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Volume
V No. 10
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
©
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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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