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Volume
IV No. 3
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
©
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| The
Agronomist
Documentary about the life of Haiti’s freedom-fighting
radio journalist, Jean Dominique, who was assassinated
in 2000. Directed by Jonathan Demme (“The Truth
About Charlie,” “Storefront Hitchcock”).
Featuring an original score by hip-hop artists Wyclef
Jean and Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis. Flat.
91 min. April 16 limited. ThinkFilm.
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Bulgarian
Lovers
Spanish- and Bulgarian-language thriller, set in
Spain, about a homosexual middle-aged Spaniard
who falls for a beautiful, young heterosexual Bulgarian
refuge. Based on the novel by Eduardo Mendicutti
(“The Lame Pigeon”). Directed by Eloy
de la Iglesia from a screenplay by de la Iglesia
and Fernando Guillén Cuervo. With Cuervo
(“Talk To Her”), Dritan Biba, Pepón
Nieto, Roger Pera, Fernando Albizu (“Intacto”)
and Simón Andreu (“Die Another Day”).
Also known as “Los Novios Bulgaros.” Flat.
90 min. April 23. TLA.
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Ella
Enchanted
Comedy-fantasy about a young fairy who decides
that the “gift of obedience” given
to her at birth is more of a curse than a blessing.
Based on the young adult book by Gail Carson Levine.
Directed by Tommy O’Haver (“Billy’s
Hollywood Screen Kiss,” “Get Over It”)
from a screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten
Smith (“10 Things I Hate About You,” “Legally
Blonde”), Laurie Craig (“Paulie”)
and Jennifer Heath & Michelle Wolff. With Anne
Hathaway (“Nicholas Nickleby”), Hugh
Dancy (“Black Hawk Down”), Cary Elwes
(“The Cat’s Meow”), Patrick Bergin
(“The Invisible Circus”), Steve Coogan
(“24 Hour Party People”), Minnie Driver
(“Owning Mahowny”), Vivica A. Fox (the “Kill
Bill” series), Rory Keenan (“Reign
of Fire,” “Intermission”), Jennifer
Higham (“The Cat’s Meow”), Joanna
Lumley (“The Cat’s Meow”), Parminder
K. Nagra (“Bend It Like Beckham”) and
Eric Idle as the narrator. PG: Some crude humor;
language. April 9. Miramax.

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Face
Drama about a Chinese-American woman who, after
a rapist leaves her pregnant, must travel to
China to restore her family’s reputation.
Bertha Bay-Sa Pan makes her feature directorial
debut from a screenplay by Bay-Sa Pan and Oren
Moverman (“Jesus’ Son”). With
Bai Ling (“My Baby’s Daddy”),
Kieu Chinh (“Green Dragon”), Kristy
Wu (“What’s Cooking?”), Anthony “Treach” Criss
(“Empire”), Ken Leung (“Red
Dragon”), Will Yun Lee (“Die Another
Day”) and Melissa Martinez (“Brown
Sugar”). 89 min. April 16. Indican.

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The
Green Butchers
Danish-language comedy about two friends whose
meat-cutting venture is revitalized when they begin
utilizing a new “secret ingredient.” Written
and directed by screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen
(“Open Hearts,” “Wilbur Wants
to Kill Himself”). With Line Kruse (“Mifune”),
Nikolaj Lie Kaas (“Open Hearts”), Mads
Mikkelsen (“Open Hearts,” “Wilbur
Wants to Kill Himself”), Nicolas Bro (“Kira’s
Reason: A Love Story”), Aksel Erhardtsen
and Bodil Jorgensen (“The Idiots”).
Also known as “De Gronne Slagtere.” 100
min. April 23. Newmarket.

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Hellboy
Actioner
about a demon-like creature, originally summoned
from another dimension in 1944 by Nazi occultists,
who grew up to work as an investigator for the U.S.
government’s Bureau of Paranormal Research.
Based on the Dark Horse comic book created by Mike
Mignola. Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro
(“The Devil’s Backbone,” “Blade
2”). With Ron Perlman (“Star Trek: Nemesis,” “Looney
Tunes: Back in Action”) as Hellboy, Selma Blair
(“A Guy Thing”) as Liz Sherman, John
Hurt (“Owning Mahowny”) as Professor
Bruttenholm, Doug Jones (“Adaptation”)
as Abe Sapien, Jeffrey Tambor (“My Boss’s
Daughter”) as Dr. Tom Manning, Karel Roden
(“Bulletproof Monk”) as Grigori Rasputin,
and Rupert Evans as John Myers. Flat. April 2. Sony.

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The
Alamo
Historical epic, set in 1836 San Antonio, about
the Mexican army’s famous 13-day siege on
a small group of volunteers – William Travis,
Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie among them – who
fought for Texas’ independence from Mexico.
Directed by John Lee Hancock (“The Rookie”)
from a screenplay by Hancock (“Midnight in
the Garden of Good and Evil”), John Sayles
(“Casa de Los Babys”), Leslie Bohem
(“Dante’s Peak”) and Stephen
Gaghan (“Traffic,” “Abandon”).
With Billy Bob Thornton (“Bad Santa”)
as Crockett, Jason Patric (“Narc”)
as Bowie, Tony-winning Broadway vet Patrick Wilson
as Travis, Dennis Quaid (“Cold Creek Manor”)
as Sam Houston, Marc Blucas (“I Capture the
Castle,” “Prey for Rock and Roll,” “First
Daughter”) as James Bonham, Jordi Mollà (“Bad
Boys II”) as Juan Seguin, and Emilio Echevarría
(“Die Anther Day”) as General Santa
Anna. Scope. April 9. Buena Vista.

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Breakin'
All the Rules
Romantic comedy about a man who, after getting
dumped by his fiancée, writes a best-selling
book about how to leave one’s lover. Written
and directed by Daniel Taplitz (“Commandments”).
With Jamie Foxx (“Ali”), Morris Chestnut
(“Confidence”), Jennifer Esposito
(“The Master of Disguise”), Bianca
Lawson (“Bones”), Peter MacNicol
(“Baby Geniuses”), Jill Ritchie (“Ready
to Rumble”) and Gabrielle Union (“Bad
Boys II”). Also known as “The Breakup
Handbook.” PG-13: Sexual material/humor;
language. April 30. Sony.

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Connie
and Carla
Comedy, set in Los Angeles, about two female singers
who decide to answer an ad placed by a club hiring
drag queens. Directed by Michael Lembeck (“The
Santa Clause 2”) from a screenplay by Nia Vardalos
(“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”). With Vardalos
(“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”), Toni Collette
(“Japanese Story”), David Duchovny (“Full
Frontal”), Guy Fauchon (“Final Destination”),
Don Ackerman (“Glitter”) and Alec Mapa
(“Playing By Heart”). Flat. 93 min. PG-13:
Thematic elements; sexual humor; drug references.
April 16. Universal.

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Envy
Comedy about the jealousy one man feels when
his longtime friend and neighbor suddenly becomes
absurdly rich from selling an invention. Directed
by Barry Levinson (“Bandits,” “An
Everlasting Piece”) from a screenplay
by Steve Adams. With Ben Stiller (“Along
Came Polly,” “Starsky & Hutch”),
Jack Black (“School of Rock”),
Christopher Walken (“The Rundown,” “Man
on Fire”), Amy Poehler (“Wet Hot
American Summer,” “Mean Girls”),
Rachel Weisz (“Runaway Jury”) and
Ving Rhames (“Dark Blue,” “Dawn
of the Dead,” “Secret Window”).
PG-13: Language; sexual/crude humor. Flat.
April 2. DreamWorks.

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Godsend
Horror thriller about a young couple who seek out
a scientist they believe can clone their late son.
Directed by Nick Hamm (“Talk of Angels,” “The
Very Thought of You”) from a screenplay by
Mark Bomback. With Robert De Niro (“Analyze
That”), Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (“X2,” “The
Punisher”), Greg Kinnear (“Stuck on
You”), Jenny Levine (“The Recruit,” “Welcome
to Mooseport”), Deborah Odell (“A Simple
Wish”) and Cameron Bright (“The Butterfly
Effect”). Scope. PG-13: Violence including
frightening images; a scene of sexuality; some
thematic material. April 30. Lions Gate.

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Gypsy
83
Drama about two young “goth” gypsy
outcasts who embark on a soul-searching road trip
that takes them from Sandusky, Ohio, to New York
City. Screenwriter Todd Stephens (“Edge of
Seventeen”) makes his feature directorial
debut from his own screenplay. With Sara Rue (“The
Ring”), Kett Turton, Karen Black (“House
of 1000 Corpses”), John Doe (“The Good
Girl”) and Paula Costana (“40 Days
and 40 Nights”). Flat. 100 min. April 2 in
New York. Small Planet.

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Hero
Mandarin-language
drama, set against the dawn of the Qin dynasty, about
the soon-to-be first emperor of China – and
the loyal follower who must protect him from three
ruthless assassins. Directed by Zhang Yimou (“The
Road Home,” “Happy Times”) from
a screenplay by Yimou, Li Feng and Wang Bin. With
Jet Li (“Cradle 2 the Grave”), Tony Leung
Chiu-Wai (“In the Mood for Love”), Maggie
Cheung (“Millennium Mambo”), Zhang Ziyi
(“Rush Hour 2”), Chen Dao Ming and Donnie
Yen (“Shanghai Knights”). Also known
as “Ying Xiong.” PG-13: Stylized martial
arts violence; a scene of sensuality. April 16. Miramax.

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