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Volume
IV No. 2
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.

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