|
  


Volume
V No. 11
A
publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners
Advertise
in In Focus
©
|
| A
Good Woman
Comedy about a middle-aged temptress who plans to
steal away a younger woman’s husband. Based
on the play “Lady Windermere’s Fan” by
Oscar Wilde (“An Ideal Husband,” “The
Importance of Being Earnest”). Directed by
Mike Barker (“Best Laid Plans”) from
a screenplay by Howard Himelstein. With Helen Hunt
(“The Curse of the Jade Scorpion”), Scarlett
Johansson (“The Island,” “Match
Point”), Roger Hammond (“Around the World
in 80 Days”) and Tom Wilkinson (“The
Exorcism of Emily Rose”). Flat. 93 min. PG:
Thematic material; sensuality; language. Dec 2 limited.
Lions Gate.

|
|
King
Kong
Adventure-thriller, set in 1933, about what happens
when a building-size simian from the jungles of
darkest Africa is captured and displayed in New
York City. The “Lord of the Rings” team
of writer-director Peter Jackson and screenwriters
Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens reunite. With Naomi
Watts (“The Ring 2,” “Stay”),
Jack Black (“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron
Burgundy”), Adrien Brody (“The Jacket”),
Colin Hanks (“Orange County”), Kyle
Chandler (“Mulholland Falls”), Jamie
Bell (“The Chumscrubber,” “Dear
Wendy”), Andy Serkis (“13 Going on
30”) and Thomas Kretschmann (“Head
in the Clouds”). Dec. 14. Universal.

|
|
Match
Point
Romantic comedy-drama, set in London, about a newlywed
tennis pro who cannot overcome his attraction
to a visiting American actress he met before
he married. Written and directed by Woody Allen
(“Melinda and Melinda”). With Jonathan
Rhys-Meyers (“Alexander”), Scarlett
Johansson (“The Island,” “A
Good Woman”), Emily Mortimer (“Bright
Young Things”), Matthew Goode (“Chasing
Liberty”), Brian Cox (“Red Eye,” “The
Ringer”) and James Nesbitt (“Millions”).
Flat. 124 min. Dec. 25 limited. DreamWorks.

|
|
Mrs.
Henderson Presents
Comedy, set in the late 1930s and based on a true
story, about about an elderly theatre operator
in London’s West End who decides to shore
up her business by staging a nude revue. Directed
by Stephen Frears (“Liam,” “Dirty
Pretty Things”) from a screenplay by Martin
Sherman (“Bent”). With Judi Dench (“Ladies
in Lavender,” “Pride and Prejudice”),
Kelly Reilly (“L’auberge Espagnole,” “Pride
and Prejudice”), Rosalind Halstead (“Bridget
Jones: Edge of Reason”), Christopher Guest
(“A Mighty Wind”) and Bob Hoskins (“Unleashed,” “Stay”).
Flat. 103 min. Dec. 25. Weinstein.

|
The
Producers: The Movie Musical
Musical comedy about a jittery accountant and a
washed-up producer who – when they realize
it’s possible to make money by overselling
shares in an unsuccessful play – set
about staging a sure-fire flop with the worst
actor, the worst director and the most offensive
play imaginable: a musical titled “Springtime
for Hitler.” Based on the 2001 Tony Award-winning
stage musical, itself an adaptation of Mel
Brooks’ 1968 screen comedy. Stage director
Susan Stroman, who mounted the play, makes
her feature directorial debut from a screenplay
by Brooks (“Dracula: Dead and Loving
It”) and Thomas Meehan (“Spaceballs”).
Nathan Lane (“Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!”)
and Matthew Broderick (“The Last Shot”)
reprise their roles from the Broadway production.
They are joined by Will Ferrell (“The
Wedding Crashers”), Uma Thurman (“Be
Cool,” “Prime”), Gary Beach
(“Man of the Century”), Andrea
Martin (“New York Minute”), Debra
Monk (“Palindromes”), Jon Lovitz
(“The Stepford Wives”) and Roger
Bart (“The Stepford Wives”). Scope.
Dec. 21. Universal.

|
|
Fun
With
Dick and Jane
Remake of the 1977 comedy about a middle-class
couple who resort to undertaking heists to pay
their bills. Directed by Dean Parisot (“Home
Fries,” “Galaxy Quest”) from
a screenplay by Judd Apatow (“The 40-Year-Old
Virgin”) and Nicholas Stoller (TV’s “Undeclared”).
With Jim Carrey (“Lemony Snicket’s
A Series of Unfortunate Events”), Téa
Leoni (“House of D”), Alec Baldwin
(“Elizabethtown”), Jeff Garlin (“After
the Sunset”), Richard Burgi (“In Her
Shoes”), John Michael Higgins (“Blade:
Trinity”), Stacey Travis (“Venom”),
Jullian Dulce Vida (“Showtime”) and
Angie Harmon (“The Deal”). Flat. 94
min. Dec 21. Sony.

|
The
Kid & I
Comedy about a teen afflicted with cerebral palsy,
and what happens when his father grants him his
fondest wish: a starring role in an action movie.
Directed by Penelope Spheeris (“Black Sheep,” “Senseless”)
from a screenplay by veteran TV writer Tom Arnold
(“Roseanne,” “The Jackie Thomas
Show,” “Tom,” “The Tom
Show”). With Eric Gores, Joe Mantegna (“Stateside”),
Shannon Elizabeth (“Cursed”), Richard
Edson (“Starsky & Hutch”), Linda
Hamilton (“Dante’s Peak”),
Henry Winkler (“Holes”), Brenda Strong
(“Red Dragon”), Jamie Lee Curtis
(“Christmas With The Kranks”), Arnold
Schwarzenegger (“Around the World in 80
Days”) and Tom Arnold (“Happy Endings”).
Dec. 2 in New York and Los Angeles. Slowhand.

|
Marebito
Japanese-language horror thriller about a cameraman
who journeys into the subway tunnels beneath
Tokyo to investigate the legends of spirits who
reside there. Directed by Takashi Shimizu (“The
Grudge”) from a screenplay by Chiaki Konaka.
With Shinya Tsukamoto, Tomomi Miyashita, Miho
Ninagawa, Kazuhiro Nakahara and Shun Sugata (“Kill
Bill: Vol. 1”). R: Strong bloody violence;
some nudity. Dec. 9. Tartan.

|
Memoirs
of a Geisha
Drama about a poor girl, born in 1920 and raised
in a Japanese fishing village, who is sold into
slavery and grows up to become a famous geisha.
Based on the novel by Arthur Golden. Directed
by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) from
a screenplay by Doug Wright and Robin Swicord
(“Practical Magic”). With Ziyi Zhang
(“2046”), Gong Li (“2046”),
Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon”), Youki Kudoh (“Snow Falling
on Cedars”), Ken Watanabe (“Batman
Begins”), Koji Yakusho (“Warm Water
Under a Red Bridge”) and Karl Yune (“Anacondas:
The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”). Scope.
136 min. Dec. 9. Sony.

|
The
New World
Epic drama, set in the 17th century against the
founding Virginia’s Jamestown settlement,
about English adventurer John Smith (1580-1631)
who was captured by – and eventually married
into – a Native American tribe called the
Powhattan. Written and directed by Terrence Malick
(“The Thin Red Line”). With Colin Farrell
(“Alexander”), Christian Bale (“Batman
Begins”), Michael Greyeyes (“Sunshine
State”), Christopher Plummer (“Must
Love Dogs”), Noah Taylor (“Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory”), Raoul Trujillo
(“Highlander: The Final Dimension”),
Wes Studi (“Undisputed”), Roger Rees
(“The Emperor’s Club”), and Q’Orianka
Kilcher as Pocahontas. Dec. 25 in New York and
Los Angeles; Jan. 13 wide. New Line.

|
|
|