Volume VI No. 8/9

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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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.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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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