RELEASE DATES
RELEASE DATES
RELEASE DATES
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SUMMER 2004
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Alone in the Dark (LG) C.Slater, T.Reid, S.Dorff
Based on the video game franchise. Slater is a paranormal detective investigating a friend's death with clues leading to "Shadow Island" that brings him face to face with bizarre horrors.
Donnie Darko (Director's Cut) (NM) J.Gyllenhaal, J.Malone, D.Barrymore, etc. W&D: R.Kelly
[Limited] Director's cut rerelease of ingenious and bizarre 2001 indie about a neurotic (psychotic?) teenager clouded by mood-stabilizing drugs who is haunted by demented visions of a giant, monstrous rabbit. Unsettling, darkly funny bit of cerebral science fiction. This cut will restore 10m removed to speed up the plot after its 2001 Sundance premiere. (Read our review)
Drunken Jackasses: The Quest (U)
College kids are filmed partying in Cancun during spring break by the scuzbags who brought you "The Bachelor." Shelved after NewLine's "The Real Cancun," bombed.
Madison (LG) J.Caviezel
[Limited] Fact-based story of Indiana air conditioner repairman who wins as an underdog in a big hydroplane race down the Ohio River. Been on a shelf for 2 years, but now that Caviezel has gone high profile in "The Passion of The Christ"...
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FROM SUNDANCE
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CSA: The Confederate States of America (IFC)
[Limited] Ken Burns-style what-if deadpan mockumentary that takes place in an alternative presentwith uncanny parallels to modern society in which the South won the Civil War, slaves are told sold on a TV shopping network and non-whites and non-Christians are relegated to reservations.
Heights (SPC) E.Banks, G.Close, J.Marsden, J.Bradford
[Limited] A young photojournalist comes to terms with complicated relationships with her mother and boyfriend.
Mean Creek (PC) R.Culkin, S.Mechlowicz
[Limited] Coming-of-ager about a group of boys who take a river trip with the school bully in order to get revenge.
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FROM CANNES
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Clean M.Cheung, N.Nolte. D: O.Assayas
[Limited] About an OD'd rock-star's widow trying to kick her own drug habit and win back custody of her kid. Cheung won best actress at Cannes.
Look At Me (Comme une Image) (SPC) [France]
[Limited] About an overweight 20-year-old desperately seeking the approval of her callous father. Won best screenplay at Cannes.
Nobody Knows Y.Yuuna
[Limited] Japanese drama about four young siblings try to cope on their own when abandoned by their mother. 14-year-old Yagira Yuuya, playing the eldest, won best actor at Cannes.
Old Boy [Korea]
[Limited] Violent action-drama about a man imprisoned for 15 years who must find out who captured him and why. Won the Grand Prix at Cannes.
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08.11.2004 (Wednesday)
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Danny Deckchair (LG) R.Ifans
[NY/LA] After being dumped by his girlfriend, an Aussie man escapes his dreary life by tying large helium balloons to a deckchair & sails away, crashing in the Outback & starting a new life in a small town while the media covers his disappearance.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (D) A.Hathaway, J.Andrews, H.Elizondo, H.Matarazzo. D: G.Marshall
Sequels sees American decendent of royalty move to the postage-stamp country of her ancestry to learn to be the future ruler and runs up against an idiotic plot contrivance by which she must marry or give up the throne. Not based on "Princess in the Spotlight," the sequel to the original novel.
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08.13.2004
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Alien vs. Predator (Fox) W&D: P.W.S.Anderson
Such a great idea, based on the comic books from Dark Horse Comics that have the two races duking it out w/ humans caught in the middle. But who put the dumb-ass behind "Resident Evil" & "Mortal Kombat" in charge?  Trailer!
Code 46 (UA) S.Morton, T.Robbins. D: M.Winterbottom
[Limited] Dark futuristic clone-society sci-fi thriller about a gov't investigator who falls for a woman he later discovers is a genetic copy of his mother. Social outcasts as a result, they must run from the law between massive city-states and through the environmental wastelands outside.
Garden State (Mx/FS) Z.Braff, N.Portman, P.Sarsgaard, I.Holm. W&D: Z.Braff
[Expands] Comedy about a guy returning home for his mother's funeral who breaks free of a lifetime of medication-induced passivity througha romance with a quirky girl.
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08.18.2004 (Wednesday)
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Without a Paddle (P) S.Green, M.Lillard, B.Reynolds. D: S.Brill
Comedy about buddies going canoeing down the Columbia River looking for DB Cooper's ransom loot and running afowl of crazy mountain men.
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08.20.2004
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Danny Deckchair (LG) R.Ifans
[Limited] After being dumped by his girlfriend, an Aussie man escapes his dreary life by tying large helium balloons to a deckchair & sails away, crashing in the Outback & starting a new life in a small town while the media covers his disappearance.
Exorcist: The Beginning (WB) S.Skarsgaard, J.D'Arcy, I.Scorupco. D: P.Schrader
Prequel follows Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow in the original, Stellan Skarsgaard here) as a young priest in post-WWII Africa having his first encounter w/ demonic forces. After turning in a cerebral psychological thriller, director Schrader was fired in post-production and replaced by Renny Harlin to dumb down, gore up and babe out the movie, eventually reshooting the whole thing as a cheap horror flick with half the cast replaced by new actors.
Open Water (LG)
[Expands] Fact-based account of a scuba-diving couple left behind in shark-infested waters by a careless boat crew.
We Don't Live Here Anymore (WIP) M.Ruffalo, N.Watts, L.Dern, P.Krause
[Limited] Lives are turned upside-down when two couples begin cheating with each other's spouses.
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08.27.2004
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Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (Gems) J.Messner, M.Chestnut, E.Byrd, S.Richardson
Sequel to the 1997 guilty-pleasure monster movie "Anaconda," set in Borneo (where there really are no anacondas). A pharmaceutical company expedition searches for a rare orchid with the powers youth and immortality and run afowl of killer giant snakes.
Benji: Off the Leash! (Mulberry Sq.)
The sap-movie mutt pairs with a shaggy dog to save Benji's mother from a greedy backyard breeder. (aka "Benji Returns: Rags to Riches")
Danny Deckchair (LG) R.Ifans
[Expands] After being dumped by his girlfriend, an Aussie man escapes his dreary life by tying large helium balloons to a deckchair & sails away, crashing in the Outback & starting a new life in a small town while the media covers his disappearance.
Hero (Mx) J.Li, Z.Ziyi, M.Cheung, D.Yen
"Raise the Red Lantern"/"The Road Home" director Yimou Zhang tackles a martial arts flick about the first emperor of China, also recently filmmed as "The Emperor and the Assassin."
Suspect Zero (P) A.Eckhart, B.Kingsley, C-A.Moss. D: E.E.Merhige
FBI agents hunt a mysterious serial killer who is hunting other serial killers.
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Sometime in AUGUST
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Donnie Darko [Director's Cut] (NM) J.Gyllenhaal, J.Malone, D.Barrymore, etc. W&D: R.Kelly
[Limited] Director's cut rerelease of ingenious and bizarre 2001 indie about a neurotic (psychotic?) teenager clouded by mood-stabilizing drugs who is haunted by demented visions of a giant, monstrous rabbit. Unsettling, darkly funny bit of cerebral science fiction. This cut will restore 10m removed to speed up the plot after its 2001 Sundance premiere. (Read our review)
Warriors of Heaven and Earth (SPC) [China]
[Limited] Swordplay epic about a caravan during China's Tang Dynasty carrying and protecting a sacred bone of the Buddha.
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FALL 2004
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The Actors (Mx) M.Caine, D.Moran, M.Gambon, L.Headey, M.Richardson, A.Rickman
[Limited] Comedy about struggling Irish actors conning a Dublin gangster then assuming a series of "roles" to cover it up.
The Assassination of Richard Nixon S.Penn, N.Watts, D.Cheadle, M.Wincott. D: N.Mueller
[2004] Dark political comedy based on Samuel Byck, a real-life would-be presidential assassin and troubled furniture salesman who viewed Nixon as the incarnation of capitalism, and thus the root of all of his financial problems. Originally a project of Alexander Payne ("About Schmidt," "Election"). Now re-written & directed by the "Tadpole" folks.
Blast E.Griffin, V.Jones, B.Meyer, T.Lister, V.A.Fox
Action-comedy with the idiotic premise of a tugboat captain battling terrorists who take over an oil rig in the hopes of setting off an electromagnetic bomb.
Friday Night Lights (U) B.B.Thornton, L.Black, D.Luke, J.Hernandez. D: P.Berg
Feel-good sports flick about a 1988 Odessa, Texas, high school football team on which the financially troubled town pinned its dreams. From the book by H.G. Bissinger.
House of D (LG) R.Williams, T.Leoni, T.Hoechlin, O.Jones. W&D: D.Duchovny
A man tries to resolve the turmoil of his present relationships by looking for keys to the past. Flashbacks to his awkwark teen escapades with his best friend, a slow-witted janitor at his high school.
House of Flying Daggers (SPC) Z.Ziyi, T.Kanishiro
[Limited] Martial-arts romantic adventure, set in the 9th C. China, centers on a story of love and betrayal in which secret societies vie for the loyalty of the emperor.
Looking for Kitty D.Krumholtz, E.Burns. W&D: E.Burns
[Limited] A high school baseball coach and a down-on-his-luck private eye scour Manhattan for the coach's runaway wife and her wannabe-rock-star boyfriend.
Melinda & Melinda (FS) R.Mitchell, C.Sevigny, W.Allen, W.Ferrell, V.Shaw, W&D: W.Allen
Woody Allen's fall project. No story details yet.
Paint (SPC) S.Hayek, J.Franco. D: R.Altman
A satirical mystery set in the back-stabbing fine arts world of Manhattan.
Scary Movie 4 (Dim) A.Faris. D: D.Zucker
Slapped-together instant-sequel (part 3 came out in October 2003), hopefully completing this weak spoof series.
She Hate Me A.Mackie, W.Harrelson, E.Barkin, J.Turturro, M.Bellucci, B.Dennehy, B.Ling, O.Davis, C.Ejiofor, K.Washington. D: S.Lee
Fired from his job for exposing corrupt business practices, a former biotech executive turns to impregnating wealthy lesbians for profit.
Silver City (NM) C.Cooper, D.Hannah, D.Huston, K.Kristofferson, T.Birch, C.Marin, M.Bello, D: J.Sayles
Set in Colorado during a state gubernatorial race, the dark political satire follows a grammatically challenged, born-again candidate who is the scion of a formidable right-wing political dynasty and whose campaign begins a cover-up when a man's body is discovered in a local lake, causing chaos.
Stage Beauty (LG) B.Crudup, C.Danes, R.Everett, T.Wilkinson, B.Chaplin
[Limited] Story of 17th-century cross-dressing English actor Edward Kynaston, who was essentially put of of work when Charles II declared that female stage roles should indeed be played by women.
Stay (Fox) E.McGregor, N.Watts, R.Gosling, B.Hoskins, J.Garofalo. D: M.Forster
Supernatural thirller about a psychologist at an Ivy League university with a suicidal student who begins making terrible predictions that, to the psychologist's horror, start coming true.
Synergy (U) S.Johansson, D.Quaid, T.Grace. D: Weitz Bros.
An ad exec finds himself working for a young, fresh-from-college boss (Grace) following a corporate merger. And to make things worse, the kid starts merging wih his daughter too.
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Opening in SEPTEMBER 2004
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09.01.2004 (Wednesday)
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Vanity Fair (FF) R.Witherspoon, J.Purefoy, E.Atkins, J.Broadbent, G.Byrne, B.Hoskins, R.Ifans, J.Rhys Meyers. D: M.Nair
Adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's 1848 British society novel about a lower-class girl who defies convention to climb the London social ladder.
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09.03.2004
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Brown Bunny (Wellspring) V.Gallo, C.Sevingy. W&D: V.Gallo
[Limited] Controversial, sexually graphic road-trip & relationship movie -- reworked from the version that was panned at Cannes 2003.
The Cookout (LG) Q.Pender, Q.Latifah, M.Good, Ja Rule, Eve, T.Meadows, F.Fawcett, D.Glover
A basketball star becomes the #1 NBA draft pick and celebrates with a "cookout" in his new mansion with his crazy friends and relatives.
Paparazzi (Fox) C.Hauser, R.Tunney, T.Sizemore
A movie star concocts a revenge plot against overzealous paparazzi photographers who caused a car accident that injures his wife and son. Sounds like a comedy, but guess what? It's a thriller. Uh-oh.
Wicker Park (MGM) J.Hartnett, M.Lillard. D: P.McGuigan
A young investment banker becomes obsessed with a woman in a cafe, and turning his life upside-dwon to following sends him down a dangerous path. Studio calls it "Hitchcockian." (aka "Obsessed")
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09.10.2004
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Dear Frankie (Mx) E.Mortimer, G.Butler
[Limited] A deaf boy and his mother struggle to hide the fact that they've run away from the boy's father.
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09.17.2004
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Cellular (NL) K.Basinger, C.Evans, W.H.Macy, J.Statham, J.Biel
A kidnapped woman makes a random call on her cell phone for help and the young man who answers must figure out where she is before his cell phone battery goes dead. Apparently nobody in this movie has ever heard of 911. Written by Larry Cohen ("Phone Booth").
Duma (WB) C.Scott, H.Davis
A young boy living on his parents' ranch in Kenya, befriends an orphaned Cheetah cub. (Based on the book "How It Was With Dooms.")
Head In the Clouds (SPC) C.Theron, S.Townsend, P.Cruz
[Limited] Romantic historical drama covering 1930s England, the Spanish Civil War and the Nazi occupation of Paris. Plot follows Cambridge student's affair with a hedonistic photographer and how their politics threaten their love.
Saw (LG) C.Elwes, L.Whannell, D.Glover, M.Potter
[Limited] Serial-killer locked-in-a-room thriller about two people who find themselves chained to a wall by a deranged criminal with no recollection of how they got there.
Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow (P) J.Law, G.Paltrow, A.Jolie, B.Ling, C.Affleck
Serial-styled 1930s sci-fi about an NYC woman journalist (Paltrow) investigating the disappearance of several prominent scientists, which may have something to do with strange flying machines and giant robots that soon threaten the city. Law plays her adventuresome aviator war hero ex-beau (and the title character), and Jolie is a Erhart-styled aviatrix who pair up with the reporter (to save the world, perhaps?). Shot in B&W and color, and written & directed by Kerry Cornan, a CalArts grad who designed a CGI program that allows him to shoot his entire movie against blue screens to fill into virtual 3D sets he's already been working on for years. OK, curiousity piqued!
What's It All About, Alfie? (P) J.Law, M.Tomei, S.Sarandon, N.Long, S.Miller. D: C.Shyer
Modern update of the 1966 Michael Caine comedy about a confirmed womanizer forced to rethink his superficial existence. From Bill Naughton's play.
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09.24.2004
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Country of My Skull (SPC) S.L.Jackson, J.Binoche, B.Gleeson. D: J.Boorman
[Limited] Romance blossoms in the late '90s between a married American newspaper reporter and an Afrikaner radio journalist while covering South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The Forgotten (C) J.Moore, D.West, G.Sinise, A.Edwards, A.Woodard
Committed for psych care, a grieving mother coping w/ losing her 8-year-old son discovers she has created memories of a child that never existed. But when she meets another patient who has a similar experience, she sets out to prove her son's existence and her sanity.
The Machinist (PC) C.Bale, J.J.Leigh. D: B.Anderson
[Limited] A factory worker who has not slept in a year deteriorates physically and mentally, and struggles to come to terms with his breakdown.
Mr. 3000 (To) B.Mac, A.Bassett. D: C.Stone III
Seven years after hitting his 3,000th base hit and retiring, a cynical former baseball player returns to the game to recover his record when three of those hits are disqualified -- and fall in love with the game again.
The Motorcycle Diaries (FF) G.Garcia Bernal. D: W.Salles
[NY/LA] Based on the autobiographical memiors of a cross-country trip taken by a young Che Guevara.
Wimbledon (U) K.Dunst, P.Bettany, J.Favreau, S.Neill
Comedy-romance about a bottom-ranking British tennis player who goes on an unexpected winning streak at Wimbledon and catches the eye of the rising bad-girl of game.
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Sometime in SEPTEMBER
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Final Cut (LG) R.Williams, J.Caviezel, M.Sorvino
Sci-fi thriller set in a future where people are implanted with a chip that records their lives. Williams will play a Cutter -- an individual who has "final cut" on the recorded history of his clients -- who has discovered a window into his own dark history and has set off a chain reaction that puts his life in danger.
The Last Shot (To) M.Broderick, A.Baldwin, T.Collette, C.Flockhart, W.H.Macy, T.B.Nelson, R.Schneider, T.Shalhoub, J.Greer
A young filmmaker is given millions by an undercover FBI agent to shoot a movie in Providence, R.I., which is supposed to be part of a sting operation against crooked unions. But the FBI guy gets so wrapped up in being a producer he starts blowing Fed money everywhere. Comedy based on a true story.
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10.01.2004
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Cursed (Dim) C.Ricci, O.Epps, S.Elizabeth, R.Forster, S.Ulrich, P.diRossi, S.Baio, J.Brolin, I.Douglas, J.Eisenberg, C.Feldman, J.Greer, S.Foley. D: W.Craven
A werewolf attack unites three strangers who must fight for survival against the beast and its curse. According to studio shills, it's "Scream" writer & director reuniting for "a modern, hip twist on the classic werewolf tale." Oh, please!
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (Gems) M.Jovovich, O.Fehr
Gadzooks! Wasn't the first one (which only turned a 12% profit) torture enough? Jovovich searches for ways to contain the deadly viral outbreak while trying to escape the ruined Raccoon City with fellow survivors.  Trailer!
Shark Tale (DW) Voices: W.Smith, J.Gandolfini, J.Black, A.Jolie, R.Zellweger, R.DeNiro, M.Scorsese, P.Falk, V.Pastore, K.Pollak
Computer-animated underwater mob comedy about a low-class hustler who witnesses the murder of a mafioso shark's son & poses as the killer to get into the big time. (The title has "tested" as "too harsh" and will be changed before release.
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10.08.2004
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I Am David (LG) B.Tibber, J.Caviezel, J.Plowright
[NY/LA] A 12-year-old boy travels across Europe by himself in 1952 after escaping from a Communist concentration camp in Bulgaria, where he's spent most of his life. Directed by the creator of "Freaks & Geeks."
Ladder 49 (To) J.Phoenix, J.Travolta, R.Patrick. D: J.Russell
Phoenix firefighter trapped in a blaze reflects on his life while comrades try to save him. Travolta plays a fire chief.
The Motorcycle Diaries (FF) G.Garcia Bernal. D: W.Salles
[Limited] Based on the autobiographical memiors of a cross-country trip taken by a young Che Guevara.
A Sound of Thunder (WB) E.Burns, B.Kingsley, C.McCormack. D: P.Hyams
Based on the Ray Bradbury short story about time-travel tourists on a dinosaur-hunting trip who screw up the entire future by stepping on a butterfly. Bradbury's story ends with this discovery. The movie is a big budget action-adventure that ruins the whole moral of the story by having the hunter and the time machine inventor trying to fix the mistake in the aftermath.
Taxi (Fox) Q.Latifah, J.Fallon, J.Esposito, Ann-Margret. D: T.Story
Remake of 1998 French action film about a cab driver who teams up with an eager young cop to capture a gang of bank robberies.
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10.15.2004
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I ♥ Huckabee's (Mx) J.Law, N.Watts, M.Wahlberg, D.Hoffman, I.Hubbert, J.Schwartzman, L.Tomlin. D: D.O.Russell
Married detectives comedy ala "The Thin Man," except that the couple specializes in "existential investigations" -- in other words, helping people solve life crises.
Shall We Dance? (Mx) R.Gere, J.Lopez, S.Sarandon, S.Tucci, N.Cannon. D: P.Chelsom
Lonley, uptight businessman takes dance lessons because he has a crush on the teacher, who he sees from afar through the studio window. Remake of 1997 Japanese film reviewed here.
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10.22.2004
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The Flight of the Phoenix (Fox) D.Quaid, G.Ribisi, T.Gibson, M.Otto, H.Laurie
Remake of 1965 James Stewart movie about plane crash survivors in the Gobi Desert trying to build a new plane from the parts they find in the wreckage before the heat kills them.
I Am David (LG) B.Tibber, J.Caviezel, J.Plowright
[Limited] A 12-year-old boy travels across Europe by himself in 1952 after escaping from a Communist concentration camp in Bulgaria, where he's spent most of his life. Directed by the creator of "Freaks & Geeks."
J.M. Barrie's Neverland (Mx) J.Depp, K.Winslet, J.Christie, R.Mitchell, V.Redgrave, D.Hoffman. D: M.Forster
[NY/LA] Biopic about the creator of Peter Pan.
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10.29.2004
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Asylum (PC) I.McKellan, N.Richardson
The wife of a new doctor at a maximum security psychiatric asylum outside London in the summer of 1959 finds herself falling in love with one of the asylum's most dangerous patients, a talented sculptor who is renovaging part of the building.
Eulogy (LG) H.Azaria, J.Bradford, Z.Deschanel, G.Headly, F.Janssen, P.Laurie, M.Potter, K.Preston, R.Romano, R.Torn, D.Winger
[Limited] Ensemble comedy about unveiled secrets wreaking havoc when relatives that come together for the funeral of the family patriarch.
I Am David (LG) B.Tibber, J.Caviezel, J.Plowright
[Expands] A 12-year-old boy travels across Europe by himself in 1952 after escaping from a Communist concentration camp in Bulgaria, where he's spent most of his life. Directed by the creator of "Freaks & Geeks."
Seed of Chucky (RP) B.Dourif, J.Tilly, J.Waters
Chucky and Tiffany have a baby doll, and all hell breaks loose. Well, what did you expect after "Bride of Chucky" made money?
Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story (U) J.Foxx, R.King, K.Washington, L.Tate
Biopic of the blind soul singer.
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Sometime in OCTOBER
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Callas Forever F.Ardant, J.Irons, J.Plowright. D: F.Zeffirelli
[Limited] "Faustian" fictionalization of the end of opera legend Maria Callas's life.
J.M. Barrie's Neverland (Mx) J.Depp, K.Winslet, J.Christie, R.Mitchell, V.Redgrave, D.Hoffman. D: M.Forster
[Limited] Biopic about the creator of Peter Pan.
Man-Thing (LG) J.Thompson, R.Paratene
From the Marvel comic. Takes place in the Everglades where the swamp monster fights encroaching development.
Purlple Butterfly (Palm) Z.Ziyi
[Limited] Romantic tragedy and resistance thriller set in 1930s Shanghai during a brutal Japanese occupation.
Sex Is Comedy (IFC) A.Parillaud. D: C.Breillat
[Limited] Comedy based on Breillat's own experiences (on "Fat Girl" and "Romance") as a director trying to get truth out of controversial sex scenes in a movie.
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11.05.2004
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Alexander (WB) C.Farrell, A.Hopkins, R.Dawson, A.Jolie, V.Kilmer, J.Leto. D: O.Stone
One of 2 competing historical epics on the boards about Alexander the Great, the Macedonian who conquered much of the Middle East in the 3rd Century B.C.
The Incredibles (D)
C.T.Nelson, S.L.Jackson, H.Hunter, J.Lee, W.Shawn. D: B.Bird
The next Pixar CGI 'toon, about a family of superheroes. Written and directed by Brad Bird ("The Iron Giant"). Trailer!
The Ringer (FS) J.Knoxville, B.Cox, K.Heigl
Comedy about two guys who rig the Special Olympics to pay off a debt by having one of them pose as a mentally-challenged contestant.
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11.12.2004
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After the Sunset (NL) P.Brosnan, S.Hayek, W.Harrelson. D: B.Ratner
After his "one last big score," a master thief sails off to an island paradise -- but his lifelong nemesis in the FBI follows him there, and a new cat-and-mouse game begins.
Kinsey (FS) L.Neeson, I.McKellan, L.Linney, C.O'Donnell, T.Curry, T.Hutton, J.Lithgow, O.Platt, P.Sarsgaard, G.Vidal. W&D: B.Condon
[NY/LA] Biopic about celebrated sexuality researcher Alfred Kinsey. Written & directed by Bill Condon ("Gods & Monsters," "Chicago").
Surviving Christmas (DW) B.Affleck, C.Applegate, J.Gandolfini
Miserable, rich record exec faced w/ spending Christmas alone decides to return to his childhood home & pay the family living there now to take him in for the holiday.
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11.19.2004
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Bad Education (La Mala Educacion) (SPC) G.G.Bernal, F.Martinez, L.Watling. D: P.Almodovar
[NY] Two men who meet up 20 years after they were at Catholic school together during the Franco regime. One of them is now a director, and the film includes a movie-within-a-movie.
The Brothers Grimm (Dim) M.Damon, H.Ledger, M.Bellucci, J.Pryce. D: T.Gilliam
Fictionalized story of creepy fairytale writers Jakob & Wilhelm Grimm. Story is they're traveling con men who "rid" villages of "enchanted" creatures. When called on to investigate the disappearance of several young girls, they find themselves in over their supernatural heads.
First Daughter (Fox) K.Holmes, M.Blucas, M.Keaton. D: F.Whitaker
Romantic comedy about college-age President's kid who refuses to have body guards. She falls for a BMOC grad student who is really an undercover young Secret Service agent assigned protect her. Written by the horrible, horrible actor Jerry O'Connell who stars in dumb, dumb movies like "Kangaroo Jack" and "Tomcats." (Sound familiar? See Mandy Moore's "Chasing Liberty.")
The Interpreter (U) N.Kidman, S.Penn. D: S.Pollack
Thriller about a UN interpreter who overhears an plot to assassinate an African leader and pairs up w/ a fed to stop the murder.
Last First Kiss (C) W.Smith, E.Mendes. D: A.Tennant
Romantic comedy about a "tactical adviser" who orchestrates first dates from behind the scenes for a living, but his secret may get out when he falls for a tabloid gossip columnist.
Polar Express (WB) T.Hanks, P.Scolari. D: R.Zemeckis
Live action/CGI adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's childrens' book about a kid who believes in Santa despite all his friends saying he's make believe. Then one Xmas eve his faith is rewarded when a steam train pulls up to his bedroom window and takes him to the North Pole.
SpongeBob SquarePants (P)
Adapted from the the Nickelodeon cartoon series.
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11.24.2004
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Beauty Shop (MGM) Q.Latifah, D.Hounsou, A.Silverstone, K.Bacon, M.Suvari, A.MacDowell, A.Woodard, I.Cube
Spin-off with Latifah's character from "Barbershop 2" moving to Atlanta so her daughter can go do a prestigious music school, opening her own beauty show when her snooty salon boss tries to scam her, and refereeing funny clashes between uptown and downtown clients.
Beyond the Sea (LG) K.Spacey, K.Bosworth. D: K.Spacey
[NY/LA] Conceptual, non-linear biopic of '60s singer Bobby Darin -- who died when he was several years younger than Spacey, so go figure. But this has been a pet project of the actor's for years. Bosworth plays Sandra Dee, Darin's wife.
National Treasure (D) N.Cage, S.Bean, H.Keitel. D: J.Turteltaub
An archaeologist investigates a supposed secret code hidden in the US Constitution, which may hold clues to a treasure buried by the Founding Fathers as a Revolutionary War chest.
Skipping the Holidays (C) T.Allen, J.L.Curtis, D.Aykroyd, C.Marin. D: J.Roth
A couple fed up with seasonal inundation decide to forgo anything to do with Christmas one year and take a cruise, but the surprise arrival of their daughter, who expects celebrations as usual, throws a wrench in the works. From the John Grisham novel, adapted by Chris Columbus (uh-oh).
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Sometime in NOVEMBER
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Be Cool (MGM) J.Travolta, The Rock, U.Thurman, J.Pesci, V.Vaughn, J.Gandolfini, Cedric. D: F.Gary Gray
Sequel to "Get Shorty" finds Chili Palmer fed up with the movie biz and becoming the manager of an aspiring singer who's involved with the Russian mob.
Kinsey (FS) L.Neeson, I.McKellan, L.Linney, C.O'Donnell, T.Curry, T.Hutton, J.Lithgow, O.Platt, P.Sarsgaard, G.Vidal. W&D: B.Condon
[Limited] Biopic about celebrated sexuality researcher Alfred Kinsey. Written & directed by Bill Condon ("Gods & Monsters," "Chicago").
Shopgirl (To) C.Danes, S.Martin, J.Schwartzman, B.Wilson-Sampras
Based on Steve Martin's best-selling novel about a disenchanted dept. store salesgirl who, after a magical turn in her life, tries to decide between the two men, a wealthy divorcee and her struggling-musician boyfriend.
A Very Long Engagement (WIP) A.Tautou, J.Foster. W&D: J-P.Jeunet
AKA "Un Long Dimanche de Fiancailles," this romantic drama from the director of "Amelie" is adapted from Sebastien Japrisot's novel about woman's search for the truth about the disappearance of her fiancée, a court-martialed soldier taken to the French front line in WWI and left for the enemy.
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12.01.2004
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The Life Aquatic (To) B.Murray, O.Wilson, A.Huston, J.Goldblum, P.Stormare, B.Cort. W&D: W.Anderson
Oceanographer's deep-sea misadventures from "Royal Tenenbaums"/"Rushmore" writer-director Wes Anderson. Will aparently be, at least in part, stop-motion animation since Henry Selick ("The Nightmare Before Christmas") is working on the film.
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12.03.2004
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The Phantom of the Opera (WB) G.Butler, E.Rossum, A.Cumming, M.Driver. D: J.Schumacher
[Limited] Now that "Chicago" has revitalized the musical, this pic has been green-lighted again. But what idiot put the guy who ruined the "Batman" franchise in charge? Schumacher plans to skew it younger, god help us.
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12.10.2004
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Bad Education (La Mala Educacion) (SPC) G.G.Bernal, F.Martinez, L.Watling. D: P.Almodovar
[LA] Two men who meet up 20 years after they were at Catholic school together during the Franco regime. One of them is now a director, and the film includes a movie-within-a-movie.
Beyond the Sea (LG) K.Spacey, K.Bosworth. D: K.Spacey
[Limited] Conceptual, non-linear biopic of '60s singer Bobby Darin -- who died when he was several years younger than Spacey, so go figure. But this has been a pet project of the actor's for years. Bosworth plays Sandra Dee, Darin's wife.
Blade: Trinity (NL) W.Snipes, K.Kristofferson, R.Reynolds, J.Biel, P.Posey. D: D.S.Goyer
Post-apocalyptic third film sees a struggle for power between humanity & vampires. Being directed by David S. Goyer, writer of "Blade" & "Blade 2."
Ocean's Twelve (WB) G.Clooney, B.Pitt, J.Roberts, A.Garcia, D.Cheadle, B.Mac, C.Zeta-Jones. D: S.Soderbergh
Danny Ocean & his con team go for another triple-heist -- this time in three different cities (Rome, London and Berlin). Meanwhile, casino owner Terry Benedict is out for revenge. Sequel is rewriten from a heist script called "Honor Among Thieves," by screenwriter George Nolfi, whose original draft was once supposed to be a John Woo movie.
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12.17.2004
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The Aviator (Mx) L.DiCaprio, C.Blanchett, K.Beckinsale, G.Stefani, J.C.Reilly, A.Baldwin, I.Holm, D.Huston, A.Alda, W.Dafoe, B.Spiner. D: M.Scorsese
Biopic about the early years of Howard Hughes, when he was dabbling in movie producing. Blanchett is Katherine Hepburn, Beckinsale is Ava Gardner, Stefani is Jean Harlow and Balwin and Huston are airline presidents.
Beyond the Sea (LG) K.Spacey, K.Bosworth. D: K.Spacey
[Expands] Conceptual, non-linear biopic of '60s singer Bobby Darin -- who died when he was several years younger than Spacey, so go figure. But this has been a pet project of the actor's for years. Bosworth plays Sandra Dee, Darin's wife.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (P)
J.Law, L.Aiken, J.Carrey, M.Streep, T.Spall, L.Guzman. D: B.Silberling
From the twisted Daniel Handler children's book about three young orphans taken in by a series of eccentrics. Handler wrote the screenplay. Carry plays evil Count Olaf who wants to get his hands on their inheritance.
Spanglish (C) A.Sandler, P.Vega, A.Bancroft, T.Leoni. W&D: J.L.Brooks
Comedy/drama about a beautiful Mexican girl who becomes housekeeper and confidante for an affluent L.A. family.
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12.22.2004
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Meet the Fockers (U) B.Stiller, R.DeNiro, D.Hoffman, T.Polo, B.Danner. D: J.Roach
Sequel to "Meet the Parents," with De Niro and clan going to visit Stiller and his folks.
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12.24.2004
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Fierce People (LG) D.Lane, D.Sutherland, K.Stewart. D: G.Dunne
[NY/LA] A Manhattan massage therapist uses pull with rich clients to get her kid into a world of wealth and privilege, but her plan backfires in terrible, corrupting ways.
The Phantom of the Opera (WB) G.Butler, E.Rossum, A.Cumming, M.Driver. D: J.Schumacher
[Wider] Now that "Chicago" has revitalized the musical, this pic has been green-lighted again. But what idiot put the guy who ruined the "Batman" franchise in charge? Schumacher plans to skew it younger, god help us.
An Unfinished Life (Mx) J.Lopez, R.Redford, M.Freeman, J.Lucas. D: L.Hallstrom
A woman down on her luck and desperate to care for her daughter, moves in with her estranged father-in-law.
The Woodsman (NM) K.Bacon, K.Sedgwick, B.Bratt, M.Def, D.A.Grier
[NY/LA] Drama about a child molester trying to rebuild his life after prison.
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12.25.2004 (Saturday)
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Fat Albert (Fox) K.Thompson. D: J.Zwick
Written by Cosby himself, this live-action version of the 1970s cartoon show. Looks like they're aiming pretty low though with a cast of Disney Channel off-casts.
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Sometime in DECEMBER
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Bad Education (La Mala Educacion) (SPC) G.G.Bernal, F.Martinez, L.Watling. D: P.Almodovar
[Limited] Two men who meet up 20 years after they were at Catholic school together during the Franco regime. One of them is now a director, and the film includes a movie-within-a-movie.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (Mx) R.Zellweger, C.Firth, H.Grant, J.Broadbent, G.Jones, J.Barrett, S.Henderson
Opens four weeks after the events of the first movie w/ Bridget Jones discovering that life w/ Mark Darcy isn't exactly everything she hoped -- and neither is her new job as a reporter.
Closer (C) J.Roberts, J.Law, N.Portman, C.Owen. D: M.Nichols
Drama revolving around two couples whose friendship sours after two of them cheat together. Adapted by Patrick Marber from his stage play.
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01.07.2005
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Fierce People (LG) D.Lane, D.Sutherland, K.Stewart. D: G.Dunne
[Limited] A Manhattan massage therapist uses pull with rich clients to get her kid into a world of wealth and privilege, but her plan backfires in terrible, corrupting ways.
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01.14.2005
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Fierce People (LG) D.Lane, D.Sutherland. D: G.Dunne
[Expands] A Manhattan massage therapist uses pull with rich clients to get her kid into a world of wealth and privilege, but her plan backfires in terrible, corrupting ways.
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01.28.2005
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Cheer Up (C) T.L.Jones, M.Keena. D: S.Herek
Ready to throw up? This "comedy" is about a hard-edged FBI agent working undercover as a cheerleading coach to protect a college pom-pom girls after they witness a murder.
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Seeking distribution
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11:14 H.Swank, R.L.Cook, P.Swayze, C.Hanks, S.Hatosy, B.Hershey, H.Thomas, B.Foster
Four reverse-chronological flashback plots relate to a body flying off a bridge into a moving car in the opening scene.
Emile I.McKellan, D.K.Unger
[Limited] Hoping to connect with his daughter, a retired professor moves back to the small farming community where he abandoned his family 40 years before.
George & the Dragon J.Purefoy, P.Perabo, S.Callow, M.C.Duncan, J.Plowright, P.Swayze
12th century-set legend of St.George, patron saint of England, who supposedly killed a dragon to rescue a princess.
Stark Raving Mad S.W.Scott, T.Sharp, M.Mazur, A.Arkin, D.Foley, L.D.Phillips
A group of young crooks throw a crazy rave dance party as a distraction to the heist they're pulling on the bank next door.
To Kill a King D.Scott, T.Roth, R.Everett, O.Williams
[Limited] 17th C. English civil war epic two friends who fought together but end up political enemies over the fate of the reconstituted England and King Charles I.
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Return to top
SPLICEDwire Home
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Slated for 2004
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Beautiful Country (SPC) D.Nguyen, N.Nolte, H.Keitel, T.Roth, B.Ling
[Limited] Vietnamese son of an American war vet searches for his identity.
Birth (FS) N.Kidman, D.Huston, A.Heche, L.Bacall. D: J.Glazer
A 10-year-old boy w/ a crush on a 30-ish Manhattanite career gal claims to be the reincarnation of 10-years-dead husband, causing her to reevaluate her life.
Blind Horizon (LG) V.Kilmer, N.Campbell, F.Dunaway, A.Smart
[Limited] Amnesiac who was shot in a small New Mexico town tries to piece together the remnants of his memory & starts to think he might have been involved in a plot to assassinate the president.
Chaos (U) R.DeNiro, B.DelToro. D: J.Glazer
Remake of a Japanese film about a grifter hired to stage the kidnapping of a rich man's wife who gets in over his head when the woman is murdered.
Les Choristes (Mx) W&D: C.Barratier
[Limited] In 1948, a teacher resolves to change his pupils' lives by acquainting them with the magic and power of music after he is stunned by his new school's harsh realities.
Cypher (Mx) J.Northam, L.Liu
[Limited] Thriller about a schnook getting in over his head in corporate espionage.
Darkness (Dim) A.Paquin, L.Olin
A teenage girl discovers her gloomy new countryside house has a horrifying past that threatens to destroy her family. Been on a shelf for two years, so expect garbage.
A Dirty Shame (FL) T.Ullman, J.Knoxville, S.Blair, C.Issak. W&D: J.Waters
[Limited] John Waters comedy about a convenience store owner who gets a concussion during nookie, turning her into an insane sex addict, much to the joy of her husband...until he can no longer keep up and her change drives their family crazy.
Dot the I (LG) G.G.Bernal, N.Verbeke, J.D'Arcy
[Limited] A young Spanish flamenco dancer living in London tries to cover-up a last-minute affair with a Brazilian actor in the days before her wedding.
The Gathering (Dim) C.Ricci, J.Beals, S.Dillane, K.Fox, I.Gruffudd
American girl backpacking through Europe begins to have fearful visions that may be tied to the recent discovery of the ruins of a 1st Century church sporting sinister murals.
Highwaymen (NL) J.Caviezel
A vigilante takes his 1970s Plymouth Barracuda on the road to hunt down a hit-and-run serial killer that whacked his wife. Cat-&-mouse games, and a car showdown ensue (the baddie drives a green 1972 Caddy Eldorado). Trailer!
The I Inside (Dim) R.Phillippe, R.S.Leonard, P.Perabo, S.Polley, S.Rea
Waking up in his hospital bed after a near-death experience, an man's memory is gone but soon discovers he led a double life, that he may have killed his brother and that someone may be trying to kill him.
If Only J.L.Hewitt, P.Nicholls, T.Wilkinson, L.Davenport
After his girlfriend is killed in an accident after they had a fight, a grief-stricken guy gets the chance to the day over and tries to change events.
Infernal Affairs (Mx) A.Lau, T.Leung, A.Wong
[Limited] Hong Kong thriller about a cop who goes undercover in a triad while a gangster becomes a mole in the police force.
The Intended (IFC) J.McTeer, O.Dukakis. D: K.Levring
[Limited] A 40-something woman & her younger lover traveling in 1920s Borneo become involved in a web of greed and murder at an ivory trading post.
The King (CF) G.G.Bernal, S.Shepard, D.Hannah. D: J.Marsh
[Limited] A dysfunctional young man is discharged from the Navy and seeks out his estranged father, a pastor living in Corpus Christi with his new family.
Ladies in Lavender J.Dench, M.Smith, N.McElhone. D: C.Dance
[Limited] Spinster sisters who lead a peaceful existence together until they take in a young man...
Mindhunters (Dim) V.Kilmer, C.Slater, LL Cool J, J.L.Miller. D: R.Harlin
FBI behavioral science students trapped on an island have to use their profiler training to weed out a killer among them.
Nicotina D.Luna
[Limited] Mexican dark comedy about a science geek who gets into trouble with Russian gangsters when he delivers the wrong disk of information.
November (IFC) C.Cox Arquette, J.LeGros, N.Dunn, A.Archer
As a photographer struggles to put her boyfriend's brutal murder behind her, her life begins to splinter and the line between fantasy and reality becomes blurred.
Off the Map (Manhattan) V.d'Angelis, J.Allen, S.Elliott, J.K. Simmons
[Limited] 1970s coming-of-ager about an 11-year-old girl whose tax-evading moved to New Mexico and has been followed by an IRS agent who becomes enamored of their desert way of life.
Perfect Strangers (1stL) S.Neill
[Limited] Thriller from New Zealand about a woman who goes home with a handsome stranger only to realize that she's been kidnapped.
Undertaking Betty (Mx) B.Brethyn, A.Molina, C.Walken, N.Watts
[Limited] Comedy set in small town Wales, about two funeral directors (one local, one a flashy Yank) competing for business & the love of Blethyn. (aka "Plots with a View")
Stateside (SGF) J.Tucker, R.L.Cook, V.Kilmer, A.Bruckner, J.Mantegna
[Limited] Loner rich kid lands in trouble when a prank goes wrong, then winds up in the Marines. When he comes home he falls in love with an unstable young woman while trying to make things right with the now-institutionalized victim of his prank.
Time of the Wolf (Palm) I.Hubbert (France)
[Limited] A French family arrives at their second home in the country, they are confronted by a harsh new reality as something cataclysmic happens on a global scale, plummetting France into a post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
Tristan & Isolde (Fox) J.Franco, S.Myles, R.Sewell. D: K.Reynolds
Action adpatation of famous tale of an orphan-cum-knight and British hero in post-Roman-Era war with Ireland is poisoned and assumed dead, then his funeral boat washes up in Ireland, where he's nursed to health by, and falls in love with, the daughter of his enemy king. Adventure and tragedy ensue (the biggest tragedy being that it's directed by Kevin Reynolds -- he who raped and pillaged the Robin Hood legend with Kevin Costner).
The Touch (Mx) M.Yeoh, B.Chaplin
Rightful heir to a magical Chinese relic raced to find before a collector does.
U-Boat (LG) W.H.Macy, L.Holly, X.Berkeley, S.Caan, S.Huntington, T.Schweiger, J.Sisto
When American survivors of the wrecked U.S.S. Swordfish, are made POWs aboard a German U-Boat during WWII, their loyalties are tested as they are forced to either join the Germans or fight each other for their lives.
The Upside of Anger (NL) J.Allen, K.Costner, E.R.Wood, A.Witt, E.Christensen, K.Russell
Family drama about a mother & four strong-willed daughters who must suddenly deal with life without their ever-present husband and father.
Yes Men (UA)
[Limited] Documentary about a group of pranksters who impersonated World Trade Organization members to gain entry into important events.
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On a shelf somehwere
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Ali G Indahouse (U) Ali G
English standup comic's film debut about a white gangsta wannabe who gets mixed up in a UK political scandal.
Carolina (Mx) J.Stiles, A.Nivola, S.MacLaine, M.Boorem, D.Chase. D: M.Gorris
White trash girl tries to escape her dysfunctional background.
Edges of the Lord (Mx) H.J.Osment, W.Dafoe
Jewish boy's parents send him to live with Catholic family before they're sent off to a concentration camp during WWII.
Hotel M.Beesley, S.Burrows, S.Hayek, R.Ifans, J.Isaacs, L.Liu, J.Malkovich, B.Reynolds, J.Sands, D.Schwimmer. D: M.Figgis
[Limited] Real-time, four-quadrant, single-take narrative (like Figgis's "Time Code") about the odd goings-on surrounding a period film being made in a Venice hotel.
Investigating Sex N.Nolte, N.Campbell, R.Tunney, T.Howard, J.Davies, J.Delpy, D.Mulroney, K.Roberston, T.Weld. D: A.Rudolph
About events surrounding a scientific sex study.
It's All About Love (FF) C.Danes, J.Phoenix, S.Penn. D: T.Vinterberg
Psychological sci-fi about the disconnected nature of modern humanity wreaking strange havoc on the Earth, including fluxuations in gravity & a new ice age.
Lil' Pimp (C) V: M.Brooks, P.Gilstrap, C.Electra, B.Mac, W.Shatner, J.Tilly
Adapted from the adult webtoon about a 9-year-old white boy ghetto pimp and his pals Fruitjuice, Nagchampa, and his Tourette's-striken pet gerbil.
Samsara (Mx)
[Limited] A young monk returning to his ancient monastery after e years of solitary meditation finds his life devoted to spiritual development challenged when he meets a beautiful girl in a nearby village.
Slap Her, She's French P.Perabo
Seemingly innocent exchange student in small-town Texas conspires to usurp the throne of the high school queen bee. Trailer!
The Warrior (Mx)
[Limited] Sweeping mythical adventure set in feudal India, about a warrior who renounces his violent role as enforcer to a local lord, only to be murderously pursued into the Himalayan mountains by the lord's army. Won Jury Prize at Cannes.
Who's Your Daddy B.Davis, C.Camp, A.Landry
Comedy about a teenager inheriting a porn empire.
Trailer!
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