December 2006


Volume VI No. 12

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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December Preview

The InvisibleThe Invisible
Supernatural thriller about a teen – attacked and left for dead – who finds himself caught in limbo, invisible to the living and racing to find his body before it dies. Directed by David Goyer (“Blade: Trinity”) from a screenplay by Mick Davis (“Modigliani”). With Justin Chatwin (“War of the Worlds”), Michelle Harrison (“Capote”), Callum Keith Rennie (“Blade: Trinity”), Chris Marquette (“The Girl Next Door,” “Alpha Dog”) and Marcia Gay Harden (“American Dreamz”). PG-13: Violence, criminality, sensuality, language – all involving teens. Jan. 26. Buena Vista.

 

Mr. WoodcockMr. Woodcock
Comedy about a young man who returns to his hometown in an effort to stop his long-divorced mother from marrying the old high school gym teacher – a man notorious for having made many a student, including the protagonist, tremendously unhappy. Craig Gillespie makes his directorial debut from a screenplay by Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert. With Billy Bob Thornton (“School for Scoundrels”), Seann William Scott (“The Dukes of Hazzard”), Susan Sarandon (“Elizabethtown”), Melissa Sagemiller (“The Guardian”), Amy Poehler (“Envy,” “Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny”), Kurt Fuller (“The Pursuit of Happyness”), M.C. Gainey (“Beerfest”) and Ethan Suplee (“Clerks 2,” “The Fountain”). Jan. 19. New Line.

 

Stomp the YardStomp The Yard
Drama about a troubled young street dancer who is wooed at his new college by two rival fraternities, both of which want him to help win a national dancing competition. Directed by Sylvain White from a screenplay by Robert Adetuyi (“Turn it Up”). With Columbus Short (“Accepted”), Meagan Good (“Waist Deep”), Brian J. White (“Brick,” “DOA: Dead or Alive”), Courtney B. Vance (“D-Tox”), April Clark (“ATL”), Harry J. Lennix (“Ray”) and Angela Bassett (“Akeelah and the Bee”). Previously known as “Steppin.’” PG-13: A scene of violence; some sexual material; language. Jan. 12. Sony.

 


Verdict on AuschwitzVerdict on Auschwitz
Documentary about the 1963-65 Frankfurt Auschwitz trials, a 20-month series of proceedings that saw death camp survivors accuse SS officers of taking part in mass murder. Directed by Rolf Bickel and Dietrich Wagner. Jan. 12 in New York. First Run.


The ItalianThe Italian
Russian-language drama about a little boy in an isolated, run-down orphanage in Russia who is adopted by an Italian family. Directed by Andrei Kravchuk from a screenplay by Andrei Romanov. With Nikolai Reutov, Denis Moiseenko, Sasha Sirotkin, Olga Shuvalova, Polina Vorobieva, Dima Zemlyanko and Kolya Spiridonov. 97 min. PG-13: Some violence; sexual content; language; thematic issues. Jan. 19. Sony Pictures Classics.

 

 

PathfinderPathfinder
Actioner, set in North America around the year 1000, about a Viking boy, left behind after a skirmish with the Native Americans, who is raised by the tribe and eventually leads them in battle against the returning Vikings. A remake of the 1987 Norweigan film of the same name. Directed by Marcus Nispel (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”) from a screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis (“Alexander”). With Karl Urban (“Doom”), Moon Bloodgood (“A Lot Like Love”), Russell Means (“29 Palms”), Jay Tauare (“Cold Mountain”), Nathaniel Arcand (“Elektra”), Ralf Moeller (“The Scorpion King”) and Clancy Brown (“The Hurricane”). Scope. R: Strong brutal violence throughout. Jan. 12. Fox.

 

Street PoetStreet Poet
Romantic drama about a poet trying to win the heart of a young publisher by competing in a slam poetry contest. TV writer E. Paul Edwards (“Knight Rider,” “21 Jump Street”) makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With Jeff Stearns, Tara D’Agostino, Fred Willard (“For Your Consideration”), C. Thomas Howell (“The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam”), Dominic Comperatore and Edward Albert (“The Work and the Glory”). Jan. 12. Indican.

 

ZodiacZodiac
The true story of the hunt for the Zodiac Killer, a never-captured serial murderer who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area between 1966 and 1978, taunted local law enforcement officials and claimed credit for 37 murders. Based on the books "Zodiac" and "Zodaic Unmasked" by Robert Graysmith ("Auto Focus: The Murder of Bob Crane"). Directed by David Fincher ("Fight Club," "Panic Room") from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt ("Basic," "The Rundown"). With Jake Gyllenhaal ("Brokeback Mountain") as Graysmith, Mark Ruffalo ("All the King’s Men") as detective Dave Toschi, Brian Cox ("Running with Scissors") as attorney Melvin Belli, and Robert Downey, Jr. ("A Scanner Darkly," "Fur") as investigating reporter Paul Avery. Also with Anthony Edwards ("The Forgotten"), Clea DuVall ("The Grudge"), John Getz ("Curly Sue"), Adam Goldberg ("Déjà Vu"), Zach Grenier ("Pulse," "Rescue Dawn"), Pell James ("The King"), Elias Koteas ("The Greatest Game Ever Played"), Donal Logue ("The Groomsmen"), John Carroll Lynch ("Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World"), Dermot Mulroney (“The Family Stone”), Chloe Sevigny (“Manderlay”), Ione Skye (“Fever Pitch”), John Terry (“The Big Green”), Tom Verica (“Flags of Our Fathers”) and Charles Fleisher (“Permanent Midnight”). Scope. R: Some strong killings; language; drug material; brief sexual images. Jan. 19. Paramount.


Late Additions to December

Off the BlackOff The Black
Coming-of-age drama about the friendship that develops between a young, vulnerable pitcher and a gruff, alcoholic umpire. Written and directed by James Ponsoldt. With Nick Nolte (“Peaceful Warrior”), Trevor Morgan (“The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio”), Timothy Hutton (“Last Holiday,” “The Good Shepherd”), Sally Kirkland (“Adam & Steve”), Johnathan Tchaikovsky (TV’s “Rescue Me”), Sonia Feigelson, Whitney Bashor and Peter Van Wagner (“Hollywood Ending”). R: A crude sexual remark. Dec. 1 in New York. Thinkfilm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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