Erik (Josh Hartnett), an up-and-coming sports reporter, rescues a homeless man only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend (Samuel Jackson), believed to have passed away. Erik sees an opportunity to resurrect the Champ’s story and escape the shadow of his father’s success. Directed by former movie critic Rod Lurie, whose last two movies were box office bombs.
STARRING: Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett, Teri Hatcher, Kathryn Morris, Dakota Goyo, Alan Alda, Rachel Nichols, Glenn Hunter, David Paymer, Ryan McDonald, Harry J. Lennix, Peter Coyote, Chris Ippolito, Stephen Strachan, Eugene Clark
DIRECTOR: Rod Lurie
STUDIO: Yari Film Group
RATING: PG-13 (For some violence and brief language)
For those of you looking closely, and noticing that the release date for “Lucky You” on the above poster is September 8th, and the actual release date is May 4th, you’re not going blind. “Lucky You” was supposed to be released September 8, 2006, more than 6 months ago. It finally gets a new release date, opposite “Spiderman 3″ - yeah, that’s smart. Warner Bros pushed back a ton of movies last year, including the current bomb, “The Reaping,” starring 2-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. Check out its original poster, which had it opening in November of 2006.
In “Lucky You,” director Curtis Hanson (”L.A. Confidential,” “Wonder Boys,” “8 Mile”) brings us a story based in the world of high-stakes Las Vegas poker. Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) is a blaster-a player who goes all out, all the time. But in his personal relationships, Huck plays it tight, expertly avoiding emotional commitments and long-term expectations. When Huck sets out to win the main event of the 2003 World Series of Poker-and the affections of Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore), a young singer from Bakersfield-there is one significant obstacle in his path: his father, L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall), the poker legend who abandoned Huck’s mother years ago. As these two rivals progress toward a final showdown at the poker table, Huck learns that to win in the games of life and poker, he must try to play cards the way he has been living his life and live his life the way he has been playing cards - “Lucky You.”
STARRING: Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Robert Duvall, Debra Messing
DIRECTOR: Curtis Hanson
STUDIO: Warner Bros.
RATING: PG-13 (For some language and sexual humor)
Based on a true story, The Flying Scotsman is a heart-warming and compelling film which follows the turbulent life of cyclist Graeme Obree, who, as an unemployed amateur, broke the World One Hour record on a bike of his own revolutionary design, constructed out of scrap metal and old washing machine parts. From a humble background in Ayrshire, Scotland, Graeme Obree (JONNY LEE MILLER) always had to fight for survival. As a grown man, nothing had changed. When his beloved bicycle shop went bust, Graeme had neither the money nor the sponsorship necessary to realize his dream; to compete at the highest level of world cycling. But it was always clear from his complete passion for the sport and his many local wins that he was destined for greatness. With the unwavering support of his wife Anne (LAURA FRASER) - despite the fact that they had recently had their first baby - and the help of his close friend and newly-appointed manager Malky (BILLY BOYD), he persevered. With the use of the work shop (and occasional mentoring) of a friendly and peaceful minister, Baxter (BRIAN COX) - and of course his racing bike ‘Old Faithful’ - Graeme was finally on his way to the Hamar Velodrome in Norway and the chance to go for the prestigious World Hour Record. But despite their determination and back-breaking work, Graeme missed out on the record by some distance… Distraught, but unfazed, he did the unimaginable. He defiantly returned to the track the following morning, and despite being in unbearable pain from the previous day’s gruelling race, he smashed the world record, which had stood for almost ten years. But Graeme had always suffered from mental health problems and he began to slip in and out of debilitating bouts of depression; it soon became apparent that his career was in danger of hitting the rocks. On top of everything, the World Cycling Federation had been studying his unorthodox bike design and racing position - and they could not bear his unusual style tarnishing their sport. Graeme would soon learn the lengths they would go to in order to stop him from competing. But, defiant, he refused to give up; and with the help of Baxter’s sympathetic ear (understanding all too well Graeme’s affliction), he made a phenomenal comeback. He built another bike of radical design that squeezed through the WCF’s strict guidelines - and against all the odds he won the World Pursuit Championship - astonishingly beating his rival, the Olympic Gold Medal holder Chris Boardman. Graeme’s pioneering ‘Superman Position’ remains one of the most defining images in the history of world cycling. With fantastic high speed racing sequences, and gripping, heartfelt performances by Jonny Lee Miller, Billy Boyd, Laura Fraser and Brian Cox, this is a truly inspiring story about one man’s extraordinary triumph over adversity. The Flying Scotsman is Chariots of Fire meets Rocky meets Shine - on wheels!
STARRING: Jonny Lee Miller, Laura Fraser, Billy Boyd, Morven Christie, Brian Cox
DIRECTOR: Douglas Mackinnon
STUDIO: MGM
RATING: PG-13 (For some mature thematic elements and strong language)
In an unprecedented move, Universal Pictures, which bought “Peaceful Warrior” from Lionsgate (for DVD release), is re-releasing the film, which was originally in theaters last summer.
And they want you and up to 10 of your friends to see it for FREE - AT THEATERS - the first weekend its in theaters.
Are they counting on all of “The Secret” lovers? We think so!
Make up to 10 of your friends VERY happy. Wild About Movies gives you the opportunity to print out 10, yes TEN, passes to “Peaceful Warrior,” for either the March 30, March 31 or April 1 showings at more than 800 theaters, nationwide. And this is no April Fool’s joke!
Just click on the PRINT PASSES link below and do just that!
Arrogant, talented Dan Millman seems to have the perfect college life: a stunning gymnast’s body of incredible strength, handsome looks, good grades, plenty of money and a shot at the Olympic qualifiers in men’s gymnastics. Still, Dan wakes up almost nightly from terrifying nightmares and odd visions he can’t explain or dismiss.
One night, awakened by yet another nightmare, Dan goes for a run through his foggy neighborhood and comes upon a well-lit service station. Behind the counter, an old man seemingly moves without regard for space or time. One moment, Dan is paying for his snacks, the next the old man is on the roof of the station. Stunned by this impossibility, Dan begs the old man, whom he instinctually names Socrates, to share the secret of his abilities in order to achieve his goal of Olympic Gold. The old man puts him through a regimen that changes his diet, training, and lifestyle. Before long, his life is ruined, and he loses his friends, his girls, and is almost thrown off his Gymnastics squad.
Thus begins a journey of discovery for Dan that will shatter every preconceived notion he has about academics, athletics, and achievement. Guided by Socrates, Dan will consider a whole new ideology — one that values consciousness over intelligence, strength in spirit over strength in body. But in order to succeed, Dan must somehow let go of all of his expectations — and simply live in the now…
Based on The Way of Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman’s best-selling spiritual memoir, “Peaceful Warrior” explores the highly competitive world of men’s gymnastics, while introducing an astonishing philosophy that awakens the human spirit. A celebration of the achievements made possible by an open mind, “Peaceful Warrior” is a sports movie not about imagined perfection or victory — but about heart - “Peaceful Warrior.”
In “Blades of Glory,” rival figure skaters Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) go ballistic in an embarrassing, no-holds-barred fight at the World Championships. They are stripped of their gold medals and banned from the sport for life. Now, three-and-a-half years on, they’ve found a loophole that will allow them to compete: if they can put aside their differences, they can skate together - in pairs’ figure skating - “Blades Of Glory.”
STARRING: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, William Fichtner, Jenna Fischer, Romany Malco, Nick Swardson, Rob Corddry, Craig T. Nelson
DIRECTORS: Will Speck & Josh Gordon
STUDIO: Paramount Pictures
RATING: PG-13 (For Language and Adult Situations)
Based on the true story of inner city Philadelphia swim coach Jim Ellis. The story revolves around Ellis’ fight to build a swim team in one of Philly’s toughest neighborhoods in the 1970s. Ultimately, Ellis leads the swimmers to the state championships. (”P.D.R.” stands for Philadelphia Dept. of Recreation) - “Pride.”
STARRING: Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Tom Arnold, Regine Nehy, Kevin Phillips
DIRECTOR: Sunu Gonera
STUDIO: Lionsgate
RATING: PG (For Mild Language)
Many Iranian girls love soccer as much as their countrymen and sport fans all over the world but, they are prevented by law from attending live soccer matches in their country. Inspired by the day when his own daughter was refused entry to a soccer stadium in Iran, Jafar Panahi’s “Offside” follows a day in the life of a group of Iranian girls attempting to watch their team’s World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain at the stadium in Tehran.
A disparate group of girls, united only by their desire to see their beloved team play live and in-person, disguise themselves in myriad ways, risking arrest to try to get into the game. The girls are either caught trying to get in or are spotted in the crowd once they make it past the entry guards, and all are taken to a holding area on the upper level of the stadium, where they are tortured by being able to hear the roar of the crowd without being able to see what is happening in the match.
The young women, who range from timid to tomboy, are guarded by a group of naïve young soldiers who would rather be watching the game themselves, out with their girlfriends or at home looking after their sheep.
The soldiers and their prisoners are so close in age, and the girls’ crimes so harmless, that they have a hard time maintaining their adversarial roles.
As they wait out the game, the young men interact with and befriend the generally far more savvy women. One girl is a tomboy from the city who taunts the guards about their country ways. Another young woman relates the adventure that got her caught to cheers from the other girls - she stole an officer’s uniform to disguise herself but, made the mistake of sitting in the wrong chair in the VIP enclosure.
One young soldier, who is as much a fan as his captives, is persuaded into shouting out the highlights of the game as he watches through a gate. When he is scolded by a slightly superior officer, his punishment is being forced to escort one of the girls to the bathroom. Fearful of how the men in the stadium might react, he punches out the eyes of a cardboard player’s poster to make a mask for his prisoner, so she won’t offend any men on the way. One girl turns out not to be a soccer fan at all but, has her own sentimental reasons for wanting to be at the game in honor of a friend.
As the game nears it’s end, the girls are rounded up in a van to be transported to jail, along with another young man who was caught setting off firecrackers in the stadium. The soldier in charge is persuaded to turn on the radio so they can hear the final moments of the game on the way and, when Iran defeats Bahrain to win the qualifying match, the day ends happily for all - “Offside.”
STARRING: Sima Mobarak Shahi, Safar Samandar, Shayesteh Irani, Mohammad Kheyrabadi, Ida Sadeghi
DIRECTOR: Jafar Panahi
STUDIO: Sony Classics
RATING: PG (For language throughout, and some thematic elements)
Surfwise” - “Surfwise” is the tumultuous story of 85-year old surfer, health advocate and sex guru, Dr. Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, his wife Juliette, and their nine children who were all home-schooled and raised in a small camper on the beach, where they surfed and had to adhere to the strict diet and lifestyle of animals in the wild
STARRING: The Paskowitz family
DIRECTOR: Doug Pray
STUDIO: Magnolia Films
RATING: R (Language, sexual material)
THEATER COUNT (Opening Weekend): TBD
RUNNING TIME: 93 minutes
TOTAL DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: TBD
U.S. DVD RELEASE DATE: TBD
From writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking “The Matrix” trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure “Speed Racer.”
Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, “Speed Racer” (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer—whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.
Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line.
n “Leatherheads,” Oscar winners George Clooney and Renée Zellweger match wits in a quick-witted romantic comedy set against the backdrop of America’s nascent pro-football league in 1925.
In “Leatherheads,” George Clooney plays Dodge Connolly, a charming, brash football hero who is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. The captain hopes his latest move will help the struggling sport finally capture the country’s attention. Welcome to the team Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski), America’s favorite son.
A golden-boy war hero who single-handedly forced multiple German soldiers to surrender in WWI, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed on the field. This new champ is almost too good to be true, and Lexie Littleton (Zellweger) aims to prove that’s the case. A cub journalist playing in the big leagues, Lexie is a spitfire newswoman who suspects there are holes in Carter’s war story. But while she digs, the two teammates start to become serious off-field rivals for her fickle affections. As the new game of pro-football becomes less like the freewheeling sport he knew and loved, Dodge must both fight to keep his guys together and to get the girl of his dreams. Finding that love and football have a surprisingly similar playbook, however, he has one maneuver he will save just for the fourth quarter…in “Leatherheads.”
STARRING: George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski
DIRECTOR: George Clooney
STUDIO: Universal Pictures
RATING: PG-13 (For language, sports violence, sexual situations)
