Volume VI No. 3

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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Take The Lead
Drama, inspired by a true story, about a professional dancer who begins teaching ballroom dancing to inner-city teens in the New York City public school system. Music video director Liz Friedlander (REM’s “The Great Beyond”) makes her feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Dianne Houston. With Antonio Banderas (“Legend of Zorro”), Alfre Woodard (“Something New,” “16 Blocks”), Dante Basco (“Biker Boyz”), Jo Chim (“Resident Evil: Apocalypse”), Marcus T. Paulk (“Roll Bounce”), Elijah Kelley (“28 Days”) and Rob Brown (“Coach Carter”). Flat. April 7. New Line.

 

 

Water
Hindi-language drama, set in 1930s India, about a young woman – forced into poverty by the social restrictions placed on local widows like herself – who falls for a man from a lower caste. The conclusion of Deepa Mehta’s “elements trilogy,” which also includes “Fire” and “Earth.” Written and directed by Mehta (“Bollywood/Holly-wood”). With Lisa Ray (“Bolly-wood/Hollywood”), Vinay Pathak (“Fire”), Seema Biswas, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, John Abraham and Waheeda Rehman. 117 min. Scope. April 28 limited. Fox Searchlight.

Waist Deep
Drama about an ex-convict who finds himself returning to his gangster ways after the vehicle carrying his infant son is carjacked. Written and directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall (“Gridlock’d”). With Tyrese Gibson (“Annapolis”), Meagan Good (“Venom”), Eric Lane (“Barbershop”), Laura Miro (“Memoirs of a Geisha”), Arnold Vosloo (“Agent Cody Banks”) and Larenz Tate (“Ray”). Scope. April 28. Focus.

 

 

The Wild
Animated comedy about a New York Zoo lion who must be rescued by his pals after he is accidentally shipped to the wilds of Africa. Longtime visual effects supervisor Steve “Spaz” Williams (“The Mask,” “Eraser,” “Spawn”) makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Ed Decter & John Strauss (“The Santa Clause 2,” “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”) and Mark Gibson & Phil Halprin (“The In Crowd,” “Snow Dogs”). Featuring the voices of Kiefer Sutherland, Eddie Izzard, Jonathan Kimmel, Dominic Scott Kay, Chris Edgerly and Joseph Siravo. April 14. Buena Vista.

 

Aquamarine
Comedy-fantasy about a pair of teen girls who discover a lonely 17-year-old mermaid in the pool of their beach club. Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman (“Practical Magic”). Elizabeth Allen makes her feature directorial debut from a screenplay by John Quaintance (TV’s “Joey”). With Emma Roberts (“Blow”), Joanna “JoJo” Levesque (“R.V.”), Sara Paxton (“Sleepover”), Arielle Kebbel (“The Kid & I”) and Bruce Spence (“Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”). Flat. PG: Mild language; sensuality. March 3. Fox.

 

 

Evil
Swedish-language drama, set in 1950s Stockholm, about a rebellious teen transferred to a rigid boarding school where the older students ritualistically abuse the younger ones. Directed by Mikael Håfström (“Derailed”) from a screenplay by Hans Gunnarson. With Andreas Wilson, Fredrik af Trampe, Henrik Lundström (“Together”), Gustaf Skarsgård, Linda Zilliacus and Jesper Salén. 83 min. March 10. Magnolia.

 

 

 

Mirage
Macedonian-language drama about a boy who – having been tormented by his peers, neglected at home and rattled by the growing pains of his nation – escapes into a fantasy world of his own creation. Directed by Svetozar Ristovski from a screenplay by Ristovski and Grace Lea Troje. With Marko Kovacevic, Dejan Acimovic, Slavica Manaskova, Nikola Djuricko, Salaetin Bilal (“Behind Enemy Lines”), Mustafa Nadarevic and Nikola Hejko. 108 min. March 17 limited. Picture This.

 

 

Pulse
Thriller about a college student who unwittingly opens the door to a deadly evil by pirating a mysterious wireless signal. An English-language remake of Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Japanese thriller of the same name. Directed by Jim Sonzero from a screenplay by Wes Craven (“Wes Craven’s New Nightmare”), Vince Gilligan (“Home Fries”) and Ray Wright. With Kristen Bell (“Spartan”), Ian Somerhalder (“Rules of Attraction”), Christina Milian (“Be Cool”), Rick Gonzalez (“Roll Bounce”) and Samm Levine (“Broken Lizard’s Club Dread”). Scope. March 3. Weinstein.

Ask The Dust
Drama, set in Depression-era Los Angeles, about a young writer from Colorado who finds himself forced to choose between his work and his love for a Latina waitress. Based on the 1939 novel by John Fante. Written and directed by Robert Towne (“Tequila Sunrise,” “Without Limits”). With Colin Farrell (“The New World”), Salma Hayek (“After the Sunset”), Eileen Atkins (“Vanity Fair”), Donald Sutherland (“Pride and Prejudice,” “Fierce People”), William Mapother (“Lords of Dogtown”), Idina Menzel (“Rent”) and Tamara Craig Thomas (“Fun with Dick and Jane”). March 10 limited. Paramount Classics.

 

 

Failure To Launch
Comedy about a thirtysomething man who meets the woman of his dreams – but comes to suspect she might be part of a scheme his parents have cooked up to get him to move out of their house. Directed by Tom Dey (“Shanghai Noon,” “Showtime”) from a screenplay by TV writers Tom J. Astle (“The Tracy Morgan Show”) and Matt Ember (“Titus”). With Matthew McConaughey (“Two for the Money”), Sarah Jessica Parker (“The Family Stone”), Zooey Deschanel (“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” “Winter Passing”), Katheryn Winnick (“Fabled”), Justin Bartha (“National Treasure”) and Bradley Cooper (“Wedding Crashers”). PG-13: Sexual content; partial nudity; language. March 10. Paramount.

 

 

My First Wedding
Romantic comedy about a bride-to-be who recruits what she believes to be a Catholic priest to help her overcome an urge to cheat on her fiancé, unaware that the “priest” is actually just a guy who thinks she’s hot. Directed by Laurent Firode from a screenplay by Joan Carr-Wiggin. With Rachael Leigh Cook (“Stateside”), Kenny Doughty (“The Great Raid”), Paul Hopkins (“Mambo Italiano”), Elizabeth Whitmere (“Head in the Clouds”), Valerie Mahaffey (“Seabiscuit”) and Claire Brosseau (“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”). Flat. PG-13: Sexual content; language. March 10 limited. Indican.

 

 

Swimmers
Drama, set in rural coastal Maryland, about a struggling oyster fisherman dealt a severe economic blow when his 12-year-old daughter requires an expensive ear operation. Written and directed by Doug Sadler. With Tara Devon Gallagher, Cherry Jones (“Ocean’s Twelve”), Robert Knott (“Pollock”), Shawn Hatosy (“The Cooler”), Sarah Paulson (“Serenity”), Irving Jacobs (“Head of State”) and Don Harvey (“She Hate Me”). 90 min. March 17 limited. Skouras.

 

 

 

 

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