Yahoo! Movies: New Drama DVD Releases

The Jazz Singer

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:43 -0000

In New York City, Yussel Rabinowitz (Neil Diamond) trains to be a cantor. Although his father (Laurence Olivier) and wife, Rivka (Catlin Adams), don't approve, he also sings and writes songs for a black soul group under the name Jess Robin. When the group gets an opportunity in California, their leader, Bubba (Franklyn Ajaye), asks Jess to join them. Reluctantly, Rivka and his father let him go. In Los Angeles, Jess meets record company executive Molly Bell (Lucie Arnaz). Impressed by his music, she tries to promote him. However, Jess still struggles and is about to give up when Molly gets him a solo TV spot. Just as Jess seems set for stardom, Rivka and his father arrive to plead for his return.

Samson Raphaelson's play about a talented singer's attempts to break away from a restrictive religious family was first filmed in 1927--when it became the first talkie. This--the third version--was made in 1980. Directed by Richard Fleischer after another director was dismissed, the film focuses on Molly's struggles to find opportunities for Jess, then on Jess's subsequent concert performances. Neil Diamond carries the film, singing his own songs with verve. (1 hr. 56 min.) Release date: Dec 1, 2009

Madagascar

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:42 -0000

This movie focuses on four residents and "stars" of the Central Park Zoo in New York City who are also best friends: a lion (Stiller), a zebra (Rock), a giraffe (Schwimmer) and a pregnant hippo (Smith). When one of them goes missing, the other three break out of the zoo looking for him, and eventually all four are captured and put in boxes to ship them back to the continent their species are originally from: Africa. An accident at sea, however, strands them on the shore of Madagascar. Having had humans take care of them their entire life, the four know nothing of surviving in the wild, or that one of them, the lion, is genetically predisposed to eat his three best friends. Exploring their surroundings, the four friends soon meet the Malagasy locals (a type of lemur given to having loud "rave-like" dance parties) and their carnivorous enemies, the fousas. As the two sides try to use these four new, strange (and large) friends to their benefit, our heroes are also confronted with the reality of their predestined roles in nature. (1 hr. 26 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Scarface

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:41 -0000

Brian De Palma's blood-and-sun-drenched saga of a Cuban deportee�s rise to the top of Miami's cocaine business has become something of a popular classic since its release; it's been referenced in rap songs and subsequent gangster movies and quoted the world over. Despite this lovefest with the dialogue, the film�s brutal violence and lack of positive characters still make it controversial and disliked by certain critics. Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, whose intelligence, guts, and ambition help him skyrocket from dishwasher to the top of a criminal empire but whose eventual paranoia and incestuous desire for his kid sister (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) prove his undoing. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Tony�s neglected coke-addicted trophy wife, and Steven Bauer is his concerned friend. F. Murray Abraham, Robert Loggia, and Paul Shenar are some of Tony�s sleazy business partners and potential killers. Oliver Stone wrote the expletive-packed screenplay, based on Howard Hawks�s 1932 version--which was ostensibly about Al Capone and starred Paul Muni and George Raft. The synth-heavy Giorgio Moroder score expertly evokes the drug-fueled decadence of 1980s Miami, and De Palma provides several of his elaborate set pieces, including a horrific showstopper in a motel room with a chain saw.

RERELEASE: September 19th, 2003 (New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Detroit, Dallas, Miami and San Francisco) (2 hrs. 50 min.) Release date: Nov 1, 2009

The Breakfast Club

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:40 -0000

When five high school students from different social groups are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention, they find themselves interacting with and understanding each other for the first time. A jock (Emilio Estevez), a stoner (Judd Nelson), a princess (Molly Ringwald), a basket case (Ally Sheedy), and a brain (Anthony Michael Hall) talk about everything from parental tension to sex to peer pressure to hurtful stereotypes while serving time. Ultimately, the five find that they may have more in common than they ever imagined and learn more about themselves as well as each other. (1 hr. 37 min.) Release date: Nov 1, 2009

Empire Records

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:39 -0000

This rocking, slice-of-life comedy examines one so-strange-it's-normal day at a busy record store, from the manager's attempts to cope with his bizarre young staff to the loves, lusts and whinings of his slacker clerks. From the director of "Pump Up the Volume." (1 hr. 31 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Any Given Sunday

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:38 -0000

Although professional football provides the action-packed backdrop of Any Given Sunday, the film takes a simultaneously epic and intimate look at the men and women who comprise the milieu of the film, from the modern-day gladiators of the gridiron, their coaches and often beleaguered families, to the moneyed team owners and business concerns who attempt to control the game as big business, to the hungry sports media, and hangers-on trying to get a taste of the glamour. (2 hrs. 42 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Gone With the Wind

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:37 -0000

Hot-tempered, self-centered, part-Irish Southern beauty Scarlett O�Hara, played to the teeth by Vivien Leigh, loves the gentlemanly Ashley Wilkes. Smug, rebellious, honest blockade-running profiteer Rhett Butler, portrayed gracefully and naturally by Clark Gable, loves Scarlett. Ashley, who is also in love with Scarlett, marries his genteel cousin Melanie because he believes that their quiet similarities will create a better marriage than Scarlett�s passion. Meanwhile, sparks fly between Rhett and Scarlett at their first encounter and continue throughout Scarlett�s first two marriages. Scarlett and Rhett finally wed, but Scarlett continues to pine for her beloved Ashley. Set against the Civil War and Southern Reconstruction, this tragic love quadrangle offers the burning of Atlanta and fields of wounded Confederates as part of its lush scenery. Meticulous backdrops, glorious sunsets, numerous silhouettes, and the ultrasaturated Technicolor film create a hyperreal vision. The romantic score is every bit as lush and dramatic as the photography, borrowing folk melodies from the Old South to make the tragic war concrete. Heavy nostalgic tones pervade the often witty dialogue and larger-than-life charms and faults of the leads. GONE WITH THE WIND stands among the greatest epic dramas ever filmed. (3 hrs. 39 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Boys Don t Cry

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:36 -0000

Follow Teena Brandon as she becomes Brandon Teena and claims a new male identity in the rural town of Falls City, Nebraska. There, Brandon successfully pulls off portraying a man unbeknownst to the women he's dating, eventually falling in love with Lana. He also befriends Lana's friends John and Tom. At First, Brandon's new friends like him and treat him as a buddy. But when Brandon's sexual identity is revealed, the deception triggers a spiral of horrific violence that ends in homicide. (1 hr. 54 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Pay It Forward

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:35 -0000

Based on a best-selling novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and boasting the star-power of three prior Oscar winners--Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osmont--PAY IT FORWARD spins a heartwarming yarn about an eleven-year-old boy who comes up with an utopian idea as a project for school. History teacher Eugene Simenot (Spacey) offers the same ongoing extra-credit assignment he has proffered every year: Come up with an idea that will change the world. However, he expects nothing more from his students than half-hearted efforts that fall far shy of their mark. Simenot is therefore unprepared for precocious, irrepressible Trevor McKinney (played with wide-eyed wonder by Osmont), who conjures up a stunning scheme. Trevor suggests the concept that every person who benefits from someone else's good deed should "pay it forward," instead of paying it back, and in turn offer favors to three other people. The first guinea pig for Trevor's experiment is his overworked, imperfect mom (Helen Hunt) for whom he tries to find a boyfriend.

Director Mimi Leder, best known for powerful thrillers like DEEP IMPACT, imbues the solid script of PAY IT FORWARD with a more grandiose aura. However, it is the movie's triumvirate of heralded stars--Spacey, Hunt and Osmont--who propel this compelling yarn. (2 hrs. 2 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Fried Green Tomatoes

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:34 -0000

Academy Award winners Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy star with Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker in this comic, heartwarming tale of family, friendship and murder in rural Georgia. In a Southern nursing home, a feisty resident and old local fixture named Ninny Threadgoode (Tandy) befriends Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) a depressed housewife and stirs her to action with an inspirational tale. She tells the story of a transcendent friendship between two young women living in Georgia in the 1930s, Idgie Threadgoode (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth (Mary Louise Parker), who forge a powerful bond after witnessing a terrible tragedy together. The two women open a cafe (where fried green tomatoes are a house specialty) together in their small Southern town of Whistle Stop and manage to survive the hardships of life, despite racism, prejudice and the pressures of trying to live their lives as individuals in a strict and close-minded Southern society. Their friendship lasts through many ups and downs over the years, helping one of the women through an abusive marriage, and buoying both of them through the gossip and jealousy of those small-minded people who try to control their lives. Based on Fannie Flagg's best-selling novel FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE. (2 hrs. 10 min.) Release date: Nov 1, 2009

Forrest Gump

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:33 -0000

The title character leads viewers through an accidental travelogue of American social history from the early 1960s through the present in this revisionist fable. Vietnam, desegregation, Watergate, and more are presented from the perspective of Tom Hanks's loveably slow-witted Forrest Gump as he finds himself embroiled in situations he can't quite comprehend. Hanks leads an excellent cast, featuring Robin Wright Penn as Jenny, Forrest's lifelong love; Gary Sinise as the irascible Lt. Dan, his Vietnam superior; Mykelti Williamson as Bubba, a shrimp-loving soldier; and Sally Fields as his devoted mother. Robert Zemeckis's emotional, heartwarming film garnered 13 Academy Award nominations and six wins, including Best Picture, Director, Actor--Tom Hanks, and Adapted Screenplay. (2 hrs. 22 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Last Samurai

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:32 -0000

Set in the late 1870s, this epic film depicts the beginnings of the modernization of Japan, as the island nation evolved past a feudal society, as symbolized by the eradication of the samurai way of life. We see all this happen from the point of view of an alcoholic Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokesman, Captain Woodrow Algren (Cruise), who arrives in Japan to train the troops of the emperor, Meiji, as part of a break away from the long-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories, as the emperor's new army prepares to wipe out the remaining samurai warriors. When Algren is injured in combat and captured by the samurai, he learns about their warrior honor code from their leader, Katsumoto, which forces him to decide which side of the conflict he actually wants to be on. (2 hrs. 34 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Juno

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:31 -0000

The word "quirky" has become the quick and easy way to describe films such as LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and LARS AND THE REAL GIRL that straddle the lines between indie and studio films and comedy and drama. While JUNO fits into that same category, this distinctive dramedy is in a class all its own. Ellen Page (X-MEN: THE LAST STAND) stars as Juno, a witty teenage girl whose boredom doesn't lead her to the mall. Instead, she makes a one-time trip into the arms of her best friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). When Juno discovers that she's pregnant, she's forced to grow up fast as she tries to find adoptive parents for her quickly growing child.

JUNO might have a lot of strengths--Page's award-worthy performance, a pitch-perfect soundtrack, excellent direction from Jason Reitman--but it's the screenwriting debut of writer Cody Diablo that makes this such a winning film. Famous for her blog and her book CANDY GIRL: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF AN UNLIKELY STRIPPER, Diablo has a unique voice and an incredible ear for dialogue. But even the nearly perfect script wouldn't sound so good if it weren't for the talents of these actors, particularly Page. She won raves for her first major role in HARD CANDY, but this performance proves it wasn't a fluke. The rest of the cast, especially J.K. Simmons as Juno's dad, is just as worthy of attention. JUNO continues Cera's cinematic ascent after his success with the hit comedy SUPERBAD, and his ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT costar Jason Bateman uses his dry delivery to great effect as a potential parent for Juno's baby. Songs from Kimya Dawson perfectly capture the film's tone with the music's sweet, smart, and funny sounds. (1 hr. 31 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Amadeus

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:30 -0000

In a lavish 18th Century parlor in Austria, an elderly man is found, by his servant, with his throat slashed. The wound is self-inflicted, and the man is the little-known composer Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), contemporary and adversary of the now-famed, but once reviled, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). Later. from his cell in an insane asylum, Salieri tells a priest (Herman Meckler) the story of his association with Mozart, confessing that he actually killed the brilliantly gifted but troubled young man. Based on the award-winning play by Peter Shaffer, Milos Forman's riveting, brilliant, Oscar-winning AMADEUS is a fictionalized account of the real-life mysterious death of Mozart. Abraham, in the role that won him the Best Actor Oscar, is the celebrated court composer to Joseph II (Jeffrey Jones)--his confidence and religious dedication shaken when he meets the boorish 26-year-old Mozart as he chases his future wife (Elizabeth Berridge) around a party while making obscene remarks. Furious that this clownish boy can produce such beautiful music, Salieri determines to keep Mozart's talent from lasting recognition and sets himself on a course for Mozart�s destruction that leads to his own as well. Mozart continues to mount beautiful, moving operas (incredibly staged in the film), but becomes obsessed with writing a Requiem as his friends, family, health, and resources waste away, Salieri�s manipulating presence always there. It is hard to imagine anyone--whether they are knowledgeable about classical music or not--who would not be held captive by this superb feast for the eyes and ears, a film whose excellence can be felt in every detail.

The director's cut includes new footage that was not used in the 1984 original, as well as improved sound. (2 hrs. 38 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

House of Wax

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:29 -0000

Ever been creeped out by the life-like statues at a wax museum? Yes? But have you ever recognized your old roommate behind the glass? Vincent Price plays the menacing Professor Henry Jarrod, in a role that would solidify his reputation as the creepiest man in Hollywood. With everything from cancan girls to rubber paddleballs finding their way into the audience, 'House of Wax' takes full advantage of the novel 3-D stereoscopic process. (1 hr. 28 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Message in A Bottle

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:28 -0000

The story of a long distance love connection that is made when Penn, a Chicago journalist, discovers a love letter that Costner, a widowed sailboat repairer, let drift into the ocean. She quickly tracks him down and an honest bond forms between the two. When he discovers that she hasn't been entirely honest with him, the betrayal threatens to ruin what has been, so obviously up to this point, a wonderful, romantic thing. (2 hrs. 12 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

It's a Wonderful Life

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:27 -0000

George Bailey is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led him to stay. He sacrficed his education for his brother's, kept the family-run savings and loan afloat, protected the town from the avarice of the greedy banker Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes, showing him what life would have become for the residents of Bedford Falls is he had never lived. (2 hrs. 9 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Three Kings

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:26 -0000

The Gulf War is over, and three soldiers want to go home rich. Major Archie Gates retires in two weeks. Sergeant Troy Barlow is a new father. Chief Elgin is on a four-month paid vacation from Detroit. Saddam Hussein stole a great deal of gold from Kuwait, and these soldiers have no problem with stealing it from him. But on their way to collect their booty, they bear witness to the the disturbing results of the war effort. President Bush has encouraged Iraqi citizens to fight back against Saddam and pledged to support them, but when they rise up, they get NO American support, and they're getting slaughtered. As the soldiers realize the true situation in Iraq, they're confronted with their own humanity, and they're forced to rethink who they are and what they're doing. (1 hr. 55 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Interview With the Vampire

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:25 -0000

Horror author Anne Rice penned the screenplay for this full-blooded adaptation of her novel, which chronicles the life of 18th-century nobleman Louis (Brad Pitt) after he is bitten by powerful, charismatic vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise). Though enthralled with the undead lifestyle at first, Louis is unable to warm up to killing humans and grows despondent. To comfort Louis, Lestat creates another vampire (Kirsten Dunst in a star-making peformance), a young girl who from then on cannot age. Antonio Banderas appears as Armand, a 400-year-old vampire, and Christian Slater plays the radio producer who interviews the remorseful Louis.

Director Neil Jordan captures the lush decadence and erotic fervor of the novel, infusing the film with rich, dusky tones. The big budget is well used to bring each period and place to sharply detailed life, and there is no skimping on the blood or immortal angst. Thandie Newton has a small role as Louis's Creole servant near the beginning of the film, and Jordan regular Stephen Rea appears as a Parisian vampire theater star. INTERVIEW broke weekend box-office records when it premiered and has since earned a spot in the pantheon of great vampire films. (2 hrs. 2 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Shopping For Fangs

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:24 -0000

In this amalgam of comedy styles and genres, a young man believes he may be turning into a werewolf; meanwhile, a lonely housewife is confused by her mysterious blackouts, and meets an irreverent and brash waitress who leads to an unusual and unforgettable relationship. All these quirky characters and more interact in this crazy comedy in which anything can happen. (1 hr. 29 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

A Time to Kill

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:23 -0000

In a small southern town in the 1960s, a black man awaits trial for murdering the two rednecks who viciously raped his 10-year-old daughter. A young, idealistic white lawyer takes up the father's defense, and the incendiary case becomes a firestorm of racism and controversy, ripping the town apart. Based on John Grisham's bestselling first novel. (2 hrs. 8 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

3,000 Miles to Graceland

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:22 -0000

A skilled band of criminals gang together with a goal to get rich at the 2001 International Elvis Convention in Las Vegas. Dressed to the nines as flawless Elvis impersonators and armed with enough ammo and electronic gadgets to easily knock off any establishment, it's no surprise when, at the last minute, the deal goes bad. A wild action-adventure film with twisting plot and a kicking soundtrack by George Clinton, 3,000 MILES TO GRACELAND is a non-stop rollicking ride. (2 hrs. 5 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Chinatown

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:21 -0000

"Forget it, Jake -- it's Chinatown." The opaque shrug that ends this 1970s classic embodies the film's world-weary depiction of people who are never what they seem and dark motives that dwell deep below the surface. Like the water that drives the plot, secrets in Chinatown have a way of bubbling up in the most unexpected places, as detective Jake Gittes (Nicholson) discovers when he takes on Evelyn Mulwray (Dunaway) as a client. Not so much a recreation of the classic-era Chandler and Hammett private-eye stories as an outright celebration of the depravity they only hinted at. A stunning achievement for both Polanski and Towne. Followed by Nicholson's direction of THE TWO JAKES in 1990. (2 hrs. 11 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Poison Ivy

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:20 -0000

A scheming woman named Ivy insinuates herself into a solitary schoolmate's wealthy family with evil intentions. (1 hr. 31 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Natural Born Killers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:19 -0000

Oliver Stone's over-the-top satire on America's worshipful fascination with tabloid criminals stars Woody Harrelson as Mickey Knox and Juliette Lewis as girlfriend-wife Mallory Wilson. Commencing with the dual murder of Mallory's sexually abusive father (Rodney Dangerfield) and grossly negligent mother (Edie McClurg), the anomic couple take off on a three-week killing spree across the country, telling everyone who they are so that they get the credit for their crimes. The media are immediately enthralled with the couple, especially Wayne Gale (Robert Downey Jr.), the bloodthirsty host of a tabloid TV show who follows their every move. By the time they're finally arrested, they've become such huge media stars that the cops treat them more like celebrities than criminals. Even the maniacal limelight-hogging warden of the Batongaville State Prison, Dwight McClusky (Tommy Lee Jones), is in awe. Stone pulls out all the stops in the prison riot, as the unwitting Gale becomes an unwilling participant in his own broadcast of the event. Again the director switches from film to video, from color to black and white, from sitcom parody to newsreel parody, and from one film stock to another, hoping to jar the audience out of its complacency with visual hyperbole. (2 hrs.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Once

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:18 -0000

The Irish romance ONCE may be a musical, but it is miles away from the traditional Hollywood idea of people bursting into song. Glen Hansard (frontman for indie rock band The Frames) plays the guy, a street musician who is playing for change when he meets the girl (Marketa Irglova), an immigrant from the Czech Republic. The pair immediately bond over their shared love of music (he is a guitarist, and she plays the piano), and the film chronicles their tentative relationship. Both are weighed down by plenty of baggage: his songs are fueled by a painful breakup, and she is a young mother who left her husband behind in her native country.

Like the independent favorite BEFORE SUNRISE, ONCE is a simple, sweet drama that doesn't rely on an elaborate plot. With its use of digital video and handheld cameras, ONCE matches its spare visual style to its intimate mood. Each moment feels stolen from real life, and the story is at once familiar and fresh. Driven more by music than by dialogue, ONCE features a stirring soundtrack of heartfelt indie rock sung by Hansard and Irglova. Before his foray into film, director John Carney (ON THE EDGE) played bass in The Frames, and his passion for music is clear in this modern musical that hits every note perfectly. (1 hr. 28 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Disclosure

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:17 -0000

Based on Michael Crichton's controversial bestseller, a powerful woman at a computer software company jeapordizes a man's career when he spurns her sexual advances. (2 hrs. 9 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Say Anything

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:16 -0000

Romantic comedy about a less-than-average student who falls in love with a brilliant biochemistry major. (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Antwone Fisher

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:15 -0000

Based on a true story, a biographical drama centering upon Antwone "Fish" Fisher who--once a Sony Pictures security guard--eventually gained fame as an acclaimed writer and a Hollywood producer. In the earlier part of his life, he was a sailor prone to violent outbursts. On the verge of being kicked out of the Navy for repeated fighting, he is sent to a naval psychiatrist for help. Refusing at first to open up, the young man eventually breaks down and reveals a horrific childhood rife with abuse. With the help of a Navy psychiatrist, he turns his life around and decides to embark on a search to find the family that abandoned him as a baby. Through the guidance of his doctor, he confronts his painful past and begins a quest to find the family he never knew. In the course of that search, his life changes dramatically. (1 hr. 57 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Where the Day Takes You

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:14 -0000

Stripped of sentimentality, this film visits homeless teens and young adults who survive on the margins of society. Living by begging, theft and prostitution, this loose-knit community forms an extended family. King (Dermot Mulroney) is the unofficial patriarch looking after the motley crew of addicts and runaways. He especially works hard to keep Greg (Sean Astin), a troubled boy, away from a local drug dealer. But all King's street smarts are not enough to protect his friends from danger. Director Marc Rocco's 1992 film features a dream cast of young actors before they were stars. (1 hr. 32 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

The Last King of Scotland

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:13 -0000

Forest Whitaker delivers a ferociously commanding performance as bloodthirsty Ugandan president Idi Amin in Kevin MacDonald's THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND. Adapted from the novel by Giles Foden, the film recounts Amin's horrific reign through the eyes of a fictional character, Nick Garrigan (James McAvoy), a young doctor from Scotland who travels to Uganda hoping to do some good. Nick is more sanguine about new president Amin than is his counterpart Sarah Merrit (Gillian Armstrong), whose experience causes her to be skeptical of Amin's bombastic declarations. After an automobile accident, Nick is called in to treat the president's wounds. His authoritative behavior impresses Amin, who charms Nick into becoming his personal physician. Nick embraces his newfound life of luxury, but he is unable to grasp the reality of the situation. When he does finally realize the atrocities Amin is inflicting upon his people (and is also capable of inflicting on Nick), the terrified doctor tries to make a frantic escape before it's too late.

MacDonald, director of the acclaimed documentaries ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER and TOUCHING THE VOID, makes a startlingly assured transition into fictional filmmaking with THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND. Working with cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (THE CELEBRATION) and editor Justine Wright, MacDonald brings 1970s Uganda to pulsating life, perfectly recreating that tumultuous era. But ultimately the film belongs to Whitaker: as he shifts from charming to maniacal in the space of a short, unexpected breath, he infuses Amin with startling humanity. (2 hrs. 1 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

From the Earth to the Moon

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:12 -0000

Beginning with President Kennedy's speech before Congress on May 25, 1961 extolling the virtues of reaching the moon by the end of the decade, the celebrated series created by Tom Hanks and HBO details the project that first put man on the moon. All twelve episodes appear here on six tapes and 3 DVD's. Received 17 Emmy nominations. Release date: Oct 6, 2009

The Replacements

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:11 -0000

Inspired by the too-ludicrous-to-be-believed National Football League strike of 1987, Howard Deutch's THE REPLACEMENTS follows a team of scab players as they fill in for the real pros. Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman), a compassionate and dedicated coach, is rehired by the owner of the Washington Sentinels to pull together a new crew in order to finish off the season and keep the stadium filled. This includes a safety who is on work release, a lightning-quick wide receiver with bricks for hands, a deranged linebacker-SWAT team member, a chain-smoking Welsh kicker, and Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves), a former college quarterback who lost his chance at the big time after a disastrous Sugar Bowl appearance. The newly formed squad must learn to set aside its differences if it is to win three out of four games and make it to the playoffs. Along the way, Falco finds himself harassed by the Sentinels' star quarterback, Eddie Martel, as well as falling in love with the team's head cheerleader, Annabelle (Brooke Langton). A final showdown against the strike-breaking reigning champions gives McGinty and Falco one last chance at redemption. Deutch's lighthearted comedy is greatly aided by Hackman and Reeves's surprisingly sincere performances. (1 hr. 58 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Practical Magic

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:10 -0000

The two Owen sisters from a small Massachusetts are normal siblings- except they are actual witches. They use their magical powers to grant spells for love. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Empire of the Sun

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:09 -0000

Steven Spielberg's EMPIRE OF THE SUN, based on the autobiographical novel by J.G. Ballard, stars Christian Bale as Jim Graham, a British schoolboy separated from his upper-class colonial parents when the Japanese sweep into Shanghai during World War II. Temporarily orphaned, Jim attaches himself to Basie (John Malkovich), a fast-talking American opportunist determined make a buck off the spoils of war. Later, when the two are interned in a prison camp, Jim's boyish fantasies are fueled by the grace and daring of the Japanese fighter pilots whom he comes to idolize despite their enemy status. Spielberg's visually spectacular wartime epic is a testimony to the human will to survive and a child's ability to find wonder even in the midst of horror. Thirteen-year-old Welsh actor Christian Bale is brillant as Jim in his feature film debut. Spielberg himself identified more with Jim, a boy who is obsessed with flying and who experiences the death of his innocence, than with E.T.'s Elliott. After a year of negotiations with the Chinese, Spielberg and his crew were allowed to film in Shanghai, which was virtually unchanged since World War II. (2 hrs. 32 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Murder By Numbers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:08 -0000

A tenacious homicide detective (Sandra Bullock) and her new partner (Ben Chaplin) uncover a trail of shrewdly concealed evidence that links two brilliant young men (Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt) to a murder. (2 hrs.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Client

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:07 -0000

In this taut legal drama a trailer-park kid witnesses the suicide of a mob lawyer and is pursued by authorities trying to find out if he knows anything. In an attempt to protect himself, the 11-year-old hires a feisty female attorney who takes up his case and develops a bond with him. Based on the novel by John Grisham. Academy Award Nominations: Best Actress--Susan Sarandon. (2 hrs. 4 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Crutch

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:06 -0000

Set in the suburban middle-class world outside New York City, David's life is seemingly normal, but behind manicured doors lays a dilemma that will tear the family apart. When Jack, David's estranged father, leaves his alcoholic wife Katie, of seventeen years, David is forced to become the parent of his siblings. With a doting girlfriend to contend with and an alcoholic mother to care for, David is overwhelmed. He is thrust into premature adulthood, and turns, inevitably, to the only security he knows. Kenny, a thirty-something has-been actor turned theatre coach, quickly becomes obsessed with David. Struggling with his volatile emotions, Kenny weakens and crosses this taboo boundary. David, vulnerable and confused about his own coming of age, succumbs to Kenny's attractive power and influence, leading him to a life of drinking and drugs. (1 hr. 29 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

U.S. Marshals

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:05 -0000

Tommy Lee Jones reprises his Oscar-nominated role as lawman Sam Gerard in THE FUGITIVE. This time, his lamster is a former Secret Service agent accused--perhaps wrongfully--of the cold-blooded murder of two of his unit members. As the chase unfolds, Gerard becomes more and more fascinated by his highly trained and intelligent quarry--and more convinced of his innocence. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Sleepers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:04 -0000

Tommy, John, Michael, and Shakes are four young teenage punks growing up in the streets of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen in the mid-1960s. When these four friends pull a prank that that goes awry, they find themselves serving time at the Wilkinson School for Boys, where they are repeatedly and sadistically violated and tortured by four guards--the most menacing being Noles, portrayed by Kevin Bacon. Fifteen years later, the foursome is still dealing with the emotional repercussions of their abuse. Tommy (Billy Crudup) and John (Ron Eldard) have become common criminals, and when they spot Noles in a local watering hole they can't pass up the chance for revenge. It's up to Shakes (Jason Patric), a low-profile newspaper employee, and Michael (Brad Pitt), a lawyer with the district attorney's office, to save their friends while keeping the details of their tortured childhoods secret. Dustin Hoffman appears as Danny Snyder, and Robert De Niro stars as Father Bobby, the local neighborhood priest who is as comfortable on the streets or in a bar as he is behind the pulpit. Based on the allegedly true story by Lorenzo Carcaterra, the film is directed by Barry Levinson (DINER, RAIN MAN). (2 hrs. 20 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Proof of Life

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:03 -0000

An American engineer in a Latin American country is captured by anti-government forces. When the rebels learn his identity they demand $3 million for his safe return. However, his U.S. employer is on the verge of insolvency and will not provide the ransom. Peter's wife Alice is forced to deal with the matter on her own. She retains the services of freelance professional hostage negotiator Terry Thorne. With the help of a fellow negotiator, Dino, and a trio of highly trained mercenaries, Terry mounts a bold operation to rescue Peter that could as easily result in disaster as in triumph. (2 hrs. 15 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Murder At 1600

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:02 -0000

A mysterious murder report summons a hardened Washington D.C. homicide detective to the shadowy halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue--and draws him into a web of conspiracy, cover-ups, and corruption. (1 hr. 47 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

All About My Mother

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:01 -0000

Manuela, a nurse and single mother in her late thirties must come to terms with the tragic loss of her only son, Esteban, when he is struck by a car. She never told Esteban who he was, "your father died long before you were born" was all she ever told him. In memory of her son--who's his father's namesake--Manuela leaves Madrid and goes to Barcelona in search of Esteban's father. However, the man that she left behind, eighteen years ago when she was pregnant, is now a transvestite named Lola. The search for a man with that name cannot be simple. And indeed it isn't. (1 hr. 41 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Othello

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:00 -0000

With Walter Felsenstein at the helm, this filmed 1969 performance of Verdi�s OTHELLO is cinematic in scope. Hanns Nocker, Christa Noack, Vladimir Baur, and Hanna Schmook star in this release that marks the first color filming of an opera. (2 hrs. 46 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Born of Fire

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:59 -0000

Photographed on location in London and Turkey. The film follows a young man through a tale of the occult and the supernatural as he embarks upon a quest to discover the truth about his father's mysterious death near the volcanic mountains of Turkey. (1 hr. 24 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Sordid Lives

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:58 -0000

The bizarre death of Peggy Ingraham, the matriarch of a working-class Texas family, sets off fireworks within her dysfunctional family. Her determinedly proper daughter Latrelle is in denial over the fact that her son Ty, an actor trying to make it in Hollywood, is gay, and is relieved that her only brother, a gay drag queen and dedicated Tammy Wynette impersonator, has been confined to a mental institution for 23 years simply because he is gay. Latrelle's brassy sister LaVonda, however, thinks her brother should be released from the institution and has a perfect right to attend their mother's funeral. Meanwhile, Ty, who has strived hard to accept his homosexuality, realizes that there is no way he can return home for his grandmother's funeral without coming out to his mother. (1 hr. 51 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Christmas Child

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:57 -0000

William R. Moses (FALCON CREST, PERRY MASON) stars as an emotionally barren man who rediscovers the meaning of Christmas in this heartwarming holiday film based on a short story by Christian author and pastor Max Lucado. Hoping for a respite from his shaky marriage to wife Meg (Megan Follows), Chicago journalist Jack Davenport (Moses) travels on assignment to a small town in Texas to investigate a mysterious nativity scene. With the help of a local minister (contemporary Christian recording star Steven Curtis Chapman in his first acting role), Jack begins to unravel the mystery and finds himself on a healing journey of self-discovery that reaffirms his passion for life, love, family, and the holiday season. Release date: Oct 13, 2009

The Cinder Path

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:56 -0000

The downtrodden son of a farmer, married to one woman but in love with her sister, ships off to World War I in search of glory and redemption. On the front lines, he must battle not only the enemy but also the demons of self-doubt which have plagued him throughout his life. A miniseries presentation of Catherine Cookson's novel. Release date: Dec 8, 2009

The Girl in the Park

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:55 -0000

A socially isolated woman still haunted by the disappearance of her three-year-old daughter 15 years ago obsesses over the prospect that a troubled young woman whom she has recently befriended may in fact be her long-lost daughter in THE LAKE HOUSE, writer-director David Auburn's affecting psychological drama. Sigourney Weaver stars as the long-grieving mother, and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's Kate Bosworth stars as the mixed-up teen who becomes the object of the dejected woman's hopeful fixation. (1 hr. 49 min.) Release date: Dec 1, 2009

Renacida

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:54 -0000

A phony television "faith healer" hires a talent scout to place healthy performers in the audience to be cured of non-existent ailments. A shocking expose. (1 hr. 44 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

Wings of Desire

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:53 -0000

The sky over Wenders's war-scarred Berlin is full of gentle angels wearing trench coats who listen to the tortured thoughts of mortals and try to comfort them. One wishes to become mortal after falling in love with a beautiful trapeze artist. Peter Falk, as himself, assists in the transformation by explaining the simple joys of a human experience, such as the sublime combination of coffee and cigarettes. The result is a film that is simultaneously sentimental and cerebral. (2 hrs. 10 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Where God Left His Shoes

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:52 -0000

John Leguizamo stars as a father, Frank, whose family is forced from their New York City apartment and into a homeless shelter. But on Christmas Eve, it looks as though the clouds are beginning to part: an apartment is available for them in a housing project if Frank can find a job. So begins a winter odyssey as Frank and his stepson wander the snowy streets in search of work. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:51 -0000

A Southern comedy drama about life, love and family which follows a group of lifelong friends as they stage a rather unorthodox intervention to help a young playwright unravel the truth about her eccentric mother, find forgiveness and come to terms with her difficult past. (1 hr. 56 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Don t Die Without Telling Me Where You re Going

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:50 -0000

From Argentine director Eliseo Subiela comes this sparkling gem of magical realism along the lines of Wim Wenders' WINGS OF DESIRE. Leopoldo is a lonely film projectionist in a struggling theater is trying to bring his dreams to life with an invention that captures his somnambulant imaginings and makes them visible. His wife dismisses him as a hack and the only person who believes in him is his friend Oscar, who is working on an invention of his own. The only person, that is, until Leopoldo meets Rachel, who appears to him in his dreams to reveal that he was one of cinema's early inventors in a past life, and she has been his companion throughout centuries of reincarnation. (2 hrs.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Love N' Dancing

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:49 -0000

In this romance, two dancers get a second chance at proving their talent. Jake Mitchell (screenwriter and producer Tom Malloy) is a skilled dancer whose abilities are even more impressive when we realize that he is deaf. But Jake worries that his title of World West Coast Swing Champion wasn�t truly earned and that the judges only awarded him the prize because of his deafness. Jessica Donovan (CRANK�s Amy Smart) spends her time as a teacher, but she longs for the days when she was a young dancer. When she and her fianc� schedule dance lessons with Jake to prepare for her wedding, she gets a taste of everything she misses. Plus, her fianc� is too busy for the lessons, and she and Jake find that there�s more than just West Coast Swing drawing them together. The partners decide to enter the championships--but will their tentative romance keep them from the win? LOVE �N DANCING also stars Billy Zane, Rachel Dratch, and Caroline Rhea. (1 hr. 33 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

The Pelican Brief

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:48 -0000

Julia Roberts (ERIN BROCKOVICH) stars in THE PELICAN BRIEF as sharp law student Darby Shaw whose querying mind gets her into trouble. A faithful adaptation of John Grisham's (THE FIRM) best-selling novel, this taut thriller follows the travails that beset Shaw when her theory on the cause of the deaths of two Supreme Court Justices lands her name on the conspirators' hit list. When Shaw teams up with reporter Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington--THE HURRICANE) they find themselves dodging deadly assassins in a suspenseful story that weaves complex narrative strands. The well-cast film also features a cameo by playwright-actor Sam Shepard (TRUE WEST). (2 hrs. 20 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Pudor

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:47 -0000

Director-screenwriter Tristan Ulloa teams with co-director David Ulloa to adapt author Santiago Roncaglielo Alfaguare's novel about the tenderness of family relationships. Stuck in the throes of a mid-life crisis, middle-aged wife and mother Julia suddenly finds her woes compounded when her own mother dies and her marriage begins to fall apart. It seems that the troubles between Julia and her husband, Juan, are having a detrimental effect on the rest of the family as well. Their youngest child Sergio may have been adopted, yet the further that Julia and Juan drift apart, the further Sergio drifts into a fantasy world of make-believe. Sergio's older sister, Marisa, detests her younger brother almost as much as she detests her own body, and as puberty finally kicks in the young girl does her best to adapt to her sexual orientation. Of course no adult wants to depend on their children for support, but this is exactly what has happened in the case of Grandpa Salvador. In the evenings, when the family gathers around the dinner table, the atmosphere in the house grows increasingly dense with each passing day. Perhaps sometime soon one member of the family will summon the courage to address the issue. (1 hr. 53 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Abismos de Pasion

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:46 -0000

Of the many British TV adaptations of Emily Bronte's gothic romance WUTHERING HEIGHTS, only a handful were able to cover the entire novel by virtue of the miniseries format. The first of these was telecast in four 50-minute segments from October 28 to November 18, 1967. Angela Scoular and Ian McShane starred as the foolishly headstrong aristocrat Cathy and her rough-hewn gypsy sweetheart, Heathcliff. The next full-scale TV version of WUTHERING HEIGHTS would not appear until 1978. (1 hr. 31 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Live!

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:45 -0000

Eva Mendes, Jay Hernandez, and Eric Lively star in a scathing mockumentary/media satire concerning a network executive (Mendes) who pitches a controversial show in which willing contestants participate in a real-life game of Russian Roulette. As the show goes into production, a documentary crew turns their cameras on the production to capture the firestorm of controversy that erupts as the premiere date draws ever closer. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Dec 1, 2009

Copycat

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:44 -0000

A psychopath is copying the crimes of renowned serial killers such as Son of Sam and the Boston Strangler, and the detective on the case turns to a forensic psychologist who specializes in the field. Unfortunately, the doctor has become a paranoid agoraphobic as the result of an earlier assault at the hands of the killer. A violent, bloody thriller. (2 hrs. 3 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Betty Blue

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:43 -0000

A shocking and offbeat story of two French lovers, Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade) and Betty (Beatrice Dalle), who fall into a deeply erotic and all-encompassing relationship. Zorg is a simple repairman in his mid-thirties who lives a relatively dull life in a remote, weathered shack until he meets Betty, a sexy, mercurial younger woman who challenges his way of thinking and forces him to change his life. When Betty and Zorg are not having wild and uninhibited sex (and joyously traipsing around naked), Zorg is writing his novel, an unpublished masterwork that Betty discovers and vehemently champions. Betty, prone to violent fits of passionate rage, attacks Zorg's boss and burns their shack down, leaving Zorg no choice but to join her on a series of spirited adventures. They move in with Betty's best friend and her boyfriend and for a brief time live a happy bohemian lifestyle, wild and crazy in love. But as the film progresses, Betty's mental illness becomes more apparent, she lives in a fitful manic world of passionate highs and lows while Zorg desperately attempts to coddle and comfort her. Finally, the lovers start over in a dreamy rural town, hoping to live a normal life, but Betty's fantasy world encroaches on her reality as she slowly spirals out of control in this intense story of love and lust, based on the novel by Philippe Djian. (1 hr. 55 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Downhill Racer

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:42 -0000

An ambitious young skier, determined to break all existing records, is contemptuous of the teamwork advocated by the US coach when they go to Europe for the Olympics. (1 hr. 42 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Murder in the First

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:41 -0000

A well-shot drama about an ambitious young public defender who takes on the case of a man whose cruel treatment at Alcatraz turned him into a killer. In the process of trying the case, the two develop a bond and ultimately bring down Alcatraz once and for all. (2 hrs. 3 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

City That Never Sleeps

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:40 -0000

John leads the perfect double life happily married, hardworking cop by day; a lurid wretch of a man by night. When his father is murdered, he's forced to choose between his two lives in order to successfully track the killer. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Afterwards

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:39 -0000

As helmed by Gilles Bourdos, this supernatural thriller continues John Malkovich's career-long tradition of playing offbeat, enigmatic figures with a menacing air. Romain Duris stars as Nathan Del Amico, an attorney doubly haunted by his past as the survivor of a childhood near-death experience and an adult witness to his own baby's death. As a product of these crises, Nathan has buried himself in his work and now suffers from a bad case of familial estrangement from his separated wife (Evangeline Lilly) and little girl. Then the mysterious Dr. Kay (Malkovich) turns up, claiming that he has clairvoyant visions informing him when someone is about to die--a gift as a "messenger" that enables him to make each person's transition out of life a smooth and easy one. Suddenly, upon hearing Kay's claims, Nathan feels his death-laden memories double in intensity and grows increasingly convinced that either he now stands on the verge of death, or that he has the same messenger abilities as Kay. (1 hr. 47 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

A Christmas Carol

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:38 -0000

Ebeneezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) contentedly meanders through his life as a cruel miser until one fateful Christmas Eve when he is visited by three ghosts. The spirits show him how his behavior has degenerated over the years as his heart has become colder. Using events from Scrooge's idealistic past, dreary present, and dismal future, the apparitions try their best to melt his steely soul. Will Scrooge see the error of his ways and learn the true meaning of Christmas? Check out this hailed classic and find out! Many critics widely consider this the definitive film version of Charles Dickens' cherished novel. (1 hr. 26 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Black Rain

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:37 -0000

On August 6, 1945, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima unleashed a radioactive black rain that fell on people who survived the initial blast. In the years that followed, many of the survivors lived in fear over whether they would die from the exposure. Director Shohei Imamura's BLACK RAIN depicts the consequences of this uncertainty in the lives of a young woman, Yasuko, and her uncle Shigematsu, who believe they have been spared. Normal life eludes them, as Shigematsu is unable to find a young man willing to marry Yasuko. Probably Imamura's quietest film, BLACK RAIN is based on the novels KUROI AME and YOHAI TAICHO, both by Masuji Ibuse. A masterpiece of hibakusha (A-bomb survivor) cinema, BLACK RAIN was shot in black and white, vividly capturing the wreckage of ravaged Hiroshima. The real horror, however, emerges in the deformation of the survivors' personal relationships, whose hopes are stripped one by one. Although the film was made more than four decades after the bombing, its relevance has not passed because many of the descendants of the survivors continue to wonder if they have inherited genetic damage from their parents. (2 hrs. 3 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

The Namesake

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:36 -0000

IN THEATERS MARCH 9, 2007 (Limited)

IN THEATERS MARCH 9, 2007 (Limited): Like her previous films VANITY FAIR, MONSOON WEDDING, and HBO�s HYSTERICAL BLINDNESS, Mira Nair's THE NAMESAKE is a lush, beautiful film bursting with rich color and visual texture. Based on the bestselling book by Jhumpa Lahiri, the film follows two generations of the Ganguli family. After wedding via an arranged marriage, Ashima (Tabu) moves with Ashoke (Irrfan Khan) from her native Calcutta to New York. As Ashima struggles to adjust to life in her new home, a true love grows between the newlyweds. When they give birth to Gogol (who does not learn the true origin of his name until adulthood), the Gangolis decide to stay in American for their child�s sake, settling in the suburbs and eventually giving birth to a daughter, Sonia (Sahira Nair). While Ashima and Ashoke attempt to balance their new life with Indian traditions, their children have the very different experience of being raised first-generation Americans. With little interest in their ancestry, both Gogol and Sonia disappoint their parents by having little respect for the sacrifices their parents made for them. Gogol�s desire to change his name, and his relationship with a wealthy American girl (Jacinda Barrett), places a strain on the family which Gogol will later regret.

Here, Penn proves he can play a serious role while still using his comedic skills to great affect. The actor shows impressive range in growing a clueless teen to a man his father would be proud of. Nair�s skill at directing can be felt in the film�s many great performances. Both Tabu and Irrfan Khan embody their characters so fully that the viewer really feels a personal connection to the story. As the head of the household, Khan's character will subtly make viewers laugh while breaking their heart. Packed with unique characters, THE NAMESAKE offers audiences an outlet into Bengali traditions and the immigrant experience while telling a universal story of family bonds which all parents and children should connect with. Nair excels in what is her most personal work to date. (2 hrs. 2 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

The Skeptic

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:35 -0000

Though Tim Daly and Tom Arnold are perhaps best known for their funny roles, the actors leave the confines of comedy for this creepy thriller. Daly stars as Bryan Becket, a man who moves into his aunt�s home after her strange death. Though Becket is the nonbeliever of the title, the evil forces at the Victorian estate cause him to question his principles and investigate the strange occurrences. Also starring STAR TREK�s Zoe Saldana, THE SKEPTIC will keep audiences questioning the nature of the chills until its last minutes. (1 hr. 29 min.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Lion's Den

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:34 -0000

Writer-director Pablo Trapero crafts this tender tale of an incarcerated woman who gives birth to a baby boy and struggles to raise her son behind bars as she comes to the bleak realization that he is the only one who matters to her anymore. It all started when a pregnant Julia woke up in her apartment flanked by the bloodied bodies of her former lovers Nahuel and Romiro. Subsequently sent to a prison for mothers and pregnant convicts, Julia railed against the system by withdrawing into her own world. Upon giving birth, Julia realizes just how difficult it could be to raise a son in prison, but each day her feelings for the boy swell stronger within her. Later, when Julia pays a visit to Romiro in the men's prison, it becomes obvious that the couple's feelings for one another are just as muddled as the events of that fateful night back in Julia's apartment. (1 hr. 53 min.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Somers Town

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:33 -0000

Shane Meadows takes a break from gritty fare such as THIS IS ENGLAND to direct this fun, sweet comedy. Thomas Turgoose (the star of THIS IS ENGLAND) takes on the role of Tomo, a runaway teen who finds himself in London with no place to stay. But soon he finds a friend in a Polish boy named Marek (Piotr Jagiello), and he lets Tomo live with him, without his father's permission. Shot in black and white in a naturalistic style, SOMERS TOWN played to acclaim at festivals including Edinburgh and Tribeca. (1 hr. 10 min.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Vicious Circle

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:32 -0000

No description available (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Les Les pieds dans le vide

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:31 -0000

No description available (105 hr.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Hollywood, je t aime

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:30 -0000

Following a fight with his boyfriend, Jerome leaves Paris for California, discovering romance and friendship with pot dealers, drag queens, and Hollywood locals along the way. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Public Enemies

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:29 -0000

Johnny Depp and Christian Bale emerge from two of the biggest blockbuster series of all time (Pirates of the Caribbean and Batman, respectively) to star in this crime drama from HEAT director Michael Mann. Depp stars as charismatic 1930s gangster John Dillinger, whose notorious bank robberies have turned him into a celebrity during the Depression era. The rise in crime has J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) desperate to have his newly created FBI take down gangsters such as Dillinger, "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Channing Tatum), and "Baby Face" Nelson (Stephen Graham). Enter Agent Melvin Purvis (Bale), an ambitious crimefighter sent to Chicago to capture Dillinger and his gang. The criminal has evaded the law before, but he is drawn to the Second City by the beautiful Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard).

Though PUBLIC ENEMIES boasts big names, it feels more like an arthouse offering than a typical gangster picture. With its intimately shot violence and 1930s setting, the film is more BONNIE AND CLYDE than GOODFELLAS. Mann and director of photography Dante Spinotti alternate between hand-held, high-quality digital cameras and more traditional film stock, giving this crime drama a carefully composed, thoroughly modern look. But the casting of the leads is vintage Hollywood: Depp could be the modern incarnation of silent star Rudolph Valentino, and Cotillard�s wide-eyed beauty--and talent--would fit right in with the starlets of the golden age. Everyone else, including Bale, fades into the background, but it�s hard to complain when Depp and Cotillard give such magnetic performances. (2 hr. 23 min.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

A Christmas Tale

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:28 -0000

For some, Christmas means the joy of spending time with loved ones. But not for the Vuillard family in Arnaud Desplechin's blackly comic A CHRISTMAS TALE. Instead of egg nog, bile and venom flow at the family get-together when estranged son Henri (Mathieu Amalric, QUANTUM OF SOLACE) returns. His mother, Junon (French legend Catherine Deneuve), has cancer, and Henri may be the bone marrow donor match that could save her life. Oldest daughter Elizabeth (Anne Consigny, THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY) is equally unhappy to see her brother; he has been an emotional and financial drain on the family, and she had him legally banished from the family six years ago. But with his return, old wounds are freshly opened as the entire family gathers together for what could be their last holiday.

Director Desplechin's previous film KING AND QUEENS established his ability to seamlessly meld drama and comedy, and A CHRISTMAS TALE continues that tradition. This French film easily moves the audience between laughter, gasps, and tears. The behavior of the Vuillard famille is atrocious at times, and it goes beyond just the awful--and sometimes awfully funny--things they say to one another. But Desplechin has no trouble acheiving the right tone in these moments, and his postmodern style of filmmaking (with elements such as the actors addressing the camera) is perfectly suited to the material. His ensemble cast includes Jean-Paul Roussillon, Denueve's real-life daughter Chiara Mastroianni, and Melvil Poupaud, and though each does a fantastic job, it's the bitter and hilarious interplay between Amalric's Henri and Deneuve's Junon that carries the film. It's not destined to be a feel-good holiday classic � la IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, but A CHRISTMAS TALE may prove a perfect prescription for when viewers' families get to be a little too much. (2 hrs. 32 min.) Release date: Dec 1, 2009

The Rebirth

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:27 -0000

The mother of a killer forms a close bond with the father of her child's murdered classmate in director Masahiro Kobayashi's emotionally muted drama. A Tokyo schoolgirl has stabbed one of her classmates to death. As the police question the killer's mother, Noriko (Makiko Watanabe), and the victim's father, Junichi (Kobayashi), each just want to put the incident behind them by relocating and moving as far away from the source of their pain as possible. Widower Junichi eventually moves to Hokkaido, where he begins working manual labor at a factory and living in the nearby dorms. Noriko, too, has decided to move to Hokkaido, and it's there that the struggling single mother begins cooking and cleaning in the same dorms where Junichi currently resides. Later, Junichi purchases a pair of cell phones and leaves one for the disapproving Noriko. Though she initially rejects the gift, Noriko gradually begins to realize just how much Junichi means to her and soon attempts to repay the grieving father's kindness. (1 hr. 42 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

Funny People

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:26 -0000

Judd Apatow rounds up the usual suspects--Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, and Jonah Hill--for his third feature as a director. In FUNNY PEOPLE, a popular comedian comes far closer to death than he had every imagined. The comedy also stars Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, and RZA. (2 hr. 20 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

Gomorrah

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:25 -0000

Matteo Garrone's GOMORRAH is a dense, sprawling expos� of the corruption plaguing the communities of Naples and Caserta in modern-day Italy. The all-powerful Camorra syndicate influences the lives of even the most innocent citizens. In a manner similar to THE WIRE, Garrone tells his story from many different angles, resulting in a complicated narrative that often feels novelistic. In many cases, the revolving stories never overlap or intersect. While that may be jarring to those viewers who are used to having their strings tied neatly for them by a film's conclusion, Garrone's decision results in an experience that feels much more honest and true. We witness the syndicate's impact from the top down and from the inside out, following a cavalcade of characters who are all trying in their own ways to escape the deadly world in which they live.

Based on the book by Roberto Saviano, Garrone's crime epic is a powerful indictment of the corruption that is running rampant in Italy. His decision to present such a wide spectrum of characters enables him to show just how deeply everyone is impacted by this terrifying, unchecked display of criminal power. Cinematically, he employs a dizzying array of styles in order to further establish the frighteningly ungoverned atmosphere that pervades this community. GOMORRAH succeeds as both visceral entertainment and thoughtful social commentary. (2 hrs. 17 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

Ji Quan Bu Ning

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:24 -0000

Chinese filmmaker Chen Daming's ensemble comedy drama ONE FOOT OFF THE GROUND opens with the plight of a celebrated opera company buckling under the weight of financial difficulties. When the troupe collapses for good, Daming cross-cuts between the lives of the laid-off performers, each of whom desperately attempts to pull in extra income with a "substitute job": one sells phony pure-bred dogs; another becomes implicated in questionable, underhanded business practices; a third shoots professional photographs for a living. Meanwhile, the dream of the opera company's reestablishment and reemergence lingers in all of their hearts. When a con artist turns up with the funds necessary to reestablish the ensemble, his cruel manipulation and willingness to quickly build up the hopes of everyone in the company throws the performers into a state of unbridled confusion, agony, and despair. (1 hr. 46 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

Green Fish

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:23 -0000

A soldier returns home from his tour of duty only to find that many things have changed in his small town. Feeling rootless, he joins up with a local triad boss and his mistress, who seem like the ideal new family. But things are never as they seem and disaster may strike at any time. A highly acclaimed film from Korea and a look at how rapid economic development have changed the country and its people, not always for the better. (1 hr. 51 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

The New Year Parade

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:22 -0000

Fact merges with fiction in writer-director Tom Quinn's deeply personal tale of two teenagers struggling to make sense of their complicated family life after their mother and father decide to separate. While 16-year-old Kat holds out hope that her parents will eventually work things out, her quiet suffering causes her to become emotionally isolated from both family and friends. Meanwhile, Kat's brother, Jack, not only finds himself in the difficult position of having to mediate between mom and dad, but also having to keep track of their fragmented finances. Complicating matters is the fact that Jack plays in the string band his father longs to lead to victory in Philadelphia's annual Mummer's Parade. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Nov 23, 2009

The Exiles

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:21 -0000

Beginning with a budget of $539 and taking three years to complete, THE EXILES, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 1961, finally got its official theatrical release in July 2008 after being restored by Ross Lipman and the UCLA Film and Television Archive, which previously restored Charles Burnett's 1977 drama, KILLER OF SHEEP. Writer, director, and producer Kent Mackenzie set the film in the Bunker Hill section of downtown Los Angeles, which was undergoing a major -- and controversial -- redevelopment project in the 1950s and 1960s. THE EXILES centers on a group of American Indians who moved from the reservation to the big city, where they dream of a better life. Over the course of one night, Homer (Homer Nish), his pregnant wife, Yvonne (Yvonne Williams), and one of Homer's best friends, Tommy (Tommy Reynolds), talk about their lives in voice-over narration -- which came from actual interviews Mackenzie conducted with the nonprofessional actors -- as they ponder their individual plights as well as that of their close-knit community of Indians. After dropping the pregnant Yvonne off at a double feature, Homer and his buddies head out drinking and gambling, getting into a bar fight, and participating in traditional chanting and dancing atop Hill X. Mackenzie worked closely with the actors on the loose script, seeking to make it both realistic and believable, resulting in a cinema verite work that at times feels like a documentary, reminiscent of films by Robert Flaherty, George Stoney, and John Cassavetes. Shot in black and white and beautifully restored, THE EXILES is both a poignant drama and a fascinating document of changing times in L.A. as a growing group of Indians attempts to find their place in American society. The lively soundtrack features songs by Anthony Hilder and the Revels. (1 hr. 12 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

American Venus

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:20 -0000

A competitive figure skater with Olympic aspirations turns her back on the sport by escaping to Canada in director Bruce Sweeney's border-hopping family drama. Celia (Rebecca De Mornay) is an uncompromising coach determined to push her daughter, Jenna (Jane McGregor), towards an Olympic gold metal. After Jenna's routine in the national figure-skating finals proves less than stellar, the dejected young girl decides to escape her demanding mother by fleeing to Vancouver. Though Jenna's father is diligent in keeping his daughter's current location a secret from the fierce Celia, the gun-toting mother's determination ultimately proves too powerful to deny and she is soon off to collect her daughter. Upon attempting to cross the border, Celia begins to get a taste of just how different life in Canada is when the border guards take possession of her registered firearm. It seems that Jenna, too, has grown weary of living in a land where aggression does not stand, leaving both mother and daughter adrift in some strange land that neither can truly call home. (1 hr. 21 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:19 -0000

Documentary filmmaker Jean-Paul Jaud sets out to discover if contemporary society can create a food supply that isn't littered with contaminants by exploring the current trend of organic, localized food production in France. The current generation is the very first in history that will grow up less healthy than the one that preceded it. Cancer and infertility rates are skyrocketing. Could it have something to do with our tainted food supplies? By paying a visit to a remote French village where the lunch menu is comprised entirely of organic, locally grown foods, Jaud highlights the ways in which some communities are shunning food industry giants to go back to the basics. A wide variety of interviews with everyone from researchers to schoolchildren reveal the deep flaws that exist within the food industry and raise though-provoking questions about what can be done to correct them. (1 hr. 52 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

My Effortless Brilliance

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:18 -0000

Improvisation lends authenticity to this indie comedy from director Lynn Shelton. Harvey Danger frontman Sean Nelson stars as Eric Lambert Jones, a writer who has become so wrapped up in his own success that he has neglected his longtime friendship with Dylan. To make amends, the citified novelist travels to Washington state to visit his friend, where he is hilariously out of his element. (1 hr. 19 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

My Sister's Keeper

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:17 -0000

THE NOTEBOOK's Nick Cassavetes directs another tearjerking literary adaptation with this drama based on Jodi Picoult's novel. Cameron Diaz takes a detour from comedy to play Sara, the domineering mother of Kate (Sofia Vassilieva, MEDIUM), a young girl with cancer. Sara�s other daughter, 11-year-old Anna (Abigail Breslin), was conceived just to serve as a donor for her sick sister. On the outskirts of the family are father Brian (Jason Patric), who feels unable to stand up to his wife�s strength, and son Jesse (Evan Ellingson), who craves attention in the face of Kate�s illness. But the complicated situation gets more difficult when Anna hires a lawyer (played by the always excellent Alec Baldwin), so that she can control her own body and say "no" to giving a kidney to her sister.

Cassavetes and Picoult both traffic in tears, so MY SISTER�S KEEPER is a perfect match between director and source writer. Even the most jaded viewers will find it hard to keep their eyes dry in the face of this emotional family tragedy, so audiences are warned to have tissues parked next to their popcorn. This drama�s stellar cast also includes Thomas Dekker as Kate�s cancer-stricken love and Joan Cusack as the judge who presides over Anna�s case. (1 hr. 46 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Is Anybody There?

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:16 -0000

Growing up and growing old never played so poignantly as it does in John Crowley�s IS ANYBODY THERE? The film grapples with the sad truths of getting older and losing loved ones, all the while maintaining a sardonic wit and sincere warmth. Coming of age in a family-run rest home, the reclusive, death-obsessed Edward (Bill Milner, SON OF RAMBOW) wiles away his days tormenting his parents� elderly residents and secretly tape-recording them in search of answers about the afterlife. Edward finds a kindred spirit in Clarence (Michael Caine), the curmudgeonly, retired magician who begrudgingly takes up residence at the guest home. The two strike up an unlikely friendship that helps Clarence come to terms with losing his wife, and Edward finds a way out of his shell.

Milner holds his own alongside veteran Caine with a biting yet charming performance. Anne-Marie Duff (NOTES ON A SCANDAL) and David Morrissey (BASIC INSTINCT 2) offer up moving support as Edward�s working-class parents, who struggle to hold onto their marriage while making ends meet. The colorful cast of senior citizens, which includes seasoned actors Rosemary Harris (Aunt May from the SPIDERMAN films) and Karl Johnson (HOT FUZZ, ROME), provides some of the film's most melancholy and comic moments. Along with stellar performances from the impressive ensemble, IS ANYBODY THERE? is well-scripted and beautifully shot. Though it deals with some of life�s toughest moments, this is a film that is sure to appeal to audiences of all ages. (1 hr. 32 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Trapeze

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:15 -0000

This splashy Hollywood spectacular was a radical departure for a director who had specialized in socially conscious thrillers. Set against a circus backdrop, it stars Burt Lancaster as Mike Ribble, a crippled former acrobat. Tino Orsino (Tony Curtis), a young aerialist, seeks out the older man, hoping to learn the triple somersault, an extremely dangerous routine that had maimed Ribble. When Lola (Gina Lollabrigida), an attractive tumbler, becomes involved with both men, the fireworks begin. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Luxury Car

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:14 -0000

A father searching for his long-lost son in central China discovers that his daughter's glamorous lifestyle masks a dark secret that may provide clues to her elusive brother's whereabouts in this director Wang Chow's subdued tale of broken dreams and pensive yearning. Yan Hong (Tian Yuan) is a pretty girl from rural China who has set out to seek her fortune in the bustling streets of Wuhan. When her father, Li Qiming (Wu Youcai), arrives with word that his wife is suffering from uterine cancer and would like to see her son Xueqin once more before she dies, Yan Hong agrees to put him up in an apartment she shares with local prostitute A Li (Li Li). Though her hectic schedule will not permit Yan Hong to assist her father in his search for Xueqin, the schoolteacher eventually receives help from an ageing cop (Li Yiqing) who is in the waning days of a long career on the force. When Li discovers that Yan Hong is currently working as an escort at a local karaoke club, the impact of the saddening revelation is soon offset by the arrival of news that his son may now be residing in Shenzhen. Though Yan Hong's criminal boss, He (Huang He), gracefully poses as her boyfriend in a bid to pay proper respect to the girl's soft-spoken father, another local gangster (Wang Guoqiang) isn't so pleased that someone has come looking for Xueqin, and soon sets into motion a plan to ensure that the unsuspecting Li not live long enough to learn of his son's decidedly grim fate. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

How to Be

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:13 -0000

At first fancying himself an "enigmatic poet," twentysomething Art gradually realizes that he must take action if he's going to escape his depressed life as a struggling musician in London. A solution comes in the shape of a book titled "It's Not Your Fault." Not content to just draw inspiration from its pages, however, Art invites the elderly author of the book to come live with him and his parents, which quickly becomes a painfully funny journey about dysfunction and growing up. (86 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Franklyn

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:12 -0000

Writer-director Gerald McMorrow makes his feature debut with this ambitious psychological sci-fi drama set between contemporary London and the dystopic Meanwhile City, where the separation between church and state has been obliterated to make way for a religion-dominated society. As atheist vigilante Jonathan Preest (Ryan Phillippe) prepares to seek revenge against Meanwhile City's powerful leader, privileged artist Emilia (Eva Green) finds her cynicism and depression accelerated by the difficult relationship she shares with her mother. Meanwhile, sensitive Milo (Sam Riley) attempts to recover from a recent heartache, just as deeply religious Peter (Bernard Hill) arrives in London to search for his missing son, a haunted Gulf War veteran. As the narrative shifts between the real and imaginary worlds, McMorrow explores the complex relationships between fantasy, faith, and love. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Expired

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:11 -0000

Jason Patric and Samantha Morton star in this dark indie romance about two mismatched loners trying to make a connection. Claire (Samantha Morton) is a meek and mild parking meter attendant, who lives a quiet, lonely life with her invalid mother (Teri Garr.) Claire spends her days suffering the slurs and curses of those she tickets, then heads home to her mom, where they glean pleasure from ordering holiday decorations from catalogues. When Claire encounters Jay (Jason Patric), a fellow parking attendant, she is struck by both his overt kindness and his extreme meanness. Jay is obviously an incredibly angry individual, with some rather serious emotional problems. But Claire's mother and friend (Illeana Douglas) encourage her to break out of her shell and pursue a romance, and when Jay begins to take an interest, she happily accepts his advances. They begin a bizarre, precarious courtship, with Claire not quite knowing what to make of Jay's Jekyll and Hyde personality, or his endless stream of verbal abuse. When she suffers a personal tragedy, he surprises her by standing by her side and offering his support. However, he continues to berate and manipulate her throughout the ordeal. Just as the two seem to be forming their own strange bond, there is a revelation that brings the relationship to a head, and forces Claire to make a final choice.

Both Morton and Garr turn in solid performances, and Patric is scarily convincing as the sadistic Jay. While the unapologetic nastiness of his character does elicit some laughs, the film is ultimately a heavy, incredibly moody tale. It is billed as a romantic comedy, but viewer be warned: this is no SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE. True, some might find humor in the moments of sheer absurdity (of which there are many), but it is hard to escape the dark, rather disturbing portrait of extreme loneliness. (1 hr. 46 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

The Open Road

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:10 -0000

Jeff Bridges, Justin Timberlake, and Mary Steenburgen star in writer-director Michael Meredith's tale of a young man looking to reconnect with his long-lost father--a famous athlete--and bring him back to the bedside of his ailing mother. Lyle Lovett, Harry Dean Stanton, and Kate Mara fill out the supporting cast in the Perfect Weekend production. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Nov 11, 2009

Ballast

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:09 -0000

No description available (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

La La Linea

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:08 -0000

Director James Cotten recruits an all-star roster for this crime thriller set along the Mexican-American border. Mexican druglord Pelon has managed to escape the ire of the American government, but his decision to switch from cocaine from Colombia to heroin from Afghanistan attracts their attention. Numerous assassins come for the man�s blood, but Pelon evades them all. Hitman Mark Shields sets himself apart from the pack with 20 years of killing experience, but he becomes distracted by the presence of a woman and her daughter. This character-driven action film stars Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta, Armand Assante, and Esai Morales. Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Familiar Strangers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:07 -0000

Those who feel that their family is odd may feel comforted by the weird Worthington clan in this comedy. FAMILIAR STRANGERS stars Shawn Hatosy (ALPHA DOG) as Brian Worthington, a man who has come home to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. The relationship between Brian and his father (Tom Bower, DIE HARD 2: DIE HARDER) is strained, and it's certainly not helped by his father's treatment of the family pets as children. But the appearance of a young woman (THIRTEEN's Nikki Reed) who has a crush on Brian may make the holiday more bearable. FAMILIAR STRANGERS also stars DJ Qualls (ROAD TRIP). (1 hr. 26 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

The Merry Gentleman

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:06 -0000

Lonely guy Frank Logan (Michael Keaton) meets cute with his addled neighbor, Kate (Kelly MacDonald), under a fallen Christmas tree, and these two bruised souls gradually begin to approach something like redemption under each other's caring eye. Of course they have their problems: Frank is actually a suicidal hitman and he's being stalked by an alcoholic cop (Tom Bastounes) with romantic designs on Kate, who he suspects saw Frank commit the murder he's investigating. Frank begins to plan another hit, but just when, why, or who maybe not even he knows. It's a remarkably promising directorial debut for Keaton (BATMAN, BEETLEJUICE) who shows a generosity and wisdom in letting the amazing Macdonald (Josh Brolin's wife in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) keep her Scottish accent and voice most of the dialogue in the film. A captivating screen presence, MacDonald gamely embodies an array of conflicting but complementary tics and emotions, which--like Frank's--are caught between the need to conceal the truth and the just-as-pressing need to express it. Bobby Cannavale (THE TEN) is good in his big scene as Kate's abusive cop-husband, and the ending is almost as surprising as the breadth of artistry Keaton shows behind the camera, making it a surprise sleeper all the way. (1 hr. 39 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Sadoth Yerukim

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:05 -0000

This melodrama focuses its unrelenting attention on the conflict between three generations of Israelis as they attempt to cope with being cooped up together while they head to a military base at the beginning of the intafada (or Palestinian uprising). The idealistic grandparents, in the spirit of the earlier kibbutzim, have one view of the situation, their successful American businessman son and his wife (they are only here for a visit) have quite another, and the grandchildren, soldiers in the Israeli army, have another. Given the ferocity of their arguments, it is a wonder they remain together, but some hint of the love they bear for one another comes through. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

The Divine Weapon

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:04 -0000

South Korean-born filmmaker Yu-Jin Kim (A PROMISE) takes the helm for this epic, historical war-drama detailing the invention of the first multi-launch rocket system. Created during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the revolutionary weapons system forever changed the face of combat by allowing armies to rain destruction down on their enemies with unprecedented ferocity. A century after the Sino-Korean conflict, China has grown increasingly hostile in its efforts to reign in the affairs of its small tributary state. As a result, Joseon King Sejong (Ahn Seong-gi) strives to protect his country's autonomy by allocating secret funding for the development of a highly sophisticated weapon. This responsibility is bestowed upon sleazy merchant Seol-ju (Jeong Jae-yeong), the son of a gunpowder-maker from the fallen Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392). Not only does the merchant's lowly status make him the ideal candidate to head up such a top-secret project, but his knowledge of explosives provides him with the knowledge to create a weapon that's capable of flying up to two kilometers and creating a crater up to 30 centimeters deep. When the Chinese government becomes suspicious and the original weapons designer takes his own life, his young daughter, Hong-ri (Han Eung-jeong), is faced with the task of guarding a volatile national secret. (2 hrs. 14 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

The Ugly Truth

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:03 -0000

After KNOCKED UP and 27 DRESSES, Katherine Heigl continues her reign as queen of the romantic comedies with this film from director Robert Luketic. The versatile Gerard Butler of 300 and P.S. I LOVE YOU stars as an obnoxious man who gets under the skin of Heigl's TV producer character. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Lake Tahoe

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:02 -0000

Former music-video director Fernando Eimbcke continues to hone his feature-film career with this drama concerning a 14-year-old boy who makes the transition from childhood to adulthood while attempting to repair an irreplaceable gift. The final gift that Juan ever received from his father was a car. Now Juan has crashed that car, and he's determined to get it in working order again. As Juan searches the city for car parts, he gradually begins to realize that the decisions he makes over the course of this one day could profoundly affect him for the rest of his life. (1 hr. 29 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Bad Guys

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:01 -0000

No description available (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

The Men

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:00 -0000

Brando made his film debut in this finely acted drama in which he portrays an ex-G.I. who was seriously wounded during the war. As the result of his injuries, the crippled soldier becomes increasingly bitter, and almost loses his very will to live. Academy Award Nominations: Best Story and Screenplay. Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Johnny Come Lately

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:59 -0000

An ex-newspaper man is saved from a vagrancy rap by the elderly editor of a failing paper. The two band together to expose political corruption through the written word, disregarding threats from a rival paper man. Academy Award Nominations: Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Home for Christmas

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:58 -0000

A sensitive story of a family who rediscovers the magic of Christmas when an elderly homeless man enters their lives. Release date: Nov 3, 2009

One Christmas

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:57 -0000

A young boy in rural Alabama is reunited with his errant father at Christmas, 1930, in this bittersweet adaptation of the Truman Capote short story. Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Passchendaele

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:56 -0000

Inspired by the stories once passed down to him by his grandfather, writer-director Paul Gross explores a defining period of Canadian history in this epic war drama concerning the Battle of Passchendaele. (1 hr. 54 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Not Forgotten

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:55 -0000

Makoto Shinozaki's NOT FORGOTTEN is an entertaining, ambitious motion picture that defies easy categorization. The story concerns three aging World War II veterans living in modern day Japan, who are wrestling demons from the past, while trying to come to terms with their rapidly approaching mortality. Ito, a charming widower, is shocked to discover that he might be falling in love; Kijima lives a solitary life, mourning the family that was taken from him during an enemy firebombing; and Heihachi is a restaurant owner who learns that his wife has terminal cancer. Entering into the mix is a cult-like group, Utopia, who trains impressionable young adults with the purpose of scamming the elderly out of their entire savings. When Kijima, Ito, and Heihachi figure out that Utopia has been working their evil on them, they use their suppressed anger to take a final stand once and for all. Shinozaki's film is a jarringly fresh viewing experience, which hops between genres in a wholly original manner. Equal parts romantic comedy, war drama, and thriller, NOT FORGOTTEN also manages to be a moving commentary on the universal topic of aging, set in a contemporary Japan that is still trying to find its post-World War II identity. (2 hrs. 1 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Lemon Tree

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:54 -0000

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is filtered through a deeply personal tale in this impressive feature from writer/director Eran Riklis. Salma Zidane (Hiam Abbass) is a lonely Palestinian widow who runs a beautiful lemon grove. But she faces trouble when the Israeli defense minister, Israel Navon (Doron Tavory), moves into her neighborhood, and his secret service agents request the destruction of the grove. The agents believe that terrorists could easily hide out in the trees and threaten the minister, so there is a court case to remove the trees. Devastated by the potential loss, Zidane hires a lawyer and takes the case to the Supreme Court, while Navon�s wife, Mira (Rona Lipaz-Michael), complicates matters by feeling sympathy for her new neighbor's plight.

Riklis�s movie is downbeat and thoughtful and provides a satisfying follow-up to his acclaimed 2004 feature, THE SYRIAN BRIDE. At the heart of the picture are two isolated women, Zidane and the minister�s wife, who feel drawn to one another despite the vast difference in their circumstances. Although the two characters barely share any scenes, Riklis deftly illustrates how they are both in opposition to the values held by Navon and his administration. The lemon grove is cleverly employed as a device that represents the vast chasm between Israel and Palestine, and the film carefully includes a broad range of characters, including the lecherous minister, some oafish soldiers, and the sad-eyed Zidane. The movie is beautifully shot, although Riklis carefully avoids turning it into a feel-good feature, instead using THE LEMON TREE as a parable that examines the stark contrasts on the West Bank in the early part of the 21st century. (1 hr. 46 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Dead

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:53 -0000

It's the turn-of-the-century in Dublin at a holiday feast vibrant with food and spirit. A young couple at the party seem to have everything until that night, the man learns of his wife's unforgotten young love. This was John Huston's final film and was scripted by his son Tony, based on James Joyce's 1914 short story. Academy Award Nominations: Best (Adapted) Screenplay, Best Costume Design. (1 hr. 23 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Just Cause

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:52 -0000

A Harvard law professor takes up the case of a southern black man on death row for murdering a white woman, a crime he may not have committed. Discovering the truth proves difficult, as a Bible-spouting inmate and the brutal police officer who convicted the condemned man lead the professor down blind alleys and into treacherous waters. (1 hr. 42 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Il Divo

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:51 -0000

Director Paolo Sorrentino's audacious and inventive biopic of Italian parliamentarian (and "Senator for Life") Giulio Andreotti doesn't make the Byzantine world of modern Italian politics any less confusing (non-Italian viewers may want to brush up on the topic beforehand), but the film illuminates, in great emotional detail, important events surrounding an early-1990s investigation in which the perpetual statesman was accused of having Mafia ties. The case was appealed and overturned several times, and Andreotti never served prison time, but it effectively marked the end of his centrist Christian Democratic party and forever changed the age-old relationship between the Mafia and the Italian government.

Sorrentino's fanciful use of titles, quick edits, multiple-perspective flashbacks, slow motion, extreme close-ups, and sublime musical accents--as well as star Toni Servillo's brilliantly stylized acting--convert this airless and sinister piece of world history into a dynamic tale of moral ambiguity and seemingly invulnerable political power. Servillo plays Andreotti as an arrogant, deadpan Puck--an Italian Richard Nixon replete with easily mimicable physical tics and the conviction of his own rightness. In the film's most memorable scene, Servillo allows his ironic veneer to crack just once, in a molten monologue where, spit flying, he justifies "perpetrating evil to guarantee good." Another chilling sequence intercuts a crucial Mafia hit with shots of a particularly tense and triumphant horse race, while a punky blues number roars in the background. Sorrentino's controlled and masterly storytelling won the 2008 Prix du Jury at Cannes. (1 hr. 57 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Twilight

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:50 -0000

Bella Swan has always been a little bit different, never caring about fitting in with the trendy girls at her Phoenix high school. When her mother re-marries and sends Bella to live with her father in the rainy little town of Forks, Washington, she doesn't expect much of anything to change. Then she meets the mysterious and dazzlingly beautiful Edward Cullen, a boy unlike any she's ever met. Edward is a vampire, but he doesn't have fangs and his family is unique in that they choose not to drink human blood. Intelligent and witty, Edward sees straight into Bella's soul. Soon, they are swept up in a passionate, thrilling and unorthodox romance. To Edward, Bella is what he has waited 90 years for -- a soul mate. But the closer they get, the more Edward must struggle to resist the primal pull of her scent, which could send him into an uncontrollable frenzy. But what will Edward & Bella do when a clan of new vampires -- James, Laurent and Victoria -- come to town and threaten to disrupt their way of life? (120 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:49 -0000

Edward James Olmos directs this feature-length drama that retells the story of the Peabody-winning series--from the perspective of the Cylons. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN finds man�s creations plotting to destroy their makers, but their genocidal scheme leaves survivors. Now, two Cylons must try to eliminate the remnants of humanity, while Adama (Olmos) and his fleet struggle to survive. From the nuclear devastation that began the miniseries to Sharon�s (Grace Park) attempt to kill her commander, all the show�s biggest moments are seen from the enemy�s point of view. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN also stars Tricia Helfer, Michael Hogan, Dean Stockwell, Michael Trucco, and Aaron Douglas. (1 hr. 52 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Nothing Like the Holidays

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:48 -0000

Alfred De Villa (WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, YELLOW) directs this tale of a Puerto Rican family gathering at their family home in Chicago's Humboldt Park for the holidays. On the surface, the Rodriguez family has much to be thankful for this Christmas. Eldest son Mauricio (John Leguizamo) is a lawyer on the verge of making partner and his wife is a Wall Street dynamo (Debra Messing), daughter Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito) is a movie star, and youngest son Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) has just returned home from a tour in Iraq. For the first time in years, the three siblings will all be home for the holidays, and their parents, Anna (Elizabeth Pe�a) and Eduardo (Alfred Molina), are elated. Except that Mauricio's wife isn't Puerto Rican, and despite her mother-in-law's constant pleas, she's in no rush to have a baby. Meanwhile, Roxanna is more of a struggling actress then a star, and Jesse is having a hard time adjusting to regular life and facing Marissa (Melonie Diaz), the "one that got away" when he enlisted. To make matters worse, their mother suspects their father of cheating and has decided that she wants a divorce.

Overall, this is a film about a family coming together for Christmas, but learning much more about each other and themselves. More of a dramedy then a comedy, most of the laughs belong to Luis Guzm�n as cousin Johnny. Jay Hernandez also appears as Ozzy, a close family friend who works at Eduardo's bodega and is struggling with his own demons. Leguizamo, Ferlito, and Rodriguez are believable as siblings who love each other even when they can't stand each other. Pe�a and Molina are well-cast as the matriarch and patriarch who ultimately put family first despite their differences. (1 hr. 39 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Medicine for Melancholy

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:47 -0000

San Francisco is the setting for potential romance in this low-budget romance. Though Jo' (Tracey Heggins) and Micah (Wyatt Cenac) wake up next to one another, they have no idea what brought them to that point. MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY follows the pair as they travel through the California city, exploring the streets as well as the possibility of a deeper connection with one another. (1 hr. 27 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Death In This Garden

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:46 -0000

A wandering adventurer comes across an Amazonian village just as a riot is breaking out over the government's nationalization of the diamond mines. Escaping in a boat with an old prospector, his deaf-mute daughter and a French prostitute, the man and his new cohorts journey into the jungle where primordial forces bring out their true natures. (2 hrs. 25 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Streamline Express

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:45 -0000

A slice of the lives of a number of passengers on a train traveling across the country. Release date: Oct 27, 2009

High School Record

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:44 -0000

Writer-director Ben Wolfinsohn fashions a deadpan satire of the high-school experience with this low-budget mockumentary that features a who�s who of the Los Angeles indie-rock scene. Camera crews follow nerdy teens Caleb (Dean Allen Spunt of the band No Age), Sabrina (Jennifer Thorhill of Mika Miko), Erin (Jennifer Clavin, also of Mika Miko), and Eddie (Bobby Sandoval) as they suffer through the humiliations of senior year while being filmed for a documentary about high-school life. The comedy also features Becky Stark of the indie-pop band Lavender Diamond and Mike Watt of the legendary punk trio The Minutemen. (1 hr. 29 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Unforgotten Crime

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:43 -0000

A touch of humor brightens this small-town murder mystery. Release date: Oct 27, 2009

The Clean and Narrow

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:42 -0000

William Katt directs this indie crime-drama about a loser on the run. Buddy (Jack Noseworthy) manages to pull off a drugstore robbery but kills a clerk in the process, thanks to his bloodthirsty partner. Now his longtime nemesis, law enforcement officer Wayne (Paul Francis), is hot on his trail. Meanwhile, Buddy's wife, Marie (Laura Leighton), and his mentally impaired brother (Wes Culwell) remain in the dark as to his illegal activities. (1 hr. 22 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Into Temptation

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:41 -0000

A jaded priest finds hope and redemption in the unlikeliest places in this indie drama from writer-director Patrick Coyle. Jeremy Sisto stars as Catholic priest Father John, who has become complacent in his vocation until the day that a depressed prostitute, Linda (Kristin Chenoweth), wanders into his confessional and reveals that she intends to commit suicide on her birthday--and then disappears. Father John�s quest to find and save the woman leads him on a journey into the city�s sexual underworld, where he finds help from unexpected sources, including hookers, pimps, and strippers. Brian Baumgartner ("Kevin" from THE OFFICE) turns in a supporting performance as a fellow priest. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Down to the Sea

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:40 -0000

Greek brothers in Florida share the same occupation (sponge diving) and love the same girl in this vintage drama. Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Fados

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:39 -0000

With FLAMENCO in 1995 and TANGO in 1998, director Carlos Saura painted pictures of two essential world-music styles. Now with FADOS, the filmmaker finishes his trilogy. This musical chronicles the Portuguese genre from its beginnings in the music of Africa and Brazil to its contemporary artists. FADOS features the talents of Mariza and Caman�, and also boasts appearances from the rapping faudistas, including NBC, SP, and Wilson. (1 hr. 28 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

Adoration

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:38 -0000

Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan has spent most of his career exploring themes of identity and perception, and he returns to this territory again in ADORATION. Simon (Devon Bostick) is a bright high-school student who lives with his uncle, Tom (Scott Speedman), following the death of his parents, Rachel (Rachel Blanchard) and Sami (Noam Jenkins). When Simon visits Rachel�s dying father, he learns that Sami may have killed himself and Rachel by deliberately crashing their car. In Simon�s high school, his French and drama teacher, Sabine (Arsinee Khanjian), reads a story about a terrorist who tried to blow up an airplane by planting a bomb in his girlfriend�s luggage. Simon claims the story is about his parents, telling the whole school that his father placed a bomb that failed to detonate in his mother�s carry-on. Sabine suddenly becomes close to Simon, while debate about his father�s actions lights up the school, with Egoyan carefully steering his film in several unexpected directions.

Egoyan is a master storyteller who knows exactly how to subtly manipulate the timeline of ADORATION to keep his audience on their toes. The truth behind the death of Simon�s parents slowly unravels as the film progresses, and the juxtaposition in values between Simon and Tom is thoroughly examined. Egoyan cleverly uses Simon�s obsession with Internet chatrooms to give insight into the escalation of interest in his false declaration about his parents� past, but he is always painted as a sympathetic character whose fantasy life has toppled over into reality as he struggles to come to terms with a terrible tragedy. Bostick�s performance as Simon is exceptional and thoroughly convincing, and pushes ADORATION toward the heady heights of Egoyan�s best work in EXOTICA (1994) and THE SWEET HEREAFTER (1997). (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

West 32nd

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:37 -0000

As films such as MEAN STREETS have exposed the underbelly of Little Italy, Mike Kang's WEST 32ND is a gritty look at New York City's Koreatown. John Cho (HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE) plays John Kim, an ambitious lawyer who sees how taking the case of a young Korean murder suspect may be able to improve the image of his firm--and himself by extension. He meets the boy's sister Lila (Grace Park), and he's immediately drawn to the case. As he investigates the case, he goes deeper and deeper into the underworld of gangs and corruption.

With OLDBOY and THE HOST, Korean films have gained a foothold in U.S. cinemas, but Korean-American films have yet to do the same. Raised in Providence, Rhode Island, director-screenwriter Kang gives an interesting look at the lives of those straddling the space between Korea and America. Cho, who was previously so funny in the stoner comedy, moves seamlessly into this intense drama. He carries the film with his deft portrayal of a complex character. Park, who is best known for her role as a Cylon in the sci-fi series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, gets to stretch a bit in her role as the conflicted Lila. Coupled with small moments of humor, her flirtation with John gives the film a brief rest from the darkness. WEST 32ND harkens back to crime films such as DONNIE BRASCO and RESERVOIR DOGS where characters with the best of intentions get in over their heads as they spend time with the "bad guys." (1 hr. 31 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Bad Habits

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:36 -0000

In this Spanish-language drama, a family is beset by numerous eating disorders but its members still encounter a variety of life's flavors. (1 hr. 43 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Love of Siam

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:35 -0000

Two young men go from friends to lovers as one stands on the verge of stardom in this drama from Thailand. Mew and Tong were best friends as children, and Tong's sister Tang was a close confidant to them both. Years later, Mew (Witwisit Hiranyawongkul) has become a professional musician, and he's the lead singer and songwriter with a pop group, August, who are poised to achieve major commercial success. One day, Mew happens to meet Tong (Mario Maurer) for the first time in years, and the two waste no time getting reacquainted; while both of them have girlfriends, it becomes clear that there's a bond between them that they've never felt with other people, and their friendship begins to grow into something deeper. Meanwhile, Tong's family is still reeling from Tang's mysterious disappearance several years before, and her father, Korn (Songsit Roongnophakunsri), has become a hopeless alcoholic. When Tong meets June (Chermarn Boonyasak), a personal assistant for August, he's struck by her uncanny resemblance to Tang, and asks her to pose as his sister in hopes her presence will help his father snap out of his depression. RAK HANG SIAM (aka THE LOVE OF SIAM) was written and directed by Matthew Chookiat Sakveerakul, who also had a hand in writing the songs for the film. (2 hr. 11 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

The Killing Room

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:34 -0000

Four volunteers sign up for what initially appears to be a typical paid study in this tense psychological thriller from director Jonathan Liebesman (DARKNESS FALLS, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING). The allure of a little extra cash proving too powerful to resist, and the strangers decide to partake inthe research. As the study gets underway, the group is presented with a series of questions, and given a finite window of time in which each individual member must submit a unique numerical answer. At first, the participants all assume that the subject who gives the most obviously incorrect answer will be removed from the experiment, though it doesn't take long for the group to realize that the correct answer isn't always the answer that the researchers are looking for. Meanwhile, as the brooding Dr. Phillips (Peter Stormare) attempts to manipulate the study to get the answers he wants, the newest member of his team, military psychologist Ms. Reilly (Chlo� Sevigny), begins questioning the ethics of such a diabolical experiment. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Oral Fixation

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:33 -0000

A patient turns to murder in hopes of winning her dentist's affections in this dark tale of obsession and tooth decay. When Rachel Marks makes a play for her dentist and he turns her down cold, she wages a sadistic campaign to ingratiate herself into his life even if it means drawing blood. (82 hr.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Disney's A Christmas Carol

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:32 -0000

Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk and his cheery nephew. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it's too late. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Christmas Without Snow

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:31 -0000

A newly divorced and jobless woman in a strange city far from home joins a church choir and under the direction of a stern but gifted choir master, she becomes part of a group striving toward a common goal: to shape a ragtag assembly of amateurs into a chorus capable of performing Handel's "Messiah" for the Christmas service. Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Drag Me to Hell

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:30 -0000

After nearly two decades of successful detours into mature thrillers (THE GIFT, A SIMPLE PLAN) and superhero blockbusters (the Spider-Man series), director Sam Raimi returns--full tilt--to his scrappy horror roots with DRAG ME TO HELL. Alison Lohman stars as Christine Brown, a soft-spoken Southern girl with a good heart, a PhD-toting boyfriend (Justin Long), and a job as a loan officer at a bank just outside of Los Angeles. When evicting a vile and negligent old woman named Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) seems to be the only way to secure an important promotion, Christine pushes her moral flexibility about as far as it can go (not very far at all) only to dearly pay the price as the recipient of a rather nasty curse. The next three days of Christine�s life amount to an unimaginable endurance test in which she is subject to physical and psychological torture while a terrifying demon draws ever closer to take her to hell, where she would burn for eternity.

Raimi manages to keep the feverish awfulness of DRAG ME's central concept palpable while layering on his distinctly disturbing and exhilaratingly kinetic macabre-meets-slapstick portraiture, and the result is an efficient celebration of the art of horror movies that�s campy, scary, and fun. Similar to HBO�s classic TALES FROM THE CRYPT series, HELL feels like a living, breathing EC comic. While it may come as a minor shock that Bruce Campbell, the beloved mouthpiece of the EVIL DEAD franchise, is nowhere to be found in this unabashed horror-comedy, Christine is an excellent twist on Raimi's genre-hero archetype. Fans will get a kick out of seeing her inexplicably leave her gob agape as putrid projectiles pour in, and hearing her, after a bit of pushing, spout a Campbell-ism or two ("I�m gonna get me some!"). (1 hr. 39 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

American Violet

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:29 -0000

Based on the real-life events surrounding a military-style drug raid on the poor, predominantly black housing project of Arlington Springs, director Tim Disney�s AMERICAN VIOLET shines an unflinching spotlight on the shameful racial profiling practices of a corrupt district attorney in a rural Texas town. The raid, which occurs after a tip by a single informant (a former mental patient bullied by the police to name names), targets among others Dee, a single mother of four with no prior drug charges (excellently played by newcomer Nicole Beharie). When the defendant assigned to her case tries to pressure her into a guilty plea in exchange for a 10-year suspended sentence, Dee refuses, rightly insisting that she has done no wrong. But with the vast majority of the prosecuted taking plea deals, even Dee�s mother (Alfre Woodard) thinks she�s a fool. Dee�s heroic defiance soon wins acolytes in ACLU lawyer David Cohen (Tim Blake Nelson) and his assistant, Byron Hill (Malcolm Barrett). The Yankee lawyers team up with local consul Sam Conroy (Will Patton), a gun-toting Texan battling his own past racist demons, building their case against Calvin Beckett (Michael O�Keefe), the villainous D.A. whose tough-on-crime tactics are a smokescreen for his blatantly racially motivated tactics. Set against the backdrop of 2000�s Bush vs. Gore contest, AMERICAN VIOLET�s left-leaning polemic is clear; but the film�s core message of the fight against injustice rings loud, and is underscored by powerful performances from Beharie, Woodard, and O�Keefe--whose dramatic unraveling during Beckett�s deposition speech is, alone, worth the price of admission. (1 hr. 43 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

The Elephant King

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:28 -0000

Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) stars in this drama that pits a pair of brothers against each other. The older brother, Jake (Jonno Roberts), lives in Thailand, continents away from the legal trouble he created in America. His mother (Burstyn) sends her other son, Oliver (Tate Ellington), after him when charges are brought against Jake. Oliver finds Thailand as enticing as his older brother did before him. But the beauty he finds in the Asian country isn't limited to its scenery: Oliver begins a romance with Lek (Florence Faivre), which makes him reluctant to leave even as Jake's true nature is exposed. (1 hr. 32 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Empties

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:27 -0000

The long-anticipated seriocomedy EMPTIES constitutes director Jan Sverak's third installment in his trilogy on aging that commenced with THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (1991) and continued with the beloved KOLYA (1996). The filmmaker's father, Zdenak Sverak, stars as Josef Tkaloun, a curmudgeonly middle-aged lit teacher who grows exhausted from instructing his demanding, occasionally obnoxious students and opts to take a hike into early retirement. Though his wife Eliska (Daniela Kolarova)--to whom he has repeatedly been unfaithful--continues to tolerate his insensitivity, Josef quickly recognizes his own need for a daily grind, and thus heads into a series of random occupations, including bike messenger and bottle retriever in a grocery store. The latter proves particularly colorful, introducing Josef to a host of eccentric and occasionally funny co-workers. Meanwhile, Josef makes feeble attempts to set his hyper-devout daughter (Tatiana Vilhelmova) up with a crass former coworker (Jiri Machacek), and lapses into lusty fantasies about the headmistress of his former school (Nela Boudova), endangering his marriage in the process. At the time of its release, this film reportedly netted a greater profit than any movie in Czech history. (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

See You After School

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:26 -0000

South Korean writer-director Seok-hoon Lee tips his hat to the 1980s classic THREE O�CLOCK HIGH with his teen comedy SEE YOU AFTER SCHOOL. Lifelong loser Goong-dahl (Tae-gyu Bong) is determined to start his high-school experience on the right foot. But when he tangles with resident bully Jae-koo (Seok-jin Ha) on the very first day of class, Goong-dahl is challenged to an afterschool showdown that he is determined to avoid at any cost. (1 hr. 43 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Senseless

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:25 -0000

Kidnapped and tortured by political extremists just as he's making his way to the top of the corporate ladder, an aspiring CEO becomes the star of an ultra-violent reality show that's streams online. His humiliation growing with each new transgression committed against him, Elliot Gast stages a daring escape attempt based on the hope that someone out there is doing more than simply watching. (87 hr.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Crazy As Hell

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:24 -0000

CRAZY AS HELL tells the story of Ty Adams (Mike Beach), a maverick psychiatrist whose non-medicinal approach for treating patients has crowned him a hero in some circles, and an egoist in others. At Sedah State Mental Hospital Adams agrees to be the subject of a thirty-day documentary, examining the effects of psychiatry on mental illness and conversely the effects of metal illness on psychiatry. The study progresses as planned, until the day that a mysterious stranger admits himself to the hospital claiming to be Satan (Eriq La Salle). Through their intense therapy, the stranger works his way into Adams' world, unraveling his life, and pushing him into a battle in which only one of them will survive. (1 hr. 53 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Munyurangabo

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:23 -0000

This acclaimed Rwandan drama--the first full-length, narrative film in the Kinyarwanda language--explores the friendship between two boys as they try to overcome the gap between the Hutus and Tutsis. Munyurangabo (Jeff Rutagengwa) and Sangwa (Eric Ndorunkundiye) escape the city of Kigali with two different purposes: the titular boy desires revenge for the death of his parents who were victims of genocide, while his friend wants to see his childhood home. However, when they arrive, Sangwa�s parents are unhappy to see his new friend because of his race. Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, MUNYURANGABO played at a variety of festivals around the world, including Cannes, Berlin, and Toronto. (1 hr. 37 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Traffik

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:22 -0000

TRAFFIK is the 5 1/2 hour British miniseries that provided the basis for Stephen Soderbergh's Oscar winning film TRAFFIC, and its length provides it with an opportunity to delve more deeply into the drug trade and addiction, making it a far more complete film than its Hollywood incarnation. TRAFFIK tells three stories; one is an exceptional look at the poppy fields and heroin cartels of Pakistan, where the beauty of the poppy fields is juxtaposed with the squalor of the slums inhabited by the workers who harvest the crop. Another takes place in England and stars Julia Ormond as the drug addicted 16 year-old daughter of British cabinet minister Jack Lithgow (Paterson) and depicts the depths of heroin addiction. The third stars Lindsay Duncan as the wife of a rich German drug smuggler who has just been busted, shattering the pretenses of her upper class life and driving her to continue her husband's trade. Finally, these three disparate stories are tied together by two German narcotics agents named Dieter and Ulli, who, along with a host of couriers, provide a very unnerving look at how heroin travels from Pakistan to Europe. Intricately detailed and emotionally devastating, TRAFFIK is a thoroughly engrossing miniseries that easily surpasses the excellence of its American cousin. Contains additional material not shown in the PBS Masterpiece Theatre broadcast. Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Princess

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:21 -0000

THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE TO BE DETERMINED

When the sister of a clergyman named August dies, he returns home after many years, to face what she left behind. With his sister's five-year-old daughter in his care, August embarks on a difficult mission to repair his sister's image. (1 hr. 17 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

The Girlfriend Experience

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:20 -0000

Steven Soderbergh is a cerebral filmmaker and, not surprisingly, his characters often live with their emotions compartmentalized. The lead character in THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE is no different. Chelsea (adult-film actress Sasha Gray) is a high-priced escort whose strict set of rules for dealing with clients allows her to maintain a seemingly healthy, honest relationship with her boyfriend Chris (Chris Santos), a personal trainer. But when a new customer invites her on a weekend excursion, she accepts, even though she knows this violates her bond with Chris. All of this transpires during a few weeks in October 2008, when the country is embroiled in both the presidential election, and, more importantly, the sudden economic downturn--Soderbergh consistently underscores that money is the chief concern for Chelsea and Chris, and everyone around them. She negotiates with a web designer to create a site that will build her notoriety, and contends with the extortions of a sleazeball blogger (movie critic Glenn Kenny). Meanwhile Chris tries to convince his boss to make him a partner at the gym, and accepts free trips to Vegas from one of his clients.

THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE is among the best of Soderbergh's "little" films (BUBBLE, SCHIZOPOLIS), ventures where he recharges his artistic batteries and tries out new techniques before jumping back into the world of superstars and big budgets. The casting of porn star Grey gives the director exactly what he wants: a flat, uncharismatic performance that gives the character mystery. Other than money, we're not sure what motivates her, and that's the point: Chelsea doesn't know either. For those inclined to follow Soderbergh down every nook and cranny of his career, THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE is a welcome reminder of how probing he can be about matters of the heart. (1 hr. 17 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Skills Like This

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:19 -0000

Fans of indie comedy will find much to like in this film that was the 2007 Audience Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature at South by Southwest. In SKILLS LIKE THIS, aspiring writer Max Solomon comes to the realization that there is no future for him in words. However, Max discovers that he has a hidden talent: bank robbing. He embarks on a new life, but will it get in the way of his romance with a pretty bank teller? (1 hr. 28 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Forbidden Games

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:18 -0000

A young orphaned French girl is taken in by a peasant family during WWII. Becoming fast friends with the young son, the two children begin playing games imitating the tragedies of war around them. Academy Award Nominations: Best Motion Picture Story. (1 hr. 42 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Management

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:17 -0000

Jennifer Aniston may get top billing in this romantic comedy, but MANAGEMENT belongs to Steve Zahn. The often goofy, always likable actor plays Mike Cranshaw, a man with little ambition but lots of heart who works at his parents� motel in small-town Arizona. When paint-saleswoman Sue Claussen (Aniston) stops at the inn, Mike immediately plots an awkward plan to seduce her. Things go better than either of them would have guessed, but Sue still leaves for her home in Maryland. Mike impulsively follows her east, beginning an uncomfortable but heartfelt courtship that takes the road less traveled. Sue�s move from Maryland to Washington does little to deter Mike, but the reappearance of her ex-boyfriend, ex-punk Jango (Woody Harrelson), could throw him off course.

MANAGEMENT balances its star power (A-list actress Aniston) with its indie roots (theatrical distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films) to make a movie that doesn�t fit the rubric of either genre. It�s too quirky for a studio film, but it�s sweet enough that it shouldn�t scare away any fans of Aniston�s work in FRIENDS and HE�S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU. She�s more in the territory of THE GOOD GIRL and FRIENDS WITH MONEY here, and Sue is a complicated part that Aniston pulls off. In his other roles, Zahn often labors in the background and steals scenes from actors with higher billing, but MANAGEMENT is indisputably a leading role for the actor. His Mike commits acts bordering on criminal (or at least crazy) in his cross-country pursuit of Sue, but thanks to Zahn�s performance, it�s hard not to feel devoted to his character and to understand Sue�s (reluctant) attraction. Fans of the cringe-worthy humor of comedies like THE OFFICE will enjoy squirming through this unlikely romance. (1 hr. 33 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Away We Go

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:16 -0000

The journey of an expectant couple as they travel the U.S. in search of the perfect place to put down roots and raise their family. Along the way, they have misadventures and find fresh connections with an assortment of relatives and old friends who just might help them discover "home" on their own terms for the first time. (1 hr. 37 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Frownland

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:15 -0000

A return to the rugged aesthetics of 1970s independent cinema, FROWNLAND plumbs the life and neuroses of a young New Yorker, Keith (Dore Mann), and his failures to communicate. Devoid of plot, and relying largely on Mann's array of tics, stutters, and mumbles, this grainy, do-it-yourself film is sure to divide audiences with a portrait of life that is by turns hopeless and comic. (1 hr. 46 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009