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Volume VI No. 3
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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