Volume IV No. 6

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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America’s
Heart and Soul

Documentary about a filmmaker’s cross-country journey and the extraordinary encounters he has with ordinary Americans. Directed by Louis Schwartzberg. Flat. 88 min. PG: Mild thematic elements. July 2. Buena Vista.

 

 

Before Sunset
Romantic drama about two veterans of a 9-year-old one-night stand – a married American author and a French environmental activist – who reunite in Paris for 75 minutes. A sequel to the 1995 drama “Before Sunrise.” Director Richard Linklater (“Tape,” “School of Rock”) and actors Ethan Hawke (“Taking Lives”) and Julie Delpy (“But I’m a Cheerleader”) reunite with a screenplay by Linklater, Hawke and Delpy. Actors new to the franchise include Vernon Dobtcheff (“Festival in Cannes”), Mariane Plasteig and Diabolo. Flat. 80 min. R: Language; sexual references. July 2. Warner Independent Pictures.

 

 

The Best of Youth
Six-hour Italian-language drama, set between 1966 and 2000, about two brothers – a cop and psychiatrist – whose separate lives re-intersect after the psychiatrist’s wife gets involved with terrorists. Directed by Marco Tullio Giordana (“Especially on Sunday”) from a screenplay by Sandro Petraglia and Stefano Rulli (“The Truce”). With Luigi Lo Cascio, Alessio Asti, Sonia Gergamasco, Fabrizio Gifuni and Maya Sansa. 366 min. July 2 in New York and Los Angeles. Miramax.

 

 

 

Catwoman
Spinoff of the “Batman” franchise about a resurrected veterinary scientist named Patience Philips who seeks revenge against the industrialist responsible for her death. Visual effects director Pitof (“Alien: Resurrection,” “The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc”) makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by John Rogers (“The Core”) and Michael Ferris & John Brancato (“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”). With Halle Berry (“Gothika”), Benjamin Bratt (“Abandon”), Sharon Stone (“Cold Creek Manor”), Lambert Wilson (“Timeline”), Frances Conroy (“Die Mommie, Die!”), Frances McDormand (“Something’s Gotta Give”) and Alex Borstein (“Bad Santa”). July 23. Warner Bros.

 

 

The Clearing
Drama about a well-heeled executive whose wife must come up with ransom money when an irate employee holds the exec captive in a forest. Producer Pieter Jan Brugge (“The Insider”) makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Justin Haythe. With Robert Redford (“Spy Game”), Helen Mirren (“Calendar Girls,” “Raising Helen”), Willem Dafoe (“The Reckoning”), Melissa Sagemiller (“Sorority Boys”), Alessandro Nivola (“Laurel Canyon”) and Matt Craven (“Timeline”). Flat. R: Brief strong language. July 2. Fox Searchlight.

 

Festival Express
Documentary about the infamous Festival Express train journey that carried top rock ‘n’ roll musicians, fans, filmmakers and journalists from Toronto to Calgary during the summer of 1970. Directed by Bob Smeaton. Featuring performance footage of Janis Joplin, The Band, The Grateful Dead and more. 90 min. July 23. ThinkFilm.

 

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
Comedy about a pair of pot-smoking twentysomething roommates – a Korean-American investment banker and an Indian-American medical school candidate – who find their impulsive nighttime jaunt to a local burger stand hopelessly sidetracked. Directed by Danny Leiner (“Dude, Where’s My Car?”) from a screenplay by Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg. With Schlossberg, John Cho (“American Wedding”), Kal Penn (“Love Don’t Cost a Thing”), Fred Willard (“American Wedding,” “Anchorman”), Steve Braun, Brooke D’Orsay, Malin Akerman (“The Skulls”), Anthony Anderson (“My Baby’s Daddy”), Jamie Kennedy (“Malibu’s Most Wanted”) and Ryan Reynolds (“The In-Laws”). Flat. 87 min. R: Strong language; sexual content; drug use; some crude humor. July 30. New Line.

Anchorman:
The Legend of
Ron Burgundy

Comedy, set in the 1970s, about a beloved news anchorman whose perfect hair, raging hormones and inflated ego are no match for an ambitious female newscaster who has actually mastered the craft of journalism. “Saturday Night Live” scribe Adam McKay makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by McKay and Will Ferrell (“A Night at the Roxbury”). With Ferrell (“Elf”), Christina Applegate (“Wonderland”), Paul Rudd (“The Shape of Things”), Steven Carell (“Bruce Almighty,” “Sleepover”), David Koechner (“My Boss’s Daughter”), Vince Vaughn (“Starsky & Hutch,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”), Ben Stiller (“Starsky & Hutch”), Chris Parnell (“Down With Love”), Maya Rudolph (“50 First Dates”), Fred Armisen (“Eurotrip”), Amy Poehler (“Mean Girls,” “Envy”), Fred Willard (“American Wedding,” “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”) and Jerry Minor (Comedy Central’s “Trigger Happy TV”). PG-13: Sexual humor; language; comic violence. July 9. DreamWorks.

 

Bang Rajan
Thai-language drama, set in 1763 Bang Rajan and based on a true story, about the Thai villagers who battled against the invading Burmese army. Directed by Tanit Jitnukul from a screenplay by Kongkiat Khomsiri. With Jaran Ngamdee, Winai Kraibutr, Theerayut Ptratyabamrung, Bin Bunluerit and Bongkoj Khongmalai. Flat. 119 min. July 16 in New York and Los Angeles. Magnolia.

 

 

The Bourne Supremacy
Thriller about what happens when someone assassinates the Chinese vice premier, then frames “Jason Bourne,” the false identity used by CIA agent David Webb, for the slaying. Sequel to the 2002 blockbuster “The Bourne Identity.” Based on the second novel in the “Bourne” series authored by Robert Ludlum (“The Osterman Weekend”). Returnees from “The Bourne Identity” include screenwriter Tony Gilroy (“Proof of Life”) and actors Matt Damon (“Jersey Girl”), Franka Potente (“Storytelling”), Julia Stiles (“The Prince & Me”) and Brian Cox (“The Reckoning,” “Troy”). Newcomers to the franchise include director Paul Greengrass (“Bloody Sunday”) and screenwriter Brian Helgeland (“Man on Fire”) as well as actors Joan Allen (“The Contender,” “The Notebook,” “Off the Map”), Tom Gallop (“A.I.”) and Karl Urban (“Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “The Chronicles of Riddick”). July 23. Universal.

 

Bonjour Monsieur
Schlomi

Hebrew-language family comedy about a neglected teen who, charged with the care of his dysfunctional family, slowly starts to discover long-dormant talents – with the assistance of two helpful faculty members. Written and directed by Shemi Zarhin. With Oshri Cohen, Esti Zakheim, Arieh Elias (“James’ Journey to Jerusalem”), Albert Iluz (“The Delta Force”) and Rotem Abuhab. Flat. 94 min. July 2 in New York and Los Angeles. Strand.

 

 

 

A Cinderella Story
Comedy, set in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley, about an unpopular high school student transformed by a makeover into one of the most attractive girls in her class. Directed by Mark Rosman (TV’s “Lizzie McGuire”) from a screenplay by Leigh Dunlap. With Hilary Duff (“Cheaper By the Dozen”), Julie Gonzalo (“Freaky Friday,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”), Chad Murray (“Freaky Friday”), Brenda Song (“Like Mike”), Dan Byrd (“28 Days”) and Madeline Zima (“‘Till There Was You”). PG: Mild language; innuendo. July 16. Warner Bros.

 

 

Danny Deckchair
Australian romantic comedy about a truck driver who finds love with a meter maid after he ties huge helium balloons to a lawn chair and accidentally floats off to a strange town. Longtime storyboard artist Jeff Balsmeyer (“Canadian Bacon,” “Operation Dumbo Drop,” “Heat”) makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With Rhys Ifans (“Once Upon A Time in the Midlands”), Miranda Otto (“Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” “Close Your Eyes”), Justine Clarke (“Japanese Story”), Rhys Muldoon, Frank Magree (“Ned Kelly”) and Jeanette Cronin (“Dark City”). Flat. 90 min. PG-13: Sex-related situations. July 30 in New York and Los Angeles; wider Aug. 13. Lions Gate.

 

Garden State
Comedy about a 26-year-old aspiring actor who, after a 9-year absence, returns to his hometown in New Jersey – where he falls for the quirky young woman who helps him untangle his aimless and heavily-medicated life. Actor Zach Braff (“The Broken Hearts Club,” TV’s “Scrubs”) makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With Braff, Natalie Portman (“Cold Mountain”), Peter Sarsgaard (“Shattered Glass”), Jean Smart (“Bringing Down the House”), Method Man (“Paid in Full”), Ian Holm (“Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” “The Day After Tomorrow”), Alex Burns (“National Lampoon’s Van Wilder”) and Michael Weston (“Hart’s War”). Scope. R: Language; drug use; a scene of sexuality. July 30 limited. Fox Searchlight.

 

 

 

 

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"Seducing Dr. Lewis" – Late Additions to June

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