Volume III No. 3

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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The Good Thief
English-language remake of the 1955 French comic-noir classic “Bob Le Flambeur,” about an aging gambler who tries to end his losing streak by pulling the ultimate casino robbery. Written and directed by Neil Jordan (“In Dreams,” “The End of the Affair”). With Nick Nolte (“The Golden Bowl”), Tchéky Karyo (“Kiss of the Dragon,” “The Core”), Emir Kursturica (“The Widow of Saint-Pierre”), Saïd Taghmaoui (“Three Kings”), Nutsa Kukhanidze, Mark Lavoine (“My Wife is an Actress”) and Gérard Darmon (“For Sasha”). Flat. 108 min. April 2 limited. Fox Searchlight.

Hypnotic
Thriller, set in London, about an American hypnotherapist who uses his ability to receive flashes from inside patients’ minds to help a detective catch a ritualistic killer. Based on the novel “Doctor Sleep” by Madison Smartt Bell (“Master of the Crossroads”). Directed by Nick Willing from a screenplay by Willing and William Brookfield (“Rough Magic”). With Goran Visnjic (“The Deep End”), Shirley Henderson (“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”), Paddy Considine (“24 Hour Party People”), Miranda Otto (“Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”) and Corin Redgrave (“Enigma”). April 18. First Look.

Malibu's Most Wanted
Comedy, set in Greater Los Angeles, about an aspiring white rapper from Malibu whose politician father – in an attempt to scare the “ghetto” out of the boy – hires two Julliard-trained actors to kidnap his son and drop him off in gang-riddled Compton. Based on a Jamie Kennedy character created for the TV prank show “JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.” Directed by John Whitesell (“See Spot Run”) from a screenplay by Kennedy, Nick Swardson and Fax Bahr & Adam Small (“Son in Law,” “In the Army Now”). With Kennedy (“Max Keeble’s Big Move”), Nick Swardson (“Almost Famous”), Anthony Anderson (“Kangaroo Jack,” “Cradle 2 the Grave,” “My Baby’s Mama”), Taye Diggs (“Chicago,” “Basic”), Blair Underwood (“Full Frontal”) and Ryan O’Neal (“The Zero Effect,” “People I Know”). Scope. April 18. Warner Bros.

The Man Without a Past
Finnish-language drama, set in and around Helsinki, about a man who must struggle to start his life over again after a near-fatal attack leaves him with no memories. Directed by Aki Kaurismäki from his own screenplay. With Markku Peltola, Kati Outinen, Juhani Niemelä, Kaija Pakarinen (“Restless”), Pertti Sveholm (“Restless”) and Sakari Kuosmanen (“Night on Earth”). Also known as “Mies vailla menneisyyttä.” 97 min. April 4 in New York. Sony Pictures Classics.

Mondays in the Sun
Spanish-language drama, set in Northwestern Spain and based on a true story, about a group of laid-off shipyard workers who haplessly wander in and out of bars, relationships and dead-end jobs in an attempt to build respectable lives for themselves. Directed by Fernando León de Aranoa from a screenplay by Aranoa and Ignacio del Moral. With Javier Bardem (“Before Night Falls,” “The Dancer Upstairs”), José Ángel Egido (“Open Your Eyes”), Nieve de Medina (“Spanish Fly”), Serge Riaboukine (“Safe Conduct”), Enrique Villén (“The Day of the Beast”), Celso Bugallo (“Butterfly”), Joaquín Climent (“Goya”) and Luis Tosar. Also known as “Los Lunes al sol.” Flat. 113 min. April 11 in New York and Los Angeles. Lions Gate.

People I Know
Drama, set in New York City, about a burned-out publicist who sees his life grow much more complicated when the starlet girlfriend of his client is murdered. Directed by Daniel Algrant (“Naked in New York”) from a screenplay by Jon Robin Baitz (“The Substance of Fire”). With Al Pacino (“The Recruit”), Kim Basinger (“8 Mile”), Ryan O’Neal (“Faithful,” “Malibu’s Most Wanted”), Téa Leoni (“Hollywood Ending”), Richard Schiff (“I am Sam”), Robert Klein (“How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days”) and Bill Nunn (“Spider-Man”). 99 min. R: Language; drug use; brief sexual images. April 25 in New York and Los Angeles. Miramax.

Ghosts of the Abyss
Large-format documentary that takes an undersea 3D look at the wreckage of the Titanic. Directed by James Cameron (“True Lies,” “Titanic”). Featuring Bill Paxton as himself. Rated G. April 11. Buena Vista.

Holes
Drama about a young man wrongly sent to a Texas juvenile prison where the inmates are forced to do nothing but dig holes all day – to facilitate the female warden’s secret quest for buried treasure. Based on the National Book Award- and Newberry Medal-winning novel by Louis Sachar. Directed by Andrew Davis (“A Perfect Murder,” “Collateral Damage”) from a screenplay by Sachar. With Sigourney Weaver (“Tadpole,” “The Guys”), Jon Voight (“Ali”), Patricia Arquette (“Human Nature”), Tim Blake Nelson (“The Good Girl”), Khleo Thomas (“Friday After Next”) and Shia LaBeouf (TV’s “Even Stevens”). Flat. PG: Violence; mild language; some thematic elements. April 18. Buena Vista.

It Runs in the Family
Dark comedy, set in New York, about an aged professional and his efforts to reconcile with an estranged son and grandson. Directed by Fred Schepisi (“Fierce Creatures,” “Last Orders”) from a screenplay by Jesse Wigutow. With Michael Douglas (“Don't Say a Word”), Kirk Douglas (“Diamonds”), Cameron Douglas (“Mr. Nice Guy”), Diana Douglas (“Planes, Trains & Automobiles”), Rory Culkin (“Igby Goes Down”), Michelle Monaghan (“Unfaithful”) and Bernadette Peters (“Snow Days”). Also known as “Smack in the Kisser” and “A Few Good Years.” PG-13: Drug content; sexual material; language. April 25. MGM.

A Man Apart
Actioner about a U.S. customs agent who teams with an imprisoned cartel boss in an effort to track down a mysterious new drug kingpin. Directed by F. Gary Gray (“The Negotiator”) from a screenplay by Christian Gudegast and Paul T. Scheuring. With Vin Diesel (“Knockaround Guys”), Larenz Tate (“Biker Boyz”), Jacqueline Obradors (“Tortilla Soup”), Geno Silva (“Mulholland Dr.”), Richard Gross (“The Deep End”), Steve Eastin (“Catch Me If You Can”), Timothy Olyphant (“Rock Star,” “Dreamcatcher,” “The Safety of Objects”), Jeff Kober (“Enough”) and Emilio Rivera (“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”). Also known as “Diablo” and “El Diablo.” April 4. New Line.

A Mighty Wind
Mockumentary about folk musicians who reunite in New York City to perform at a Carnegie Hall memorial concert honoring one of their own. The “Waiting For Guffman”-”Best in Show” team of writer-director-actor Christopher Guest and writer-actor Eugene Levy reunite. With “This is Spinal Tap” vets Guest (“A Few Good Men”), Michael McKean (“The Guru”), and Harry Shearer (“Teddy Bears’ Picnic”), as well as Levy (“Like Mike,” “Bringing Down the House”), Parker Posey (“Personal Velocity”), Fred Willard (“How High,” “Teddy Bears’ Picnic”), Catherine O’Hara (“Orange County”), Ed Begley Jr. (“Auto Focus”), Bob Balaban (“Gosford Park”) and Laura Harris (“Just the Ticket”). April 16. Warner Bros.

My Baby's Mama
Comedy, about three young men who are forced to take on new responsibilities when their girlfriends simultaneously become pregnant. Directed by Cheryl Dunye (“The Watermelon Woman”) from a screenplay by actor Eddie Griffin (“The New Guy”) and Damon “Coke” Daniels. With Griffin, Anthony Anderson (“Kangaroo Jack,” “Cradle 2 the Grave,” “Malibu’s Most Wanted”), Bai Ling (“Anna and the King”), Paula Jai Parker (“High Crimes,” “Phone Booth”), Method Man (“How High”), Michael Imperioli (“Love in the Time of Money”) and Joanna Bacalso (“Snow Dogs”). April 4. Miramax.

 

 

 

 

 

"Against the Ropes" - "Down With Love"

"Phone Booth" - Late Additions to March

 

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