In Theaters Now

In Theaters Now: September 28, 2007

The Darjeeling Limited
directed by Wes Anderson
A tribesman strumming a guitar, a few rogue punches thrown, Bill Murray taunting neighborhood children—see any of these and you might be watching a Wes Anderson movie. Whether they’re performing onstage renditions of Serpico or waging vendettas against giant sharks, Anderson’s characters can never be accused of following the crowd. Now Anderson takes on the story of three brothers (played by Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson) as they embark on a spiritual journey through India. This won’t be the cash cow of the fall, but fans of the director should come out in droves. Besides, if The Darjeeling Limited bombs, Anderson can always make another American Express ad.

Feast of Love
directed by Robert Benton
Quick, name Morgan Freeman’s best performance in a romance. Stumped? Freeman has done comedy, small indie roles, more than his share of drama, but he’s almost always a solitary figure on-screen. Here he plays a professor on sabbatical in a deep and loving relationship, guiding a young coffeehouse owner played by Greg Kinnear. Feast of Love is an ensemble romance, but it’s not entirely a breezy Love Actually. Freeman is worth watching in anything, and the hushed-up affairs and lesbian betrayals should offer some good dramatic thunder.

The Game Plan
directed by Andy Fickman
“I want something I can really sink my teeth into,” thinks Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and lo and behold we have The Game Plan. After showing some acting promise in Be Cool and starring in the solid Gridiron Gang, you have to wonder why The Rock would choose a movie that should be the Friday night special on ABC Family. Here he plays a star quarterback whose Super Bowl dreams hit the skids when he discovers he has a young daughter from a previous marriage. Fill in the blanks, and the movie will probably end with the little girl drawing up the winning Statue of Liberty play from the sidelines. Rock must get hundreds of these kinds of scripts a day; maybe he’ll pick something riskier than another The Pacifier for his next role.

The Kingdom
directed by Peter Berg
Jamie Foxx has already done his tour in Iraq, hoo-rahing his way through burning oil fields at dawn in Jarhead. And Chris Cooper has wrangled out the details of oil company mergers as a wildcatter CEO in the thrilling Syriana. So why would they return so soon to the Middle East, playing members of an FBI team investigating a bombing in Saudi Arabia? The Kingdom feels like it wants to be a roller-coaster action-fest while reminding us that Arabs are people too. Get ready for lots of gory jump-cuts offset with close-ups of sad little children, all set to the soundtrack of a woman wailing.

Lust, Caution
directed by Ang Lee
After hitting it big with Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee won’t take his foot of the gas; his follow-up, starring Wei Tang and Tony Leung, may outdo even his ambitious Western. During the 1938 occupation of Shanghai by Japan, a Chinese loyalist recruits Tang’s character for a crucial mission: Seduce Japanese ally Mr. Yee (Leung) so that he can eventually be killed. Leung has covered similar themes in his previous work, most notably Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love and 2046. Profit-wise, the movie has two kiss-of-death factors working against it—subtitles and an NC-17 rating. But with Lee’s name attached, you can probably bet the house on success. 

September 27th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By Andre Ward

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In Theaters Now: September 21, 2007

The MovieMaker spin on what you can expect to see at the multiplex this week including: Resident Evil: Extinction, Good Luck Chuck, Into the Wild, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Sydney White

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September 21st, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By Andre Ward

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In Theaters Now September 14

The MovieMaker spin on what you can expect to see at the multiplex this week including: The Brave One, Eastern Promises, Mr. Woodcock, In the Valley of Elah and Across the Universe

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September 14th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By Brian Hickey

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In Theaters Now

September 7, 2007

The MovieMaker spin on what you can expect to see at the multiplex this week including: 3:10 to Yuma, The Brothers Solomon, I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With and Shoot 'Em Up

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September 7th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By Brian Hickey

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In Theaters Now

August 31, 2007

The MovieMaker spin on what you can expect to see at the multiplex this week including: Balls of Fury, Death Sentence, Halloween and The Nines

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August 31st, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By Brian Hickey

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In Theaters Now: July 6, 2007

Introducing the Dwights
directed by Cherie Nowlan
Chock full of standout supporting roles from Down Under comes the story of a young man madly in love. But when it’s time to bring the little lady home to meet the folks he’s more than a little wary. Starring the lovely Brenda Blethyn, who received a standing ovation at Sundance this year for her role, the film captures the hilarious and heartbreaking journey of an overprotective, jealous mother struggling to keep her handsome, virginal 20-year-old under her thumb. Richard Wilson plays the challenged brother who alone has the most insight into the wacky family, and Frankie J. Holden is the meek father still clinging to his dream of becoming a star. From its high acclaim at festivals this year, the dramedy promises to be truly moving entertainment.

Joshua
directed by George Ratliff
Critics are calling Joshua the smartest horror movie since The Shining. That’s not hard to believe considering that the most recent scare-fest box office hits seem to compete for the most blood and torture-induced screaming. Joshua, played by Jacob Kogan, is a sociopathic child with evil intentions. In the vein of films like The Bad Seed (like little Rhoda, Joshua also plays a grand piano with chilling intentions) the film seeks to terrify psychologically rather than with gory effects, teasing with its social irony and hitting our deeper social fears. Mounting dread and tension lead to the downfall of the perfect Manhattan family, and the movie manages to play with a parent’s worst nightmare. With the Sundance ‘07 Best Cinematography Award under its belt, Joshua looks to be off to a haunting start.

License to Wed
directed by Ken Kwapis
Anything with Mandy Moore just happens to ooze cheese, so it’s a sad day when this pop princess and Robin Williams end up in the same romantic comedy. It makes you wonder how desperate Mr. Williams must be these days. The plot revolves around a crazy marriage counselor/reverend who puts a young couple through grueling tests to prove they are ready to tie the knot. Spying on them and pushing them to the breaking point, will the pair make it through all the slapstick? Go see it this weekend to find out--before it leaves theaters as fast as it came!

Transformers
directed by Michael Bay
If you were a 1980s kid you know all about Transformers, those alien robot toys that could pop, lock and load into monster machines. This week they came to life (finally!) in theaters. When the earth suddenly becomes the battlefield for dueling, high-tech aliens threatening human life, there’s only one thing to do: Fight back with nonstop action and a few corny one-liners. Of course, unlike the 1986 animated version of Transformers, this time there’s a hot leading babe (Megan Fox), shining with sweat as she huffs and puffs, running around after Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia) to save the world in very little clothing. The movie will certainly give some a hit of nostalgia, but don’t expect it to go much more than skin deep--or should we say sheet metal deep.

July 6th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Evan Almighty
directed by Tom Shadyac
Steve Carell is back in the sequel to the hit comedy Bruce Almighty, dishing out biblical lessons through family-oriented humor. Evan, a newly selected congressman, is hoping to serve his country, but when called upon by God (Morgan Freeman, of course) to build an ark that will serve all humanity, he realizes his calling is greater than he could’ve imagined. Carell is always entertaining, and jokes played off religion are an easy laugh, but can the film maintain its entertainment factor for its 90-minute running time? God willing, you’ll leave with a few good chuckles and maybe some moral gain. Say Amen, somebody.

1408
directed by Mikael Hafstrom
It seems that as the horror market grows, even actors better known for their comedic turns like Jim Carrey and now John Cusack are trying their hand at fright (and, well, we all remember how well The Number 23 was received… or more likely don’t remember it at all). A far cry from romantic comedies like High Fidelity or Say Anything, this Stephen King thriller, about a paranormal investigative writer who takes his chances by staying in an allegedly haunted hotel room, claims to terrify audiences. Any hopes that the deadly room is a myth are quickly debunked. It’s a little hard to take 1408 seriously though when images of a lovesick teen holding a boom box over his head get in the way.

A Mighty Heart
directed by Michael Winterbottom
Oscar alert! Angelina Jolie lands a dream role, her chance for a shot at Best Lead Actress (to match her Best Supporting Actress statue for Girl, Interrupted), playing Mariane Pearl in the harrowing, true story of a woman struggling to save her husband, Daniel (Dan Futterman), the American reporter who was brutally murdered by a Pakistani militant group in 2002. Although Mrs. Pearl is of mixed race, Jolie manages to look uncannily like her, and apparently it was Mrs. Pearl’s request that Jolie have the part (though Brad Pitt did produce the film...). A Mighty Heart promises to be the most heart-wrenching film of summer. Bring tissues and a loved one.

You Kill Me
directed by John Dahl
Oh, another Hollywood contribution to women’s rights where the on-screen couple involves a young hot woman with a male partner who could be her father. In You Kill Me, Ben Kingsley is a hit man whose drinking has gotten the best of him, so he’s sent away by his Polish mob family to sober up in San Francisco. Working at a mortuary he befriends the “tart-tongued” Laurel (Téa Leoni) and the two form an unlikely partnership. Luke Wilson and Dennis Farina also star in this black comedy.

--Nina Boutsikaris

June 21st, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now: June 1, 2007

Day Watch
directed by Timur Bekmambetov
This sequel to 2004’s Night Watch finally sees a limited U.S. release after finding great success in its native Russia last year. For those unfamiliar with the trilogy, the Watch movies are a modern day darkness versus light story about the guardians who make sure the two remain separate. Night Watch was hardly watchable--it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Having said that, the sequels (this one and the upcoming Dusk Watch) are rumored to be vast improvements. Let’s hope that’s the case because I’d really hate to have to take down my Anna Kournikova poster over this.

Gracie
directed by Davis Guggenheim
This is a semi-autobiographical account of Elisabeth Shue’s childhood struggle to play soccer with the boys. In addition to producing with her brother, Andrew, Elisabeth returned to her New Jersey hometown to co-star (with her husband at the helm). We can assume that Gracie will reach its audience and do fairly well. It’s heart-warming in a sense to see a family come together and create art. At the same time, this does seem terribly narcissistic, doesn’t it?  On the other hand, you wouldn’t call a memoir narcissistic. Call me a hater.

Knocked Up
directed by Judd Apatow
We here at MM are very excited for Apatow’s latest. We expect this one to be every bit as fun and well received as his previous directing effort, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. In fact, it’s not too bold to suggest that this movie will do for longtime Apatow buddy Seth Rogen what Virgin did for Steve Carell. And where the last one didn’t hit theaters until mid-August, Knocked Up is set to hit the summer market straight on and show serious legs. Its release this week can’t come soon enough for all R-rated comedy lovers.

Mr. Brooks
directed by Bruce A. Evans
Kevin Costner, William Hurt and Dane Cook are all said to show their range in this dark thriller about a mild-mannered businessman (Costner) with a psychotic alter ego (Hurt). Cook plays his devious accomplice. It’s really hard to tell if a film in this genre is any good. Add to that the fact that Costner’s films are uneven at best and Mr. Brooks looks to be a real gamble. But there’s a lot of talent in this cast and something tells us this film is a cut above the competition.

Rise: Blood Hunter
directed by Sebastian Gutierrez
What a terrible, terrible title. It gives me heartburn. Reporter Lucy Liu wakes up in a morgue and realizes she is one of the undead. Then she goes back to reporting the news. I lied. That might actually be a fresh idea for a movie. Instead she takes the predictable course of seeking out the vampire sect who took her life. If this movie were sitting outside the theater in a wheelchair with a little tin cup and a crying infant, I wouldn’t give it my money.

--Kevin McCarthy

May 31st, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now: May 25, 2007

Angel-A
directed by Luc Besson
Luc Besson’s 2005 romantic comedy, which he also wrote, finally hits North America in limited release. Andre, broke and deep in debt, decides to end it all by jumping into the Seine. But moments before him, a girl jumps first and he dives in to save her. You can probably fill in the blanks from here on out. The title could leave a little to the imagination, but a rom-com is a rom-com, and we’re betting the title in French sounds subtler.

The Boss of It All
directed by Lars von Trier
Danish moviemaker Lars von Trier’s little office comedy gets a limited release this weekend. The owner of an IT company hires an actor when a potential buyer wants to meet face to face with its fictional president. We’re willing to give this light comedy the benefit of the doubt. Though von Trier is not known for comedy, he tackles a few familiar themes with this one and seems to have pulled it off. If this sounds like something you would want to see, you probably won’t be disappointed. Take a pass if you’re still asking yourself, “Who’s Lars von Trier?”

Bug
directed by William Friedkin
The trailer for Bug reminds us that William Friedkin won an Oscar for directing The Exorcist. But that was almost 35 years ago. More recently he’s done Rules of Engagement (2000) and The Hunted (2003). His newest effort is about a paranoid Gulf War veteran holed up in a seedy motel room with a woman in hiding. People will probably go see this, because something about claustrophobic thrillers just gets them going. But when Lionsgate balks at a planned winter release and decides to put this up against Pirates instead, chances are this movie is five forms of lame. However, Bug was originally a play, and Friedkin has some experience with adaptations, so we could be wrong.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
directed by Gore Verbinski
Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and Captain Barbossa team up to save Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones’ Locker. Here comes the third of the franchise juggernauts to join the summer blockbustin’ fray. Its opponents have already combined for a box office take topping $400 million. So how will Pirates size up? It’s a long one, running longer than Dead Man’s Chest, which many complained was too convoluted already. But the last adventure was still a lot of fun, looked terrific and made mountains of money. With the addition of Chow Yun-Fat and Keith Richards (playing Jack’s dad), we expect this third installment to blow the competition out of the water…. Moreover, we fully expect a Roger Ebert pull quote to that effect to appear in newspapers nationwide by next week. Other lines to look out for: “A terrific franchise Swann song,” “Jack, Kraken, Pop: The most important meal of the day” and “A theme park ride!”

--Kevin McCarthy

May 24th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now: May 18, 2007

Fay Grim
directed by Hal Hartley
Fay Grim has been playing all the prominent film festivals
for the past year and now it’s getting a limited release in anticipation of the
DVD premiere on May 22nd. Hartley writes, directs, scores and produces the
sequel to his own Henry Fool (1997). Set 10 years after the first film,
Parker Posey reprises her role as the titular character on a race across
continents to find her ex-husband’s notebooks (and the sensitive material
contained within them). Posey has proven her comedic chops in the
Christopher Guest movies and it’s good to see a real moviemaker like Hal
Hartley continuing to do his thing.

Once
directed by John Carney
Winner of this year’s Audience Award at Sundance, Once is a modern day
Irish musical set in Dublin. Expect a winsome little movie with a heart. I
could come at it with my usual arsenal of snark, but I’m an Irish-American
with an inexplicable zeal for a little of that deedle-weedle. Chances are
you can catch me slouched in the theater this weekend in a woolen sweater
with my green derby pulled down tight.

Severance
directed by Christopher Smith
In the tradition of Shaun of the Dead, here is a horror-comedy about a
group of co-workers on an office retreat who are assailed by a bunch of
crazed killers. If it’s playing at a theater near you this weekend, we ask, “why not?”
This is the type of stuff that makes your DVD collection cooler than your best friend’s.  There’s really no missing with this one--honestly, the tagline is “Another bloody office outing"--and that’s gold right there. Like the other limited releases this week, Severance has been making the festival rounds since last year at Cannes.

Shrek the Third
directed by Chris Miller and Raman Hui
Two DreamWorks vets step up to co-direct another Shrek film. Justin
Timberlake as spoiled prince Artie is just one of many marquee names to join this third installment and, with all the previous voice talent back, there’s no reason to believe this won’t be a lot of fun. Whoever noticed that Mike Myers’ humor is based pretty much on him doing voices and decided to get him involved in an animated feature was a genius. Nothing else is opening wide this weekend, so it’s safe to say Shrek the Third is going to generate more green than Princess Fiona’s uterus.

The Wendell Baker Story
directed by Andrew Wilson and Luke Wilson
Originally premiering at SXSW in 2005, this little Wilson family project
has been kicking around for a while and finally sees a limited release
this weekend. Luke Wilson writes, co-stars and co-directs the picture.
His brothers Andrew and Owen co-direct and co-star, respectively. The
Wilsons have done some incredible work under Wes Anderson but word is The
Wendell Baker Story isn’t on par. Still, this serves as interesting
counter-programming to The Ogre. Plus there’s a rumored Frat Pack cameo,
which is decidedly the best variety of cameo.

May 18th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

28 Weeks Later...
directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
The follow-up to 2002’s successful 28 Days Later takes us back to London, where the Rage virus has been contained. Does anyone actually think it’s going to remain that way? Expect sprinting zombies, shotgun blasts to the face and at least one terrified child. Days director Danny Boyle produces, passing the director’s reins to Spaniard Fresnadillo. The first one offered an original take on the living dead, so expect them to hit the ground running with the sequel. (That was terrible, we apologize.)

Georgia Rule
directed by Garry Marshall
This is the movie that earned Lindsay Lohan a public scolding from Morgan Creek’s CEO James G. Robinson regarding her unprofessional behavior on set. Hopefully the lessons her character learns from a hard-talking grandmother (Jane Fonda) are just as entertaining. Lohan has since said her “underperformance” was due to a tough breakup during shooting. Her love affair with teenage girls everywhere, however, seems to endure. (We will decline further comment in the interest of preserving Lohan’s sobriety.)

Delta Farce
directed by C.B. Harding
C.B. Harding directs the most important film of the year.  In this, his magnum opus, he illustrates the modern and nuanced American Soldier, proving why TIME named him “Man of the Year.” Larry the Cable Guy shows his range in this taut war drama. Oh wait, a pun! Hilarious! Three drinking buddies are misidentified as Army reservists and flown off to Iraq--only to end up in Mexico. Are things going to get wacky? Sir, yes, sir!

The Ex
directed by Jesse Peretz
Zach Braff stars as a slacker-turned-breadwinner who is hired by his father-in-law when his wife stays home to care for their newborn. Jason Bateman plays the titular ex-boyfriend. Bateman is the man. And with the inclusion of Amanda Peet as the wife and Amy Poehler as anything, there’s some definite comedic potential here. We’re even willing to give Braff a pass on The Last Kiss and be optimistic about his return to comedy (and slackerdom).

--Kevin McCarthy

May 11th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now: May 4, 2007

Away from Her
directed by Sarah Polley
When Grant (Gordon Pinsent) finally admits to himself that his wife, Fiona (Julie Christie), has Alzheimer’s, he commits her to a nursing home. But as he struggles with being physically and (increasingly) emotionally apart from his wife, she begins a new relationship with another resident in the home (Michael Murphy). Sarah Polley mines some familiar territory in this, her directorial debut, but from the looks of things she does so with honesty, heart and panache. Like Adrienne Shelly’s Waitress (see below), Away from Her might prove to be excellent alternative programming in this kick-off weekend of the summer movie season. Also starring Olympia Dukakis, Kristen Thomson, Wendy Crewson and Alberta Watson.

The Flying Scotsman
directed by Douglas Mackinnon
Lance Armstrong may have made America safe for cycling, but it’s a sport with a significant international following. Case in point, The Flying Scotsman. The film is the true story of Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller) and his quest to revolutionize the sport by developing a new bike despite the protestations of the sport’s old-fogey authority. While the film should appeal to cycling enthusiasts, it’s hard to imagine The Flying Scotsman catching the imagination of the masses a la Lance Armstrong—no matter how hard it’s peddled. Also starring Billy Boyd and Brian Cox.

Lucky You
directed by Curtis Hanson
Even though Lucky You isn’t the first film to deal with the world of high-stakes poker (there’s always Rounders), this is one of the biggest to come along since the explosion in poker’s popularity. But since this is a Curtis Hanson movie, it’s not really about poker; it’s just a metaphor for how the main characters, Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) and Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore), are playing the odds in life. Hanson is an excellent director, but this might be a little too overwrought—even for him. Also starring Robert Duvall and Debra Messing.

Spider-Man 3
directed by Sam Raimi
In a summer of franchise pictures, Spider-Man 3 might be the biggest release. (Of course, the third Pirates of the Caribbean film might have something to say about that.) And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that this third installment of the popular series finds Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) locked in a battle with his dark side, thanks to an evil black suit, a new villain (Thomas Hayden Church), his friend Harry Osbourne (James Franco), who’s bent on avenging his father’s death, and Eddie Brock (Topher Grace), a rival photographer. Add to the mix Peter’s desire to marry Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst), and what you have is a very full film that might be stuffed a little too full for its own good.

Waitress
directed by Adrienne Shelly
Keri Russell kind of dropped out of the limelight after “Felicity,” but her turn in Adrienne Shelly’s final film, Waitress, as a lovelorn food-slinger with a penchant for concocting excellent pies, has already garnered many positive notices. If you find this film playing near you this weekend, it might be excellent indie counter-programming to the explosive kick-off to the summer movie season happening this weekend. Also starring Cheryl Hines, Nathan Fillion, Jeremy Sisto, Adrienne Shelly and Andy Griffith.

May 3rd, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters
directed by Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis
Remember a few months back when Boston went on virtual lockdown because some people thought the electronic ads for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters were really bombs? This week, we finally get to see if all that hubbub was worth it. The movie is a big-screen adaptation of the popular Cartoon Network program that explores the origins of the show’s three main characters, Meatwad (Dave Willis), Frylock (Carey Means) and Master Shake (Dana Snyder). Fans of the show will undoubtedly be drawn to the movie, but casual observers might be a little more than confused by the attraction of an animated movie starring a talking wad of meat, French fry box and milkshake. Also starring the voices of Fred Armisen, Andy Merrill and Bruce Campbell.

Disturbia
directed by D.J. Caruso
We’ve certainly reached a strange point in the current remake culture, one where Hollywood is remaking classics without calling them “remakes.” Case in point, Disturbia. This thriller centers on Kale (Shia LaBeouf), a young man stuck at home because he’s under house arrest. Luckily, he has a lot of expensive photography and video equipment, which allows him to spy on his neighbors. He witnesses what he thinks is a murder; his friends, one of whom, Ashley (Sarah Roemer), is an attractive blonde, try breaking into the neighbor’s house to get evidence; things become really dangerous… Oh, if you’ve seen Rear Window, you know the rest. And really, the only way Disturbia could be any more like the 1954 classic is if a zombie Hitchcock were the director. Also starring David Morse, Carrie-Anne Moss and Aaron Yoo.

Pathfinder
directed by Marcus Nispel
Ah, the oft-forgotten history of the struggles between Native Americans and the Vikings. This is the jumping off point for this action-adventure thriller about a Viking boy who is left behind and raised by Native Americans. The boy grows to be Ghost (Karl Urban), who is forced to defend his tribe by repelling the invading Viking hordes when they return to the land. Judging from the over-stylized approach in the movie and the derivative, been-there-seen-that narrative, it’s probably safe to say that Pathfinder will quickly be as forgotten as its historical context. Also starring Russell Means, Moon Bloodgood, Jay Tavare and Clancy Brown.

Perfect Stranger
directed by James Foley
April is, traditionally, the last month of Hollywood’s annual dump period. You know, that time between Oscar season and the tent-pole summer when genre pictures and projects that really didn’t come off right are dropped into theaters when no one’s really paying attention. Perfect Stranger, a combination “Law & Order” and The Pelican Brief with a sprinkling of The Devil Wears Prada workplace politics, looks to be the perfect bridge between Hollywood’s lean period output and its loud summer blockbusters. Rowena (Halle Berry) is a journalist who goes undercover as a trampy temp in Harrison Hill’s (Bruce Willis) ad agency to discover how and why her friend was murdered. It could be a mess, but James Foley is competent enough as a director to keep things interesting. Also starring Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Portnow and Nicki Aycox.

Year of the Dog
directed by Mike White
Mike White wrote The Good Girl, an indie hit in 2002 that showed Jennifer Aniston could be more than just Rachel on “Friends.” It looks like his latest film, Year of the Dog, will do the same for Molly Shannon. The “SNL” vet tends to be typecast as the spastic, loud head-case comic relief in films like Serendipity. Here, though, she’s a more complete character, Peggy, who is struggling with her perhaps unhealthy love of dogs and her insecurities in love with humans. White is an individual talent whose films are quirky and irreverent. But he’s not quirky for the sake of being quirky--he uses eccentricity to heighten the humanity in his work. Year of the Dog should be no different. Also starring Peter Sarsgaard, Laura Dern, John C. Reilly and Regina King.

April 15th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Are We Done Yet?
directed by Steve Carr
Ever wonder, “Gee, what would a knock-off of The Money Pit starring Ice Cube look like?” Yeah, me neither. But that’s unfortunately what we’re getting in this sequel to Are We There Yet? called, ironically, Are We Done Yet? Nick Persons (Cube) is running out of space in his home since his new, large family moved in. So when his wife, Suzanne (Nia Long), tells him she’s having a baby, Nick packs up and moves out to the country. The family finds a fixer-upper that’s more than they bargained for, forcing the family to shout, “Are we done yet?” Funny, that’s what we’ll be shouting at the screen at the end of this second installment in a (hopefully) short-lived franchise. Also starring John C. McGinley, Aleisha Allen and Philip Bolden.

Firehouse Dog
directed by Todd Holland
Firehouse Dog is that old, stock Hollywood tale of a superstar action-movie-hero dog that gets lost during the height of his stardom, is found roaming the streets as a dingy stray by a friendless kid and is begrudgingly taken in by the kid’s fireman dad before discovering that the dog is really special. This kind of movie is a dime a dozen! Okay, maybe not. But it’s good, alternative family-oriented programming in a release week dominated by horror and exploitation flicks. Starring Bruce Greenwood, Josh Hutcherson and Bill Nunn.

Grindhouse
directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez turn their love of exploitation films and the seedy, run-down theaters that played them (called “grindhouse cinemas") into this “double-feature.” Tarantino contributes Death Proof, a thriller about a crazy, murderous driver (Kurt Russell) cutting a swath of terror wherever he goes. Rodriguez’s film, Planet Terror, finds a group of humans fighting for survival against an army of zombies. Grindhouse could either be an inspired trip into film history or an exercise in self-indulgence. But whatever the outcome, it’s bound to be one of the biggest films of the spring. Also starring Rose McGowan, Josh Brolin, Freddy Rodriguez, Michael Biehn, Rosario Dawson, Zoe Bell and Nicky Katt.

The Hoax
directed by Lasse Hallström
Director Lasse Hallström can be kind of hit or miss, but when he’s on, he’s on. And with The Hoax, he looks to be in good form. Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) is an author who keeps striking out with his book pitches until he comes up with the idea to write the “most important book of the 20th century"—an authorized biography of reclusive eccentric Howard Hughes. Clifford gets a $1 million advance and enlists the help of Dick Susskind (Alfred Molina). Problem is, the whole thing’s a scam: No Hughes, no book, no nothing. Hallström takes a page out of Spielberg’s book, crafting a Catch Me If You Can-style dramedy with a slight thriller edge. Also starring Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Stanley Tucci, Julie Delpy and Eli Wallach.

The Reaping
directed by Stephen Hopkins
If there are two constants in Hollywood, they are that good female roles dry up as the actor gets older and that Best Actress winners have trouble finding roles up to their talents. (See Diane Keaton’s career and Catwoman for examples.) The latter now applies to Hilary Swank. How else to explain her appearance in The Reaping, a biblical horror film about as scary as the Left Behind series? It seems a small town is being inundated with the 10 biblical plagues—you know, locusts, rivers of blood, etc.—and a former Christian missionary (Swank) comes to “debunk” what the town is going through. Let’s pray for Swank’s sake it’s not a dud of biblical proportions; an eleventh plague if you will. Also starring David Morrissey, Idris Elba, AnnaSophia Robb and Stephen Rea.

—Dante A. Ciampaglia

April 6th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Meet the Robinsons
directed by Stephen J. Anderson
In this latest animated film from Walt Disney Studios, Lewis (voices of Daniel Hansen and Jordan Fry) is an overachiever. His science fair experiments are ambitious, but they result in explosions so often that his teacher pleads with Lewis not to kill anyone. Lewis doesn’t have mayhem on the brain, though. Instead, he’s desperately searching for the family he’s never met. Lewis gets sidetracked when he’s plucked from the present and taken into the future to “Meet the Robinsons.” The Robinsons are a family he’d love to have, full of quirky eccentrics, but as Disney likes to browbeat, the only family you should yearn for is your own. Also starring the voices of Angela Bassett, Matthew Josten, Adam West, Tom Kenny, Paul Butcher and Tom Selleck.

The Lookout
directed by Scott Frank
The tagline for this thriller is “Whoever has the money has the power.” The punchline could be “...to deviously remake Memento.” Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) suffers short-term memory loss after a car accident, forcing him to write stuff down to remember it. When he gets a job as a bank janitor, a maybe-former classmate manipulates Chris into helping him rob his employer while promising to help him overcome his memory problem. Nothing is what it seems… yadda yadda yadda… the credits roll. Audiences should heed the tagline: You have the money and the power to keep movies like this from clogging theaters. Also starring Jeff Daniels, Isla Fisher and Matthew Goode.

Blades of Glory
directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck
Will Ferrell has sent up television news and NASCAR, so the next logical step is, of course, men’s figure skating. Ferrell is a gruff, Journey-lovin’ figure skater and Jon Heder is his dainty, leotard-wearing rival. After they butt heads and cause some damage, they’re banned for life from singles skating. But thanks to a loophole, they’re able to put their differences aside, embrace each other’s styles and become a duo. If you’ve seen Anchorman or Talladega Nights, you know what kind of non-sequitor, classic rock-inspired humor to expect. Also starring Craig T. Nelson, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, William Fichtner and Jenna Fischer.

Peaceful Warrior
directed by Victor Salva
It’s not every film that gets ringing endorsements from both Sting and Deepak Chopra, but Peaceful Warrior gets one. In this Zen/New Age sports movie, Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz), a star gymnast with everything going his way, becomes paralyzed after a horrific motorcycle accident. During his recovery, he meets a mechanic named Socrates (Nick Nolte) who calls himself a “peaceful warrior” and acts as Dan’s Ghost Dog, teaching him how to become a peaceful warrior himself. It might sound a little hokey, but in an era of emotionally transparent, overcoming-the-odds sports movies, Peaceful Warrior has something going for it--perhaps earning the praise of Sting and Chopra. Also starring Amy Smart and Tim DeKay.

After the Wedding
directed by Susanne Bier
Another 2006 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award nominee gets a wider release this week, as After the Wedding, a thriller-drama from Denmark, makes its way into theaters. Mads Mikkelsen, recently seen as Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, is Jacob, the head of an orphanage in India that’s in desperate need of money. Rolf Lassgard is Jorgen, a Danish businessman who offers a lot of money to help the orphanage-if Jacob attends his daughter’s wedding. When Jacob makes eyes-and other things-with Jorgen’s wife, all kinds of bad things happen. In English and Danish. Also starring Sidse Babett Knudsen, Stine Fischer Christensen and Mona Malm.

March 30th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

The Hills Have Eyes II
directed by Martin Weisz
In the preview for this sequel to the remake of the 1970s cult exploitation horror classic, one of the hill people drag “you” in a sack to their lair. (See, the camera is bound in the sack, where you’re supposed to be, and you’re pulled along the rocky terrain. Clever, huh?) Funny, that might be the only way a large number of people will see this ill-conceived exercise in quick-cash-in moviemaking. You know the drill: People get lured to the mountain and are killed by mutated hill people in gruesome ways. Save a few bucks and rent the original. Starring Jessica Stroup, Reshad Strik, Michael McMillian, Daniella Alonso and Lee Thompson Young.

Pride
directed by Sunu Gonera
This “inspired by true events” sports story deserves credit for thinking outside the gridiron. Pride takes place in a community center and is centered on Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard) starting up an all-black swim team for troubled teens. Racism, classism, politics and ignorance are all used in an attempt to tear down the swim team and the community center where they compete. There aren’t many swimming films out there, so Pride is already ahead of the pack. Of course, the film sinks or swims in its ability to rise above the sappy tide of teary sports movies convention. Also starring Bernie Mac, Kevin Phillips, Evan Ross and Nate Parker.

Reign Over Me
directed by Mike Binder
Adam Sandler is in full-on dramatic mode in this story of Charlie Fineman (Sandler) who loses his family in the September 11 attacks in New York City. When he runs into his old college roommate, Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle), the reclusive, disheveled Charlie begins to emerge from his shell. But it’s a precarious breakthrough as Alan navigates his way through Charlie’s emotional minefields in this exploration of the emotional and psychological fall-out resulting from 9/11. Also starring Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Cicely Tyson and Donald Sutherland.

Shooter
directed by Antoine Fuqua
The set-up of Shooter sounds retread: Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is a hardened military man, recruited into the service of his country by former colleague Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover) to prevent an assassination attempt on the president because Bob Lee is the best marksman in town. But thanks to director Antoine Fuqua’s skilled, action-oriented eye and Wahlberg’s intensity, Shooter looks like a no-holds-barred, R-rated action film for adults-something that’s increasingly rare nowadays. Also starring Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Rhona Mitra and Ned Beatty.

TMNT
directed by Kevin Munroe
The last time the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were on the big screen, they were traveling through time, pitching pizzas and going on concert tours. This time, the heroes in a half shell-Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo-return to theaters in an animated form, closer in tone to their comic book counterparts than the previous live-action incarnations. The Turtles’ arch-rival, Shredder, is “defeated” prior to TMNT, leaving the ninjas to repel an evil industrialist trying to take over the world by raising ancient monsters. Might not be as epic as the to-the-death battles with Shredder, but it’s still nice to have the Turtles back. Starring the voices of Patrick Stewart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ziyi Zhang, Mako and Chris Evans.

March 23rd, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
directed by Scott Glosserman
Slasher films are a dime a dozen, but this inventive take on the genre blends Man Bites Dog and Scream to create a movie that stands out from the heap of horror remakes. A documentary crew follows Leslie Vernon (Nathan Baesel) as he climbs the ranks of unstoppable serial killer, a la Jason Voorhees. We see him work out, put on face paint and masks and prepare for his hunts. He plans elaborate traps for victims, ensnaring a crop of teenagers, as well as the documentarians--and viewers--in his blood-soaked plans to rise to the top of the slasher killer mountain. Also starring Robert Englund, Zelda Rubinstein, Scott Wilson and Angela Goethals.

Dead Silence
directed by James Wan
Ventriloquist dummies are inherently creepy, but their capacity to freak out audiences might be trumped by how horrifically clunky Dead Silence is. Equal parts The Blair Witch Project and Puppetmaster, an eccentric old ventriloquist, Mary Shaw (Judith Roberts), is accused of killing a young boy. She’s hunted down by vengeful townsfolk, who cut out her tongue and kill her. When she’s buried, she’s laid to rest with her dolls, which she called her “children.” Of course she can’t stay dead, and her “kids” sneak out of her grave, going on a killing spree--cutting out tongues, naturally. By the end, viewers might be begging for a removal of their eyes. Also starring Leigh Whannell, Amber Valletta, Ryan Kwanten, Donnie Wahlberg and Christina Cox.

I Think I Love My Wife
directed by Chris Rock
Richard Cooper (Chris Rock) is your typical, successful, suburban businessman. He’s got a good job and strong family. Problem is, he’s bored with his wife, Brenda (Gina Torres). But when an old friend, the free-spirited Nikki (Kerry Washington), shows up at his office door, Richard starts to wonder why, if he loves his wife, he’s so drawn to Nikki. I think Chris Rock used to be a funny, cutting-edge comedian. And I think I saw this movie when it was called The Last Kiss. Also starring Steve Buscemi, Cassandra Freeman and Samantha Ivers.

Premonition
directed by Mennan Yapo
Sandra Bullock is becoming the queen of weirdo time travel movies. First there was The Lake House, an across-time romantic dramedy. Now there’s Premonition, a time-bending drama where she wakes up one day and her husband’s alive, she wakes up the next day and he’s dead, the next day things are slightly different, the next day he’s dead again. Repeat for 110 minutes. Sounds like The Butterfly Effect for grown-ups. Also starring Julian McMahon, Mark Famiglietti, Kate Nelligan and Nia Long.

The Wind That Shakes the Barley
directed by Ken Loach
This latest offering from Ken Loach, winner of the 2006 Palme d’Or at Cannes, focuses on two brothers, Damien (Cillian Murphy) and Teddy (Padraic Delaney), as they get pulled into the 1919 Irish Civil War. Questions of loyalty and nationalism take center stage in Loach’s epic about the Irish struggle for independence from oppressive British imperialist forces. Think Loach might be waxing allegorically in this film? Also starring Liam Cunningham, Gerard Kearney and William Ruane.

March 15th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Beyond the Gates
directed by Michael Caton-Jones
Depending on your outlook, Beyond the Gates will either resonate as a tale of extraordinary humanity in the chaos of Rwanda or a cheap knock-off of Hotel Rwanda. In Michael Caton-Jones’ tale of the horrors in Rwanda, two educators (Hugh Dancy and John Hurt) struggle to save lives amidst the ethnic cleansing spreading across the country. Against the protests of the United Nations workers and the jaded attitudes of the media in the country, the teachers protect people by keeping them in their school compound. This set-up sounds eerily familiar… as if the same movie had already been made, but with Don Cheadle in the lead.

The Exterminating Angels
directed by Jean-Claude Brisseau
When will movie characters learn that sex opens a Pandora’s Box of very, very bad things? In the case of French movie The Exterminating Angels, a director (Frederic van den Driessche) casts three women secure enough with themselves (and being really dirty in front of other people) to star in a movie exploring female pleasure. It’s not long before the women turn the tables on the director, however, and force him to go further with his “exploration” than perhaps he wishes. Thanks to acclaimed director Jean-Claude Brisseau, Angels, which was a hit at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, takes on a Kubrickian aura when it could easily have devolved into lurid sexploitation. Also starring Maroussia Dubreuil, Lise Bellynck and Marie Allen.

The Host
directed by Joon-ho Bong
When a dimwitted lab assistant, at the behest of his boss, dumps a lot of formaldehyde down the drain, a giant monstrous sea creature erupts from the waters of Seoul to terrorize the people of South Korea. The creature in The Host could be the bastard offspring of an ungodly union between Godzilla and Jaws, with a splash of Frankenstein tossed in for good measure. This is a genre picture through and through, taking it back to its Nuclear Age roots of out-of-control science run amok. Who wants to take bets on how long it will be until Hollywood remakes it? Starring Kang-ho Song, Hie-bong Byeon, Hae-il Park, Du-na Bae and Ah-sung Ko.

The Namesake
directed by Mira Nair
Kal Penn completes his transformation from kooky racial stereotype sidekick (Van Wilder) to dramatic artiste in this adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel of the clashing of traditional Indian values and modern global realities. Gogol (Penn), raised in America, struggles with his parents’ ideas for his future and his happiness. He has a white girlfriend; his parents want him to settle down with a nice Indian girl. He wants to change his name; they want him to embrace his heritage and the meaning behind his name. The film’s themes might resonate, and director Mira Nair might attract audiences, but viewers might not be able to get past Penn’s comedic past, one role removed from Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj. Also starring Irfan Khan and Tabu.

300
directed by Zack Snyder
This adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel is a dramatic, gory recreation of the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, in which 300 Spartans took on the massive Persian army. But Gladiator it is not. It isn’t even Troy. Flawed as those two films might be, they’re at least fun, with a touch of subtlety. 300 is as subtle as a Trojan Horse lit aflame and rolled into the movie theater—and with just as much screaming. Gerard Butler, as Spartan king Leonidas, screams his way through the movie so brutishly that he makes Sean Penn look like a mumbler. Also starring Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham and Vincent Regan.

March 11th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Black Snake Moan
directed by Craig Brewer
Craig Brewer, the writer-director of Hustle & Flow, might be on to something in Black Snake Moan. In the movie, Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to cure Rae (Christina Ricci) of her insatiable sexual appetite by bounding her in chains and exercising some tough love. (Not that kind of tough love!) Just imagine how intimidating other kinds of rehab would be if confronted by a tough-as-nails Sam Jackson ready to drive evil out by keeping you put with a length of chain. Social possibilities aside, Brewer continues carving out his place in independent moviemaking with this throwback to exploitation cinema. Also starring Justin Timberlake and S. Epatha Merkerson.

Full of It
directed by Christian Charles
In a world where lies are truths, Sam Leonard (Ryan Pinkston) is king. A nerdy teenager who takes to fibbing to become popular, Sam’s life is no longer his own when his tall tales start coming true. But heavy is the head that wears the crown. Sam’s life starts becoming too much to handle as his lies become greater and the consequences larger. Full of It proves the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for as you just might get it,” is true. Unless you wish for an interesting movie and wind up at this one, then you’re just lying to yourself. Also starring Teri Polo, Craig Kilborn and Kate Mara.

Two Weeks
directed by Steve Stockman
In this family reconciliation weepy, four siblings reunite at their mother’s house to be with her as she nears death. But Anita (Sally Field) hangs on longer than expected, keeping the siblings together for two weeks under one roof—just enough time to deal with years of emotional baggage. This well-meaning family drama is saddled with a worn out plot, but bolstered by the presence of Field, who hasn’t be seen in theaters since 2003’s Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde. Also starring Thomas Cavanagh, Ben Chaplin, Julianne Nicholson, Glenn Howerton and Clea DuVall.

Wild Hogs
directed by Walt Becker
Wild Hogs should be retitled Easy Payday. How else can you explain the presence of William H. Macy, Ray Liotta and even John Travolta in this retread story of male bonding and busting out of a midlife crisis? Macy and Travolta are joined out on the road by Martin Lawrence and Tim Allen as a group of guys trying to escape their humdrum, suburban existences by strapping on to the back of their hogs and tasting the freedom of the open road. Hopefully, the open road doesn’t taste as stale as this movie. Also starring Marisa Tomei and Jill Hennessy.

Zodiac
directed by David Fincher
David Fincher’s first movie in five years is a return to the serial killer genre that put him on the map as a big-time director. While Se7en was fiction, Zodiac is rooted in reality, based on the Zodiac Killer murders of the 1970s. Fincher takes a page out of the Munich playbook and soaks the movie’s aesthetic in the ’70s, from the set design down to the vintage clothing and sideburns worn by an all-star cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr. and Brian Cox. Fincher is comfortable with this kind of movie, and it should return him to the top of the directing ranks. Also starring Anthony Edwards and Chloë Sevigny.

If you’ve seen any of the films listed above (or even if you haven’t, but have exceptionally strong feelings that you’d like to share nonetheless), write your own review in the comments.

March 2nd, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

The Abandoned
directed by Nacho Cerda
Sure signs of winter are snow, ice, cold--and schlocky horror movies. Foreboding lighting, screechy noises and dingy set design are meant to add up to “scary” but translate only into been-there-done-that in the case of The Abandoned. A woman looking for her birth parents is led to a haunted house in Russia where she meets a supposed twin brother and a whole lot of danger because the house “knows how you will die.” Are those chills from the premise or the draft in the theater? Starring Anastasia Hille, Karel Roden, Valentin Ganev and Carlos Reig.

The Astronaut Farmer
directed by Michael Polish
Billy Bob Thornton goes where he hasn’t gone before—or, at least where he doesn’t go very often: Planet Family-Friendly. The often foul-mouthed star of raunchy comedies throttles back a bit in this story of a farmer who builds a rocket in his barn. Daring to defy a government non too keen on his DIY trip to outer space—and daring to dream, gosh darn it—Thornton brings his family and community together in a way Frank Capra would approve of. Also starring Virginia Madsen, Tim Blake Nelson and Bruce Dern.

The Number 23
directed by Joel Schumacher
Jim Carrey gets obsessed by a number that’s not on his gargantuan paycheck in this psychological thriller. Given a book detailing a life built around the number 23, Walter Sparrow (Carrey) is driven to the brink of insanity (or is it inanity?) by the parallels he thinks he finds between the book and his life. It’s the age-old tale of a mentally unstable egoist driven to madness by his narcissism. Also starring Virginia Madsen and Danny Huston.

Reno 911!: Miami
directed by Ben Garant
Based on the cult Comedy Central hit, Reno 911!: Miami finds our irreverent group of Washoe County Sheriff’s Department cops in Miami for a police convention. But when terrorism puts every single cop in Miami out of commission--with the exception of Lt. Jim Dangle (Thomas Lennon) and his cohorts--the aloof Reno lawmen swing into action to patrol the mean streets of Miami-Dade County during the dog days of spring break. This is certainly for fans of the show, but newcomers entranced by Borat will enjoy the faux-documentary style in which the movie is shot. (Think “Cops” with likeable morons.) Also starring Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Danny DeVito.

Starter for Ten
directed by Tom Vaughan
In this Tom Hanks-produced slice of John Hughes nostalgia, working-class Brian (James McAvoy) struggles with life and love in an upper-class British university in the 1980s. Period clothes and hairdos are everywhere as Brian pursues the hot girl in his class (Alice Eve) and is entranced by the long-term possibilities of his close friend (Rebecca Hall). Like the obedient genre picture it is, this coming-of-age romantic comedy has life- and love-lessons aplenty. Also starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

February 22nd, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters Now

Breach
directed by Billy Ray
As if the government doesn’t have it bad enough already, the makers of Breach had to go and dramatize the story of one of the biggest security breaches in American history. FBI agent Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper) is suspected of being a Russian spy, and new recruit Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) is tasked with catching him in the act. The movie is slick, with a Bourne Identity feel and a healthy dose of paranoia. But since the real Hanssen was indeed a spy, and was indeed found out, the narrative tension is somewhat muted. Also starring Laura Linney, Gary Cole and Dennis Haysbert.

Bridge to Terabithia
directed by Gabor Csupo
Katherine Paterson’s The Bridge to Terabithia, about kids discovering a mystical kingdom deep in the woods, gets the faux-Lord of the Rings treatment in this Disney film. The fantastical world dubbed “Terabithia” by the kids is populated by giant walking trees, warrior insects, armies of small, furry animals and wall-to-wall adventure. As family entertainment, it’s better than some nefarious, double-entendre-laden animated animal movie. Starring Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel and Robert Patrick.

Daddy’s Little Girls
directed by Tyler Perry
Normally, an overwrought social drama mash-up of Kramer vs. Kramer and any number of romantic dramedies would be unbearable. Being Valentine’s Day weekend, a little leeway can be granted to Tyler Perry’s (Diary of a Mad Black Woman) latest, Daddy’s Little Girls. Monty (Idris Elba) is fighting for custody of his three daughters, and along the way falls in love with Julia (Gabrielle Union), a hot-shot lawyer who’s becoming fickle about love. Moving from beginning to end, every important cliche is hit: The sleazy ex, the wary kids, class war, shortsighted friends… and on and on and on. Also starring Louis Gossett Jr., Tasha Smith and Gary Anthony Sturgis.

Ghost Rider
directed by Mark Steven Johnson
Leather, skulls, bones, fire and whips made of chain-link are abundant as Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage), bound by a deal with the devil gone wrong (is there any other kind?), transforms into the motorcycle-riding, flaming-skulled demon of vengeance, Ghost Rider. Consider this the comic book adaptation appetizer meant to tide you over before the summer smorgasbord of Spider-Man 3. As long as you like a side of fetishism with your artichoke dip, Ghost Rider should satisfy. Also starring Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Donal Logue, Peter Fonda and Sam Elliott.

Music and Lyrics
directed by Marc Lawrence
Who needs a box of chocolates when something as syrupy sweet as Music and Lyrics is at hand? Alex Fletcher (dreamboat Hugh Grant) is a has-been ‘80s pop star toiling at the edge of musical oblivion. Sophie Fisher (cute-as-a-button Drew Barrymore) is his plant lady who has more to offer than a discount on de-grubbing the garden. Turns out she’s quite the little wordsmith, and she crafts a song that could rescue Alex’s career. And wouldn’t you know it, they make sweet music together!

February 15th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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In Theaters, Week ending 1/30

Blood and Chocolate
directed by Katja von Garnier
How much do you really need from a werewolf movie, other than pretty faces, cool special effects and a little bit of gore? Blood and Chocolate has all this and more, with an interspecies love story and the director of the award-winning miniseries “Iron Jawed Angels” running the show. Based on the hit teen fantasy novel by Annette Curtis Klause, at the very least this flick will find an audience with the adolescent crowd.
Starring Agnes Bruckner, Hugh Dancy and Olivier Martinez.

Catch and Release
directed by Susannah Grant
You’d expect more from the Erin Brokovich scribe than a couple named Gray and Grady; but perhaps killing off one half of the cutesy-named pair was a statement by writer-director Grant. In the wake of her fiancé’s death, Gray (Jennifer Garner) is faced with several surprising secrets from the man’s past. Overall, we’re not big fans of “coping-with-grief” romantic comedies, but the presence of Kevin Smith and Timothy Olyphant might be enough to sway us.
Also starring Juliette Lewis.

Epic Movie
directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer
Okay, seriously: Hasn’t the genre spoof comedy been played out? We’re not saying that epic movies deserve any less ridicule than rom-coms or horror flicks, but in the years since Scary Movie, we’ve gotten so sick of the genre spoof that we’re reconsidering our love of Mel Brooks, simply for his part in popularizing the formula. But you may not agree with us—in which case, get your fill of sophomoric send-ups of Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and Chronicles of Narnia, among others in this latest addition to the series.
Starring Kal Penn, Jennifer Coolidge and Fred Willard.

Seraphim Falls
directed by David Von Ancken
Pierce Brosnan seems to be settling nicely into middle age as his pretty-boy days come to a close. His most recent effort, Seraphim Falls, casts him as a rugged Civil War veteran pursued by a former Confederate colonel (Liam Neeson) who is dead-set on revenge. This feature-film debut from director Von Ancken boasts a formidable star presence, including Angelica Huston, and looks to be the perfect film for movie buffs in search of a gritty, gory and well-acted western some lazy Sunday afternoon.
Also starring Angie Harmon.

Smokin’ Aces
directed by Joe Carnahan
In his first feature since the surprise hit Narc, Joe Carnahan dives head first into a world of sex, violence, money and slick production values. Smokin’ Aces brings together a motley crew of assassins (played by an assortment of Hollywood has-beens and quasi-indie faves) in an attempt to keep Vegas magician Buddy “Aces” Israel from testifying against the mob. Aces is a mishmash of Domino, Ocean’s 11 and Snatch, and will no doubt capitalize on the continuing popularity of snappy-looking gangster comedies, with or without the support of the critics.
Starring: Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck.

January 25th, 2007 | Category: In Theaters Now | By MovieMaker Staff

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