Volume V No. 10

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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Breakfast on Pluto
Drama about a young transvestite, raised by a foster mother in rural Ireland, who travels to London to meet his biological father. Based on the novel by Pat McCabe (“The Butcher Boy”). Written and directed by Neil Jordan (“The End of the Affair,” “The Good Thief”). With Cillian Murphy (“Red Eye”), Liam Neeson (“Batman Begins”), Brendan Gleeson (“Kingdom of Heaven” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”), Laurence Kinlan (“Intermission”) and Stephen Rea (“Evelyn”). Flat. 130 min. R: Sexuality; language; some violence; drug use. Nov. 18 in New York. Sony Pictures Classics.

 

 

The Dying Gaul
Drama about a married studio exec who demands that a gay screenwriter convert the central romance in his movie script from homosexual to heterosexual, then surprises the writer with a romantic overture. Based on the play by screenwriter Craig Lucas (“Prelude to a Kiss,” “Reckless,” “The Secret Lives of Dentists”). Lucas makes his feature directorial debut from his own script. With Campbell Scott (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose”), Peter Sarsgaard (“Flightplan,” “Jarhead”), Robin Bartlett (“City of Angels”), Patricia Clarkson (“Miracle,” “Good Night, and Good Luck”) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“Stealth”). Flat. 101 min. R: Strong sexual content; language. Nov. 4 limited. Strand.

 

 

Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Inner-city drama about an orphan who abandons his dangerous life of drug dealing to pursue his passion for rap music. Directed by Jim Sheridan (“The Boxer,” “In America”) from a screenplay by Terence Winter (“Nailed Right In,” TV’s “The Sopranos”). With rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow”), Joy Bryant (“Skeleton Key”), Bill Duke (“Red Dragon”), Andewale Akinnouye-Agbaje (“The Bourne Identity”), Omar Miller (“Shall We Dance?”) and Tory Kittle (“Paparazzi”). Also known as “Locked and Loaded.” Nov. 9. Paramount.

 

 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The fourth installment of the blockbuster fantasy series finds 14-year-old Harry competing in the perilous multi-school Tri-Wizard tournament being held at Hogwart’s. Based on the 2000 novel by J.K. Rowling. Returnees from the first three movies include screenwriter Steven Kloves as well as actors Daniel Radcliffe (“The Tailor of Panama”), Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman (“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”), Maggie Smith (“Ladies in Lavender”), and Robbie Coltrane (“Van Helsing”). Returnees from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” include Michael Gambon (“Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”) and Gary Oldman (“Batman Begins”). Newcomers to the series include director Mike Newell (“Pushing Tin,” “Mona Lisa Smile”) and actors Ralph Fiennes (“The Constant Gardener,” “The White Countess”), Frances de la Tour (“The Cherry Orchard”), Robert Pattinson (“Vanity Fair”) and Miranda Richardson (“Phantom of the Opera”). Scope. PG-13: Sequences of fantasy violence; frightening images. Nov. 18. Warner Bros.

 

 

In The Mix
Romantic comedy about a Mafia don who assigns his trusted right-hand man to guard his daughter, unaware that the two have been nurturing a longtime mutual crush. Directed by Ron Underwood (“Mighty Joe Young,” “The Adventures of Pluto Nash”) from a screenplay by Chanel Capra. With Usher Raymond (“Texas Rangers”), Emmanuelle Chriqui (“Wrong Turn,” “Waiting”), Chazz Palminteri (“Poolhall Junkies”), Robert Davi (“The Hot Chick”), Kevin Hart (“Soul Plane”), Robert Costanzo (“Alex & Emma”) and Matt Gerald (“S.W.A.T.”). Also known as “Dying For Dolly.” PG-13: Sexual content; violence; language. Nov. 23. Lions Gate.

 

 

Just Friends
Romantic comedy-drama about a man who reconnects with his old high-school crush – the woman whose long-ago rejection transformed him into the remorseless womanizer he is today. Roger Kumble (“Cruel Intentions,” “The Sweetest Thing”) directs from a screenplay by Adam Davis (the TV-movie “Spring Break Lawyer”). With Ryan Reynolds (“The Amityville Horror”), Amy Smart (“Starsky & Hutch”), Anna Faris (“Lost in Translation,” “Waiting”), Alanis Morissette (“De-Lovely”), Chris Klein (“United States of Leland”), Maria Arce (“The Girl Next Door”), Annie Brebner (“Elf”) and Susan Ward (“Shallow Hal”). Flat. Nov. 23. New Line.

Bee Season
Drama about a father who pays less attention to his failing marriage, his wife’s mental instability and his son’s involvement with a cult after his daughter exhibits extraordinary spelling bee prowess. Directed by Scott McGehee & David Siegel (“The Deep End”) from a screenplay by Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal (“Losing Isiah”). With Richard Gere (“Shall We Dance?”), Juliette Binoche (“In My Country”), Max Minghella (“Art School Confidential,” “Syriana”), Flora Cross and Kate Bosworth (“Beyond the Sea”). PG-13: Thematic elements; scene of sensuality; brief strong language. Scope. Nov. 11 limited. Fox Searchlight.

 

 

Chicken Little
Computer-animated comedy, loosely based on the classic nursery rhyme, about a young fowl – still struggling to restore his reputation after he mistakes a falling acorn for a piece of the sky – who finds himself having to save his fellow creatures when a real piece of sky falls to Earth. Directed by Mark Dindal (“The Emperor’s New Groove”). Featuring the voices of Zach Braff, Joan Cusack, Patrick Stewart, Patrick Warburton, Wallace Shawn, Katie Finneran, Fred Willard, Catherine O’Hara, Adam West, Don Knotts, Garry Marshall, Amy Sedaris, Enrico Colantoni and Steve Zahn. Flat. G. Nov. 4. Buena Vista.

 

 

The Family Stone
Comedy about a family that forms a united front against the “favorite son” when he brings his ice-queen girlfriend home for Christmas. Written and directed by Thomas Bezucha (“Big Eden”). With Sarah Jessica Parker (“State and Main”), Dermot Mulroney (“The Wedding Date”), Diane Keaton (“Something’s Gotta Give”), Rachel McAdams (“Red Eye”), Claire Danes (“Stage Beauty,” “Shopgirl”), Luke Wilson (“Anchorman”) , Craig T. Nelson (“The Skulls”), Tyrone Giordano (“A Lot Like Love) and Brian J. White (“Mr. 3000”). Flat. Nov. 4. Fox.

 

 

The Great Warming
Documentary about the international impact of global warming. Written by Allen Abel and directed by Michael Taylor, Michael Morein, Jean-Francois Despres, Scott Mason, Mike Ellis, and Karen Coshof. Narrated by singer Alanis Morrissette and actor Keanu Reeves. Nov. 4 limited. Stonehaven.

 

 

Ice Harvest
Black comedy about a mob lawyer who endures a Kansas snowstorm as his scheme to skip town with a load of cash goes awry. Based on the novel by Scott Phillips (“Cottonwood”). Directed by Harold Ramis (“Bedazzled,” “Analyze That”) from a screenplay by Robert Benton (“Nobody’s Fool,” “Twilight”) and Richard Russo (“Twilight”). With John Cusack (“Must Love Dogs”), Billy Bob Thornton (“The Bad News Bears”), Connie Nielsen (“The Great Raid”), Lara Phillips (“Road to Perdition”), Oliver Platt (“Kinsey”), Ned Bellamy (“Lords of Dogtown”) and Randy Quaid (“Grind”). Flat. R: Violence; language; sexuality/nudity. Nov. 23. Focus.

 

 

Jarhead
Drama, based on Anthony Swofford’s memoirs, about American Marines in the treacherous Saudi desert in the first Gulf War. Directed by Sam Mendes (“American Beauty,” “Road to Perdition”) from a screenplay by William Broyles, Jr. (“Unfaithful,” “The Polar Express”). With Jake Gyllenhaal (“Proof”), Peter Sarsgaard (“Flightplan,” “The Dying Gaul”), Chris Cooper (“Capote,” “Syriana”), Lucas Black (“Friday Night Lights”), Dennis Haysbert (“Far From Heaven”), Sam Rockwell (“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”), Jamie Foxx (“Stealth”), and Evan Jones (“The Last Shot”). Scope. R: Pervasive language; some violent images; strong sexual content. Nov. 4. Universal.

 

 

 

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