Volume V No. 11

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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A Good Woman
Comedy about a middle-aged temptress who plans to steal away a younger woman’s husband. Based on the play “Lady Windermere’s Fan” by Oscar Wilde (“An Ideal Husband,” “The Importance of Being Earnest”). Directed by Mike Barker (“Best Laid Plans”) from a screenplay by Howard Himelstein. With Helen Hunt (“The Curse of the Jade Scorpion”), Scarlett Johansson (“The Island,” “Match Point”), Roger Hammond (“Around the World in 80 Days”) and Tom Wilkinson (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose”). Flat. 93 min. PG: Thematic material; sensuality; language. Dec 2 limited. Lions Gate.

 

 

King Kong
Adventure-thriller, set in 1933, about what happens when a building-size simian from the jungles of darkest Africa is captured and displayed in New York City. The “Lord of the Rings” team of writer-director Peter Jackson and screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens reunite. With Naomi Watts (“The Ring 2,” “Stay”), Jack Black (“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”), Adrien Brody (“The Jacket”), Colin Hanks (“Orange County”), Kyle Chandler (“Mulholland Falls”), Jamie Bell (“The Chumscrubber,” “Dear Wendy”), Andy Serkis (“13 Going on 30”) and Thomas Kretschmann (“Head in the Clouds”). Dec. 14. Universal.

 

 

Match Point
Romantic comedy-drama, set in London, about a newlywed tennis pro who cannot overcome his attraction to a visiting American actress he met before he married. Written and directed by Woody Allen (“Melinda and Melinda”). With Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (“Alexander”), Scarlett Johansson (“The Island,” “A Good Woman”), Emily Mortimer (“Bright Young Things”), Matthew Goode (“Chasing Liberty”), Brian Cox (“Red Eye,” “The Ringer”) and James Nesbitt (“Millions”). Flat. 124 min. Dec. 25 limited. DreamWorks.

 

 

Mrs. Henderson Presents
Comedy, set in the late 1930s and based on a true story, about about an elderly theatre operator in London’s West End who decides to shore up her business by staging a nude revue. Directed by Stephen Frears (“Liam,” “Dirty Pretty Things”) from a screenplay by Martin Sherman (“Bent”). With Judi Dench (“Ladies in Lavender,” “Pride and Prejudice”), Kelly Reilly (“L’auberge Espagnole,” “Pride and Prejudice”), Rosalind Halstead (“Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason”), Christopher Guest (“A Mighty Wind”) and Bob Hoskins (“Unleashed,” “Stay”). Flat. 103 min. Dec. 25. Weinstein.

 

 

The Producers: The Movie Musical
Musical comedy about a jittery accountant and a washed-up producer who – when they realize it’s possible to make money by overselling shares in an unsuccessful play – set about staging a sure-fire flop with the worst actor, the worst director and the most offensive play imaginable: a musical titled “Springtime for Hitler.” Based on the 2001 Tony Award-winning stage musical, itself an adaptation of Mel Brooks’ 1968 screen comedy. Stage director Susan Stroman, who mounted the play, makes her feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Brooks (“Dracula: Dead and Loving It”) and Thomas Meehan (“Spaceballs”). Nathan Lane (“Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!”) and Matthew Broderick (“The Last Shot”) reprise their roles from the Broadway production. They are joined by Will Ferrell (“The Wedding Crashers”), Uma Thurman (“Be Cool,” “Prime”), Gary Beach (“Man of the Century”), Andrea Martin (“New York Minute”), Debra Monk (“Palindromes”), Jon Lovitz (“The Stepford Wives”) and Roger Bart (“The Stepford Wives”). Scope. Dec. 21. Universal.

 

 

Fun With
Dick and Jane

Remake of the 1977 comedy about a middle-class couple who resort to undertaking heists to pay their bills. Directed by Dean Parisot (“Home Fries,” “Galaxy Quest”) from a screenplay by Judd Apatow (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) and Nicholas Stoller (TV’s “Undeclared”). With Jim Carrey (“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”), Téa Leoni (“House of D”), Alec Baldwin (“Elizabethtown”), Jeff Garlin (“After the Sunset”), Richard Burgi (“In Her Shoes”), John Michael Higgins (“Blade: Trinity”), Stacey Travis (“Venom”), Jullian Dulce Vida (“Showtime”) and Angie Harmon (“The Deal”). Flat. 94 min. Dec 21. Sony.

 

 

The Kid & I
Comedy about a teen afflicted with cerebral palsy, and what happens when his father grants him his fondest wish: a starring role in an action movie. Directed by Penelope Spheeris (“Black Sheep,” “Senseless”) from a screenplay by veteran TV writer Tom Arnold (“Roseanne,” “The Jackie Thomas Show,” “Tom,” “The Tom Show”). With Eric Gores, Joe Mantegna (“Stateside”), Shannon Elizabeth (“Cursed”), Richard Edson (“Starsky & Hutch”), Linda Hamilton (“Dante’s Peak”), Henry Winkler (“Holes”), Brenda Strong (“Red Dragon”), Jamie Lee Curtis (“Christmas With The Kranks”), Arnold Schwarzenegger (“Around the World in 80 Days”) and Tom Arnold (“Happy Endings”). Dec. 2 in New York and Los Angeles. Slowhand.

 

 

Marebito
Japanese-language horror thriller about a cameraman who journeys into the subway tunnels beneath Tokyo to investigate the legends of spirits who reside there. Directed by Takashi Shimizu (“The Grudge”) from a screenplay by Chiaki Konaka. With Shinya Tsukamoto, Tomomi Miyashita, Miho Ninagawa, Kazuhiro Nakahara and Shun Sugata (“Kill Bill: Vol. 1”). R: Strong bloody violence; some nudity. Dec. 9. Tartan.

 

 

Memoirs of a Geisha
Drama about a poor girl, born in 1920 and raised in a Japanese fishing village, who is sold into slavery and grows up to become a famous geisha. Based on the novel by Arthur Golden. Directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) from a screenplay by Doug Wright and Robin Swicord (“Practical Magic”). With Ziyi Zhang (“2046”), Gong Li (“2046”), Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), Youki Kudoh (“Snow Falling on Cedars”), Ken Watanabe (“Batman Begins”), Koji Yakusho (“Warm Water Under a Red Bridge”) and Karl Yune (“Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”). Scope. 136 min. Dec. 9. Sony.

 

 

The New World
Epic drama, set in the 17th century against the founding Virginia’s Jamestown settlement, about English adventurer John Smith (1580-1631) who was captured by – and eventually married into – a Native American tribe called the Powhattan. Written and directed by Terrence Malick (“The Thin Red Line”). With Colin Farrell (“Alexander”), Christian Bale (“Batman Begins”), Michael Greyeyes (“Sunshine State”), Christopher Plummer (“Must Love Dogs”), Noah Taylor (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”), Raoul Trujillo (“Highlander: The Final Dimension”), Wes Studi (“Undisputed”), Roger Rees (“The Emperor’s Club”), and Q’Orianka Kilcher as Pocahontas. Dec. 25 in New York and Los Angeles; Jan. 13 wide. New Line.

 

 

 

 

 

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