|
  


Volume
V No. 7
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
©
|
| Asylum
Drama, set in the 1950s, about a psychiatrist’s
wife who falls for a murderous inmate of her husband’s
maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane.
Based on the novel by Patrick McGrath. Directed by
David Mackenzie (“Young Adam”) from a
screenplay by Patrick Marber (“Closer”).
With Natasha Richardson (“Maid in Manhattan”),
Marton Csokas (“Kingdom of Heaven”),
Ian McKellan (the “Lord of the Rings” series),
Sean Harris (“24 Hour Party People”),
Joss Ackland (“K19: The Widowmaker”)
and Hugh Bonneville (“Stage Beauty”).
R: Strong sexuality; some violence; brief language.
Scope. 96 min. Aug. 19. Paramount Classics.

|
|
Broken
Flowers
Romantic comedy about a staunchly single man who,
after receiving a letter suggesting he may have
a son, goes on a cross-country journey to visit
his past loves. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch
(“Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai,” “Coffee
and Cigarettes”). With Bill Murray (“The
Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou”), Alexis
Dziena (“Wonderland”), Pell James (“Uptown
Girls,” “Undiscovered”), Jessica
Lange (“Big Fish”), Chloë Sevigny
(“Melinda and Melinda”), Sharon Stone
(“Catwoman”) and Tilda Swinton (“Constantine”).
Flat. 107 min. Aug. 5. Focus.

|
|
The
Chumscrubber
Comedy-drama, set in a drug-saturated suburban
neighborhood, about a high school loner who discovers
his purpose in life when another student is kidnapped.
Directed by Arie Posin from a screenplay by Zac
Stanford. With Jamie Bell (“Undertow”),
Camilla Belle (“The Ballad of Jack & Rose”),
Glenn Close (“The Stepford Wives”),
Ralph Fiennes (“Maid in Manhattan”),
Carrie-Anne Moss (“Suspect Zero”),
Rory Culkin (“Mean Creek”), Caroline
Goodall (“The Princess Diaries 2”),
Lauren Holly (“What Women Want”), Allison
Janney (“How to Deal”) and Rita Wilson
(“Raise Your Voice”). Scope. 107 min.
Aug. 26. Newmarket.

|
|
The
Dukes of Hazzard
Comedy, based on the popular 1979-1985 CBS TV series,
about a pair of car-crazy country cousins who decide
to bring down their primary adversaries, Hazzard
County’s corrupt politicians. The “Super
Troopers”-”Club Dread” team of
writer-director Jay Chandrasekhar and screenwriters
Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter & Erik
Stolhanske reunite. John O’Brien (“Starsky & Hutch”)
and Jonathan Davis also contributed to the screenplay.
With Seann William Scott (“The Rundown”)
as Bo, Johnny Knoxville (“Lords of Dogtown”)
as Luke, Jessica Simpson (TV's “Newlyweds:
Nick & Jessica”) as Daisy, Burt Reynolds
(“The Longest Yard”) as Boss Hogg,
M.C. Gainey (“Are We There Yet?”) as
Sheriff Coltrane, David Koechner (“Anchorman,” “The
40-Year-Old Virgin”) as Cooter and Willie
Nelson (“The Big Bounce”) as Uncle
Jesse. Also with Joe Don Baker (“Joe Dirt”)
and Lynda Carter (“Super Troopers”).
Scope. Aug. 5. Warner Bros.

|
Four
Brothers
Drama about four brothers of varied ethnic backgrounds
who reunite at their adoptive mother’s funeral,
then come to believe that she might have been murdered.
John Singleton (“Baby Boy,” “2
Fast 2 Furious”) directs from a screenplay
by David Elliot (“The Watcher”) and
Paul Lovett. With Mark Wahlberg (“I Heart
Huckabees”), André Benjamin (“Be
Cool”), Sofia Vergara (“Lords of Dogtown”),
Garrett Hedlund (“Friday Night Lights”),
Tyrese Gibson (“Flight of the Phoenix”),
Josh Charles (“S.W.A.T.”), Terrence
Dashon Howard (“Ray,” “Hustle & Flow”).
Fionnula Flanagan (“Tears of the Sun”)
and Ravina Dax. Scope. Aug. 12. Paramount.

|
Grizzly
Man
Documentary about an activist who left the human
world behind and spent 14 summers living among
the grizzlies in Alaska – until he and
another were killed there in 2003. Directed
by Werner Herzog (“Invincible,” “My
Best Fiend”). With Tim Treadwell and
Amie Huguenard. Flat. 103 min. R: Language.
Aug. 5. Lions Gate.
|
|
The
Aristocrats
Documentary featuring dozens of comedians telling
customized versions of the same famously filthy
vaudeville joke. Comedian Paul Provenza makes his
feature directorial debut from a concept by comedian-magician
Penn Jillette. Featuring, among many others, Jillette,
Jason Alexander, Lewis Black, Drew Carey, George
Carlin, Billy Connolly, Andy Dick, Carrie Fisher,
Whoopi Goldberg, Gilbert Gottfried, Dana Gould,
Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, Jake Johanssen, Richard
Lewis, Bill Maher, Merrill Markoe, Michael McKean,
Larry Miller, Rick Overton, Tom & Dick Smothers,
Trey Parker & Matt Stone, Paul Reiser, Don
Rickles, Chris Rock, Rita Rudner, Bob Saget, Sarah
Silverman, Jon Stewart, Fred Willard, Robin Williams
and Steven Wright. Flat. July 29. ThinkFilm.
|
The
Baxter
Comedy about two nerve-wracking weeks leading
up to a bachelor’s wedding. Actor-screenwriter
Michael Showalter (“Wet Hot American Summer”)
makes his feature directorial debut from his
own script. With Showalter, Elizabeth Banks (“Heights” “The
40-Year-Old Virgin”), Justin Theroux (“Duplex”),
Michael Ian Black (“Wet Hot American Summer”),
Peter Dinklage (“Elf”), Michelle
Williams (“Imaginary Heroes”), Zak
Orth (“Melinda and Melinda”) and
Paul Rudd (“Anchorman,” “The
40-Year-Old Virgin”). PG-13: Brief sexual
humor; some drug references. Flat. Aug. 12. IFC.

|
The
Cave
Action adventure about a group of experienced divers
who become trapped underwater and must battle
cave creatures for survival. Second unit director
Bruce Hunt (“Dark City,” “The
Matrix”) makes his 1st-unit directorial
debut from a screenplay by Michael Steinberg
(“Sleep with Me”) and Tegan West.
With Cole Hauser (“Paparazzi”), Piper
Perabo (“Cheaper by the Dozen”),
Morris Chestnut (“Ladder 49”), Eddie
Cibrian (“Say It Isn’t So”),
Daniel Dae Kim (“Crash”) and Rick
Ravanello (“Hart’s War”). PG-13:
Intense creature violence. Aug. 26. Sony.

|
Deuce
Bigalow: European Gigolo
Deuce travels to Amsterdam, where pimp T.J. tricks
him into a return to life as a “man-whore.” Returnees
from the 1999 comedy “Deuce Bigalow: Male
Gigolo” include actor-screenwriter Rob
Schneider (“The Hot Chick”) and actor
Eddie Griffin (“My Baby’s Daddy”).
Newcomers include director Mike Bigelow, screenwriters
David Garrett & Jason Ward (“Corky
Romano”), and actors Fred Armisen (“Anchorman”),
Til Schweiger (“King Arthur”), Douglas
Sills (“Funny About Love”) and Jeroen
Krabbe (“Ocean’s Twelve”).
Flat. Aug. 12. Sony.

|
The
40-Year-Old Virgin
Comedy about a geeky, middle-aged electronics-store
clerk (and owner of an extraordinary collection
of poseable action figures) whose worldly co-workers
learn of his virginity and – appalled – determine
to help him to shed it. Longtime TV writer-director
Judd Apatow (“The Larry Sanders Show,” “Freaks
and Geeks,” “Undeclared”) makes
his feature directorial debut from a script by
Apatow and Steve Carell (TV’s “The
Daily Show”). With Carell (“Melinda
and Melinda,” “Bewitched”), Catherine
Keener (“The Interpreter”), Paul Rudd
(“Anchorman,” “The Baxter”),
Seth Rogan (“Anchorman”), Romany Malco
(“The Tuxedo”), Jane Lynch (“Lemony
Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”),
Elizabeth Banks (“Heights,” “The
Baxter”), Kat Dennings (“Raise Your
Voice”), David Koechner (“Anchorman,” “The
Dukes of Hazzard”), Leslie Mann (“Stealing
Harvard”), Nancy Walls (“Anger Management”)
and Shelley Malil (“Holes”). Flat.
Aug. 19. Universal.

|
Games
of Love and Chance
French-language drama, set in Paris, about a poor
but smitten teen who agrees to take part in a theatrical
production in order to get closer to its vain leading
lady. Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche from a script
by Kechiche and Ghalia Lacroix. With Osman Elkharraz,
Sara Forestier, Sabrina Ouazani, Nanou Benhamou,
Hafen Ben-Ahmed, Aurélie Ganito, Hajar Hamlili
and Rachid Hami. Also known as “L’Esquive.” Flat.
123 min. Aug. 26. New Yorker.
|
Guys & Balls
German-language comedy about a young soccer player
who – banned from his team because of
his sexual preference – forms a new,
all-homosexual team to take on his old team
in a grudge match. Directed by Sherry Horman
from a script by Benedikt Gollhardt. With Maximilian
Brückner, Lisa Maria Potthoff and Rolf
Zacher. Aug. 12. Regent.
|
|
|