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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
Saddest Music in the World
Musical comedy, set in Depression-era Winnipeg,
Canada, about a beer baroness who offers
a $25,000 prize to whoever can find the world’s
saddest music. Based on an original screenplay
by author Kazuo Ishiguro (“The Remains
of the Day”). Directed by Guy Maddin
(“Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s
Diary”) from a screenplay by Maddin
and George Toles. With Isabella Rossellini
(“Rodger Dodger”), Mark McKinney
(“The Ladies Man”), Maria de
Medeiros (“My Life Without Me”),
Ross McMillan and David Fox (“Grey
Owl”). 99 min. April 30. IFC.

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Spring,
Summer, Autumn, Winter
... And Spring
Korean-language
drama, set at a Buddhist monastery in Korea’s
North Kyungsang Province, about a monk’s
budding relationship with a young pupil. Written
and directed by Ki-duk Kim (“The Isle”).
With Ki-duk Kim, Young-soo Oh, Young-min Kim,
Jae-kyung Seo, Yeo-jin Ha and Jong-ho Kim.
103 min. R: Some strong sexuality. April 2
in New York and Los Angeles. Sony Pictures
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Walking
Tall
Remake of the 1974 drama, based on the
true story
of a Tennessee sheriff who undertook a one-man
quest to rid his county of corruption. Directed
by Kevin Bray (“All About the Benjamins”)
from a screenplay by David Klass (“Kiss
the Girls,” “Desperate Measures”)
and Channing Gibson (“Cradle 2 the Grave”).
With Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
(“The Rundown”), Johnny Knoxville
(“Men in Black 2,” “Jackass:
The Movie”), Neal McDonough (“Timeline”),
Ashley Scott (“S.W.A.T.”), Khleo
Thomas (“Holes”), John Beasley
(“The Sum of All Fears”), Barbara
Tarbuck (“The Tie That Binds”)
and Kristen Wilson (“Confessions of a
Dangerous Mind”). April 9. MGM.

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Without
a Paddle
Comedy about a trio of friends who
embark on a canoe
trip in an effort to find $200,000 in hidden
treasure. Directed by Steven Brill (“Little
Nicky,” “Mr. Deeds”) from
a screenplay by Jay Leggett, Mitch Rouse, Harris
Goldberg (“Deuce Bigelow,” “The
Master of Disguise”) and Tom Nursall
(“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”).
With Seth Green (“Party Monster,” “Scooby
Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed”), Matthew
Lillard (“The Perfect Score,” the “Scooby-Doo” series),
Dax Shepard (“Cheaper by the Dozen”),
Burt Reynolds (“Hotel”), Abraham
Benrubi (“Open Range”), Antony
Starr and Ethan Suplee (“The Butterfly
Effect”). Scope. April 23. Paramount.

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13
Going on 30
Romantic comedy about an ungainly 13-year-old
whose wish to become popular and sexy comes
true after she miraculously skips 17 years
and discovers that she has been transformed
into a beautiful, successful 30-year-old
executive. Directed by Gary Winick (“The
Tic Code,” “Tadpole”) from
a screenplay by Cathy Yuspa & Josh Goldsmith
(“What Women Want”), Rita Hsiao
(“Toy Story 2”) and Niels Mueller
(“Tadpole”). With Jennifer Garner
(“Daredevil”), Mark Ruffalo (“In
the Cut,” “Eternal Sunshine of
the Spotless Mind”), Judy Greer (“Adaptation,” “The
Hebrew Hammer”), Samuel Ball (“Pumpkin”),
Andy Serkis (the “Lord of the Rings” series)
and Kathy Baker (“Cold Mountain”).
Flat. April 23. Sony.

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The
United States of Leland
Drama about a vulnerable
16-year-old who is committed
to a juvenile
hall after he kills an autistic child out
of sympathy. Written and directed by Matthew
Ryan
Hoge. With Ryan Gosling (“Murder by Numbers,” “The
Slaughter Rule”), Kevin Spacey (“The
Life of David Gale”), Chris Klein (“We
Were Soldiers”), Jena Malone (“Cold
Mountain”), Lena Olin (“Hollywood
Homicide”), Michelle Williams (“The
Station Agent”), Don Cheadle (“Manic”)
and Martin Donovan (“Agent Cody Banks”).
108 min. R: Language; some drug content.
April 2 limited. Paramount Classics.

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The
Whole Ten Yards
When the wife of dentist Nick
Oseransky is kidnapped
by the
Hungarian mob, he turns to his hitman pal
Jimmy “The
Tulip” Tudesski for help. A sequel to
the 2000 comedy “The Whole Nine Yards.” Returnees
from part one include screenwriter Mitchell
Kapner and actors Bruce Willis (“Tears
of the Sun”), Matthew Perry (“Serving
Sara”), Natasha Henstridge (“Ghosts
of Mars”), Kevin Pollak (“The Santa
Clause 2”) and Amanda Peet (“Something’s
Gotta Give”). Newcomers to the franchise
include director Howard Deutch (“The
Replacements”) and actors Johnny Messner
(“Tears of the Sun,” “Spartan”)
and Frank Collison (“The Majestic,” “Hidalgo”).
Also known as “The Whole Nine Yards 2.” April
9. Flat. Warner Bros.

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You'll
Get Over It
French-language drama, originally
made for French TV, about
a 16-year-old homosexual whose life unravels
and transforms as he comes out of the closet.
Directed by Fabrice Cazeneuve from a screenplay
by Vincent Molina. With Julien Baumgartner,
Julia Maraval (“Ronin”), François
Comar, Jérémie Elkaïm (“Come
Undone”), Patrick Bonnel and Christiane
Millet (“The Adventures of Felix”).
Also known as “À Cause d’un
Garçon.” 90 min. April 9. Picture
This. |
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Secret
Window
Thriller about a writer stalked by a stranger – a stranger
who believes the scribe stole his story and passed it off as his
own. Based on the novella by Stephen King (“Dreamcatcher”).
Written and directed by David Koepp (“Panic Room,” “Spider-Man”).
With Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of
the Black Pearl”), John Turturro (“Anger Management”),
Maria Bello (“The Cooler”), Ving Rhames (“Dark
Blue,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Envy”)
and Timothy Hutton (“Sunshine State”). March 12. Sony.

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Wilbur
Wants to Kill Himself
Romantic comedy-drama, set in Glasgow, Scotland,
about two brothers who find their lives
transformed by a harried single mother.
Lone Scherfig (“Italian For Beginners”)
makes his English-language directorial
debut from a screenplay by Scherfig and
Anders Thomas Jensen (“Open Hearts,” “The
Green Butchers”). With Jamie Sives
(“Mean Machine”), Adrian
Rawlins (the “Harry Potter” series),
Shirley Henderson (“Once Upon A
Time in the Midlands,” “Intermission,” “Hypnotic”),
Susan Vidler (“Trainspotting”),
Robert McIntosh and Mads Mikkelsen (“Open
Hearts,” “The Green Butchers”).
Scope. 109 min. R: Language; some disturbing
images. March 12. ThinkFilm. c
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Springtime
in a Small Town
Mandarin-language drama, set in a rural village in 1946 China,
about a family stagnating in monotony and political oppression
until an intriguing doctor arrives from Shanghai and changes their
lives forever. A remake of Fei Mu’s 1948 drama “Spring
in a Small City.” Directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang (“The
Blue Kite”) from a screenplay by Ah Cheng. With Hu Jingfan,
Wu Jun (“Ermo”), Xin Bai Qing, Ye Xiao Keng and Lu
Si Si. Also known as “Xiao Cheng Zhi Chun.” 116 min.
March 19. Palm.
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