Volume IV No. 12

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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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.

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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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