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Volume
IV No. 6
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
©
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| Intimate
Strangers
French-language drama, set in Paris, about a woman
who forms a relationship with a tax attorney after
she mistakenly ends up in his office rather than
a psychiatrist’s. Directed by Patrice Leconte
(“The Widow of Saint-Pierre,” “The
Man on the Train”) from a screenplay by Jerome
Tonnerre (“Bon Voyage”). With Sandrine
Bonnaire (“East/West”), Fabrice Luchini
(“On Guard’), Michel Duchaussoy (“La
Mentale The Code”), Anne Brochet (“All
the Mornings of the World”), Gilbert Melki
(“Monsieur Ibrahim”) and Laurent Gamelon
(“The Closet”). 104 min. July 28 limited.
Paramount Classics.

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King
Arthur
Period drama about how King Arthur decided to consolidate
his power – with the guidance of a former
enemy named Merlin – after he came to realize
the Roman Empire’s dominion over England
was nearing its end. Directed by Antoine Fuqua
(“Training Day,” “Tears of the
Sun”) from a screenplay by John Lee Hancock
(“The Alamo”) and David Franzoni (“Gladiator”).
With Clive Owen (“Beyond Borders”)
as Arthur, Stephen Dillane (“The Hours”)
as Merlin, Keira Knightley (“Love Actually”)
as Guinevere, Stellan Skarsgård (“Dogville”)
as Cedric, Hugh Dancy (“Ella Enchanted”)
as Galahad, Ioan Gruffudd (“Black Hawk Down”)
as Lancelot, Mads Mikkelsen (“Wilbur Wants
To Kill Himself”) as Tristan, Til Schweiger
(“Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life”)
as Cynric, Charlie Creed-Miles (“The Fifth
Element”) as Ganis, Ken Stott (“I’ll
Sleep When I’m Dead”) as Marcus Honorius,
Ivano Marescotti (“The Talented Mr. Ripley”),
Pat Kinevane (“Ella Enchanted”) as
Horton and Ray Winstone (“Cold Mountain”)
as Bors. Scope. July 7. Buena Vista.

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L.A.
Twister
Comedy, set in Los Angeles, about the harebrained
journey two friends embark upon to get their film
made in Hollywood. Sven Pape makes his feature
directorial debut from a screenplay by Geoffrey
Saville-Read. With Tony Daly, Zack Ward (“Freddy
Vs. Jason”), Sarah Thompson (“Malibu’s
Most Wanted”), Jennifer Aspen (“The
Others”), Colleen Camp (“Trapped”)
and Susan Blakely (“Dream a Little Dream”).
Flat. 92 min. July 16. Indican.

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Maria
Full of Grace
Spanish-language drama about a rural Colombian
teen who seeks to escape her life of impoverishment
by acting as a “mule,” smuggling
packets of drugs to New York by hiding them inside
her body. Written and directed by Joshua Marston.
With Catalina Sandino Moreno, Yenny Paola Vega,
Guilied Lopez, Jhon Alex Toro, Orlando Tobon
and Patricia Rae. Also known as “Maria,
Ilena Eres de Gracia.” Flat. 101 min. R:
Drug content; language. July 16. HBO/Fine Line.
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Monsieur
N.
French-language mystery thriller, set in the early
19th century, exploring the supposition that the
exiled emperor Napoleon faked his own death and
somehow escaped his exile on St. Helena Island.
Directed by Antoine de Caunes from a screenplay
by René Manzor (“Highlander III”).
With Philippe Torreton (“It All Starts Today”),
Richard E. Grant (“Gosford Park,” “Bright
Young Things”), Jay Rodan (“The Triumph
of Love”), Elsa Zylberstein (“Time
Regained”) and Roschdy Zem (“My Wife
is an Actress”). 120 min. July 23. Empire.

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Off
The Map
Coming-of-age drama, set in rural New Mexico’s
high desert during the 1970s, about an 11-year-old
who witnesses her father’s harrowing struggle
with depression. Based on the play by Joan Ackerman.
Directed by Campbell Scott (“Big Night,” “Final”)
from a screenplay by Ackerman. With J.D. Hawkins,
Sam Elliott (“Hulk”), Joan Allen (“The
Contender,” “The Notebook,” “The
Bourne Supremacy”), Amy Brenneman (“The
Suburbans”), J.K. Simmons (“The Ladykillers,” “Spider-Man
2”), Kevin Skousen (“The Hand That Rocks
the Cradle”), Jim True-Frost (“Affliction”)
and Valentina de Angelis. 105 min. PG-13: Nudity;
thematic elements. July 16. Manhattan.

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Rosenstrasse
German- and English-language drama, based on a
true story of World War II Berlin, about a
group of gentile
women who fought to prevent their Jewish husbands
from being deported, fearful that the men would face
extermination if they left the city. Directed by
Margarethe von Trotta (“The Promise”)
from a screenplay by Von Trotta and Pamela Katz.
With Katja Riemann (“The Harmonists”),
Maria Schrader (“Aimée & Jaguar”),
Martin Feifel, Jürgen Vogel (“Good Bye,
Lenin!”), Jutta Lampe and Doris Schade (“Beyond
Silence”). 136 min. July 30. IDP.

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A
Home at the End of the World
Drama, set in New York, about two best friends
who fall into a love triangle with an older woman.
Based on the novel by Michael Cunningham (“The
Hours”). Directed by Michael Mayer from a
screenplay by Cunningham. With Colin Farrell (“Intermission”),
Robin Wright Penn (“The Singing Detective”),
Sissy Spacek (“Tuck Everlasting”),
Ryan Donowho (“The Mudge Boy”), Matt
Frewer (“Dawn of the Dead”) and Dallas
Roberts. R: Strong drug content; sexuality; nudity;
language; a disturbing accident. July 23. Warner
Independent Pictures.

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I,
Robot
Sci-fi actioner, set in 2050, about a detective
trying to solve a murder apparently committed
by a robot whose hardwired programming would
not allow it to murder. Based on the anthology “I,
Robot” by Isaac Asimov (“Bicentennial
Man”). Directed by Alex Proyas (“Dark
City,” “Garage Days”) from
a screenplay by Jeff Vintar (“Final Fantasy”)
and Akiva Goldsman (“A Beautiful Mind”).
With Will Smith (“Bad Boys II”),
Bridget Moynahan (“The Recruit”),
Alan Tudyk (“Hearts in Atlantis,” “Dodgeball:
A True Underdog Story”), Chi McBride (“Paid
in Full,” “Terminal”), Bruce
Greenwood (“Hollywood Homicide”)
and James Cromwell (“The Sum of All Fears”).
Scope. July 16. Fox.

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Last
Life in the Universe
Thai- and Japanese-language drama about an ex-Yakuza
Japanese librarian hiding in Bangkok to escape his
dangerous past. Directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang from
a screenplay by Ratanaruang and Prabda Yoon. With
Asano Tadanobu, Sinitta Boonyasak, Laila Boonyasak,
Matsushige Yutaka (“Godzilla 2000”) and
Riki Takeuchi. Also known as “Ruang Rak Noi
Nid Mahasan.” 112 min. July 23. Palm.
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The
Manchurian Candidate
Remake of the 1962 political thriller about a
prisoner of war brainwashed by a foreign government
into an unwitting assassin. Based on the 1959
novel by Richard Condon (“Prizzi’s
Honor”). Directed by Jonathan Demme (“Beloved,” “The
Truth About Charlie,” “The Agronomist”)
from a screenplay by Daniel Pyne (“The
Sum of All Fears”) and Dean Georgaris (“Paycheck”).
With Denzel Washington (“Man on Fire”),
Liev Schreiber (“The Sum of All Fears”),
Meryl Streep (“The Hours”), Kimberly
Elise (“John Q”), Jon Voight (“Holes”),
Jeffrey Wright (“Ali”), Vera Farmiga
(“Dummy”), Adam LeFevre (“Dummy”),
Ted Levine (“Wonderland”), Charles
Napier (“Nutty Professor II: The Klumps”),
Dean Stockwell (“Buffalo Soldiers”),
Anthony Mackie (“Hollywood Homicide,” “She
Hate Me”) and Jude Ciccolella (“Daredevil,” “The
Terminal”). July 30. Paramount.

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Metallica:
Some Kind of Monster
Documentary about the 23-year-old heavy-metal band
Metallica, whose contentious members – under
pressure from their record company – sought
group therapy to keep the band together long enough
to finish its long-in-the-works “St. Anger” album.
The “Brother’s Keeper” writing-directing
team of Joe Berlinger (“Paradise Lost,” “Blair
Witch 2”) and Bruce Sinofsky reunite. 120
min. July 9 limited. IFC.16. Warner Bros.
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My
Wife Maurice
French-language romantic comedy about a gigolo
whose promiscuous lifestyle becomes cramped by
his wealthy, hard-nosed wife and his seethingly
jealous mistress. Based on the play by Raffy Shart.
Directed by Jean-Marie Poiré (the “Visitors” series)
from a screenplay by Poiré and Shart. With
Alice Evans (“102 Dalmations”), Régis
Laspalès, Philippe Chevallier, Götz
Otto (“Tomorrow Never Dies”), Anémone
(“Marquise”), Martin Lemotte (“Beaumarchais
the Scoundrel”) and Guy Marchand (“Beaumarchais
the Scoundrel”). Also known as “Ma
Femme S’Appelle Maurice.” 98 min. July
16. TLA.
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Riding
Giants
Documentary exploring the history and origins of
surfing. Directed by Stacy Peralta (“Dogtown
and Z-Boys”). Written by Peralta and Sam George.
Featuring interviews with and footage of professional
surfers Darrick Doerner, Laird John Hamilton and
Dave Kalama. Flat. 101 min. PG-13: Brief strong language.
July 9. Sony Pictures Classics. |
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