Volume IV No. 2

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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Blind Shaft
Mandarin-language drama about two Chinese miners who, in order to extort cover-up money from management, create deadly mine accidents. Li Yang makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With Li Vixiang, Wang Shuangbao, Wang Baoqiang, An Jing and Bao Zhenjiang. Also known as “Mang Jing.” 92 min. Feb. 4 in New York; wider March 26. Kino.

 

 

Broken Wings
Hebrew-language drama, set in the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, about a middle-class Israeli family of five who struggle to survive after their beloved patriarch dies. Nir Bergman makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With Orly Silbersatz Banai, Maya Maron, Nitai Gaviratz, Vladimir Friedman (“Voyages”) and Dana Ivgi. Also known as “Knafayim Shvurot.” Flat. 84 min. R: Some language; brief nudity; drug use. March 12 in New York and Los Angeles. Sony Pictures Classics.

 

 

 

Dawn of the Dead
Horror thriller about a world overrun by flesh-craving zombie hordes, and a handful of survivors who take refuge in an abandoned shopping mall. A remake of the 1979 sequel to “Night of the Living Dead.” Zack Snyder makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by James Gunn (“The Specials,” “Scooby-Doo,” “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed”). With Sarah Polley (“My Life Without Me”), Ving Rhames (“Dark Blue”), Lindy Booth (“Wrong Turn”), Mekhi Phifer (“Honey”), Ty Burrell (“Black Hawk Down”) and Jake Weber (“Wendigo”). March 19. Universal.

 

 

Dogville
Dramatic thriller, set in the 1930s and filmed entirely on a soundstage, about a woman on the run from unsavory thugs, and what happens when she takes refuge in a small Rocky Mountain town. Written and directed by Lars von Trier (“Breaking the Waves,” “The Idiots,” “Dancer in the Dark”). With Nicole Kidman (“Cold Mountain”), Chloë Sevigny (“Shattered Glass”), Paul Bettany (“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” “The Reckoning”), Jeremy Davies (“Solaris,” “Twentynine Palms”), Siobhan Fallon (“Daddy Day Care”), Patricia Clarkson (“Pieces of April,” “Miracle”), Stellan Skarsgård (“City of Ghosts,” “Taking Sides”), James Caan (“Elf”) and Lauren Bacall (“Diamonds”). Scope. 177 min. R: Violence; sexual content. March 19 in New York and Los Angeles; wider April 2. Lions Gate.

 

 

The Girl Next Door
Romantic comedy about a high school kid who falls in love with his new next-door neighbor, who turns out to have a history as a porn actress. Directed by Luke Greenfield (“The Animal”) from a screenplay by Stuart Blumberg (“Keeping the Faith”), David Wagner & Brent Goldberg (“National Lampoon’s Van Wilder,” “My Baby’s Daddy”). With Emile Hirsch (“The Emperor’s Club”), Elisha Cuthbert (“Love Actually”), Timothy Olyphant (“A Man Apart”), Chris Marquette (“Freddy Vs. Jason”), Nicholas Downs (“Circuit”) and James Remar (“Duplex”). Flat. R: Strong sexual content; language; some drug/alcohol use. March 12. Fox.

Agent Cody Banks 2
Sequel to the 2003 action comedy about a teen recruited by the CIA to perform special “kid” assignments, this time about the young spy having to pose as an elite boarding school student in London to retrieve a stolen mind-control device. Returnees from part one include actors Frankie Muniz (“Deuces Wild”), Connor Widdows (“X2”) and Daniel Roebuck (“Bubba Ho-Tep”). Newcomers to the franchise include director Kevin Allen (“The Big Tease”) and screenwriter Don Rhymer (“The Santa Clause 2”) as well as actors Anthony Anderson (“My Baby’s Daddy”), Keith Allen (“24 Hour Party People”), Anna Chancellor (“What a Girl Wants,” “The Dreamers”) and Hannah Spearritt. March 12. MGM.

 

Bon Voyage
French-language romantic comedy, set in 1940 Bordeaux, about a young man who must choose between two loves: a famous actress and a vibrant student. Directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau (“The Horseman on the Roof”) from a screenplay by novelist Patrick Modiano (“Livret de Famille”). With Isabelle Adjani (“Diabolique,” “Monsieur Ibrahim”), Gérard Depardieu (“City of Ghosts”), Virginie Ledoyen (“8 Women”), Yvan Attal (“And Now Ladies and Gentlemen”), Peter Coyote (“Northfork,” “The Hebrew Hammer”) and Grégori Derangère. Scope. 114 min. PG-13: Some violence. March 26 in New York and Los Angeles. Sony Pictures Classics.

 

Carlos Castaneda:
Enigma Of A Sorcerer

Documentary about the controversial, popular “new age” author and self-proclaimed sorcerer, whose 1998 death might be tied to the mysterious disappearance of five of his closest female followers. Featuring interviews with Shaman and mythology experts as well as former members of Castaneda’s Sorcerers Group. Directed by Ralph Torjan. 91 min. March 12. Indican.

 

 

Divan
English-, Hungarian- and Yiddish-language documentary about a Jewish woman, Pearl Gluck, who sets out to rediscover her Hasidic roots by finding and refurbishing a mystical family heirloom. Directed by Gluck. 77 min. March 17 in New York. Zeitgeist.

 

 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Comedy about a man who undergoes a procedure to erase memories of his ex-girlfriend – but begins to regret the erasure when he’s left with memories of only their earlier, happier days together. Directed by Michel Gondry (“Human Nature”) from a screenplay by Charlie Kaufman (“Adaptation,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”). With Jim Carrey (“Bruce Almighty”), Kate Winslet (“The Life of David Gale”), Kirsten Dunst (“Mona Lisa Smile”), Tom Wilkinson (“Girl with a Pearl Earring”) and Mark Ruffalo (“My Life Without Me,” “In the Cut”). Flat. March 19. Focus.

 

 

Hidalgo
Western adventure, set in 1890 and based on a true story, about a U.S. cavalry courier who raced his mustang against purebred Arabian steeds in a 3,000-mile survival race across the Arabian Desert. Directed by Joe Johnston (“October Sky,” “Jurassic Park III”) from a screenplay by John Fusco (“Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron”). With Viggo Mortensen (the “Lord of the Rings” series), Zuleikha Robinson (“Timecode”), Malcolm McDowell (“I Spy,” “The Company”), Louise Lombard, Adam Alexi-Malle (“AI: Artificial Intelligence”), Frank Collison (“The Majestic”), Adoni Maropis (“Bad Company”), J.K. Simmons (“Spider-Man,” “The Ladykillers”) and Omar Sharif (“The 13th Warrior,” “Monsieur Ibrahim”). Scope. 133 min. PG-13: Adventure violence; some mild innuendo. March 5. Buena Vista.

 

 

 

 

"Intermission" – "The Prince and Me"

"Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed" – Late Additions to February

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