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Volume
IV No. 5
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
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Dynamite
Comedy, set in rural Idaho, about a gangly high school
nerd who, among other things, conspires to help his
new best friend defeat a stuck-up coed in an election
for student body president. Based on Jared Hess’ short
film “Peluca.” Hess makes his feature
directorial debut from a screenplay by the husband
and wife team of Jared & Jerusha Hess. With Jon
Heder, Efren Ramirez (“Kazaam”), Haylie
Duff (TV’s “Lizzie McGuire”), Tina
Majorino (“Waterworld”), Jon Gries (“The
Big Empty”), Sandy Martin (“One Night
At McCool’s”), Diedrich Bader (“Eurotrip”),
Ellen Dubin (TV’s “Lexx”) and Aaron
Ruell. Flat. 86 min. June 11 limited. Fox Searchlight.

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Riddick
Sci-fi actioner, set in the 26th century, about
an escaped convict who learns more about his
special vision powers as he is drawn into a galactic
war with an undead army. Sequel to 2000’s “Pitch
Black.” Written and directed by David Twohy
(“Imposter,” “Below”).
With Vin Diesel (“A Man Apart”),
Thandie Newton (“The Truth About Charlie”),
Judi Dench (“Die Another Day”), Colm
Feore (“Highwaymen”), Karl Urban
(“Lord of the Rings: The Return of the
King”), Nick Chinlund (“Tears of
the Sun”) and Alexa Davalos (TV’s “Angel”)
as Kyra. Also known as “The Chronicles
of Riddick” and “Pitch Black 2.” Scope.
June 11. Universal.

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Stander
Drama, based on a true story, about a young South
African cop who, disgusted at having to kill rioters
in the line of duty, quits the force and embarks
upon a life of crime. Directed by Bronwen Hughes
(“Forces of Nature”) from a screenplay
by Ken Friedman (“Cadillac Man”) and
Bima Stagg. With Thomas Jane (“Dreamcatcher,” “The
Punisher”), Deborah Unger (“Thirteen”),
David O’Hara (“Made”), Dexter
Fletcher (“Below”), Marius Weyers (“Bopha!”)
and Ashley Taylor. 116 min. R: Violence; language;
some sexuality; nudity. June 11. Newmarket.

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The
Story of the Weeping Camel
Mongolian-language drama, set in the desolate Gobi
Desert, about a rural community that must recruit
a musician from a far-off village for an ancient
ritual they hope will save the life of a newborn
camel. Written and directed by Byambasuren Davaa & Luigi
Falorni. 90 min. PG: Some mild thematic content.
June 4 limited. ThinkFilm.
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White
Chicks
Comedy about two black, male FBI agents who pose
as white heiresses to foil a kidnap plot. From
the team behind the first two “Scary Movie” installments:
director-writer Keenen Ivory Wayans (“A Low
Down Dirty Shame”) and writers Marlon & Shawn
Wayans (“Don’t Be a Menace”).
With Marlon Wayans (“The Ladykillers”),
Shawn Wayans (the “Scary Movie” series),
Jaime King (“Bulletproof Monk”), Jessica
Cauffiel (“Stuck on You”), Michael
Teigen (“A Guy Thing”), Rochelle Aytes
and Anne Dudek (“The Human Stain”).
June 25. Sony.

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Zatoichi
Japanese-language actioner,
set in the 19th century, about a blind, nomadic master
swordsman who runs afoul of a ruthless gang leader’s
henchmen. Based on the series of novels by Kan Shimozawa.
Written and directed by Takeshi Kitano (“Kikujiro,” “Brother”).
With Kitano (“Brother”), Tadanobu Asano
(“Taboo,” “Ichii the Killer”),
Yui Natsukawa, Michiyo Ookusu, Gadarukanaru Taka
(“Warm Water Under a Red Bridge”) and
Yuuko Daike (“Fireworks”). R: Strong
stylized bloody violence. Miramax. |
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Kaena
Animated adventure about a teen’s quest to
discover why the gigantic tree that cradles her
home, situated 100 miles above the planet’s
surface, is losing its sap. Directed by Chris Delaporte
and Pascal Pinon from a screenplay by Delaporte
and Tarik Hamdine. Featuring the voices of Kirsten
Dunst, Richard Harris, Anjelica Huston and Keith
David. Also known as “Kaena: The Prophecy.” Flat.
91 min. June 4. IDP.
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The
Notebook
Romantic drama about an elderly man who reads
to his Alzheimer’s-stricken wife the story
of their courtship. Based on the novella by Nicholas
Sparks (“A Walk to Remember”). Directed
by Nick Cassavetes (“She’s so Lovely” “John
Q”) from a screenplay by Cassavetes and
Jeremy Leven (“Crazy as Hell,” “Alex & Emma”).
With Rachel McAdams (“The Hot Chick,” “Mean
Girls”), Ryan Gosling (“Murder by
Numbers,” “The United States of Leland”),
Gena Rowlands (“Taking Lives”), James
Garner (“Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”),
Joan Allen (“The Contender”), Heather
Wahlquist (“John Q”), James Marsden
(“X2”) and Sam Shepard (“Black
Hawk Down”). Scope. 121 min. PG-13: Some
sexuality. June 25. New Line.

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Sky
Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Sci-fi action thriller, set in 1939, about an inquisitive
female reporter who teams up with two pilots to investigate
why scientists from all over the world have begun
disappearing. Kerry Conran makes his feature directorial
debut from his own screenplay. With Gwyneth Paltrow
(“Sylvia”), Jude Law (“Cold Mountain”),
Angelina Jolie (“Taking Lives”), Bai
Ling (“My Baby’s Daddy”), Omid
Djalili (“Spy Game”) and Giovanni Ribisi
(“Cold Mountain”). June 25. Paramount.

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The
Stepford Wives
Remake of the 1974 thriller about suburban hausfraus
who find themselves systematically replaced by
more compliant, more fully endowed robots. Based
on the novel by Ira Levin (“A Kiss Before
Dying,” “Sliver”). Directed
by Frank Oz (“In & Out,” “Bowfinger,” “The
Score”) from a screenplay by Paul Rudnick
(“Isn’t She Great,” “Marci
X”). With Nicole Kidman (“Dogville”),
Matthew Broderick (“You Can Count On Me”),
Christopher Walken (“The Rundown,” “Man
On Fire,” “Envy”), Glenn Close
(“Le Divorce”), Bette Midler (“What
Women Want”), Roger Bart (“The Insider”)
and recording artist Faith Hill. Flat. June 11.
Paramount.

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The
Terminal
Romantic comedy-drama about an Eastern European
immigrant who, after the passport issued by
his war-torn nation is voided, finds himself
having to live in an airport transit lounge – where
he falls for a pretty flight attendant. Directed
by Steven Spielberg (“Minority Report,” “Catch
Me If You Can”) from a screenplay by
Sacha Gervasi (“The Big Tease”)
and Jeff Nathanson (“Rush Hour 2,” “Catch
Me If You Can”). With Tom Hanks (“The
Ladykillers”), Catherine Zeta-Jones (“Intolerable
Cruelty”), Chi McBride (“Cradle
2 the Grave”), Stanley Tucci (“The
Core”), Diego Luna (“Dirty Dancing:
Havana Nights”) and Zoe Saldana (“Pirates
of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”).
June 18. DreamWorks.

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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. June 18 in New York. Picture This.IFC. |
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