid-1980s, about a writer
who uses a journalism scholarship to attend
Harvard, where she battles an acute depression
that eventually lands her in therapy as
a prime Prozac candidate. Based on the
memoir by Elizabeth Wurtzel. Directed by
Erik Skjoldbjaerg (the Norwegian version
of “Insomnia”) from a screenplay
by Larry Gross (“Crime and Punishment
in Suburbia”) and Frank Deasy. With
Christina Ricci (“Pumpkin”),
Anne Heche (“John Q”), Michelle
Williams (“Me Without You”),
Jason Biggs (“American Pie 2”),
Jessica Lange (“Titus”), Nicolas
Campbell (“New Waterford”)
and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (“Bend it
Like Beckham”). Flat. 99 min. R:
Language; drug content; sexuality/nudity;
some disturbing images. June 6. Miramax.

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2 Fast 2 Furious
Brian O’Connor
goes undercover again, this time to take down
a shady Miami-based importer-exporter involved
in money laundering. A sequel to the 2001 action
blockbuster “The Fast and the Furious.” Returnees
from part one include Paul Walker (“Joy
Ride”) and Thom Barry (“Rules of
Engagement”). Newcomers to the series
include director John Singleton (“Shaft,” “Baby
Boy”), screenwriters Michael Brandt & Derek
Haas (the TV movie “Invincible”)
and actors Tyrese (“Baby Boy”),
Cole Hauser (“Tears of the Sun”),
Eva Mendes (“All About the Benjamins”),
Matt Gallini (“End of Days”) and
Lahmard J. Tate (“Barbershop”).
June 6. Universal.

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Whale Rider
Contemporary drama,
set in rural New Zealand, about a 12-year-old
Maori girl who defies her tradition-bound
grandfather to secretly train for sacred
leadership rituals
heretofore reserved for males. Based on the
novel by Witi Ihimaera. Written and directed
by Niko Caro. With Keisha Castle-Hughes,
Rawiri Paratene (“Rapa Nui”), Cliff Curtis
(“Collateral Damage”), and Taungaroa
Emile (“Once Were Warriors”).
Scope. 104 min. June 6 in New York and Los
Angeles.
Newmarket.

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Down
With Love
Romantic comedy, set in early 1960s New York, about a best-selling
advice columnist who finds herself flustered by a playboy journalist.
Directed by Peyton Reed (“Bring It On”) from a screenplay
by Dennis Drake and Eve Ahlert. With Renée Zellweger (“Chicago”),
Ewan McGregor (“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the
Clones”), Sarah Paulson (“What Women Want”),
David Hyde Pierce (“Full Frontal”), Tony Randall (“Fatal
Instinct”) and John Aylward (“Bad Company”).
Scope. PG-13: Sexual humor and dialogue. May 16. Fox.
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L'Auberge
Espagnole
Multilingual comedy about a young Frenchman who leaves his family
and girlfriend behind for a year-long study abroad in Barcelona,
Spain – where he moves into an apartment with an odd assortment
of Europeans and takes an interest in an alluring doctor’s
wife. Written and directed by Cédric Klapisch (“Un
Air de Famille,” “When the Cat’s Away,” ).
With Romain Duris (“CQ”), Audrey Tautou (“He
Loves Me … He Loves Me Not”), Judith Godrèche
(“The Man in the Iron Mask”), and Kelly Reilly (“Last
Orders”). Also known as “Euro Pudding.” 116 min.
May 16 limited. Fox Searchlight.

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The
Three Marias
Portuguese-language drama, set in early 1970s Brazil, about a wealthy
aristocrat who seeks bloody revenge after his fiancée abandons
him for his worst enemy. Directed by Aluisio Abranches from a screenplay
by Heitor Dalia and Wilson Freire. With Tuca Andrada, Cassiano
Carneiro, Enrique Díaz, Taveira Júnior, Júlia
Lemmertz and Wagner Moura (“Behind the Sun”). Also
known as “As Três Marias.” Flat. 90 min. May
30. Empire.
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Gigantic:
A Tale of Two Johns
Documentary about John Flansburgh and John Linnell, collectively
known as the 20-year-old Brooklyn-based alternative-pop band They
Might Be Giants. Directed by AJ Schnack. Featuring appearances
by Janeane Garofalo, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Frank Black,
and Michael McKean. Flat. 102 min. May 9 in New York and Los Angeles.
Cowboy.
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The
Man on the Train
French-language drama about two people – a retired poetry
teacher and an aging criminal – who meet in a pharmacy and
become unlikely friends. Directed by Patrice Leconte (“Girl
on the Bridge,” “The Widow of Saint-Pierre”)
from a screenplay by Claude Klotz (“The Hairdresser’s
Husband”). With Jean Rochefort (“The Closet”),
Johnny Hallyday, Charlie Nelson (“On Guard”), Pascal
Parmentier (“The Truth About Charlie”), and Isabelle
Petit-Jacques (“Girl on the Bridge”). Also known as “L’Homme
du Train.” Scope. 90 min. R: Some language; brief violence.
May 9 limited. Paramount Classics.

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