A grief counselor helps six plane crash survivors and develops a connection with one of them. When the survivors begin to disappear mysteriously, she suspects a conspiracy and becomes determined to uncover the truth. Genres: Thriller Release Date: October 24, 2008 MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements including some scary images, and sensuality. Starring: Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, Chelah Horsdal, Ryan Robbins (II), Andrew Wheeler (II) Directed By: Rodrigo Garcia Produced By: Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane, Julie Lynn [More] [Less]
Release Date: September 19, 2008 Genre: Thriller, Crime/Gangster Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Keith Loneker, Jaishon Fisher, Patrick Wilson Director: Neil LaBute Producers: Will Smith, James Lassiter, Orin Woinsky MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language and some drug reference. Studio: Sony Pictures Plot: A young interracial couple move into their dream home and are increasingly harassed by their next-door neighbor, a tightly wound black LAPD officer. When the couple decides to fight back the feud turns deadly. [More] [Less]
Release Date: Feb 13, 2009 Genre: Drama Cast: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Brian F. O\'Byrne Director: Tom Tykwer Studio: Sony PIctures Plot: In this gripping thriller, Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the worlds most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing even murder to continue financing terror and war. Directed by Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) from an original screenplay written by Eric Singer, The International is being shot on location in Germany and throughout Europe. [More] [Less]
Release: Feb 20, 2009 Genre: Comedy Starring: Sarah Roemer, Molly Sims, Annalynne McCord, John Michael Higgins Director: Will Gluck Plot: Shawn Colfax (Nicholas D\'Agosto) and Nick Brady (Eric Christian Olsen), the stars of the Gerald R. Ford High School football team, are dreading the prospect of another summer at football camp. When Nick hatches a scheme for the two to join their schools cheerleaders at cheer camp instead, they find themselves awash in a sea of gorgeous young women. It all goes great until Shawn falls for Carly (Sarah Roemer), the beautiful head cheerleader who sees right through them. [More] [Less]
Release Date: May 15, 2009 Genre: Action/Adventure Cast: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgaard Director: Ron Howard Studio: Sony PIctures Plot: The team behind the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code returns for the highly anticipated Angels & Demons, based upon the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon, who once again finds that forces with ancient roots are willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to advance their goals. Ron Howard again directs the film, which is produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and John Calley. The screenplay is by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman. When Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati - the most powerful underground organization in history - he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization\\\'s most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican\\\'s only hope for survival. [More] [Less]
Release Date: November 13, 2009 Genre: Action Cast: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson Directed: Roland Emmerich Written by: Roland Emmerich & Harald Kloser Produced by: Harald Kloser, Mark Gordon & Larry Franco Executive Producers: Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich,Michael Wimer Plot: Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments. 2012 is an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. [More] [Less]
Release Date: January 23, 2009 Genre: Action, Thriller Cast: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra, Shane Brolly, Kevin Grevioux Director: Patrick Tatopoulos Producers: Len Wiseman, Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi Studio: Sony Pictures Plot: RISE OF THE LYCANS delves into the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires, known as Death Dealers, and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves). A young Lycan, Lucian (Michael Sheen), emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has persecuted them for hundreds of years. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, the beautiful vampire Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle to free the Lycans from their brutal enslavement. [More] [Less]
Release Date: Dec 19, 2008 Genre: Drama Starring: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Barry Pepper Director: Gabriele Muccino Plot: Academy Award® nominee Will Smith stars in the drama Seven Pounds, re-teaming with the director and producers of The Pursuit of Happyness for the emotional story of a man who will change the lives of seven strangers. Directed by: Gabriele Muccino Written by: Grant Nieporte Produced by: Todd Black James Lassiter Jason Blumenthal Steve Tisch Will Smith Executive Producers: David Crockett Domenico Procacci Cast: Will Smith This film is not yet rated by the MPAA. For future ratings information refer to http://www.filmratings.com. Credits not final Release Date: December 19, 2008 [More] [Less]
Back in the 50\\\'s and 60\\\'s, this is what they would run at the Drive in between features, to advertise the snack bar fare, and to let you know how much time you had to get back to your car. Campy, nostaligic, and fun.
Release Date: June 12, 2009 Genre: Action, Thriller Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, James Gandolfini Director: Tony Scott Producers: Todd Black, Tony Scott Studio: Sony Pictures Plot: In The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. John Travolta stars as Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the trains passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But theres one riddle Garber can\'t solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape? [More] [Less]
Release Date: Feb 13, 2009 Genre: Drama Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Moni Moshonov, Isabella Rossellini, John Ortiz Director: James Gray Writers: James Gray, Richard Menello Studio: Magnolia Pictures Plot: Set in the insular world of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, TWO LOVERS is a classic romantic drama, with Joaquin Phoenix giving a raw and vulnerable performance as Leonard, a charismatic but troubled young man who moves back into his childhood home following a recent heartbreak. While recovering under the watchful eye of his parents (Isabella Rossellini and Moni Monoshov), Leonard meets two women in quick succession: Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), a mysterious and beautiful neighbor who is exotic and out-of-place in Leonard\'s staid world, and Sandra, the lovely and caring daughter of a businessman who is buying out his family\'s dry-cleaning business. Leonard becomes deeply infatuated by Michelle, who seems poised to fall for him, but is having a self-destructive affair with a married man. At the same time, mounting pressure from his family pushes him towards committing to Sandra. Leonard is forced to make an impossible decision between the impetuousness of desire and the comfort of love or risk falling back into the darkness that nearly killed him. [More] [Less]
Release Date: Jan 16, 2009 Genre: Comedy Starring: Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O\'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale Director: Steve Carr Studio: Sony Pictures Plot: In Columbia Pictures\' comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Kevin James stars as the title character, a single, suburban dad, trying to make ends meet as a security officer at a New Jersey mall. Though no one else takes his job seriously, Paul considers himself on the front lines of safety. When a heist shuts down the megaplex, Jersey\'s most formidable mall cop will have to become a real cop to save the day. [More] [Less]
Release Date: Oct 24, 2008 Genre: Foreign, Thriller Cast: Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl, Karin Bergquist Director: Tomas Alfredson Writer: John Ajvide Lindqvist Studio: Magnolia Pictures Plot: A fragile, anxious boy, 12-year-old Oskar is regularly bullied by his stronger classmates but never strikes back. The lonely boy\'s wish for a friend seems to come true when he meets Eli, also 12, who moves in next door to him with her father. A pale, serious young girl, she only comes out at night and doesn\'t seem affected by the freezing temperatures. Coinciding with Eli\'s arrival is a series of inexplicable disappearances and murders. One man is found tied to a tree, another frozen in the lake, a woman bitten in the neck. Blood seems to be the common denominator and for an introverted boy like Oskar, who is fascinated by gruesome stories, it doesn\'t take long before he figures out that Eli is a vampire. But by now a subtle romance has blossomed between Oskar and Eli, and she gives him the strength to fight back against his aggressors. Oskar becomes increasingly aware of the tragic, inhuman dimension of Eli\'s plight, but cannot bring himself to forsake her. Frozen forever in a twelve-year-old\'s body, with all the burgeoning feelings and confused emotions of a young adolescent, Eli knows that she can only continue to live if she keeps on moving. But when Oskar faces his darkest hour, Eli returns to defend him the only way she can ... [More] [Less]
Release Date: 2009 Genre: Foreign, Horror Cast: Clovis Cornillac, Gabriella Wright, Alexandra Ansidei Director: Franck Vestiel Studio: Magolia Pictures Plot: In this French frightener, a man (Clovis Cornillac) wakes up to find himself at the bottom of a cavern. But this is no ordinary cave; it appears to be the abandoned labs of a company called Eden Log. However, the underground labyrinth isn\'t entirely empty. A creature prowls the halls, and the man must do all he can to escape its clutches. [More] [Less]
An assassin hiding out in an Italian village while he anticipates his last-ever assignment tempts fate by seeking out the friendship of a priest (Bonacelli) as well as the affection of a local woman (Placido).
Buzz:
Renown music-video director Anton Corbijn created an art-scene frenzy with his Joy Division biography, Control, back in 2007/08. Without any intended irony, we love that this production is so non-American (Hollywood) in its casting. All of the players surrounding Clooney should vie for the spotlight here, especially Thekla Reuten (if you've seen In Bruges, you'll know who she is) and the sensation-causing Violante Placido. Meanwhile, screenwriter Rowan Joffe has our attention, but more so for another 2010 film, Brighton Rock, his adaptation of Graham Greene's novel, which also finds him making his debut as director.
After being betrayed by the organization who hired him, an ex-Federale (Trejo) launches a brutal rampage of revenge against the people who double-crossed him.
Buzz:
Historically, Labor Day tends to be a snoozefest in terms of new releases, but not this year, since Robert Rodriguez's long-awaited Planet Terror spin-off is finally set for release, in the wake of The Expendables' success, no less ... Danny Trejo's knife-wielding character was generating his own folklore, as it appeared the project was just another one of Rodriguez's great genre ideas, but everything came together in mid-2009 as cameras rolled that July in Austin. We're psyched for the Lindsay Lohanness, but really we're primed for more Cherry Darling and Jessica Alba playing opposing twin sisters. We hope the franchise talk -- both Rodriguez and Trejo have a trilogy in mind -- comes to fruition. Can we start to dream about Sin City 2 again?
A hard-boiled detective (Dillon) gets in between a group of bank robbers and their plan to make away with a $20 million bounty.
Buzz:
Matt Dillon is back on the right side of the law after Armored, but the real question here is: How do you promote a movie featuring one currently incarcerated musician/actor (T.I.) and post-Rihanna Chris Brown, whose fame allotment has been nearly drained. Suddenly, heist movies don't seem fun anymore.
A troubled evangelical minister (Fabian) agrees to let his last exorcism be filmed by a documentary crew, where a possessed young (Bell) brings him face to face with the devil himself.
Buzz:
Eli Roth (in producer mode here) and Lionsgate are testing the Paranormal Activity theorem here: can you turn a low-budget horror/thriller with no stars into a hit? Director Daniel Stamm caused a minor genre stir back in 2008/2009 with A Necessary Death; screenwriters Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland are back in theaters on September 10 (as co-directors) with a completely different project, The Virginity Hit, and we think they had something to do with this viral video. Funny or Dead?
A romantic comedy centered on a guy (Long) and a gal (Barrymore) who try to keep their love alive as they shuttle back and forth between Chicago and Los Angeles to see one another.
Buzz:
Drew Barrymore and Justin Long's on/off/on romance is like a real-life Paper Heart. Maybe that's what attracted documentarian Nanette Burstein (American Teen, The Kid Stays in the Picture) to make the jump to feature filmmaking.
The fearless Barney Ross (Stallone) leads a team of mercenaries on a mission to South America, where their objective -- to overthrow a ruthless dictator -- is more dangerous than the men realize.
Buzz:
Scott Pilgrim and Elizabeth Gilbert might find themselves defeated by a handful of old guys this weekend. My only questions here: Why did Sylvester Stallone not turn this screenplay into Rambo V? And who thought the name Barney Ross sounded tough?
Detectives Allen Gamble (Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Wahlberg) might not be New York City's finest, but when they discover a path that leads directly to one the city's biggest criminals, they seize the opportunity to become supercops.
Buzz:
Will Ferrell looks to put Land of the Lost behind him with a can't-miss late-summer comedy directed by his best handler, Adam McKay. Though New York City wasn't so kind to Ferrell the last time around. Funny that this will be the movie to topple Inception from its position atop the box-office.
While trying to get pregnant, a happily married woman (Roberts) realizes her life needs to go in a different direction, and after a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey.
Buzz:
While Liz Gilbert liberates herself on her globe-spanning trip, Julia Roberts might be feeling the pressure to deliver a major box-office hit, since Sex and the City 2 derailed the momentum earned by Mamma Mia!, Julie & Julia, and other "women's films". Still wondering what attracted subversive writer/director Ryan Murphy ("Glee", "Nip/Tuck") to the project, but I'm more curious whether Ms. Robert's let actual mosquitoes feast on her in India.Will Murphy + Roberts reunite for a second movie? They are both attached to an untitled romantic comedy where an executive learns to readjust to life at home with her kids after losing her job -- sort of like if Danny Moder became the breadwinner of the Roberts household.P.S. Did you know you can purchase the aromas of Ms. Gilbert's reawakening?
Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
Studio:
Warner Bros. Pictures
Plot:
Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a thief who specializes in the art of extraction, the stealing of secrets from a target's subconscious. Though his profession cost him everything he has ever loved and has turned him into a fugitive, an offer for a final job -- one that requires him to plant an idea instead of pilfering it -- could be his chance at redemption.
Buzz:
Our founder has already called this "the movie of the decade".
Nanny McPhee (Thompson) arrives to help a harried young mother, Mrs. Green (Gyllenhaal), with running the family farm while her husband is away at war. With Mrs. Green's children waging a personal war with their two spoiled cousins, Nanny McPhee uses her magic to teach the kids five important new lessons.
Buzz:
A sequel? Surely. While the original Nanny McPhee wasn't a textbook blockbuster, it earned over $100 million in theaters (worldwide) on a reported budget of $25 million. Maybe Nanny McPhee teaches economic lessons to the farm kids here.
