Volume V No. 12

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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April's Shower
Comedy about a chef trying to host the perfect bridal shower – despite the secret feelings she harbors for the bride. Written and directed by Trish Doolan in her feature directorial debut. With Doolan, Maria Cina (“The Amanti Girls”), Randall Batinkoff (“As Good As It Gets”), Zach Ward (“Resident Evil: Apocalypse”), Molly Cheek (“A Lot Like Love”), Samantha Lemole (“Legally Blonde”), Lara Harris (“Demolition Man”) and Delaina Mitchell (“Vanilla Sky”). Flat. Jan. 13. Regent.

 

 

Fateless
Hungarian- and German-language drama about a 14-year-old Jew who suffers through the Buchenwald concentration camp, then struggles to adapt following its liberation. Based on the novel by Nobel laureate Imre Kertész. Veteran cinematographer Lajos Koltai (“Max,” “Being Julia”) makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Kertész. With Marcell Nagy, Zsolt Dér, András M. Kecskés, Tibor Mertz and Dani Szabo. 136 min. Jan. 6. Thinkfilm.

 

 

 

Grandma's Boy
Comedy about a 35-year-old video-game tester forced to move in with his grandmother and her friends. Nick Goossen makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Allen Covert (“Eight Crazy Nights”), Nick Swardson (“Malibu’s Most Wanted”) and longtime TV writer Barry Wernick (“Two Girls and a Guy”). With Covert (“The Longest Yard”), Doris Roberts (“Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star”), Shirley Jones (“Tank”), Shirley Knight (“Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”), Linda Cardellini (“Scooby Doo 2,” “Brokeback Mountain”), David Spade (“Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star”), Rob Schneider (“Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo”), Kevin Nealon (“Good Boy!”), Peter Dante (“50 First Dates”), Frank Coraci (“Around the World in 80 Days”), Jonah Hill (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”), Jonathan Loughran (“50 First Dates”), Joel Moore (“Dodgeball”) and Kelvin Yu (“Elizabethtown”). Scope R: Drug use; strong language; strong crude and sexual humor; nudity. Jan. 6. Fox.

 

 

Idlewild
Musical, set in the American South during prohibition, about a pair of speakeasy performers who fend off the gangsters who are eying their club for a takeover. Music video director Bryan Barber makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. Andre “André 3000” Benjamin (“Four Brothers”) and Big Boi, better known as the R&B duo OutKast, star. Also with Ving Rhames (“Dawn of the Dead”), Terrence Dashon Howard (“Hustle & Flow,” “Get Rich or Die Tryin’”), Macy Gray (“Domino”), Faizon Love (“Torque”), Paula Patton (“Hitch”) and singing legend Patti LaBelle. Jan. 6. Universal.

 

 

Last Holiday
Remake of the 1950 Alec Guinness comedy-drama about a shy clerk who is diagnosed with a terminal illness and takes off for Europe and has one last fling. Directed by Wayne Wang (“Maid in Manhattan,” “Because of Winn-Dixie”) from a screenplay by Jeffrey Price & Peter S. Seaman (“Wild Wild West,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”). Queen Latifah (“Beauty Shop”) takes on the Guinness role and stars opposite Gérard Depardieu (“Bon Voyage”), Giancarlo Esposito (“Ali”), LL Cool J (“Mindhunters”) and Alicia Witt (“The Upside of Anger”). PG-13: Some sexual references. Jan. 13. Paramount.

 

 

Annapolis
Drama about an aspiring boxer from a rough neighborhood who follows his dream into the U.S. Naval Academy, where he falls for his beautiful trainer. Directed by Justin Lin (“Better Luck Tomorrow”) from a screenplay by David Collard (“Out of Time”). With James Franco (“The Great Raid”), Jordana Brewster (“D.E.B.S”), Tyrese Gibson (“Four Brothers”), Wil Calderon (“Cursed”), Roger Fan (“D.E.B.S.”), Donnie Wahlberg (“Saw II”), Charles Napier (“Lords of Dogtown”), Brian Goodman (“Catch Me if You Can”) and Kenan Thompson (“Fat Albert”). Flat. PG-13: Some violence; sexual content; language. Jan. 27. Buena Vista.

 

 

Big Momma's House 2
Comedy sequel to the 2000 hit about FBI agent Malcolm Turner, who once again goes undercover as an old woman who’s not afraid to throw her weight around. Returnees from part one include actors Martin Lawrence (“Bad Boys II,” “Rebound”) and Nia Long (“Are We There Yet?”) and screenwriter Don Rhymer (“Agent Cody Banks 2,” “The Honeymooners”). Newcomers to the franchise include director John Whitesell (“See Spot Run,” “Malibu’s Most Wanted”) and actors Emily Procter (“The Big Tease”), Mark Moses (“Monster-in-Law”), William Ragsdale (“Mannequin on the Move”), Marisol Nichols (“Resident Evil”), Chloe Moretz (“The Amityville Horror”), Kat Dennings (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”), Deena Dill (“Coach Carter”), Kevin Durand (“Walking Tall”), Josh Flitter (“The Greatest Game Ever Played”) and Zachary Levi (TV’s “Less Than Perfect”). Flat. Jan. 27. Fox.

 

Glory Road
Drama, based on a true story, about basketball coach Don Haskins, who in 1966 led the first-ever all-black starting line-up Texas Western team to defeat an all-white team from Kentucky. James Gartner makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Gregory Allen Howard (“Remember the Titans”) and Chris Cleveland. With Josh Lucas (“An Unfinished Life”), Derek Luke (“Friday Night Lights”), Emily Deschanel (“Boogeyman”), Sam Jones III (TV’s “Smallville”) and Jon Voight (“National Treasure”). Scope. PG: Racial issues including violence and epithets; mild language. Jan. 13. Buena Vista.

 

 

Guys and 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. Starring Maximilian Brückner, Lisa Maria Potthoff and Rolf Zacher. Flat. 106 min. Jan. 13. Regent.

 

 

Imagine Me & You
Romantic comedy about a bride who finds herself irresistibly attracted to a beautiful young woman she first glimpses at her wedding ceremony. Written and directed by Ol Parker. With Piper Perabo (“The Cave,” “Cheaper by the Dozen 2”), Lena Headey (“The Brothers Grimm”), Celia Imrie (“Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason,” “Nanny McPhee”), Eva Birthistle (“Breakfast on Pluto”), Rick Morgan (“Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist”), Matthew Goode (“Chasing Liberty,” “Match Point”) and Anthony Stewart Head (TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”). Jan. 27. Fox Searchlight.

 

 

Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World
Comedy about the disastrous consequences that ensue when retired senator Fred Dalton Thompson asks filmmaker-comedian Albert Brooks to visit India and Pakistan to find out what makes people of the Muslim faith laugh. Written and directed by Brooks (“Defending Your Life,” “Mother,” “The Muse”). With Brooks (“The In-Laws”), Thompson (“Baby’s Day Out”), John Carroll Lynch (“Catch that Kid”), Amy Ryan (“Capote”), Tony Montero (“8 Heads in a Duffel Bag”) and Jon Tenney (“You Can Count on Me”). PG-13: Drug content; brief strong language. Jan. 20. Warner Independent Pictures.

 

 

 

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