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Volume VII No. 1/2
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
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I Said So Comedy
about an overprotective mother who places personal
ads to help steer her daughter’s love life.
Directed by Michael Lehmann (“My Giant,” “40
Days and 40 Nights”) from a screenplay by
Karen Leigh Hopkins (“Welcome Home, Roxy
Charmichael,” “Stepmom”) and
Jessie Nelson (“The Story of Us,” “I
Am Sam”). With Diane Keaton (“The Family
Stone”), Mandy Moore (“American Dreamz,” “Alpha
Dog”), Piper Perabo (“The Prestige”),
Lauren Graham (“The Pacifier”), Tom
Everett Scott (“Boiler Room”), Gabriel
Macht (“The Good Shepherd”) and Sophina
Brown. Flat. PG-13: Sexual content including dialogue;
some mature thematic material; partial nudity.
Feb. 2. Universal.
Black Snake Moan
Drama
about a sex-addicted small-town girl who develops
a relationship
with
an older, God-fearing blues musician. Written and
directed by Craig Brewer (“Hustle & Flow”).
With Samuel L. Jackson (“Snakes on a Plane,” “Home
of the Brave”), Christina Ricci (“Cursed,” “Home
of the Brave”), Justin Timberlake (“On
the Line,” “Alpha Dog”), Michael
Raymond-James, Adriane Lenox (the TV-movie “Griffin
and Phoenix”), John Cothran, Jr. (“The
Cell”) and S. Epatha Merkerson (“Jersey
Girl”). R: Strong sexual content; language;
some violence and drug use. Feb. 23. Paramount Vantage.

Blind Dating
Comedy about a young blind man whose burgeoning relationship
with an Indian woman is tested by their cultural
differences. Directed by James Keach (the TV movie “Moms
on Strike”) from a screenplay by Christopher
Theo. With Chris Pine (“Just My Luck”),
Jayma Mays (“Flags of Our Fathers”),
Jennifer Alden (“Wedding Crashers”),
Anjali Jay, Dhamender Verma, Dee Macaluso (“Lone
Star”), Eddie Kaye Thomas (“Harold & Kumar
Go To White Castle”), Jane Seymour (“Wedding
Crashers”). PG-13: Sexual content; language.
March 16 limited. Samuel Goldwyn.

Bridge To Terabithia
Fantasy about two outcast preteens who create a fantasy
world of giants and trolls to escape reality. Based
on the 1978 novel by Katherine Paterson (“Jacob
Have I Loved”). Veteran producer Gabor Csupo
(“Rugrats Go Wild!”) makes his feature
directorial debut from a screenplay by Jeff Stockwell
(“The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys”)
and David Paterson. With AnnaSophia Robb (“Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Reaping”),
Josh Hutcherson (“R.V.”), Zooey Deschanel
(“Failure to Launch”), Robert Patrick
(“Flags of our Fathers,” “We Are
Marshall”), Latham Gaines (“The World’s
Fastest Indian”) and Bailee Madison. Flat.
PG: Thematic elements including bullying; some peril;
mild language. Feb. 16. Buena Vista.

Fido
Comedy about a boy and his devotion to his best friend:
a rotting, flesh-eating pet zombie named Fido. Directed
by Andrew Currie from a screenplay by Currie and
Robert Chorniak. With Billy Connolly (“Garfield:
A Tale of Two Kitties”), Carrie-Anne Moss (“The
Chumscrubber”), Henry Czerny (“Conversations
with God”), Sonja Bennett (“Where the
Truth Lies,” “Catch and Release”),
Peter Stormare (“Nacho Libre”) and Tim
Blake Nelson (“Hoot,” “The Amateurs,” “The
Astronaut Farmer”). Scope. 91 min. March 9
limited. Lionsgate.

Ghost Rider
Fantasy actioner about a motorcycle stunt performer
named Johnny Blaze who is cursed to spend his nights
as host to a fiery spirit of vengeance. Based on
the character featured in Marvel Comics (“X-Men,” “Spider-Man,” “Daredevil,” “Hulk,” “Blade,” “The
Punisher,” “Elektra,” “Fantastic
Four”). Written and directed by Mark Steven
Johnson (“Daredevil”). With Nicolas Cage
(“The Wicker Man”), Wes Bentley (“The
Game of Their Lives”), Sam Elliott (“Off
the Map”), Donal Logue (“The Groomsmen,” “Zodiac”)
and Eva Mendes (“Hitch”). Scope. PG-13:
Horror violence; disturbing images. Feb. 16. Sony.

The Hills Have Eyes 2
Sequel to the 2006 horror thriller, this time about
National Guard trainees who, on their last day of
desert training, find themselves in a battle to the
death against a sadistic mutant family. Directed
by Martin Weisz from a screenplay by Jonathan Craven
and father Wes Craven (“Pulse”), who
wrote and directed both the 1977’s original “The
Hills Have Eyes” and 1985’s “The
Hills Have Eyes II.” Returnees from part one
include actor Michael Bailey Smith (“The Master
of Disguise”). Actors new to the franchise
include Jacob Vargas (“Bobby”), Lee Thompson
Young (“Akeelah and the Bee”), Jessica
Stroup (the CBS TV-movie “Vampire Bats”),
Michael McMillian (“Dorian Blues”), Flex
Alexander (“Snakes on a Plane”) and Daniella
Alonso (“The Black Knight”). March 2.
Fox.

I Could Never Be Your
Woman
Comedy about a middle-aged woman who falls for a
younger man. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling
(“Clueless,” “Loser”). With
Michelle Pfeiffer (“White Oleander”),
Paul Rudd (“A Night at the Museum,” “Reno
911!: Miami”), Tracy Ullman (“A Dirty
Shame”), Sarah Alexander (“Bridget Jones’ Diary”),
Stacy Dash (“View from the Top”), Fred
Willard (“Monster House,” “For
Your Consideration,” “Street Poet”),
Henry Winkler (“Click”) and Graham Norton
(TV’s “So Graham Norton”). PG-13:
Sexual content; language. Feb. 14. MGM.

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Astronaut Farmer Family
comedy-drama about a space-program dropout who
leaves NASA to rescue his family’s farm,
then years later decides to build a homemade rocket
in his barn and make it to space on his own. The “Jackpot”-”Northfork” team
of screenwriter Mark Polish and screenwriter-director
Michael Polish reunite. With Billy Bob Thornton
(“School for Scoundrels”), Virginia
Madsen (“A Prairie Home Companion,” “The
Number 23”), J.K. Simmons (“Thank You
for Smoking”), Tim Blake Nelson (“Hoot,” “The
Amateurs,” “Fido”), Jon Gries
(“Stick It”), Bruce Dern (“Down
in the Valley”) and Bruce Willis (“16
Blocks,” “Fast Food Nation”).
Scope. PG: Thematic material; peril; language.
104 min. Feb. 23. Warner Bros.

Black
Book Dutch-, English- and
German-language drama, set during World War II,
about a Dutch-Jewish singer who adopts an alias
and joins the resistance movement in an effort
to learn who betrayed her family as it attempted
to escape the Nazis. Directed by Paul Verhoeven
(“Starship Troopers,” “Hollow
Man”) from a screenplay by Verhoeven and
Gerard Soeteman. With Carice van Houten, Sebastian
Koch (“The Lives of Others”), Halina
Reijn (“Moonlight”), Christian Berkel
(“Guys and Balls”) and Thom Hoffman
(“Dogville”). Also known as “Zwartboek.” 144
min. R: Some strong violence; graphic nudity; sexuality;
language. March 2 in New York and Los Angeles.
Sony Pictures Classics.

Blades of Glory
Comedy
about two rival men’s figure skaters, stripped
of their Olympic medals and banned from future
competitions,
who
exploit a loophole and return to the sport as a
pairs team. Josh Gordon & Will Speck make their
feature directorial debuts from a screenplay by
John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky (TV’s “King
of the Hill”) and Craig & Jeff Cox. With
Will Ferrell (“Stranger than Fiction”),
Jon Heder (“School for Scoundrels”),
Will Arnett (“Let’s Go to Prison”),
Jenna Fischer (“Slither”), Craig T.
Nelson (“The Family Stone”), Romany
Malco (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”), William
Fichtner (“Ultraviolet,” “The
Amateurs”), Nick Swardson (“Art School
Confidential,” “Reno 911!: Miami”),
Rob Corddry (“Unaccompanied Minors,” “Pleasure
of Your Company”), Smith Cho (“Bad
Boys II”), William Daniels (“Her Alibi”)
and Amy Poehler (“Tenacious D in: The Pick
of Destiny”). March 30. Paramount.

Breach Drama, based on
a true story, about a young FBI agent on the hunt
for
another agent selling secrets to the Soviet Union
at the height of the Cold War. Directed by Billy
Ray (“Shattered Glass”) from a screenplay
by Ray, Adam Mazer and Bill Rotko. With Ryan Phillippe
(“Flags of Our Fathers”), Chris Cooper
(“Syriana”), Laura Linney (“Driving
Lessons”), Caroline Dhavernas (“Hollywoodland”),
Dennis Haysbert (“Jarhead”), Kathleen
Quinlan (“The Hills Have Eyes”), Mary
Jo Deschanel (“Winter Passing”) and
Bruce Davison (“Going Shopping”). Flat.
PG-13: Violence; sexual content; language. Feb.
16. Universal.

The Comebacks
Comedy about a college football coach with a terrible record who tries to turn things around with his inept team of players. Directed by Tom Brady ("The Hot Chick") from a screenplay by Brady, Ed Yeager (TV's "Still Standing"), Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson ("Not Another Teen Movie"), Joey Gutierrez (TV's "Yes, Dear" and "Still Standing") and Kevin Sabbe. With David Koechner ("Let's Go to Prison," "Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny," "Unaccompanied Minors,""Reno 911!: Miami" ), Matthew Lawrence ("The Hot Chick"), DJ Qualls ("Hustle & Flow"), Chris Parnell ("Looking For Kitty"), Carl Weathers ("Little Nicky"), Lindsay Gareth, Jackie Long ("Idlewild") and Paige Peterson ("The Hot Chick"). March 23. Fox.

Full of It
Comedy about a bellboy at a posh hotel who suddenly
and magically becomes the person he always pretended
to be. Directed by Christian Charles (“Comedian”)
from a screenplay by TV writers Yoni Berkovitch & Tony
Dreannan (“Rock Me Baby”). With Ryan
Pinkston (“Soul Plane”), Craig Kilborn
(“The Shaggy Dog”), Carmen Electra (“Date
Movie”), John Carroll Lynch (“Looking
for Comedy in the Muslim World,” “Zodiac”),
Teri Polo (“Meet the Fockers”) and Cynthia
Stevenson (“Agent Cody Banks 2”). Also
known as “Nothing But the Truth” and “The
Whole Truth.” PG-13: Sexual content; drug references;
teen partying; crude humor. March 2.
New Line.

Hannibal Rising
Prequel to 2002’s “Red Dragon,” chronicling
Hannibal Lecter’s childhood in Lithuania and
time – and crimes – in America prior
to his capture. Based on the 2006 novel by Thomas
Harris (“The Silence of the Lambs,” “Hannibal,” “Red
Dragon”). Directed by Peter Webber (“Girl
with a Pearl Earring”) from a screenplay by
Harris. With Gong Li (“Miami Vice”) as
Lady Murasaki and Gaspard Ulliel (“A Very Long
Engagement”) as the titular cannibal. Also
with Dominic West (“The Forgotten,” “300”),
Rhys Ifans (“The Science of Sleep”),
Kevin McKidd (“Kingdom of Heaven,” “The
Last Legion”), Stephen Walters (“Batman
Begins”), Joe Sheridan (“Marie Antoinette”),
Hugh Ross (“The Four Feathers”), Paul
Ritter (“The Libertine”), Ivan Marevich
(“Bright Young Things”), Charles Maquignon
(“Manderlay”), Lana Likic (“Last
Holiday”), Robert Kay (“The Illusionist”),
Martin Hubb (“XXX”), Ota Filip (“Hostel”),
Ingeborga Dapkunaite (“Shadow of the Vampire”),
Dominique Bettenfeld (“A Very Long Engagement”),
Pavel Bezdek (“Alien Vs. Predator”),
Jean-Pierre Marielle (“The Da Vinci Code”)
and Richard Brake (“The Black Dahlia”).
Previously known as “Young Hannibal: Behind
the Mask” and “The Lecter Variation.” Feb.
9. Universal.

Hot Fuzz
Comedy about a top London cop reassigned to a sleepy
village. The “Shaun of the Dead” team
of writer-director Edgar Wright and actor-screenwriter
Simon Pegg reunite. With Pegg (“Mission: Impossible
III”), Nick Frost (“Kinky Boots”),
Jim Broadbent (“Art School Confidential”),
Steve Coogan (“Marie Antoinette,” “A
Night at the Museum”), Paddy Considine (“Dead
Man’s Shoes,” “The Half Life of
Timofey Berezin”), Martin Freeman (“Confetti,” “Breaking
and Entering”) and Timothy Dalton (“Looney
Tunes: Back in Action”). March 9. Focus.

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