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Volume VI No. 8/9
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
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| Gridiron
Gang
Drama about a probation officer who straightens out his juvenile inmates by
forming them into a football team. Based on the 1993 documentary by the same
name. Directed by Phil Joanou (“Final Analysis,” “Heaven’s
Prisoners”) from a screenplay by Jeff Maguire (“In the Line of
Fire,” “Timeline”). With Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
(“Doom”), Xzibit (“Derailed”), Vanessa Ferlito (“Man
of the House”), Michael J. Pagan (“See No Evil”), Jade Yorker
(“Prime”), Brandon Smith (“Grind”), Leon Rippy (“The
Alamo”) and Kevin Dunn (“I Heart Huckabees,” “All the
King’s Men,” “The Black Dahlia”). Scope. PG-13: Some
startling scenes of violence; mature thematic material; language. Sept. 15.
Sony.

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The
Guardian
Action drama centered on a haunted veteran rescue
swimmer and the brash young Coast Guard recruit
he agrees to mentor. Directed by Andrew Davis (“Collateral
Damage,” “Holes”) from a screenplay
by Ron Brinkerhoff (“D-Tox”). With
Kevin Costner (“Rumor Has It”), Ashton
Kutcher (“A Lot Like Love”), Neal McDonough
(“Walking Tall,” “Flags of our
Fathers”), Sela Ward (“The Day After
Tomorrow”), Brian Geraghty (“When A
Stranger Calls,” “We Are Marshall”),
Peter Gail (“Jarhead”), Michael Rady
(“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”)
and Melissa Sagemiller (“Standing Still”).
PG-13: Intense sequences of action/peril; brief
strong language; some sensuality. Sept. 15. Buena
Vista.

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I
Could Never Be Your Woman
Comedy about a fortysomething woman who falls for
a younger man. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling
(“Clueless,” “Loser”).
With Michelle Pfeiffer (“White Oleander”),
Paul Rudd (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”),
Tracy Ullman (“A Dirty Shame”), Sarah
Alexander (“Bridget Jones’ Diary”),
Stacy Dash (“View from the Top”), Fred
Willard (“Date Movie”), Henry Winkler
(“Click”) and Graham Norton (TV’s “So
Graham Norton”). Sept. 8. MGM.

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Infamous
Drama about the creation of the book “In
Cold Blood” and author Truman Capote’s
relationship with murderers Dick Hitchcock and
Perry Smith. Based on George Plimpton’s 1997
oral biography “Truman Capote: In Which Various
Friends, Enemies, Acquaintances and Detractors
Recall His Turbulent Career.” Written and
directed by Douglas McGrath (“Company Man,” “Nicholas
Nickleby”). With Toby Jones (“Mrs.
Henderson Presents,” “The Painted Veil”),
Sandra Bullock (“The Lake House”),
Gwyneth Paltrow (“Proof,” “Running
With Scissors”), Hope Davis (“The Matador”),
Isabella Rossellini (“Heights”), Jeff
Daniels (“R.V.”), Daniel Craig (“Munich”)
and Sigourney Weaver (“Imaginary Heroes”).
Also known as “Every Word is True.” R:
Language; violence; some sexuality. Oct 13 in New
York and Los Angeles; wider Oct. 27 and Nov. 3.
Warner Independent Pictures.

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Killshot
An ironworker and his wife are pursued by quirky
but ruthless killers after they witness a shakedown
and have to enter an ineffectual Federal Witness
Protection Program. Based on the novel by Elmore
Leonard (“Out of Sight,” “The
Big Bounce,” “Be Cool”).
Directed by John Madden (“Captain Corelli’s
Mandolin,” “Proof”) from
a screenplay by Hossein Amini (“Four
Feathers,” “The Great Raid”).
With Diane Lane (“Must Love Dogs,” “Hollywoodland”),
Thomas Jane (“The Punisher”), Joseph
Gordon-Levitt (“Brick”), Johnny
Knoxville (“The Ringer,” “Jackass:
Number 2”), Rosario Dawson (“Rent,” “Clerks
II”) and Mickey Rourke (“Domino,” “Stormbreaker”).
Oct. 20. MGM.

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The
Last Kiss
Romantic comedy about a young, unmarried couple
whose future together is jeopardized when they
react
differently to news that they’re pregnant.
A remake of the Italian film “L’Ultimo
Bacio.” Directed by Tony Goldwyn (“A
Walk on the Moon,” “Someone Like You”)
from a screenplay by Paul Haggis (“Million
Dollar Baby,” “Crash,” “Flags
of Our Fathers”). With Zach Braff (“Garden
State”), Jacinda Barrett (“Poseidon,” “School
for Scoundrels”), Casey Affleck (“Lonesome
Jim”), Michael Weston (“Dukes of Hazzard”),
Erik Christian Olsen (“Cellular”),
Rachel Bilson (TV’s “The O.C.”),
Blythe Danner (“Meet the Fockers”),
Tom Wilkinson (“The Exorcism of Emily Rose”),
Lauren Lee Smith (“Art School Confidential”),
Marley Shelton (“Don’t Come Knockin’”)
and David Haydn-Jones. R: Sexuality; nudity; language.
Sept 15. Paramount.

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Man
of the Year
Comedy about the host of a popular nightly comedy
show who “runs” for the U.S. presidency
as part of a running gag – and wins. Written
and directed by Barry Levinson (“An Everlasting
Piece,” “Bandits,” “Envy”).
With Robin Williams (“R.V.,” “The
Night Listener”), Christopher Walken (“Click”),
Jeff Goldblum (“The Life Aquatic with Steve
Zissou”), Lewis Black (“The Night We
Never Met,” “Accepted”), Sasha
Roiz (“16 Blocks”) and Laura Linney (“The
Squid and the Whale”). Scope. Oct. 13. Universal.

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The
Marine
Actioner about a Marine who reluctantly returns
home from the Iraq war, only to be thrown back
into
battle when his wife is kidnapped by a local gang
leader. Directed by John Bonito from a screenplay
by Michelle Gallagher and Alan McElroy (“Ballistic:
Ecks vs. Sever,” “Wrong Turn”).
With WWE wrestler John Cena, Kelly Carlson (“Paparazzi”),
Jeff Chase (“Mission: Impossible III”),
Ashley Lyons (“Son of the Mask”), Abigail
Bianca, Jon Bennett (“Lantana”) and
Robert Patrick (“Firewall,” “Flags
of our Fathers,” “We Are Marshall”).
PG-13: Intense sequences of violent action; sensuality;
language. Oct. 13. Fox.

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The Painted
Veil
Romantic drama, set in the 1920s Hong Kong, about
an English scientist who learns his wife is having
an affair with a local playboy. Based on the
novel by W. Somerset Maugham (“Up at the Villa,” “Being
Julia”). Directed by John Curran (“We
Don’t Live Here Anymore”) from a screenplay
by Ron Nyswaner (“Philadelphia”). With
Naomi Watts (“King Kong”), Edward Norton
(“Down in the Valley”), Liev Schreiber
(“The Omen”), Diana Rigg (“A
Good Man In Africa”), Sally Hawkins (“Layer
Cake”), Yu Xia (“Electric Shadows”)
and Toby Jones (“Mrs. Henderson Presents,” “Infamous”).
Sept. 22 in New York and Los Angeles; expands
Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Oct. 13 and Oct. 20. Warner
Independent
Pictures.

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The
Fountain
Science fiction epic, set in 1535, 2006 and 2500,
about: a Spanish soldier seeking the fabled Mayan “tree
of life”; a contemporary doctor trying to
use part of that tree to find a cure for his dying
wife; and a space traveler determined to transport
the tree to a distant star. Written and directed
by Darren Aronofsky (“Pi,” “Requiem
for a Dream”) from a screenplay by Ari Handel.
With Hugh Jackman (“X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Scoop,” “The
Prestige”), Rachel Weisz (“The Constant
Gardener”), Ellen Burstyn (“Down in
the Valley,” “The Wicker Man”),
Donna Murphy (“Spider-Man 2”), Ethan
Suplee (“Art School Confidential,” “Clerks
II”), Sean Patrick Thomas (“Barbershop
2”), Cliff Curtis (“Runaway Jury”),
Mark Margolis (“Stay”) and Sean Gullette
(“Requiem for a Dream”). Flat. R: Some
violence. Oct. 13 limited. Warner Bros.

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The
Grudge 2
After young American Aubrey Davis travels to
Japan to investigate what happened to her older
sister, she comes to learn about the origins
of the “grudge curse” and begins
to get a sense of how widely it will spread.
Returnees from part one include director Takashi
Shimizu (“Marebito”) and screenwriter
Stephen Susco. Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Scooby
Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed”) reprises
the role of Karen Davis. Takako Fuji reprises
the role of Kayako Saeki. Newcomers to the
franchise include Amber Tamblyn (“Sisterhood
of the Traveling Pants”), Arielle Kebbel
(“Aquamarine,” “John Tucker
Must Die”), Jennifer Beals (“Catch
that Kid”), Sara Roemer, Matthew Knight
(“Cheaper by the Dozen 2”), Eve
Gordon (“Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and
Fabulous”) and Teresa Palmer (“Wolf
Creek”). Flat. Oct. 6. Sony.

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Hollywoodland
Drama, set in 1959, about a Los Angeles detective
trying to unravel the mysterious death of actor George
Reeves, who had starred as the title character in
TV’s “The Adventures of Superman.” TV
director Allen Coulter (“Six Feet Under,” “Kingpin”)
makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay
by Paul Bernbaum (TV’s “Halloweentown”)
and Howard Korder (TV’s “Kate and Allie”).
With Adrien Brody (“King Kong”), Diane
Lane (“Must Love Dogs,” “Killshot”),
Bob Hoskins (“Garfield’s A Tale of Two
Kitties”), Brad William Henke (“North
Country,” “World Trade Center”),
Kathleen Robertson (“I Love Your Work”),
Dash Mihok (“Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang,” “10th & Wolf”),
Molly Parker (“Nine Lives,” “The
Wicker Man”), Robin Tunney (“The Zodiac”),
Joe Spano (“Hart’s War”) and Ben
Affleck (“Surviving Christmas”) as Reeves.
Formerly known as “Truth, Justice and the American
Way.” Flat. R: Language; some violence; sexual
content. Sept. 8. Focus.

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Idiocracy
Comedy about an Army private frozen by the government
for 1,000 years and what happens when, post-thaw,
he realizes humanity has grown so vacuous he
is now one of the smartest men on the planet.
Directed by Mike Judge (“Office Space”)
from a screenplay by Judge and Etan Cohen (TV’s “King
of the Hill”). With Luke Wilson (“Hoot,” “My
Super Ex-Girlfriend”), Stephen Root (“Just
Friends”), Maya Rudolph (“A Prairie
Home Companion”), David Herman (“Kicking & Screaming”),
Justin Long (“The Break-Up,” “Accepted”),
Terry Crews (“The Benchwarmers”),
Heather Kafka (“A Scanner Darkly”),
Dax Shepard (“Zathura,” “Employee
of the Month”), Chris Warner (“Sin
City”), Mitch Baker (“A Scanner Darkly”),
Brendan Hill (“Max Keeble’s Big Move”)
and Sara Rue (“A Slipping-Down Life”).
R: Language; sex-related humor. Sept. 1. Fox.

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Jackass:
Number 2
Sequel to the 2002 comic documentary about a crew
of lewd daredevils who pull pranks, perform
dangerous stunts and engage in all manner of
self-humiliation for sport. Returnees from
part one include Johnny Knoxville (“The
Ringer,” “Killshot”), Bam
Margera (MTV’s “Viva La Bam”),
Steve-O (MTV’s “Wildboyz”),
Preston Lacy (“Grind”) and Chris
Pontius (“Charlie’s Angels: Full
Throttle”). Sept. 22. Fox.

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The
Last King of Scotland
Drama, set in 1970s Africa, about a Scottish doctor
who becomes personal physician to flamboyant Ugandan
despot Idi Amin. Directed by Kevin Macdonald from
a screenplay by Jeremy Brock (“Charlotte Gray,” “Driving
Lessons”) and Peter Morgan (“The Queen”).
With Forest Whitaker (“American Gun”),
James McAvoy (“The Chronicles of Narnia: The
Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe”), Kerry
Washington (“Little Man”) and Gillian
Anderson (“Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull
Story”). R: Some strong violence and gruesome
images; sexual content; language. Sept. 27. Fox Searchlight.

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Lucky
You
Drama, set in Las Vegas, about a high-stakes gambler
who tries to overcome personal demons as he vies
for a world poker championship. Directed by Curtis
Hanson (“8 Mile,” “In Her Shoes”)
from a screenplay by Hanson and Eric Roth (“The
Insider,” “Ali,” “Munich”).
With Eric Bana (“Munich”), Drew Barrymore
(“Fever Pitch”), Robert Duvall (“Kicking & Screaming”),
Robert Downey Jr. (“A Scanner Darkly”),
Jean Smart (“Munich”), Horatio Sanz (“The
Man,” “School for Soundrels”),
Charles Martin Smith (“Deep Impact”)
and Debra Messing (“The Wedding Date”).
Sept. 8. Warner Bros.

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Marie
Antoinette
Biography of the 18th century Austrian who married,
at age 14, the king of France and became an ill-fated
queen by 19. Based on the biography by Antonia Fraser
(“The Wives of Henry VIII,” “Mary
Queen of Scots”). Written and directed by Sofia
Coppola (“The Virgin Suicides,” “Lost
in Translation”). With Kirsten Dunst (“Elizabethtown”),
Jason Schwartzman (“Shopgirl”), Steve
Coogan (“Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story”),
Rip Torn (“Yours, Mine and Ours,” “Zoom”),
Judy Davis (“The Break-Up”), Asia Argento
(“The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things”),
Molly Shannon (“Little Man,” “Talladega
Nights”) and Aurore Clément (“La
Petite Jerusalem”). Flat. 123 min. PG-13: Sexual
content; partial nudity; innuendo. Oct. 13. Sony.

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Open
Season
Animated comedy about a deer and a domesticated
grizzly who team up in an effort to survive hunting
season.
Roger Allers (“The Lion King”), veteran
animator Jill Culton (the “Toy Story” series)
and veteran visual-effects animator Anthony Stacchi
(“The Rocketeer,” “The Meteor
Man”) direct from a screenplay by Steve Bencich & Ron
Friedman (“Brother Bear”). Those lending
their voices include Ashton Kutcher, Martin Lawrence,
Debra Messing, Billy Connolly and Paul Westerberg.
PG: Some rude humor; mild action; brief language.
Sept. 29. Sony.

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