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The Kid & I [LA/NY] The Plot: A teenager (Gores) with cerebral palsy dreams of starring in a Hollywood action movie. His father (Mantegna) looks to fulfill his son's wish for his 18th birthday. THE BUZZ: Tom Arnold scores his first screenplay credit, and director Penelope Spheeris returns with her first feature in some time. Prepare for a True Lies reunion, as Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger share a scene. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
Walk the Line The Plot: A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. THE BUZZ: 8 out of 10 stars: "The only time you're allowed to talk to me is onstage," Reese Witherspoon says to Joaquin Phoenix near the end of Walk the Line, and they're words well spoken, for when either of these two stars are performing, separate or together, this movie comes electrifyingly to life. ...more Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Yours, Mine and Ours The Plot: A widow (Russo) and widower (Quaid) fall in love and marry, much to the dismay of their combined 18 children. THE BUZZ: 5 out of 10 stars: Watching Yours, Mine and Ours isn't so much like watching a movie as it is watching an outline for a rather bland, if inoffensive, sitcom. ...more Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Rent The Plot: Friends in New York City's East Village struggle with life, love and AIDS. THE BUZZ: 7 out of 10 stars: If Jonathan Larson was around, Rent could very well have been a movie musical for the ages instead of a cinematic reminder of how good the stage version is....more Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Just Friends The Plot: At his high school reunion, a womanizer (Reynolds) gets the chance to come face-to-face with the old crush (Smart) who turned his heart cold. THE BUZZ: 6 out of 10 stars: Like a sprinter who puts all their energy into getting off to a great start, Just Friends is fantastic out of the gate, and predictably loses its wind halfway towards its destination. ...more Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Pride & Prejudice The Plot: The Bennett family wishes to marry off all five of their daughters, but headstrong Elizabeth (Knightley) is the fly in their matrimonial ointment. A solution seems to be found in the brooding Mr. Darcy (MacFayden), but it's hate at first sight for both... until something unexpected blooms. Based on the Jane Austen novel. THE BUZZ: After a surprise top 10 opening in way limited release, Keira & co. will go wide on a planned 1,200 screens for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. But this still doesn't answer our question: how many adaptations of Pride & Prejudice do we need? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Derailed The Plot: Two suburban commuters, on the verge of having an affair, find themselves blackmailed by a violent criminal, who threatens both them and their families. THE BUZZ: 3 out of 10 stars: You can rest assured that any movie where more than one character solemnly intones to another that they are "one step ahead" of the game is itself definitely two steps behind its audience. ...more Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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In the Mix The Plot: When Darrell (Usher) saves the life of a mob boss (Palminteri), he's brought into the crime family's fold and given a job protecting the don's daughter (Chriqui). Complications arise when the two fall in love despite their different backgrounds. THE BUZZ: You'd think the plan to turn one of the biggest stars in music into a full-blown leading man would warrant a team of bankable filmmakers. Maybe this light entertainment is meant to warm Ush up for his role in Dreamgirls. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Ice Harvest The Plot: Charlie Arglist (Cusack), a dim-bulb lawyer-turned-crook, attempts a Christmas Eve heist, hoping to swindle the local mob out of some money. THE BUZZ: We hear that director Ramis has a dark little comedy on his hands here, and that Randy Quaid and Oliver Platt are both at the top of their respective games in supporting roles. And with Cusack and Thornton in lead roles, in a production that brings Fargo and A Simple Plan to mind, we're stoked, quite frankly. So why does it seem that few others are as excited? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Grandma's Boy The Plot: Kicked to the curb by his roommates, a thirtysomething video game tester (Covert) moves in with his grandma and her two friends. THE BUZZ: Is it just us, or is Adam Sandler's production company becoming more and more like a National Lampoon warehouse, cranking out one low brow, low budget comedy after another? This time around, Sandler underling Covert makes like Rob Schneider and David Spade before him, suffering through 80 to 90 minutes of harassment and sexual humiliation. We hear Grandma is sweeter than you might expect (or want), however. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The New World The Plot: A chronicle of the adventurous life of Captain John Smith (Farrell), who helped settle the colony of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, and his relationship with Pocahontas, the young Algonquian native who Smith claimed saved him from sure death. THE BUZZ: Farrell as John Smith -- save us all. Here's hoping he has a better wig than the one in Alexander. Malick abandoned Che, his film about the Argentine revolutionary, for the drama of Jamestown; he'd been developing both projects simultaneously, but dropped Che abruptly despite the fact that it had already been picked up by foreign distributors. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Hostel The Plot: Three backpackers head to a Slovakian city that promises to meet their hedonistic expectations, with no idea of the hell that awaits them. THE BUZZ: Eli Roth's hotly anticipated film is reportedly one of the sickest films to be put into wide release; we're talking more ill than both Kill Bills combined. Happy Holidays! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Last Holiday The Plot: After she's diagnosed with a terminal illness, Georgia Byrd (Latifah) decides to take a European vacation. THE BUZZ: Thinking back to Living Out Loud, we love the idea of the Queen in another comedy/drama so much we're ignoring the fact that Wayne Wang is going to get all tinkly-music and wet-eyed with this remake. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Glory Road The Plot: Texas Western coach Don Haskins (Lucas) and his all-black starting five head to the NCAA tournament. THE BUZZ: Originally set to star Affleck (who could have rebounded like Miracle or The Rookie with this sure-shot), Lucas ascended to the starring role when B.Aff's deal collapsed. Maybe this will be Lucas's break-out movie, since Stealth tanked in theaters. Makes you wonder if Luke, so good in Friday Night Lights, might be the one to watch here, though. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Tristan & Isolde [limited] The Plot: The insuperable romance between an English knight (Franco) and the daughter (Myles) of the King of Ireland threatens the future of Britain. THE BUZZ: Fans of dragons and song will be disappointed to learn that neither figure into the proceedings here. A pet project of Ridley and Tony Scott, T&I is reportedly heavy on the action -- a sort-of Robin Hood/Count of Monte Cristo vibe running through it, which could help this small budget indie succeed where its big brothers and sisters have failed. Let's just hope that Franco plays it more like a man and less like Harry Osborn. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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April's Shower [limited] The Plot: The intimate secret between April (Cina) and Alex (Doolan) comes out when Alex hosts April's wedding shower. THE BUZZ: You are cordially invited to see some hot woman-on-woman action, courtesy of quadruple-threat director Doolan. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Underworld: Evolution The Plot: As the war between the Death Dealers and the Lycans rages on, Selene (Beckinsale), the vampire warrior, and Michael (Speedman), the werewolf hybrid, work together in an effort to unlock the secrets of their respective bloodlines. THE BUZZ: More Kate in leather! More cheesy slo-mo leaps from tall buildings! More lycans and vamps with guns! More ... Speedman! In the sequel to Beckinsale's breakout movie, we're promised a Dark Ages werewolf vs. vampire battle, and quite possible a glimpse of Corvinus, the father of both species! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Matador The Plot: A globetrotting hitman (Brosnan) and a crestfallen businessman (Kinnear) meet in a hotel bar in Mexico City and are drawn together in a way neither expected. THE BUZZ: Writer-director Shepard returns to Mexico City for a black comedy that sold for a high price at Sundance and, despite a reportedly uneven third act, is earning great reviews for Brosnan's against-Bond performance. Philip Baker Hall and Dylan Baker have supporting roles. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Match Point The Plot: At a turning point in his life, former tennis pro Chris (Rhys-Meyers) falls for Nola (Johansson), a femme fatal type who happens to be dating Tom (Goode), Chris's nemesis and soon-to-be brother-in-law. THE BUZZ: Looks like Johansson is Allen's rebound muse, as Match Point has already been hailed as the director's return ... albeit to a new genre, the romantic thriller (we had no idea until the trailer was released). Johansson has signed up for Allen's next film, which is also being shot in London. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Annapolis The Plot: A young man (Franco) who's good with his fists realizes his dream of attending the Annapolis Naval Academy. THE BUZZ: Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow was so influential that Disney pulled him up from the minors to make their military vision a reality (three years, three boxing films -- what gives?). We think it'll take a nation of analysts to determine this film's target audience, and then get them into theaters in January. We're holding out for Lin's remake of Oldboy, anyway. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Big Momma's House 2 The Plot: On his latest assignment, FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) once again goes undercover as Big Momma, and works as a nanny for an unhappily woman (Procter) who is under investigation for murder. THE BUZZ: CSI: Miami's Procter boards the unavoidable sequel to Martin's first box-office smash. With an even cuddlier feel (think: The Pacifier), look for Big Momma to blow up worldwide. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull
Story The Plot: During production on his latest movie -- an adaptation of Laurence Sterne's so-called "unfilmable" novel, "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" -- director Michael Winterbottom (Northam) wraps production for the day, and the audience is granted access to all the behind-the-scenes dirt on set. THE BUZZ: Knowing that the real Winterbottom is being played by the wonderful Jeremy Northam, and that Steve Coogan (so amazing in Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People) has the titular role, we'll assume this is less of an experiment than the premise would lead us to think. Because, otherwise ... ouch. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Lake House The Plot: A lonely doctor (Bullock) begins exchanging love letters with a frustrated architect (Reeves) through a mysterious postbox. THE BUZZ: It's good to see two fortysomething, non-blondes in a Hollywood romance. This remake of the fab South Korean film Siworae finds Argentine director Alejandro Agresti (Valentin) positioned to break through stateside in a major way. $5 says the original's sci-fi component will be diminished here, though the idea of a time-traveling Sandra Bullock is oddly compelling. Maybe she could go back and not make Miss Congeniality 2 ... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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When a Stranger Calls The Plot: During an otherwise routine babysitting gig, a high-school student (Belle) is harassed by an increasingly threatening prank caller. THE BUZZ: No news yet if director West (Con Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) is playing this remake straight or has changes in store, but we'll bet absolutely no one is anticipating whether he'll honor the original's famous catchphrase or not. There are a handful of great mock titles to throw around here -- When a Stranger Returns Your Call is our current favorite. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Something New The Plot: With checklist in hand, career woman Kenya (Lathan) sets out to find her perfect man. In Brian (Baker), she finds a guy who, despite all outward appearances, just might be the one. THE BUZZ: The ever-appealing Sanaa Lathan leads a fine cast, which includes Alfre Woodard, Mike Epps, and Donald Faison, for director Sanaa Hamri's debut. Two Sanaas. One smart-sounding romantic comedy. What's not to like? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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A Good Woman [limited] The Plot: The vampish Mrs. Erlynne (Hunt) arrives in 1930 Italy on the arm of a much younger man, Robert Windermere (Umbers). The buried secrets and ensuing gossip threatens Windermere's marriage to Meg (Johansson), as she is driven into the arms of Lord Darlington (Moore), her husband's best friend. THE BUZZ: The extra-long wait for Hunt's return to the screen should be over, provided the release date for A Good Woman holds. It's been one of the shiftiest films over the past couple years - so slippery we're surprised Miramax isn't putting it out. There's a good chance the delays have killed the film's chances, as it was originally positioned as Oscar bait back in 2004. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Curious George The Plot: While in Africa, a man (Ferrell) who wears a curious yellow hat accidentally adopts a mischievous chimpanzee named George. With a new life in America, George's adventurous nature takes control, and he heads out into is new world. THE BUZZ: The animated
adventure you've been waiting for ... from the director of Mickey's Twice
Upon a Christmas ... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Final Destination 3 The Plot: A high school student (Winstead) has a premonition of a disaster at her local amusement park. After the accident claims the lives of some of her friends, she and her schoolmate (Merriman) plot to save the survivors from death. THE BUZZ: There's a third rift in death's design! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Pink Panther The Plot: Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Martin) is tasked by the duplicitous Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Kline) to solve the murder of a famous soccer coach and the disappearance of the infamous Pink Panther diamond. THE BUZZ: Did you hear the story that this project was reportedly greenlit in a parking lot? Did you hear the bad buzz caused Sony to move it from August of last year to the frozen tundra of February? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Firewall The Plot: Security specialist Jack Williams (Ford) is forced into robbing the bank he works for, as a bid to pay off the ransom on his kidnapped family. THE BUZZ: Ford knows audiences love it when he's in peril, so he's back in action-thriller mode and he's brought an excellent supporting cast along for the ride. Hopefully director Richard Loncraine's presence will be minimal. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Date Movie The Plot: A spoof of romantic comedies that follows a young guy's (Campbell) attempt to get his crush (Hannigan) to love him. THE BUZZ: The two Scary Movie writer guys try their manhands at romantic comedy! Eddie Griffin plays Hannigan's father! Dude, classic! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Freedomland The Plot: When her daughter disappears, a single mother (Moore) blames an African-American man for the crime. During the resulting controversy, a detective (Freeman) and reporter (Falco) work together on the ever-twisting case. THE BUZZ: What is it with Joe Roth, Julianne Moore, and mothers in distress? Moore follows The Forgotten with another story of anguish, though the extra fear here is provided by the notion of Roth directing a racial drama. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Eight Below The Plot: Brutal cold forces two Antarctic explorers (Walker, Biggs) to leave their team of sled dogs behind as they fend for survival. THE BUZZ: Development was first halted on this project when The Alamo's wildly out of control production costs caused Disney to pull in their purse strings. Out went mildly hot star Josh Duhamel and director Bruce Hendricks (a mildly seasoned second unit director, who instead is now executive producing), only to be replaced by the buffer Walker and producer-turned-director Marshall. Survival stories tend to do well, but what's the fun in watching overly dressed hunks? Jason Biggs can put on as many layers as he likes, though. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Flicka The Plot: Young Katie (Loman) claims a wild horse as her own -- an effort to prove to her father (McGraw) that she is capable of one day taking over the family ranch. THE BUZZ: Nearly everyone is talking about the sad circumstances that led to the deaths of two wild horses during production; not many people are questioning why, after a string of non-sappy roles, Loman is squandering her considerable talent with a role meant for one of her more sanitized contemporaries. Expect PETA protests and piddling box-office. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Winter Passing [limited] The Plot: Struggling actress Reese Holden (Deschanel) returns home to Michigan, hoping to talk her novelist father (Harris) into letting the love letters he wrote his deceased wife be published. THE BUZZ: Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel reunite for writer-director Rapp's debut, a drama that obviously has Ferrell's core audience wondering what's up with their hero (don't worry, he sings an Eagles song in the movie -- funny!). We'd rather focus on Ms. Deschanel, who can move from comedy to drama in a single scene, and the not-so-subtle "nods" to JD Salinger that Rapp thinks he can get away with. No wonder there's a din where the advance hype should be. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Madea's Family Reunion The Plot: A pistol-packing grandma (Perry) tries to hold a family reunion, a funeral gathering, and a wedding all on the same weekend. THE BUZZ: With the breakiest outiest hit of 2004, Tyler Perry now slides into the director's chair with the follow-up to Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The vibe here seems to be a bit looser than its predecessor, so perhaps the reviews won't be as wildly divergent this time around. Wonder if Roger Ebert already has both his thumbs up ... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Running Scared The Plot: A "hot" snub-nosed .38 pistol brings together a mob flunky (Walker), his young kid (Bright), a Russian gangster ... and a cop who should be dead. THE BUZZ: Herein, director Kramer looks to expand on the success he enjoyed with The Cooler; Walker proves he's much more compelling in indies over Hollywood productions; Cameron Bright continues his streak as the Go-To Troubled Kid. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Factotum [limited] The Plot: In Los Angeles, a jack-of-all-trades (Dillon) ekes out a lifestyle that doesn't interfere with his primary interests: writing, gambling, drinking, and women. THE BUZZ: We heart writer-director Hamer (Kitchen Stories) for finally bringing a Charles Bukowski novel to the big screen, and for casting Dillon as the lead. The man (Dillon, that is) is blossoming for a third time, and it's lovely to watch. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Just My Luck The Plot: Sexy Manhattanite Ashley (Lindsay Lohan) is known to many as the luckiest woman around. After a chance encounter with a down-and-out young man (Chris Pine), however, she realizes that she's swapped her fortune for his. THE BUZZ: Why it takes four writers to craft a vehicle for Lindsay Lohan is beyond us - then again, gawd knows how many tabloid reporters are assigned to the Lohan beat in real life. Word has it the gal partied rather heartily on the film's New Orleans set, sparking word of a terrible performance and numerous delays. Hey, didn't we hear the same thing about Herbie: Fully Loaded? Lohan did fine there, as did the movie, which racked up a surprising $65 million. Another medium-sized hit? We think so, though we also feel this is one of those movies where Lohan should play both main roles. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Pulse The Plot: When their computer hacker friend accidentally channels a mysterious wireless signal, a group of co-eds rally to stop a terrifying evil from taking over the world THE BUZZ: While bland on paper (and easily confused with Cry Wolf), this remake of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 2001 film has two things going for it: the charming Rick Gonzalez (he played Spanish in Old School) and the super-rad Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars from the TV). Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Failure to Launch The Plot: A lay-about (McConaughey) suspects his parents of setting him up with his ideal woman (Parker) in order to get him to finally move out of their home. THE BUZZ: For us, the question mark here is hovering not only over director Tom Dey (Showtime, Shanghai Knights), but screenwriters Tom Astle and Matt Ember, who are both making their feature debuts. Is this going to be one of those romantic comedies that works solely because the actors are quite good? We're still checking with our sources ... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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16 Blocks The Plot: An aging cop (Willis) is assigned the ordinary task of escorting a fast-talking witness (Def) from police custody to a courthouse. There are however forces at work trying to stop prevent them from making it. THE BUZZ: Willis is in the middle of his third or fourth renaissance, though he can't seem to shake these cop roles. And who knows how this project landed in the lap of Richard Donner, who of late makes a better producer than director. Looks like it'll be up to the mighty Mos Def to keep things snapping here, though the thought of him and Willis motor-mouthing their way through action hero dialogue does have a certain appeal. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Block Party The Plot: A mix of Dave Chappelle's sketch and stand-up comedy, as well as musical interludes, inspired in part by the 1973 documentary Wattstax. THE BUZZ: Is he or isn't he crazy? We don't know, but then again, most anyone's going to look a bit nuts through Michel Gondry's lens. What we do know is the advance buzz on the project is sonorous, and by the time it's released, Chappelle's minions will be ravenous for new material -- even if it's a bit more serious than normal. And who doesn't want to watch a reunited Fugees? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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A Scanner Darkly [limited] The Plot: Undercover cop Fred (Keanu Reeves) is one of many agents hooked on the popular drug Substance D, which causes its users to develop split personalities. Fred, for instance, is also Bob, a notorious drug dealer. Along with his superior officers, Fred sets up an elaborate scheme to catch Bob and tear down his operation. THE BUZZ: Linklater adapted Philip K. Dick's novel -- a s/f fan favorite -- in a fashion that reportedly tickled the Dick estate. As he did with Waking Life, the director will shoot a live-action version of the film, then have it animated. This is one of those projects that infuriates genre purists; Darkly also seems to be confounding Linklater's fans, who love the material but question the star. While that drama plays out, please know that Linklater is going for a much more realistic type of animation this time, not the wavy, stoned style of Waking Life. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Summer Storm [LA/NY] The Plot: Tobi and Achim, best pals and the standouts of their crew club, find their friendship tested by Achim's girlfriend and Tobi's sexual confusion. THE BUZZ: Regent Releasing, quickly becoming one of the premiere gay/lesbian-oriented distributors, charges ahead with this well-received German comedy. Stroke! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Hills Have Eyes The Plot: A car accident strands a vacationing family deep in the desert, where a group of savages target them for death. THE BUZZ: Director Alexandre Aja saw his much-hyped High Tension fail big time at the box office, but we're thinking he'll do just fine with his remake of Wes Craven's classic horror film. Tension co-writer Grégory Levasseur is working with the writer-director, and hopefully the pair will leave the original's themes intact. We're pretty sure the gore will be ratcheted up a few notches, and there'll be fewer ambushes this time around. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction The Plot: Novelist Catherine Tramell (Stone) is once again in trouble with the law, and Scotland Yard appoints psychiatrist Dr. Andrew Glass (Morrissey) to evaluate her. Though, like others before him, Glass is entranced by Tramell and lured into a seductive game. THE BUZZ: Dear God, where to begin with this one? An iteration of this film, directed by Lee Tamahori (we think...?) and starring Benjamin Bratt (maybe...?) alongside Stone was kiboshed years ago, due to financing. Stone decided to sue the producers when they failed on the "pay" part of her pay-or-play contract, then promptly dropped the suit once the money was ponied up and the green light went back on. Low-profile Brits Michael Caton-Jones and David Morrissey stepped into directing and leading man roles, respectively, and finally cameras rolled. All this drama, however, sidesteps the question of whether or not we actually need this sequel as badly as Ms. Stone does... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Shaggy Dog The Plot: Dave Douglas (Allen) tries to live a normal life, despite the fact that he sometimes turns into a sheepdog. THE BUZZ: Along with a handful of others, Allen contributed to Dog's screenplay (his first feature credit). It's hard to knock a family comedy with such as random cast as this, especially one that has roles for Jane Curtin, Robert Downey Jr., and Danny Glover. But we really, really promise to try. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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V for Vendetta The Plot: A shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" (Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing Evey Hammond (Portman) from the secret police, he finds a frightened woman he can mold into his ally. THE BUZZ: Remember, remember that this was originally set for release last November, but Warner Bros. blinked after the London bombings and decided to push the opening to spring. Still, producer Joel Silver has indicated that the film will not skimp on its depiction of the city's tube lines being destroyed by a terrorist act. Let's hope that, in the hands of director/Wachowski Brothers protege McTeigue, Alan Moore's graphic novel is nutured with the same kind of care that made Sin City the worldwide hit that no one expected. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Killshot The Plot: A botched scam sends an old school hit man (Rourke) and a young stick-up kid (Timberlake) on a mission to find and kill an innocent couple (Lane and Mortensen) in order to protect their identities. THE BUZZ: This latest Elmore Leonard adaptation has earned acceptance into the world of "Quentin Tarantino Presents ..." productions -- a level of cool so fragile that the casting of JT threatens to undermine the whole shebang. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Ask the Dust [limited] The Plot: In Depression-era Los Angeles, Arturo (Farrell), an aspring writer, is transfixed by Camilla (Hayek), a barmaid caught in a downward spiral. THE BUZZ: This adaptation of John Fante's novel was originally set to star Eva Mendes and be co-distributed by DreamWorks and Paramount. By the time production kicked up, Mendes bailed to co-star in Hitch and DreamWorks backed out of the deal. The film has now been repackaged as an indie, which hopefully means the pressure's off for it to be a breakout hit. However you might feel about Farrell with an Italian accent and Hayek as yet another "fiery Mexican beauty," we're hard pressed to name a writer-director who understands Los Angeles better than Robert Towne. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Don't Come Knocking [LA/NY] The Plot: Western film star Howard Spence (Shepard) rides of the set of his latest project in order to make good with his family and to find the children he never knew he had. THE BUZZ: Wenders and screenwriter-star Shepard last worked together in 1984 on Paris, Texas, and though their latest road movie isn't garnering the same kind of attention, there's plenty of potential here, considering that Shepard's character parties like a (Western) rock star, and the rest of the cast ranges from Fairuza Balk to Eva Marie Saint. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Inside Man The Plot: A bank robber (Owen) playing cat-and-mouse with a cop (Washington) loses control over his planned heist, resulting in a stand-off involving a hostage. THE BUZZ: Lee's gunning for a commercial hit for the first time in his career, and everyone involved in the production would have to screw up extra bad to dull this thriller down. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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R.V. The Plot: Bob McNeive (Williams) and his dysfunctional family rent an RV for a roadtrip to the Colorado Rockies, where they encounter a bizarre community of campers. THE BUZZ: It's like Johnson Family Vacation, with way more yelling and "antics" from Robin Williams! Fortunately co-starring Arrested Development's Will Arnett and Tony Hale! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Take the Lead The Plot: A former professional dancer (Banderas) volunteers to teach dance in the New York public school system. While his background first clashes with his students' tastes, together they create a completely new style of dance. THE BUZZ: Hey, this sounds like Mad Hot Ballroom. Wait, it is, it's just been dramatized so more people will see the story of dancer Pierre Dulane. With this performance, let's hope Banderas doesn't take the same liberties as he did when he sang Jorge Drexler's song at the 2005 Oscars. We're a bit surprised that New Line's going wide with this one. P.S. America's Next Top Model fans should keep an eye out for cycle 3 winner Yaya DaCosta in a small role. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Ice Age 2: The Meltdown The Plot: With the Ice Age at its end, Diego (Leary), Manfred (Romano), and Sid (Leguizamo) are worried that the melting ice will destroy their valley. Their take it upon themselves to unite and warn everyone about the situation. THE BUZZ: Whoa, it's like the animated The Day After Tomorrow; hopefully no one will get on the little sloth and his pals for promoting bad science or anything. Snaps to this sequel's topicality, and there's no question it should top its illustrious predecessor's success. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Slither The Plot: A small town is taken over by an alien plague that tranforms residents into zombies and mutants. One townie (Rooker) turns particularly violent, and it's up to his ex-wife (Banks) and the local sheriff (Fillion) to stop him. THE BUZZ: Perhaps the most interesting thing we've heard is that writer-director Gunn is telling the story from several different points of view. Whatever the case, it looks like it's up to Fillion (Serenity) to save the day once again, and his dry wit and tough-guy looks are custom-made for this 80s horror/invasion flick tribute. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Art School Confidential [limited] The Plot: Convinced that art school will put him on the path to fame, Jerome (Minghella) must come to terms with his barely-there talent, and the fact that the girl of his dreams has fallen in love with another student. Then, strangely, he's arrested as a suspected murderer, only to discover that crime might actually pay. THE BUZZ: Can Zwigoff (Ghost World) go 2-for-2 with adaptations of Dan Clowes's comics? This one is a tougher sell, since Confidential doesn't have the long-form cool of its predecessor (it's a one-page story, and available in Twentieth Century Eightball), or the appeal of having Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson in its cast -- but it is one of Clowes's most popular strips ever. Zwigoff and Clowes co-wrote the screenplay, and Zwigoff deserves credit for his dead-ringer casting of Minghella as Jerome. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Benchwarmers The Plot: In an attempt to right things from their respective childhoods, Ritchie (Spade), Clark (Heder), and Gus (Schneider) form a three-player baseball team to compete against standard little league squads. THE BUZZ: This movie was originally going to be made way back when Rob Schneider was popular and Chris Farley was alive (and going to co-star). The big man's role is in the hands of Napoleon Dynamite himself, so fans should be appeased. Producer Sandler's all but guaranteeing this will be a hit by taking a decent-sized role and helping out with the screenplay. Fingers crossed that Spade and Schneider got hit in the crotch repeatedly during filming. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Lucky You The Plot: Professional card player Huck Cheever (Bana) tries to beat the odds (and his own demons) at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. THE BUZZ: Gambling movies can be a tough sell, so it's a good thing Hanson thrives with eccentric material. And with what he's done for stars like Kim Basinger and Eminem, imagine what he can do with actual real actors! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Hoot The Plot: A young man (Lerman) moves from Montana to Florida with his family, where he's compelled to engage in a fight to protect a population of endangered owls. THE BUZZ: You're thinking, "Owls?" But don't make fun; two years ago no one would have said a documentary on penguins would have had a chance. And Hoot is like a Pixar movie come to life. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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On a Clear Day [limited] The Plot: A middle-aged shipyard engineer (Mullan) looks to improve things for himself, and for his family, by swimming the English Channel. THE BUZZ: Reviews of Mullan's performance have been strong, though the rest of the movie is typically cast off as derivative serio-comedy. Still how do you resist Mullan partnered with Brenda Blethyn? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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American Dreamz The Plot: A satire of national identity, based around the wildly popular television singing contest called "American Dreamz." THE BUZZ: With each new movie, it's getting harder and harder to imagine that Paul Weitz first directed American Pie. We've heard all sorts of rumors about what will happen on- and off-stage at the American Idol-like program, but we're excited to see Dennis Quaid portray the TV-obsessed President of the United States, Willem Dafoe hold things down as the VP, and to watch Mandy Moore ape Kelly Clarkson. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Scary Movie 4 The Plot: Spoofs unknown. THE BUZZ: The general consensus seems to be that Scary Movie 3 "sux," and the first two installments "rool." So the battle lines will be drawn as both sides enter theaters to see the latest (and probably not the last?) chapter in the jacked-up lives of Cindy Campbell and Brenda Meeks. This time around, superhero and horror films are skewered. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Aquamarine The Plot: Two teenage girls discover a mermaid in their beach club's swimming pool. THE BUZZ: Splash. For tweens! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Wild The Plot: A teenage lion is accidentally shipped from the New York Zoo to Africa. Now running free, his zoo pals must put aside their differences to help bring him back. THE BUZZ: Put your Madagascar comparisons aside and realize that The Wild has just as much (okay, more) potential to be great. Especially when Eddie Izzard's the voice of a koala who revered by a herd of wildebeests. Stay tuned. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Confetti [limited] The Plot: Three couples battle it out to win the honor of having the "Most Original Wedding of the Year." THE BUZZ: Finally, Brits are stealing from Americans (namely, Christopher Guest), rather than the other way around. Fox Searchlight bought this film after screening a mere 20 minutes of footage at Cannes. And can we just say we love Martin Freeman to bits? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Notorious Bettie Page [limited] The Plot: Bettie Page (Mol) explodes in the 1950s as the world's sexiest pin-up girl; her status as a sex icon (and still-legendary bondage photos) eventually makes her the target of a Senate investigation. THE BUZZ: Director Harron (American Psycho) and A-list indie producer Christine Vachon are catching much heat from fans over the casting of Mol, suggesting alternates in the form of Dita Von Teese, Rose McGowan, etc. We say relax, as Mol seems capable of a physical transformation that'll melt your frozen little hearts. Meanwhile, Harron's Psycho co-conspirator, writer Guinevere Turner, is again responsible for the screenplay. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Hard Candy [limited] The Plot: A thirtysomething man (Wilson) and an underage girl (Page) who chat online decide to meet in person. THE BUZZ: Even when it gets trashed (and it does -- a lot), the indication is that director Slade has approached a taboo subject in a unique way ... Audition comes to mind. Sandra Oh co-stars. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Silent Hill The Plot: A mother (Mitchell) loses her sick daughter in a deserted town that seems to be controlled by a dark force. THE BUZZ: Star Mitchell has been an indie darling for the past couple years, but let's not forget that she's got some experience in the horror/sci-fi genre, as her first "big" role was in Pitch Black. She and Boromir will be hot together, but all the SH purists have to be wondering if the film will follow the games in paying tribute to Jacob's Ladder and Phantoms? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Sentinel The Plot: A disgraced special agent (Douglas) works to foil a plot to assassinate the U.S. President. THE BUZZ: We still wish Douglas were playing the president and not the main character here, if only for the fact that it doesn't seem plausible to frame a 60-year-old special agent for having an affair with the first lady. But we have the feeling director Clark Johnson (S.W.A.T.) will surprise us for a second time with this political thriller. Evan Longoria and Martin Donovan co-star. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Cleaner The Plot: A femme fatale (Hurley) tricks an amnesiac janitor (Cedric the Entertainer) into thinking he's an undercover agent embroiled in an international arms ring. THE BUZZ: Another mixed-race action/comedy/crime caper from director Les Mayfield (The Man) spells doom for two of our favorites, Lucy Liu and Cedric the Entertainer. Elizabeth Hurley, meanwhile, is stoked! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Accepted The Plot: A high school slacker (Long) confounds his parents with his business-like saavy when it comes time to apply for college. Now if only the school he's enrolled in were real ... THE BUZZ: Director Pink is affiliated with Jon Cusack (he's had a hand in the screenplays for Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity); you'll remember star Long from Jeepers Creepers, and he also seems to be tight with Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller. The spec script caused a major bidding war, but let's hope that the guys came in to get it ready to roll (the screenwriters of New York Minute) didn't muss things up. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Flight 93 The Plot: A real time account of the events on United Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked on 9/11 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers foiled the terrorist plot. THE BUZZ: British director Greengrass handles the first feature film about 9/11 (Oliver Stone's September will come out this August). We like knowing that Greengrass is focusing just on the flight itself, and that he's using relatively unknown actors to tell the story. What remains to be seen is how the film will be marketed, and of course whether or not the public is ready to watch a tragedy unfold in real time. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Catch and Release The Plot: A woman (Garner) struggles to accept the death of her husband and the secrets he kept from her as she rebuilds her life. THE BUZZ: Powerhouse screenwriter Susannah Grant makes her directorial debut in a film that sounds too old for Garner, but perfect for Diane Lane. Amazing that Mark Ruffalo isn't playing the deceased. We're just saying ... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Akeelah and the Bee The Plot: A young girl from south Los Angeles heads to the National Spelling Bee. THE BUZZ: This dramatized version of Spellbound was originally slated for a 2005 release, but it was pushed out to (probably) distance itself from Bee Season. Featuring a charming trailer and two of our favorite dramatic performers, we're thinking Akeelah could be one of the better received films of the season. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Art
School Confidential [limited] The Plot: Convinced that art school will put him on the path to fame, Jerome (Minghella) must come to terms with his barely-there talent, and the fact that the girl of his dreams has fallen in love with another student. Then, strangely, he's arrested as a suspected murderer, only to discover that crime might actually pay. THE BUZZ: Can Zwigoff (Ghost World) go 2-for-2 with adaptations of Dan Clowes's comics? This one is a tougher sell, since Confidential doesn't have the long-form cool of its predecessor (it's a one-page story, and available in Twentieth Century Eightball), or the appeal of having Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson in its cast -- but it is one of Clowes's most popular strips ever. Zwigoff and Clowes co-wrote the screenplay, and Zwigoff deserves credit for his dead-ringer casting of Minghella as Jerome. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Mission: Impossible III The Plot: Plot unknown. THE BUZZ: M:I3 has been shrouded in weirdness from the moment it was greenlit. Stars, directors, and screenwriters have come and gone, and the whole production was (reportedly) threatened by Cruise's stumping for Scientology when he should have been promoting War of the Worlds (a period which yielded the priceless rumor that Cruise tried to brainwash potential co-star Scarlett Johansson). But when the pre-production hype settled and filming began, we took a look at the cast, which includes Billy Crudup, Maggie Q, and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, and realized that J.J. Abrams's directorial debut has little chance of self-destructing. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Poseidon The Plot: After a tidal wave causes a luxury ocean liner to capsize, a handful of survivors endeavor to find a way to the water's surface. THE BUZZ: When director Petersen heads to the ocean, he creates classics (Das Boot) and hits (The Perfect Storm), so it's no surprise he was installed to steer this well-cast remake. With a gambler (Josh Lucas) and a stowaway (Mia Maestro) on board, we're thinking Warner Bros. is gunning for a sort-of Lost at sea angle. But, but ... will there be a morning after? Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Da Vinci Code The Plot: An academic (Hanks) and a cryptographer (Tautou) unravel a murder that occurred in the Louvre. Clues hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci lead them to a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years. THE BUZZ: The Oscar-winning team behind A Beautiful Mind gets even more cerebral with TDVC, the most high-profile bestseller adaptation since Harry Potter. Director Howard, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, and producer Brian Grazer have assembled a letter-perfect principal cast that should please the legions who still can't part with Dan Brown's novel some two years after its first printing. Near the end of 2003, Brown sold the rights to Da Vinci and his other books to Sony for over $6 million ... Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Over the Hedge The Plot: A mischievous racoon and his sensitive best-buddy turtle along with other forest creatures try to resist the evils and temptations of encroaching suburbia. THE BUZZ: Despite losing Jim Carrey as the main voice actor (he was replaced by Willis), DreamWorks is banking on director Johnson to get back his Antz magic after his last outing, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas sank like a stone. To buffer the film's chances, writer Kirkpatrick (James and the Giant Peach) was brought in to co-direct (his debut), and Brother Bear's Lorne Cameron and David Hoselton are steering the screenplay, which is based on the comic by Michael Fry. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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See No Evil The Plot: Sentenced to community service, a group of teens are dispatched to fix up a ramshackle hotel. Little do they know the hotel is home to a manical killer who looks to murder them one by one. THE BUZZ: Shhh! Quiet! What's that noise? It's the sound of See No Evil barely breaking even. The WWE's Kane kills the kids. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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X-Men 3 The Plot: Plot unknown. THE BUZZ: DANGER!
DANGER! BRETT RATNER ALERT! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Little Man The Plot: A wannabe dad (Shawn Wayans) mistakes a short, baby-faced criminal (Marlon Wayans) on the lam as his newly adopted son. THE BUZZ: Even if the Wayans' sort of comedy isn't your thing, you can't deny the glee with which their audience anticipates their every move. And this isn't a niche crowd, either; the near-universally dismissed White Chicks made $70 million at the box office alone. Again partnered with Revolution Studios, look for Little Man to officially kick off the summer season. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Break Up The Plot: After Brooke (Aniston) calls it quits with her boyfriend Gary (Vaughn), neither person is willing to move out of the condo they share. Taking the advice of their repsective friends and confidants (and a few total strangers), they both engage in mental warfare designed to force the other person to flee the premises -- until they both realize they might be fighting to keep their relationship alive. THE BUZZ: We won't accept anything but a bittersweet ending here ... By the time this comes out, Jen's real-life pain will be sooo 2005 and her relationship with Vaughn will be in full swing. The reported romance between the two stars grabbed headlines as filming wrapped on this project, and Vince took a backseat while Jen giggled on talk shows about her rumored beau. It all adds up to a pile of cash. Meanwhile, director Reed looks to get back on track after following up the enduring Bring It On with the deplorable Down with Love. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Cars The Plot: A collection of classic automobiles set out for adventure on Route 66. THE BUZZ: Given the premise, it's likely that the teaser trailer, which previewed with The Incredibles, will have little to do with the movie itself. Which could be a good thing, as the clip's "dab gum it" nature is a little underwhelming. John Lasseter is back (reportedly co-directing with Lee Unkrich, though we can't confirm that yet) and, according to Pixar Animation Studios chief Steve Jobs, the director has never been so excited about a project. This could be because Cars marks the end of the Pixar/Disney contract. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Omen 666 The Plot: An American government official (Schreiber) and his wife (Stiles) come to realize that their adopted son may just be the devil - literally. THE BUZZ: Despite a great premise, the original Omen was a cheesefest from start to finish, so the remake has nowhere to go but up. With able director Moore and smarter-than-average leads it shows promise -- and we love the casting of Mia Farrow as the little guy's naughty nanny! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo
Drift The Plot: To avoid a jail sentence, a young street racer (Black) heads to Japan to live with his uncle. Getting involved in the world of drift racing, he finds himself quickly in debt, and the only way to repay is to enter the Tokyo underworld. THE BUZZ: First Vin Diesel abandoned this franchise, and now Paul Walker? What does it say when you can't even get Paul Walker to sign to your movie? (And that boy works non-stop!) If they're lucky, the addition of director Lin (Better Luck Tomorrow) and the underground appeal of drift racing (relatively speaking, it's as big as NASCAR, except illegal) will inject some new kind of adrenaline into the mix. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Garfield 2 The Plot: Plot unknown THE BUZZ: Here's to another year of keeping Bill Murray's bank account solvent and Breckin Meyer gainfully employed! Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Charlotte's Web The Plot: Wilbur the pig, fearful he'll end up the family dinner instead of the family pet, hatches a plan with resourceful spider Charlotte to save his bacon. Based on the acclaimed childrens' novel. THE BUZZ: Unless something goes terribly, terribly awry, this should be a runaway hit. The voice cast features heavy hitters like Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey (that's just the tip of the iceberg), though they'll all be overshadowed by It Girl of the moment, Dakota Fanning, as farmgirl Fern. Oh, and bring Kleenex. Lots of it. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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Superman Returns The Plot: After a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel returns to Metropolis, only to find Lex Luthor is back to his old tricks -- and Lois Lane may have moved on. THE BUZZ: The poster for this movie should be a revolving door, since so many directors and stars have come and gone we don't remember who did what when. Singer abandoned X3 for this, and ironically, new X3 director Brett Ratner was once attached. After a Scarlett O'Hara-style search, newcomer Routh was picked to fill out the red and blue tights, and Bosworth trumped a number of other actresses for the role of Lois Lane. Warner Bros. is betting heavy on this, and you can bet there are knives out as well as fanboys. All we can say is, you better not mess up, Mr. Singer. Showtimes | Trailers | Photos | Message Board | User Comments | Reviews |
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