January/February 2007


Volume VII No. 1/2

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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February Preview

The Lives of OthersThe Lives of Others
German-language drama, set in 1980 East Germany, about a rising young Communist Party worker who – while spying on a playwright and his actress girlfriend – becomes increasingly obsessed with their more interesting lives. Written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. With Sebastian Koch (“Black Book”), Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Thomas Thieme and Ulrich Tukur. 137 min. R: Some sexuality/nudity. Feb. 9. Sony Pictures Classics.

 

The MessengersThe Messengers
Horror thriller about a troubled family that moves from the city to an isolated North Dakota sunflower farm, where the clan’s paterfamilias begins to exhibit alarming behavior. Directed by brothers Oxide & Danny Pang (“The Eye”) from a screenplay by Mark Wheaton (the TV-movie “Firestorm: Last Stand at Yellowstone”). With Kristen Stewart (“Zathura”), Dylan McDermott (“Wonderland”), Penelope Ann Miller (“Along Came A Spider”) and John Corbett (“Raise Your Voice”). Flat. Feb. 2. Sony.

 

Music and LyricsMusic and Lyrics
Romantic comedy about a washed-up pop star who stumbles into a new career when he forms a songwriting partnership with a young female lyricist. Written and directed by Marc Lawrence (“Two Weeks Notice”). With Hugh Grant (“American Dreamz”), Drew Barrymore (“Fever Pitch,” “Lucky You”), Brad Garrett (“The Pacifier”), Billy Griffith (“Marci X”), Lanette Ware (“Marci X”), Kristen Johnston (“Strangers With Candy”), Campbell Scott (“Loverboy”) and Aasif Mandvi (“Freedomland”). Feb. 14. Warner Bros.

 

 

NorbitNorbit
Comedy about a meek man who attempts to shed his shrewish fiancée after he meets the woman of his dreams. Directed by Brian Robbins (“The Perfect Score,” “The Shaggy Dog”) from a screenplay by David Ronn & Jay Scherick (“National Security,” “Guess Who”). With Eddie Murphy (“Dreamgirls”), Thandie Newton (“The Pursuit of Happyness”), Eddie Griffin (“Date Movie”), Terry Crews (“Idiocracy”) and Cuba Gooding, Jr. (“Shadowboxer”). Flat. Feb. 9. Paramount.

 

Pleasure of Your CompanyPleasure of Your Company
Comedy about a man so convinced he will never find love that he spontaneously proposes to a waitress on a dare. TV writer-performer Michael Ian Black (TV’s “The State,” “Viva Variety,” and “Stella”) makes his feature directorial debut from his own screenplay. With Jason Biggs (“Eight Below”), Isla Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”), Joe Pantoliano (“Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector”), Rob Corddry (“Failure to Launch,” “Unaccompanied Minors,” “Blades of Glory”), Edward Herrmann (“The Aviator”) and Joanna Gleason (“The Wedding Planner”). 90 min. March 16. MGM.

 

PridePride
Sports drama, set in the 1970s and based on a true story, about a man who started an all-black swim team in one of Philadelphia’s roughest neighborhoods. Directed by Sunu Gonera from a screenplay by J. Mills Goodloe, Michael Gozzard and Kevin M. Smith. With Terrence Howard (“Idlewild”), Bernie Mac (“Guess Who”), Kimberly Elise (“Diary of a Mad Black Woman”), Tom Arnold (“Happy Endings”), Trevor Morgan (“Off the Black”), Scott Reeves and Brandon Fobbs. Scope. March 23. Lionsgate.

 

Reign Over MeReign Over Me
Drama about a man who lost his family in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and how he attempts to quell his grief by re-establishing a friendship with his old college roommate. Written and directed by Mike Binder (“The Upside of Anger”). With Adam Sandler (“Click”), Don Cheadle (“Crash”), Jada Pinkett Smith (“Collateral”), Liv Tyler (“Lonesome Jim”), Saffron Burrows (“Troy”), Robert Klein (“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”), Cicely Tyson (“Idlewild”), Mike Binder (“The Upside of Anger”) and Melinda Dillon (“Adam & Steve”). R: Language; some sexual references. March 9. Sony.

 

RogueRogue
Thriller about an American journalist on assignment in the Australian Outback, where he encounters a gigantic, man-eating crocodile. Written and directed by Greg McLean (“Wolf Creek”). With Michael Vartan (“Monster-in-Law”), Radha Mitchell (“Silent Hill”), Sam Worthington (“Somersault”), Robert Taylor (“Ned Kelly”), Celia Ireland and Geoff Morrell (“Ned Kelly”). Feb. 2. Weinstein.

I Think I Love My WifeI Think I Love My Wife
Comedy about a married man who finds his fidelity tested when a former mistress re-enters his life. Directed by Chris Rock (“Head of State”) from a screenplay by Rock (“Down to Earth,” “Head of State”) and Louis C.K. (“Down to Earth,” “Pootie Tang”). With Rock (“The Longest Yard”), Gina Torres (“Serenity”), Kerry Washington (“The Last King of Scotland”), Cassandra Freeman (“Inside Man”), Duncan Hale Murdoch (“The Good Shepherd”) and Samantha Ivers (“Inside Man”). March 16. Fox Searchlight.

 

Meet The RobinsonsMeet The Robinsons
Computer-animated sci-fi comedy about a child prodigy who gets help from a time-traveler from the future after his memory-scanner invention is stolen. Based on the book by William Joyce (the “Dinosaur Bob” series). Veteran animator Steve Anderson (“The Emperor’s New Groove,” “Brother Bear”) makes his big-screen directorial debut from a screenplay by Michelle Bochner (TV’s “Will & Grace”). Featuring the voices of Daniel Hansen, Wesley Singerman, Stephen J. Anderson, Laurie Metcalf, Kelly Ripa, Tom Selleck, Adam West, Harland Williams, Angela Bassett, Tom Kenny, and Jordan Fry. Also known as “A Day with Wilbur Robinson.” Also available in digital 3D. Flat. March 30. Buena Vista..

 

MimzyMimzy
Family adventure about two young siblings who begin to develop strange talents after discovering a box of toys from the future. Directed by Robert Shaye (“Book of Love”) from a screenplay by James V. Hart (“Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,” “Sahara”) and Toby Emmerich (“Frequency”). With Megan McKinnon (“Eight Below”), Marc Musso (“Monster House”), Calum Worthy (“Deck The Halls”), Rhiannon Leigh Wryn (“Hulk”), Michael Clarke Duncan (“School For Scoundrels”), Timothy Hutton (“Last Holiday,” “Stephanie Daley,” “The Good Shepherd”), Rainn Wilson (“My Super Ex-Girlfriend”), Kathryn Hahn (“A Lot Like Love,” “The Holiday”), Kirsten Williamson (“R.V.”) and Joely Richardson (“The Affair of the Necklace”). March 23. New Line.

 

The NamesakeThe Namesake
Drama, set in New York, about an American son of Indian immigrants who comes into conflict with his parents over their unwillingness to break with Old World tradition. Based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri. The “Salaam Bombay!”-”Mississippi Masala” team of director Mira Nair (“Vanity Fair”) and screenwriter Sooni Taraporevala reunite. With Kal Penn (“Superman Returns,” “Van Wilder Deux: The Rise of Taj,” “Epic Movie”), Tabu, Irfan Khan (“Salaam Bombay!”), Zuleikha Robinson (“Hidalgo”), Jacinda Barrett (“The Last Kiss”), Gabriel Byrne (“Wah-Wah”), Brooke Smith (“In Her Shoes”) and Allison Lee Ritter (“Just My Luck”). Flat. 122 min. PG-13: Sexuality/nudity; a scene of drug use; some disturbing images; brief language. March 9 limited. Fox Searchlight.

 

The Number 23The Number 23
Thriller about a man obsessed with an obscure novel that seems to tell the tale of his life, and his efforts to avert the murder that ends the book. Directed by Joel Schumacher (“Veronica Guerin,” “The Phantom of the Opera”) from a screenplay by Fernley Phillips. With Jim Carrey (“Fun with Dick and Jane”), Virginia Madsen (“A Prairie Home Companion,” “The Astronaut Farmer”), Danny Huston (“Marie Antoinette,” “The Children of Men”), Logan Lerman (“Hoot”), Rhona Mitra (“Stuck on You”), Michelle Arthur (“Fun with Dick and Jane”), Mark Pellegrino (“Capote”) and Lynn Collins (“The Lake House”). Feb. 23. New Line.

 

PremonitionPremonition
Thriller about a housewife who has a jarring, vivid vision of her husband dying in a car crash, and her efforts to avert the tragedy. Directed by German filmmaker Mennan Yapo from a screenplay by Bill Kelly (“Blast from the Past”). With Sandra Bullock (“Infamous”), Julian McMahon (“Fantastic Four”), Mark Famiglietti (“Terminator 3”), Kate Nelligan (“The Cider House Rules”), Nia Long (“Big Momma’s House 2”), Courtney Taylor Burness (“Fur”), Marc Macaulay (“Miami Vice”), Irene Ziegler (“Runaway Jury”) and Amber Valetta (“Transporter 2”). March 16. Sony.

 

The ReapingThe Reaping
Horror thriller about a university professor – famous for debunking myths – who comes to a small Louisifana town to investigate what could be the 10 plagues described in the Book of Exodus. Directed by Stephen Hopkins (“The Ghost and the Darkness,” “Lost in Space”) from a screenplay by Chad & Carey Hayes (“House of Wax”). With Hilary Swank (“The Black Dahlia,” “Freedom Writers”), David Morrissey (“Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction”), AnnaSophia Robb (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Bridge to Terabithia”), Idris Elba (“The Gospel,” “Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls”), Burgess Jenkins (“Remember The Titans”), William Ragsdale (“Big Momma’s House 2”), Stuart Greer (“Glory Road”), Lara Grice (“Just My Luck,” “Déjà Vu”) and David Jensen (“Just My Luck,” “Déjà Vu”). Scope. March 30. Warner Bros.

 

Reno 911!: MiamaReno 911!: Miami
Comedy about inept law enforcement officials who must save the day when a police convention they’re attending in Miami is attacked with bio-weapons. Based on the Comedy Central series “Reno 911!” Ben Garant (“Balls of Fury”), who directed episodes of the series, directs the feature as well. Garant & Thomas Lennon (“Herbie: Fully Loaded,” “A Night at the Museum,” “Let’s Go to Prison”) and Kerri Kenney (TV’s “The State” and “Viva Variety”), who all scripted episodes of the series, contribute to the screenplay. Actors reprising their TV roles for the feature include Garant (“Herbie: Fully Loaded”), Lennon (“Herbie: Fully Loaded”), Kenney (“Wet Hot American Summer”), Niecy Nash (“Guess Who”), Mary Birdsong (“Snow Days”), Cedric Yarborough (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”), Carlos Alazraqui and Wendi McLendon-Covey (“Bewitched”). Other series vets returning for the movie include David Koechner (“Let’s Go to Prison,” “Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny,” “ “Unaccompanied Minors,” “The Comebacks”), Danny DeVito (“Deck the Halls”), Nick Swarsdon (“The Benchwarmers”), Jo Lo Truglio (“Hitch”), Brandon Molale (“Mission: Impossible III”), Marisa Petroro (“Big Fat Liar”), Ian Roberts (“Anchorman”), Michael Patrick Jann (TV’s “The State”), David Wain (“The Baxter”), Michael Showalter (“The Baxter”), Ken Marino (“The Baxter”) and Michael Ian Black (“The Baxter”). Newcomers to the franchise include Paul Rudd (“The OH in Ohio,” “I Could Never Be Your Woman,” “A Night at the Museum”), Paul Reubens (“Blow”), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (“Gridiron Gang”), Mary Castro (“Domino”), Kevin Allison (TV’s “Stella”) and Todd Holoubek (TV’s “The State”). R: Sexual content; nudity; crude humor; language; drug use. Feb. 23. Paramount.

 

 

 

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