Volume IV No. 4

A publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners

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A Slipping Down Life
Drama about a young woman who grows so anxious to win the attention of a barroom musician, she carves his name into her forehead. Based on the novel by Anne Tyler (“The Accidental Tourist”). Actress Toni Kalem (“15 Minutes”) makes her feature directorial debut from her own screenplay. With Lili Taylor (“Casa de Los Babys”), Guy Pearce (“The Hard Word”), John Hawkes (“Identity”), Sara Rue (“The Ring,” “Gypsy 83”), Irma P. Hall (“Bad Company,” “The Ladykillers”), Tom Bower (“High Crimes”), Shawnee Smith (“Breakfast of Champions”), Marshall Bell (“Identity”) and Clea DuVall (“21 Grams”). Flat. 111 min. R: Language including sexual references. May 14 in New York and Los Angeles. Lions Gate.

 

 

Strayed
French-language drama, set during Germany’s 1940 invasion of France, about a young family which, after fleeing to the woods to escape occupation, runs into a 17-year-old wanderer determined to help them. Based on the 1983 novel “Boy With Green Eyes” by Gilles Perrault. Directed by André Téchiné (“Alice and Martin”) from a screenplay by Gilles Taurand (“Cet Amour-Là”). With Emmanuelle Béart (“Les Destinees”), Gaspard Ulliel (“Brotherhood of the Wolf”), Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Clémence Meyer and Jean Fornerod. Also known as “Les Egares.” 95 min. May 14. Wellspring.

 

 

Troy
Epic drama, set around 1193 B.C., about a Trojan prince who ignites a bloody, decade-long war with the Greeks by stealing away the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus. Based on Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad.” Directed by Wolfgang Peterson (“Air Force One,” “The Perfect Storm”) from a screenplay by David Benioff (“25th Hour”). With Brad Pitt (“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”) as Achilles, Eric Bana (“Hulk”) as Hector, Orlando Bloom (the “Lord of the Rings” series,” “Ned Kelly”) as the Trojan prince Paris, Diane Kruger as Helen, Brendan Gleeson (“Cold Mountain”) as Menelaus, Sean Bean (“The Big Empty”) as Odysseus, Brian Cox (“X2,” “The Reckoning”) as Agamemnon, Peter O’Toole (“Phantoms”) as Trojan king Priam, Julie Christie (“No Such Thing”) as Thetis, Saffron Burrows (“Frida”) as Andromache, Rose Byrne (“City of Ghosts,” “I Capture the Castle”) as Briseis, and Garrett Hedlund as Patroclus. Scope. May 14. Warner Bros.

 

 

Valentin
Spanish-language drama, set in 1960s Argentina, about a 10-year-old whose father uses him to attract women, and what happens when the boy connects with one of his dad’s girlfriends. Written and directed by Alejandro Agresti. With Agresti, Julieta Cardinali, Carmen Maura (“Alice and Martin”), Jean Pierre Noher, Mex Urtizberea and Rodrigo Noya. Flat. 86 min. May 7 in New York and Los Angeles. Miramax.

 

 

 

Shrek 2
Princess Fiona accepts a dinner invitation from her father, who is aghast to learn that she’s now an ogre married to an another ogre. Sequel to the computer-animated 2001 comedy blockbuster. Returnees from part one include director Andrew Adamson, screenwriter Joe Stillman (“Beavis & Butthead Do America”) and the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and John Lithgow. Newcomers to the series include director Kelly Asbury (“Spirit: Stallion of the Cinmarron”), screenwriters J. David Stem & David N. Weiss (the “Rugrats” movies, “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” “Clockstoppers”), and the voices of John Cleese, Julie Andrews, Antonio Banderas, Rupert Everett and Jennifer Saunders. Flat. May 21. DreamWorks.

 

Soul Plane
After winning a huge settlement following a humiliating airline incident, a black man uses the money to create the full-service airline of his dreams. Directed by Jessy Terrero from a screenplay by Bo Zenga and Chuck Wilson. With Kevin Hart (“Along Came Polly”), Method Man (“My Baby’s Daddy”), Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus (“Starsky & Hutch”), Godfrey (“Zoolander,” “Johnson Family Vacation”), D.L. Hughley (“Scary Movie 3”), Mo’Nique Imes-Jackson (“Half Past Dead”), Angell Conwell (“The Wash”), John Witherspoon (“Friday After Next”), Brian Hooks (“3 Strikes”), Sommore (“Friday After Next”), Gary Anthony Williams (“Undercover Brother”), Ryan Pinkston (“Bad Santa”), Arielle Kebbel (TV’s “Gilmore Girls”), Tom Arnold (“Crade 2 the Grave”), Missi Pyle (“50 First Dates”) and Dwayne Adway. R: Strong sexual content; language; some drug use. May 28. MGM.

 

Supersize Me
Documentary about Morgan Spurlock, a man who, as part of a study on obesity and fast-food addiction in America, ate only McDonald’s food for 30 days. Spurlock makes his feature directorial debut. May 14. IDP.

 

 

Time of the Wolf
Post-apocalyptic French-language drama about a refugee mother and her two children, who wait for a train they hope will rescue them from lives of deprivation and adversity. Written and directed by Michael Haneke (“The Piano Teacher”). With Isabelle Huppert (“The Piano Teacher,” “8 Women”), Béatrice Dalle (“Trouble Every Day”), Patrice Chéreau (“Time Regained”), Rona Hartner (“Le Divorce”), Maurice Bénichou (“Amelie”) and Olivier Gourmet (“The Son”). Also known as “Le Temps du Loup.” Scope. 113 min. May 28. Palm.

 

 

Van Helsing
Horror actioner, set in the late 19th century, about a monster hunter who sets out on a mission to rid Eastern Europe of evil forces, among them Count Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein’s monster. Written and directed by Stephen Sommers (the “Mummy” series). With Hugh Jackman (“X2”) as Van Helsing, Kate Beckinsale (“Underworld”) as veteran monster-slayer Anna Valerious, Richard Roxburgh (“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”) as Count Dracula, professional dancer Will Kemp as the Wolf Man, Schuler Hensley (“Someone Like You”) as Frankenstein’s monster, Kevin J. O’Connor (“The Mummy”) as Igor, Samuel West (“Iris”) as Victor Frankenstein, and David Wenham (“Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”) as Carl. Flat. May 7. Universal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Baadasssss!" "Raising Helen"

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