Volume VI No. 3

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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Hoot
Comedy about a trio of middle-school kids who work to save a flock of endangered miniature owls, whose habitat has been earmarked as the site of a new pancake house. Based on the book by Carl Hiaasen (“Striptease”). TV director Wil Shriner (“Married to the Kellys,” “Living with Fran”) makes his feature directorial debut from a script by Shriner and Rob Lieber. With Logan Lerman (“The Butterfly Effect”), Luke Wilson ( “The Family Stone”), Brie Larson (“Sleepover”), Cody Linley (“Rebound”), Eric Phillips, Dean Collins (“Yours, Mine and Ours”) and Tim Blake Nelson (“Syriana”). Flat. April 21. New Line.

 

 

La Mujer De Mi Hermano
Spanish-language drama about a woman, dissatisfied with her marriage, who begins an affair with her husband’s brother. Directed by Ricardo de Montreuil from a screenplay by Jaime Bayly. With Manolo Cardona, Angélica Aragón (“The Crime of Padre Amaro”), Bruno Bichir (“Casa de los Babys”) , Gaby Espino and popular Telenovela stars Bárbara Mori and Christian Meier. Scope. R: Sexuality; language. April 14 limited. Lionsgate.

 

 

 

The Notorious Bettie Page
Drama based on the life of the Nashville native who grew infamous in the 1950s as the subject of a popular series of “nudie” photos. Directed by Mary Harron (“I Shot Andy Warhol,” “American Psycho”) from a screenplay by Harron and Guinevere Turner (“Go Fish,” “American Psycho”). With Gretchen Mol (“The Shape of Things”) as the title character, as well as Lili Taylor (“A Slipping-Down Life”), David Strathairn (“Good Night, and Good Luck”), Jonathan Woodward (“Pipe Dream”), Cara Seymour (“Birth”) and Kevin Carroll (“The Secret Lives of Dentists”). Flat. 90 min. R: Nudity; sexual content; some language. April 14. Picturehouse.

 

 

Phat Girlz
Comedy about a plus-sized aspiring fashion designer who unexpectedly meets the man of her dreams. Negest Likke makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With Mo’Nique (“Domino”), Jimmy Jean-Louis (“Monster-in-Law”), Jack Noseworthy (“Undercover Brother”) Godfrey (“The Cookout”), Joyful Drake (“Beauty Shop”) and Eric Roberts (“The Last Shot”). April 7. Fox Searchlight.

 

 

Scary Movie 4
The fourth installment of the franchise is said to spoof, among other things, “War of the Worlds,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “The Grudge,” “The Village” and “Saw.” Returnees from all three prior installments include actresses Anna Faris (“Brokeback Mountain”) and Regina Hall (“The Honeymooners”). Returnees from part three include director David Zucker (“Airplane!” “The Naked Gun,” “BASEketball,” “My Boss’s Daughter”), screenwriters Craig Mazin (“Rocket Man,” “Senseless”) and Pat Proft (“Wrongfully Accused”), and actors Leslie Nielsen (“Airplane!” “The Naked Gun,” “Men with Brooms”) and Simon Rex (“The Forsaken”). Actress Carmen Elektra (“Date Movie”) returns from part one. Newcomers to the franchise include screenwriter Jim Abrahams (“Airplane!” “The Naked Gun,” the “Hot Shots” series, “Jane Austen’s Mafia!”) as well as actors Andre Benjamin (“Four Brothers”) and Craig Bierko (“Cinderella Man”). Flat. April 14. Weinstein.

 

 

Somersault
Australian drama about a young seductress who comes on to her mother’s boyfriend, is kicked out of the house and finds unexpected romance in the ski town where she seeks refuge. Written and directed by Cate Shortland. With Abbie Cornish (“The Monkey’s Mask”), Sam Worthington (“The Great Raid”), Lynette Curran (“Japanese Story”), Leah Purcell (“Lantana”), Erik Thomson and Hollie Andrew. Flat. 105 min. April 14. Magnolia.

Hidden Blade
Japanese-language epic about three warriors faced with political intrigue, forbidden love and encroaching Western battle technology. The “Twilight Samurai” team of writer-director Yôji Yamada and screenwriter Yoshitaka Asama reunite. With Masatoshi Nagase, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Takako Matsu, Chieko Baisho and Ken Ogata. Also known as “Kakushi-ken: oni no tsume.” 131 min. April 14. Tartan.

 

 

Kinky Boots
British comedy, based on a true story, about a young man who helps revitalize his father’s shoe factory by producing outlandish shoes for transvestites. British television director Julian Jarrold (“White Teeth,” “The Canterbury Tales”) directs from a screenplay by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth (“Calendar Girls”). With Joel Edgerton (“Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”), Linda Bassett (“Separate Lies”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“Serentity,” “Inside Man”), Nick Frost (“Shaun of the Dead”), Jemima Rooper (“A Sound of Thunder”), Mona Hammond (“Pure,” “Manderlay”) and Stephen Marcus (“The Greatest Game Ever Played”). 106 min. PG-13: Thematic material involving sexuality; language. April 14 limited. Miramax.

 

Lucky You
Drama, set in Las Vegas, about a high-stakes gambler who competes against his father in the World Series of Poker. Directed by Curtis Hanson (“Wonderboys,” “8 Mile,” “In Her Shoes”) from a screenplay by Eric Roth (“The Insider,” “Ali,” “Munich”). With Eric Bana (“Munich”), Drew Barrymore (“Fever Pitch”), Robert Duvall (“Kicking & Screaming,” “Thank You For Smoking”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Good Night, and Good Luck,” “The Shaggy Dog,” “A Scanner Darkly”), Jean Smart (“Munich”), Horatio Sanz (“The Man”), Charles Martin Smith (“Deep Impact”) and Debra Messing (“The Wedding Date”). April 7. Warner Bros.

 

 

On A Clear Day
Comedy-drama abut a 55-year-old Glasgow shipyard engineer who seeks to heal both his faltering self-confidence and his strained marriage by swimming the English Channel. Directed by Gaby Dellal from a screenplay by Alex Rose. With Peter Mullan (“Criminal”), Brenda Blethyn (“Pride and Prejudice”), Billy Boyd (the “Lord of the Rings” series), Benedict Wong (“Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story”), Jodhi May (“House of Mirth”), Paul Ritter and Ron Cook (“The Merchant of Venice”). Flat. 92 min. PG-13: Some language. April 7 limited. Focus.

 

 

R.V.
Comedy about a father who takes his dysfunctional family on a vacation to the Grand Canyon, hopeful that they won’t discover that he is actually on the trip to conduct a business meeting. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (“Big Trouble,” “Men in Black II”) from a screenplay by Geoff Rodkey (“Daddy Day Care,” “The Shaggy Dog”). With Robin Williams (“House of D”), Cheryl Hines (“Herbie: Fully Loaded”), Kristin Chenoweth (“The Pink Panther”), Jeff Daniels (“The Squid and the Whale”), Josh Hutcherson (“Zathura”), Tony Hale (“Stateside”), Will Arnett (“Monster-in-Law”) and Joanna “JoJo” Levesque (“Aquamarine”). Scope. April 28.
Sony.

 

 

Silent Hill
Thriller about a mother who, searching for her ill, missing daughter, begins to investigate the secrets of an abandoned town. Based on the best-selling video game series of the same name. Directed by Christophe Gans (“Brotherhood of the Wolf”) from a screenplay by Roger Avary (“Rules of Attraction”). With Radha Mitchell (“Melinda and Melinda”), Sean Bean (“Flightplan”), Laurie Holden (“Fantastic Four”), Deborah Kara Unger (“White Noise”), Alice Krige (“Reign of Fire”), Kim Coates (“Hostage”) and Jodelle Ferland (“They”). April 21. Sony.

 

 

 

 

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