Volume III No. 7

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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Le Divorce
Comedy, set in Paris, about a college film-school dropout who helps her pregnant, divorcing step-sister deal with a bitter custody battle over a painting. Based on the novel by Diane Johnson (“Terrorists and Novelists”). The “A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries”-”The Golden Bowl” team of writer-director James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala reunite. With Kate Hudson (“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Alex & Emma”), Naomi Watts (“The Ring”), Bebe Neuwirth (“How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days”), Glenn Close (“The Safety of Objects”), Stockard Channing (“Life or Something Like It”), Matthew Modine (“Any Given Sunday”), Thierry Lhermitte (“The Closet,” “And Now Ladies & Gentlemen”), Stephen Fry (“Gosford Park”), Romain Duris (“L’Auberge Espagnole”) and Sam Waterson (“Shadow Conspiracy”). Scope. PG-13: Mature thematic elements; sexual content. Aug. 8. Fox Searchlight.

Marci X
Comedy about a “Jewish-American princess” who takes control of a hardcore hip-hop record label – and tries to assuage criticism of one of its acts, a rapper with a hit song called “Shoot Ya Teacha.” Directed by Richard Benjamin (“Mrs. Winterbourne”) from a screenplay by Paul Rudnick (“Isn’t She Great”). With Lisa Kudrow (“Analyze That”), Damon Wayans (“Bamboozled”), Jane Krakowski (“The Flintsones in Viva Las Vegas”), Christine Baranski (“The Guru”), Richard Benjamin (“Deconstructing Harry”), Veanne Cox (“Two Weeks Notice”), Charles Kimbrough (“The Wedding Planner”) and Paula Garcés (“Clockstoppers”). Flat. 73 min. Aug. 22. Paramount.

The Medallion
Action thriller about an immigration officer who survives death and gains supernatural powers that help him fight crime. Directed by Gordon Chan (“Fist of Legend”) from a screenplay by Bey Logan. With Jackie Chan (“Shanghai Knights”), Claire Forlani (“AntiTrust,” “Northfork”), Lee Evans (“The Ladies Man”), Christy Chung, Julian Sands (“Vatel”) and John Rhys-Davies (the “Lord of the Rings” series). Also known as “Highbinders.” Aug. 15. Sony.

Once Upon A Time In The Midlands
Romantic 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. R: Language. Aug. 15 in New York and Los Angeles; wider Sept. 12. Sony Pictures Classics.

 

Passionada
Romantic comedy, set in New Bedford, Mass., about a widowed Portuguese ballad singer who sees her calloused life transform after her teen daughter convinces her to date the wealthly gambler who has just come to town. Directed by Dan Ireland (“The Whole Wide World”) from a screenplay by Jim & Steve Jermanok. With Jason Isaacs (“The Tuxedo”), Sofia Milos (“Jane Austen’s Mafia!”), Emmy Rossum (“An American Rhapsody”), Theresa Russell (“The Believer”), Seymour Cassel (“Stealing Harvard”) and Lupe Ontiveros (“Real Women Have Curves”). 108 min. PG-13: Some sensuality; a conversation about drugs. Aug. 15 limited. IDP.

 

The Secret Lives of Dentists
Drama about what happens when a middle-age doctor begins to obsess about the possibility that his attractive, opera-singing wife is cheating on him. Based on a novella “The Age of Grief” by Jane Smiley. Directed by Alan Rudolph (“Breakfast of Champions,” “Trixie”) from a screenplay by Craig Lucas (“Prelude to a Kiss,” “Reckless”). With Campbell Scott (“Rodger Dodger”), Hope Davis (“About Schmidt,” “American Splendor”), Denis Leary (“Final”), Robin Tunney (“The In-Laws”), Gianna Beleno and Cassidy Hinkle. Flat. 105 min. R: Sexuality; language. Aug. 1 in New York and Los Angeles; wider Aug. 15. Manhattan.

 

Step Into Liquid
Documentary exploring global surf culture, featuring interviews with and performances by professional surfers Laird Hamilton, Kelly Slater, Robert and Sam August and Layne Beachly. Screenwriter Dana Brown (“The Endless Summer II”) makes her feature directorial debut. 87 min. August 8 limited; wider August 15. Artisan.

Jeepers Creepers 2
Horror thriller about a busload of championship basketball players, cheerleaders and coaches who are attacked by a man-eating monster in the 23rd day of a feeding frenzy. Sequel to the 2001 chiller. Returnees from part one include writer-director Victor Salva (“Powder”) and Jonathan Breck as The Creeper. Newcomers include Ray Wise (“Two Can Play That Game,” “The Battle of Shaker Heights”), Nicki Lynn Aycox (“The Dogwalker”), Travis Schiffner, Jaii Isaac Sanchez and Luke Edwards (“American Pie 2”). Scope. 106 min. R: Horror violence; language. Aug. 29. MGM.

The Magdalene Sisters
Drama, set in 1964 Ireland, about four young girls who are sent to live in horrifying convents operated by the sadistic and abusive Magdalene Sisters of Mercy. Written and directed by Peter Mullan (“Orphans”). With Geraldine McEwan (“Food of Love”), Dorothy Duffy, Annie-Marie Duff (“Enigma”), Eileen Walsh (“Nicholas Nickleby”), Britta Smith (“The Closer You Get”) and Nora-Jane Noone. Flat. 119 min. R: Violence/cruelty; nudity; sexual content; language. Aug. 1 in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco; wider Aug. 15; wider Aug. 22. Miramax.

Matchstick Men
Comedy-drama about an obsessive-compulsive con-man who finds his life complicated by the arrival of the daughter he never knew he had. Based on the 2002 novel by Eric Garcia (“Anonymous Rex”). Directed by Ridley Scott (“Hannibal,” “Black Hawk Down”) from a screenplay by Ted Griffin (“Best Laid Plans,” “Ocean’s Eleven”) and Nick Griffin. With Nicolas Cage (“Adaptation”), Sam Rockwell (“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”), Alison Lohman (“White Oleander”), Bruce McGill (“The Sum of All Fears,” “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde”), Lynn Ann Leveridge (“Deliver Us From Eva”) and Bruce Altman (“Changing Lanes”). Aug. 8. Warner Bros.

My Boss’s Daughter
Comedy about a young man whose plan to woo his mean boss’s beautiful daughter while housesitting goes awry when the boss’s house is besieged by unexpected visitors. Directed by David Zucker (“Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear,” “BASEketball”) from a screenplay by David Dorfman (“Anger Management”). With Tara Reid (“National Lampoon’s Van Wilder”), Ashton Kutcher (“Just Married”), Molly Shannon (“The Santa Clause 2,” “American Splendor”), Michael Madsen (“Die Another Day”), David Koechner (“A Guy Thing”), Terence Stamp (“Full Frontal”) and Andy Richter (“Big Trouble”). Also known as “The Guest.” Aug. 22. Miramax.

Open Range
Western drama about four nomadic cattle herders who team up to rid a remote town of a malicious rancher. Directed by Kevin Costner (“Dances With Wolves,” “The Postman”) from a screenplay by Craig Storper. With Costner (“Dragonfly”), Robert Duvall (“Assassination Tango”), Annette Bening (“What Planet Are You From?”), Diego Luna (“Frida”), Abraham Benrubi (“The Man Who Wasn’t There”) and Michael Gambon (“Charlotte Gray”). Scope. Aug. 15. Buena Vista.

 

Seaside
French-language drama, set in the small seaside town of Cayeux, France, about a young factory worker who becomes striken with wanderlust after she is exposed to the worldly taunts of summer tourists. Directed by Julie Lopes-Curval from a screenplay by Lopes-Curval and François Favrat. With Jonathan Zaccaï, Bulle Ogier (“Venus Beauty Institute,” “Confusion of Genders”), Ludmila Mikaël, Hélène Fillières (“Friday Night”), Patrick Lizana (“The Children of the Marshland”), Liliane Rovère (“Safe Conduct”), Jauris Casanova (“East-West”) and Jean-Michel Noirey. Also known as “Bord de Mer.” Flat. 88 min. Aug. 6 in New York. First Run.

Shaolin Soccer
Action comedy about a crippled and disgraced former soccer star who builds an unusual new soccer team out of Kung Fu experts. Directed by Stephen Chow from a screenplay by Chow and Tsang Kan Cheong. With Chow, Ng Mang-Tat, Li Hui (“Chinese Box”), Zhou Wei (“Behind the Forbidden City”) and Tse Yin. 87 min. PG: Martial arts action; some thematic elements. Aug. 8. Miramax.

Suddenly
Black-and-white Spanish-language drama, set in Argentina, about a young overweight girl who finds herself abducted by a punk lesbian couple and taken on an aimless and bizarre road trip. Based on the novel “La Prueba” by César Aira. Directed by Diego Lerman from a screenplay by Lerman and Maria Meira. With Veronica Hassan, Tatiana Saphir, Carla Crespo and Beatriz Thibaudin. Also known as “Tan de Repente.” Flat. 94 min. Aug. 27. Empire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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