Jackie works as a CCTV operator. Each day she watches over a small part of the world, protecting the people living their lives under her gaze. One day a man appears on her monitor, a man she thought she would never see again, a man she never wanted to see again. Now she has no choice, she is compelled to confront him.
STARRING: Kate Dickie, Jackie Tony Curran, Clyde Martin Compston, Stevie Nathalie Press, April Andrew Armour
DIRECTOR: Andrea Arnold
STUDIO: Tartan Films
RATING: Not Rated (Adult Situations)
After his father’s death, Kale (Shia LaBeouf) becomes sullen, withdrawn, and troubled – so much so that he finds himself under a court-ordered sentence of house arrest. His mother, Julie (Carrie-Anne Moss), works night and day to support herself and her son, only to be met with indifference and lethargy.
The walls of his house begin to close in on Kale. He becomes a voyeur as his interests turn outside the windows of his suburban home towards those of his neighbors, one of which Kale begins to suspect is a serial killer. But, are his suspicions merely the product of cabin fever and his overactive imagination? – “Disturbia.”
STARRING: Shia LaBeouf, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Morse, Sarah Roemer, Kurt David Anderson, Elyse Mirto
DIRECTOR: D.J. Caruso
STUDIO: Paramount Pictures
RATING: PG-13 (For sequences of terror and violence, and some sensuality)
Aqua Teen Movie,” or what the producers want you to know the film as, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters” is an action-adventure epic that tackles the mysterious circumstances that brought Meatwad, Frylock and Master Shake together. An immortal piece of exercise equipment threatens the balance of galactic peace, and it is up to the Aqua Teen Hunger Force to run away from it. Complicating matters, the Plutonians team up with the Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past for ultimate control of the deadly device.
Spanning the globe, outer space and even time itself, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters” was written and produced by Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis. It is based on their successful Adult Swim series. Reprising their roles in the movie will be Willis (voice of Carl, Meatwad and Ignignokt) and Maiellaro (Err, Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past), Dana Snyder (Master Shake), Carey Means (Frylock), Andy Merrill and Mike Schatz (The Plutonians) – “Aqua Teen Movie.”
STARRING The Voices of: Matt Maiellaro, Dave Willis, Dana Snyder, Carey Means, Andy Merrill, Mike Schatz, Bruce Campbell, Neil Peart
DIRECTORS: Matt Maiellaro, Dave Willis
STUDIO: First Look Pictures
RATING: R (For every objectionable, vile thing you can imagine – and then some!)
Perfect Stranger” focuses on Rowena Price (Halle Berry), a reporter for a major New York City newspaper who goes undercover to investigate the unsolved murder of one of her childhood friends. The path leads her directly into the office and the personal life of multi-millionaire Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis), CEO of a powerful advertising agency. Investigating him from all angles, Rowena assumes new identities in life and on line. She then harnesses the devastatingly effective tools of cyberspace in an attempt to bring her victim to justice – “Perfect Stanger.”
STARRING: Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi, Gary Dourdan, Patti D’Arbanville
DIRECTOR: James Foley
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures
RATING: R (For sexual content, nudity, some disturbing violent images and language)
The Hoax,” directed by Lasse Hallström, is inspired by true events in the life of Clifford Irving, the writer who nearly pulled off one of the most audacious media scams in history, when his “autobiography” of Howard Hughes was published. Golden Globe® Award-winner Richard Gere stars as Irving, who claimed the book was based on in-person interviews he conducted with the reclusive billionaire, which were in fact completely bogus. Academy Award® winner Marcia Gay Harden, Alfred Molina and Hope Davis also star – “The Hoax.”
STARRING: Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Julie Delpy, Hope Davis
DIRECTOR: Lasse Hallström
STUDIO: Miramax
RATING: R (For language)
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez each directed a 90-minute horror tale for “Grindhouse”. Rodriguez’s part, “Planet Terror,” is a zombie movie, while Tarantino’s section, “Death Proof,” is a slasher film. Faux trailers and ads will run between the two pics as an intermission.
“Grindhouse” – noun – A downtown movie theater – in disrepair since its glory days as a movie palace of the ’30s and ’40s – known for “grinding out” non-stop double-bill programs of B-movies. From groundbreaking directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez comes the ultimate film experience: a double-bill of thrillers that will recall both filmmakers’ favorite exploitation films. “Grindhouse” is presented as one full-length, two hour feature comprised of two individual films helmed separately by each director.
Tarantino’s film, Death Proof, is a rip-roaring slasher flick where the killer pursues his victims with a car rather than a knife, while Rodriguez’s film explores an alien world eerily familiar to ours in Planet Terror. Welcome to the “grindhouse” – it’ll tear you in two – “Grindhouse.”
Originally scheduled for a November 2006 release, (see poster, below), “The Reaping” finally has a new date for theaters!
Katherine Winter (Hilary Swank) doesn’t believe in miracles – she believes in facts. A former minister, Katherine turned her back on the cloth after losing her young daughter and husband while doing missionary work in the Sudan, and now seeks answers through scientific investigation rather than prayer. As a university professor, she has become the foremost debunker of supposed miracles, called to sites all over the world to investigate weeping statues, wall stains resembling saints and palms that bleed. And so far, there is no divine mystery she hasn’t solved. But when small-town schoolteacher Doug Blackwell (David Morrissey) seeks her help with a series of bizarre occurrences the townspeople believe to be sent by God, Katherine and her partner Ben (Idris Elba) come to learn that sometimes miracles can be treacherous, and the line between faith and superstition is dangerously thin. Hidden among the woods and swamplands of Louisiana, Haven is a town where the rules of reason seem to have been rewritten. A child has died and the river has turned to blood, which is only the beginning of what appears to be a revisiting of the Biblical ten plagues upon the town. For the first time in her professional career, Katherine can’t explain these phenomena with science. The townspeople believe an enigmatic child named Loren McConnell (AnnaSophia Robb) has brought God’s wrath to their doorstep, but what they see as a harbinger of evil, Katherine sees as a lost child needing her help. The more she is drawn into the dark heart of the mystery, the more Katherine discovers her own role in a conspiracy that threatens to shroud the world in darkness – “The Reaping.”
STARRING: Hilary Swank, David Morrissey, Idris Elba, AnnaSophia Robb
DIRECTOR: Stephen Hopkins
STUDIO: Warner Bros.
RATING: R (For violence, disturbing images and some sexuality)
Holland 1944 – The final years of the Second World War find the beautiful singer Rachel Stein (Carice Van Houten) taking refuge with the Tsjempkema family in rural Holland. Once a popular and wealthy singer, Rachel has been waiting out the war like many Jews in Europe, separated from her family and a moment away from being caught by the Gestapo. Her temporary safe-house is destroyed by an Allied bomber under fire by a German fighter and Rachel is left in the arms of Rob (Michel Huisman), a sympathetic young boy, who promises to help her to safety. The next morning, Rob takes Rachel to her contact in town, who she hopes will help her find her family and escape across into liberated territory.
They arrive at the home of Mr. Smaal (Dolf de Vries) and his wife (Diana Dobbleman), a compassionate lawyer who has worked secretly to help Jews escape from Holland. Reluctantly, Mr. Smaal arranges for Rachel to join her family and cross enemy lines into Allied territory, marking her name and rendez-vous point in a little black leather notebook. But during the dangerous crossing, the boat is ambushed by German troops. The Nazi’s ruthlessly kill the boats’ passengers and Rachel only narrowly escapes by jumping overboard into the river.
The next morning, Rachel is rescued by Gerben Kuipers, one of the leaders of the Dutch resistance. A kind and generous man, Kuipers offers Rachel a job and a safe place to stay. But embittered by the memory of the ruthless murder of her family, Rachel decides to become a resistance fighter to seek revenge against the Germans.
During her first mission, Rachel escorts Hans Akkermans (Thom Hoffman), another leader within the Dutch resistance, to smuggle guns and correspondence aboard a train. Posing as a couple, they hope to sneak past German troops patrolling the station, but when the Germans announce a thorough bag check, Rachel’s quick thinking leads her into the arms of Ludwig Müntze (Sebastian Koch) the head of the Dutch SD. Rachel charms capture Müntze’s attention, and as the soldiers ask for her bags he instructs them to leave them alone. Their brief encounter makes a lasting impression on both Rachel and Müntze, but as they part, both believe this to be their last encounter together.
That prediction, however, proves short lived after an accident reveals the resistances’ attempt to transport weapons and ends with the capture of several top resistance fighters including Kuipers’ son. Blinded by his love for his son, Kuipers solicits both Rachel and Akkermans to break into the SD headquarters to free the captives. Remembering her encounter with Müntze, Rachel volunteers herself to seduce Müntze and obtain the release of the captives.
Her initial meeting with Müntze results in her being hired as his assistant, assuring her close and intimate contact with the leadership of the SD forces. Befriending Ronnie (Halina Reijn), Rachel is confronted by the vicious ruthlessness of the Nazi regime and is even forced to print the execution orders for her captive compatriots. Rachel soon learns the dire condition of the prisoners, and realizes that the future of their survival lies in Müntze’s hands. The merciless nature of the Nazi leadership would normally never yield, but Rachel discovers Müntze’s resolve wavering under the weight his conscience. Before Müntze is able to finish secret negotiations with the resistance to cease fighting in exchange for the prisoners, his second in command Franken (Waldemar Kobus) reveals Müntze’s secret negotiations to General Käutner (Christian Berkel). Müntze is arrested and summarily condemned to death for treason and aiding the resistance.
Seizing this moment of turmoil in the Nazi leadership, Akkermans mounts a rescue in an attempt to free the captured resistance fighters. But the surprise arrival of their small squad into the SD headquarters was anticipated by the Germans. Unable to save any of the captured prisoners, Akkermans is the only one to make it out alive. But unknown to the resistance fighters, Rachel helps Müntze, whom she has grown to love, to escape.
The failed escape leads the resistance to believe they were betrayed by a self-serving traitor. Learning of Müntze’s escape, they begin to believe that Rachel exchanged information for his release. Now on the run from both the Nazi’s and the resistance, Rachel and Müntze spend the next several weeks waiting out the war together.
Several months later, following the Allied liberation of Holland, Müntze and Rachel return to seek out Mr. Smaal’s help to escape the harsh judgment of the victorious Dutch resistance. However, their return to the jubilant city is not a welcome one. Together, Rachel and Müntze are confronted with the harsh vengeance of the victor’s justice as Müntze is recognized as the leader of the SD. Trying to flee the throngs of civilians demanding his arrest, Müntze is captured and executed on the orders of General Käutner, claiming yet one more victim for his ruthless regime. Alone once more, Rachel sets out to uncover the person who framed her as the traitor and right her blighted wartime record. But, as she delves deeper into the events of the past, Rachel uncovers trails of deceit pointing to compatriots she once counted as her closest friends and embarks upon a retributive justice of her own, to right the wrongs of this unforgiving period of history – “Black Book”
STARRING: Carice van Houten, Thom Hoffman, Halina Reijn, Sebastian Koch, Christian Berkel
DIRECTOR: Paul Verhoeven
STUDIO: Sony Classics
RATING: R (For strong violence, graphic nudity, sexuality and language – or just about everything you’d expect from the director of “Basic Instinct.”)
RUNNING TIME: 2 1/2 hours
Firehouse Dog,” Rex, Hollywood’s top-grossing canine, is known for his extreme athletic abilities and diva-like demeanor. His perks package, rivaling that of any A-list celebrity, includes Kobe beef, a poodle harem, and a diamond collar.
Rex’s luck – and Hollywood high life – runs out while shooting a commercial; an aerial stunt goes awry, leading Rex’s handlers to presume he’s dead. But Rex is merely lost – alone, filthy and unrecognizable in an unfamiliar city. Chased by animal control, he takes refuge in grubby abandoned lofts, a far cry from his former luxurious lifestyle.
Shane Fahey (Josh Hutcherson), a bright but rebellious 12-year-old, has exasperated his father Connor (Bruce Greenwood) for the umpteenth time. A single parent and captain of the rundown inner city fire station known as Dogpatch, Connor is charged with inspiring the sad-sack company: veteran and firehouse cook Joe Musto (Bill Nunn), the super-fit and strong-willed mother hen Pepita “Pep” Clemente (Mayte Garcia), the exhausted family-man Lionel Bradford (Scotch Ellis Loring), and the calendar-worthy rookie Terence Kahn (Teddy Sears). The team is still coping with the recent loss of their former captain, Connor’s brother. Shane is also troubled by his uncle’s death, and he’s been acting out by ditching school.
As Connor reprimands Shane for his unruly behavior, Dogpatch gets a call to put out a blaze tearing through the lofts where Rex has been hiding Trapped on the loft’s burning roof, Rex makes a death-defying leap and is rescued by Connor. Once they are safe on the ground, Shane is tasked with finding the mutt’s owner.
The pompous, fastidious Rex and the troubled, messy Shane immediately clash. Unaware of Rex’s true identity, Shane becomes his reluctant new master. But his attitude changes when he discovers Rex’s spectacular skills, which the firefighters put to use during rescue calls.
Inspired by the dog’s talent and courage, Dogpatch makes Rex its mascot. It’s just the boost the company needs – and what Shane and Connor need to help bring them together. But Rex’s fame has drawn the attention of his Hollywood handlers who want him back – while father and son face a deadly challenge from an unexpected source – “Firehouse Dog.”
STARRING: Josh Hutcherson, Bree Turner, Bruce Greenwood, Dash Mihok, Steven Culp
DIRECTOR: Todd Holland
STUDIO: 20th Century Fox
RATING: PG (For sequences of action peril, some mild crude humor and language)
“Firehouse Dog,” Rex, Hollywood’s top-grossing canine, is known for his extreme athletic abilities and diva-like demeanor. His perks package, rivaling that of any A-list celebrity, includes Kobe beef, a poodle harem, and a diamond collar.
Rex’s luck – and Hollywood high life – runs out while shooting a commercial; an aerial stunt goes awry, leading Rex’s handlers to presume he’s dead. But Rex is merely lost – alone, filthy and unrecognizable in an unfamiliar city. Chased by animal control, he takes refuge in grubby abandoned lofts, a far cry from his former luxurious lifestyle.
Shane Fahey (Josh Hutcherson), a bright but rebellious 12-year-old, has exasperated his father Connor (Bruce Greenwood) for the umpteenth time. A single parent and captain of the rundown inner city fire station known as Dogpatch, Connor is charged with inspiring the sad-sack company: veteran and firehouse cook Joe Musto (Bill Nunn), the super-fit and strong-willed mother hen Pepita “Pep” Clemente (Mayte Garcia), the exhausted family-man Lionel Bradford (Scotch Ellis Loring), and the calendar-worthy rookie Terence Kahn (Teddy Sears). The team is still coping with the recent loss of their former captain, Connor’s brother. Shane is also troubled by his uncle’s death, and he’s been acting out by ditching school.
As Connor reprimands Shane for his unruly behavior, Dogpatch gets a call to put out a blaze tearing through the lofts where Rex has been hiding Trapped on the loft’s burning roof, Rex makes a death-defying leap and is rescued by Connor. Once they are safe on the ground, Shane is tasked with finding the mutt’s owner.
The pompous, fastidious Rex and the troubled, messy Shane immediately clash. Unaware of Rex’s true identity, Shane becomes his reluctant new master. But his attitude changes when he discovers Rex’s spectacular skills, which the firefighters put to use during rescue calls.
Inspired by the dog’s talent and courage, Dogpatch makes Rex its mascot. It’s just the boost the company needs – and what Shane and Connor need to help bring them together. But Rex’s fame has drawn the attention of his Hollywood handlers who want him back – while father and son face a deadly challenge from an unexpected source – “Firehouse Dog.”
STARRING: Josh Hutcherson, Bree Turner, Bruce Greenwood, Dash Mihok, Steven Culp
DIRECTOR: Todd Holland
STUDIO: 20th Century Fox
RATING: PG (For sequences of action peril, some mild crude humor and language)
