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Volume
III No. 3
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
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Phone Booth Thriller, set in New York,
about a womanizing media consultant chosen
as an assassin’s target: He is told
that if he hangs up the payphone he’s
talking into, a sniper rifle will put a bullet
in his brain. Directed by Joel Schumacher
(“Tigerland,” “Bad Company”)
from a screenplay by Larry Cohen (“Body
Snatchers”). With Colin Farrell (“The
Recruit,” “Daredevil”),
Keifer Sutherland (“Dark City”),
Forest Whitaker (“Panic Room”),
Radha Mitchell (“Pitch Black”),
Katie Holmes (“Abandon”), Paula
Jai Parker (“High Crimes,” “My
Baby’s Mama”) and Tia Texada
(“13 Conversations About One Thing”).
Scope. 81 min. R: Pervasive language; some
violence. April 4. Fox.

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What a Girl Wants Romantic comedy-drama about
a 19-year-old New Yorker who finds her long-lost
British dad in London and proceeds to thoroughly
disrupt his aristocratic life. Directed by
Dennie Gordon (“Joe Dirt”) from
a screenplay by Jenny Bicks (TV’s “Sex
and the City”) and Elizabeth Chandler
(“Someone Like You”). With Amanda
Bynes (“Big Fat Liar”), Colin
Firth (“The Importance of Being Earnest”),
Kelly Preston (“Battlefield Earth,” “View
from the Top”), Anna Chancellor (“Crush”),
Jonathan Pryce (“The Affair of the
Necklace”), Eileen Atkins (“The
Hours”) and Christina Cole. Also known
as “American Girl” and “London
Calling.” PG: Mild language. April
4. Warner Bros.

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XX/XY
Romantic
drama about a love triangle that resurfaces
when three old college friends reunite
10 years after graduation. Austin Chick
makes his feature directorial debut from
his own screenplay. With Mark Ruffalo (“Windtalkers,” “View
From the Top”), Kathleen Robertson
(“I Am Sam”), Maya Stange (“Head
On”), Joey Kern (“Super Troopers”),
David Thornton (“Swept Away”),
Evan Neumann (“Serendipity”),
Melissa Guoin (“Just a Kiss”)
and Petra Wright. 91 min. R: Sexuality;
language; brief drug use. April 11 in New
York and Los Angeles; wider April 25. IFC.

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The Sea
Icelandic-language
family drama, set in rural Iceland, about
an aging father who tries to convince his
youngest son, currently living in Paris
with his girlfriend, to return home and
take over the family fishery. Based on
the play by Olafu Haukur Simonarson. Directed
by Baltasar Kormákur (“101
Reykjavík”) from a screenplay
by Kormakur and Simonarson. With Gunnar
Eyjólfsson (“101 Reykjavík”),
Hilmir Snaer Gudnason (“101 Reykjavík”),
Hélène de Fougerolles (“Va
Savoir”), Kristbjörg Kjeld (“No
Such Thing”), Herdís Thorvaldsdóttir
and Gudrún Gísladóttir
(“Devil’s Island”). Also
known as “Hafid.” 109 min.
April 25 in New York and Los Angeles. Palm.
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Winged Migration French-language
documentary, filmed over the course of three
years by five separate teams, following the
migratory patterns of birds through 40 countries
and across all seven continents. Directed and
narrated by Jacques Perrin. Co-directed by
Jacques Cluzaud and Michel Debats. Also known
as “Le Peuple Migrateur.” 92 min.
April 18 in New York and Los Angeles. Sony
Pictures Classics. |
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The Hunted
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,” “Basic”),
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 (“Mullholland Drive”),
Robert Blanche (“Men of Honor”)
and Jose Zuniga (“The Crew”).
Flat. 94 min. R: Strong bloody violence;
some language. March 14. Paramount.
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Marooned in Iraq Farsi-language drama, set during the Iran-Iraq
war, about a Kurd singer who joins his two
grown musician sons on a journey to find
his estranged ex-wife in Iraq. Directed by
Bahman Ghobadi (“A Time for Drunken
Horses”) from his own screenplay. With
Shahab Ebrahimi, Iran Ghobadi, Faegh Mohamadi
and Allah-Morad Rashtian. Also known as “Gomgashtei
dar Aragh.” 108 min. March 28 in New
York. Wellspring.
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Under the Skin of the City Documentary-style Farsi-language drama,
set in 1977 in a Tehran suburb, about a textile
factory employee who finds comfort in her
friends and family despite her nation’s
stifling government. Directed by Rakhshan
Bani-Etemad from a screenplay by Bani-Etemad
and Farid Mostafavi. With Golab Adineh, Mohammad
Reza Forutan, Boran Kosari, Ebrahin Sheibani
and Mohsen Ghazi Moradi. Also known as “Zir-e
post-e shahr.” Flat. 92 min. March
14 in New York and Los Angeles. Magnolia.
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Willard
Remake of the 1972 horror-thriller
about an introverted young man who, after one
of his pet rats is killed at work, uses his
other rodent friends to exact revenge upon
pestering co-workers. Screenwriter Glen Morgan
(“Final Destination,” “The
One”) makes his feature directorial debut
from a screenplay by Morgan & James Wong
(“Final Destination,” “The
One”). With Crispin Glover (“Like
Mike”), Laura Harring (“John Q”),
R. Lee Ermey (“The Salton Sea”),
David Parker (“Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever”)
and Jackie Burroughs (“Lost and Delirious”).
March 14. New Line.

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DysFunKtional
Family
Documentary
integrating comedian Eddie Griffin’s stand-up performance
and interviews with his real-life family
in Kansas City, Mo. Directed by Griffin
and George Gallo (“Double Take”).
89 min. R: Strong sexual content; language;
drug-related humor. March 21. Miramax.
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Painted Fire Korean-language drama about the life of
revolutionary 19th century painter Jang Seung-up,
who struggled to overcome fallen love affairs
and bouts with alcoholism in his search for
artistic fulfillment. Directed by Im Kwon-taek
(“Chunhyang”) from a screenplay
by Kwon-taek and Kim Yong-oak. With Choi
Min-shik (“Swiri”), Yoo Ho-jing,
Ahn Sung-ki (“Nowhere to Hide”),
Kim Yeo-jin and Son Yae-jin. Also known as “Chi-hwa-seon.” 117
min. March 14. Kino.
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View From the Top
Comedy about a
young woman who hopes to escape her downscale
origins for a more glamorous life as a flight
attendant. Directed by Bruno Barreto (“One
Tough Cop,” “Bossa Nova”)
from a screenplay by Eric Wald. With Gwyneth
Paltrow (“Possession”), Christina
Applegate (“The Sweetest Thing”),
Candice Bergen (“Sweet Home Alabama”),
Marc Blucas (“Wes Craven Presents: They”),
Mark Ruffalo (“Windtalkers,” “XX/XY”),
Mike Myers (“Austin Powers in Goldmember”),
Rob Lowe (“The Specials”), Stephen
Tobolowsky (“Love Liza”) and Kelly
Preston (“Battlefield Earth,” “What
A Girl Wants”). Scope. 90 min. PG-13:
Language/sexual references. March 21. Miramax.

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The
Young Unknowns
Dark comedy, set in Los Angeles’ Hollywood
Hills, about four self-destructive show-biz
neophytes – including a model and an
aspiring film director – whose day of
relaxation takes a disastrous turn. Based on
the play “Magic Afternoon” by Wolfgang
Bauer. Catherine Jelski makes her feature directorial
debut from her own screenplay. With Devon Gummersall
(“Dick”), Eion Bailey (“Almost
Famous”), Arly Jover (“Impostor”),
Leslie Bibb (“See Spot Run”) and
Dale Godboldo (“The Sum of All Fears”).
Flat. 87 min. March 14 in New York and Los
Angeles; wider March 21. Indican. 

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