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Volume
IV No. 12
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
©
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| Are
We There Yet?
Comedy about a bachelor who volunteers to drive his
new girlfriend’s young kids from Washington
to New York after she gets stuck in the Big Apple
on Christmas Eve. Directed by Brian Levant (“The
Flinstones in Viva Rock Vegas,” “Snow
Dogs”) from a screenplay by J. David Stem & David
Weiss (“Clockstoppers,” “Shrek
2”), Steven Gary Banks and Claudia Grazioso.
With Ice Cube (“Barbershop 2: Back in Business”),
Nia Long (“Baadasssss!” “Alfie”),
Aleisha Allen (“School of Rock”), Philip
Bolden (“Woman Thou Art Loosed”), Jay
Mohr (“Seeing Other People”) and M.C.
Gainey (“Sideways”). PG: Language; rude
humor. Jan. 28. Sony.

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The
Best
Of Youth
Six-hour Italian-language drama, set between 1966
and 2000, about two brothers – a cop and
psychiatrist – whose separate lives reconnect
after the psychiatrist’s wife becomes involved
with terrorists. Directed by Marco Tullio Giordana
(“Especially on Sunday”) from a screenplay
by Sandro Petraglia (“The Truce”) and
Stefano Rulli (“The Truce”). With Maya
Sansa (“Gasoline”), Danilo Maria Vali
(“Passion of the Christ”), Patrizia
Punzo (“Cemetery Man”), Alessio Asti
and Luigi Lo Cascio. Also known as “La Meglio
gioventù.” Flat. 363 min. R: Language;
brief nudity. Jan. 7 in New York and Los Angeles.
Miramax.

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D.E.B.S.
Action comedy about popular high school girls recruited
to serve as top government spies for an elite national
defense agency. Angela Robinson makes her directorial
debut from her own screenplay. With Sara Foster
(“The Big Bounce”), Jordana Brewster
(“The Fast and the Furious”), Devon
Aoki (“2 Fast 2 Furious”), Jill Ritchie
(“Breakin’ All the Rules”), Meagan
Goode (“The Cookout”), Michael Clarke
Duncan (“Daredevil”), Holland Taylor
(“Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over”), Jessica
Caufiel (“White Chicks”), Jenny Mollen
(TV’s “Angel”) and Roger Fan
(“Stuck on You”). Scope. 91 min. PG-13:
Sexual content; language. Jan. 28. IDP.

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Fascination
Thriller, set in Florida, about a young man who
grows suspicious when, soon after his father’s “accidental” death,
his recently-widowed mother announces plans to
remarry. Klaus Menzel makes his directorial debut
from a screenplay by Menzel, Daryl Haney (“Friday
the 13th Part VII: The New Blood”) and
John Jacobs. With Adam Garcia (“Confessions
of a Teenage Drama Queen”), Alice Evans
(“My Wife’s Name is Maurice”),
Jacqueline Bisset (“Latter Days”),
Stuart Wilson (“The Luzhin Defence”),
James Naughton (“The First Wives Club”),
Sterling Fitzgerald (“The Gift”)
and Jaime Bello (the 1988 British miniseries “Hemingway”).
Also known as “Heart of Stone.” Scope.
102 min. R: Strong sexuality; language. Jan.
28 limited. MGM.

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Aliens
of the Deep
Large-format 3-D documentary about a team of NASA
scientists and marine biologists that mounts expeditions
to explore underwater volcanic mountain ranges
and the mysterious creatures that inhabit them.
Directed by James Cameron (“Titanic,” “Ghosts
of the Abyss”). 45 min. G. Jan. 14 limited.
Buena Vista.
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Assault
on Precinct 13
Contemporary thriller about a gang’s attempt
to free its leader from police custody. A remake
of writer-director John Carpenter’s 1976
thriller. French director Jean-Francois Richet
(“De l’amour”) makes his English-language
directorial debut from a screenplay by James
DeMonaco (“The Negotiator”). With
Laurence Fishburne (the “Matrix” series),
Drea de Matteo (“Prey for Rock & Roll”),
Ethan Hawke (“Before Sunset”), Maria
Bello (“Silver City”), Kim Coates
(“Open Range”), Ja Rule (“The
Cookout”) and Gabriel Byrne (“P.S.”).
91 min. Jan. 21. Focus.

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Coach
Carter
Drama based on the true story of Ken Carter, a Richmond,
Calif., high school basketball coach who voluntarily
benched his undefeated team’s players until
they made academics and grades a priority. Directed
by Thomas Carter (“Metro,” “Save
the Last Dance”) from a screenplay by John
Gatins (“Summer Catch,” “Hardball”)
and Mark Schwahn (“Whatever it Takes,” “The
Perfect Score”). With Samuel L. Jackson (“Kill
Bill: Vol. 2”), Rob Brown (“Finding Forrester”),
Rick Gonzales (“Old School”), Jason Sweet
(“Species II”), Antwone Tanner (“Never
Die Alone”), Adam Clark (“Matchstick
Men”), Ashanti (“Bride and Prejudice”),
Debbi Morgan (“Woman Thou Art Loosed”),
Adrienne Bailon (TV’s “That’s So
Raven”), Dana Davis (“Raise Your Voice”),
Deena Dill (“Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!”),
Denise Dowse (“Ray,” “Eulogy”),
Gwen McGee (“The Clearing”), Ray Baker
(“Without A Paddle”) and Robert Ri’chard
(“Light it Up”). Jan. 14. Paramount.

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Elektra
Following her punishing encounter with Matt Murdock’s
nemesis Bullseye (as depicted in the 2003 “Daredevil” movie),
Elektra Natchios befriends a family she was assigned
to assassinate, angering the order of ninjas
that dispatched her. Based on the superheroine
who originally appeared in the pages of Marvel
Comics (“Blade,” “X-Men,” “Spider-Man,” “Hulk,” “Daredevil,” “The
Punisher,” “Man-Thing,” “Fantastic
Four”). Directed by Rob Bowman (“The
X-Files,””Reign of Fire”) from
a screenplay by Zak Penn (“Behind Enemy
Lines,” “Suspect Zero”), Raven
Metzner and Stu Zicherman. With Jennifer Garner
(“13 Going on 30”), Terence Stamp
(“The Haunted Mansion”), Goran Visnjic
(“Close Your Eyes”), Jason Isaacs
(“Peter Pan,” the “Harry Potter” series),
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (“Planet of the Apes”),
Will Yun Lee (“Torque”), Hiro Kanagawa
(“Extreme Ops”), Natassia Malthe
(“A Guy Thing”) and Colin Cunningham
(“Antitrust”). Scope. Jan. 14. Fox.

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Head
On
German- and Turkish-language drama about a pair
of despairing German Turks who marry out of convenience
(she to appease her traditional parents; he because
he can’t think of a reason not to) and what
happens when they begin to develop feelings for
each other despite her desire for absolute sexual
freedom. Written and directed by Fatih Akin. With
Birol Ünel (“Enemy at the Gates”),
Mehmet Kurtulus (“Equilibrium”), Sibel
Kekilli, Catrin Striebeck, Güven Kýraç,
Meltem Cumbul, Cem Akin, Aysel Iscan, Demir Gökgöl,
Stefan Gebelhoff, Hermann Lause, Adam Bousdoukos
and Ralph Misske. Also known as “Gegen die
Wand.” 121 min. Jan. 21 in New York. Strand.
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