So what’s out there this week? Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released which include The Last King of Scotland (on Wednesday), Billy Bob Thorton and Jon Heder going mano e mano in School for Scoundrels, Ashton Kutcher as a dimwitted cartoon (and he stars in an animated film out today too!).
All that and more; c’mon in and let us get you ready for the week!
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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week. Want to know more? Just click on the title for film info including a full cast list. Want a closer look? Just click on the poster to watch the trailer.
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James McAvoy plays a Scottish doctor who becomes the personal physician of the vicious and brutal President of Uganda (Forest Whitacker); he discovers he can no longer stand the dictator’s tyrannical rule and attempts to flee the country. Oscar buzz is swarming all over this one which is based on the novel by Giles Foden describing the real life dictatorship of Idi Amin who ruled Uganda with an iron fist in the 1970’s. Kevin MacDonald (Touching the Void, and the 2000 Oscar winning documentary One Day in September) directs, and Gilian Anderson and Kerry Washington also star. The film opens Wednesday in limited release in select cities.
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A lovelorn loser (Jon Heder) enrolls in a secret confidence building class to improve his self-esteem and win the girl of his dreams (Jacinda Barrett), only to see his self-absorbed instructor (Billy Bob Thorton) attempt to beat him to the girl. Zany comedy abounds in this one in a somewhat sweeter version of the humor Thorton used so well in Bad Santa. Todd Philips (Old School, Road Trip, Starsky & Hutch) directs. The supporting cast includes Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller, Michael Clarke Duncan, Todd Louiso, Horatio Sanz, and David Cross. The film opens on Friday and we’ll have the review.
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You know what we needed? Another mediocre animated film about critters in the woods. Yeah… just exactly what we need. This one follows the story of a bear (Martin Lawrence) raised in captivity by a forest ranger (Debra Messing) who must adapt to life in the forest as Open Season for hunting begins. The film also includes the voice talents of Ashton Kutcher as his nit-wit friend (what else?), Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau, Patrick Warburton, Nika Futterman, Jane Krakowski, and Gary Sinese as the obessed hunter Shaw. Somebody please explain Ashton Kutcher’s career to me, please! The film opens on Friday, so check back for our review.
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Speaking of films we don’t want to see starring Ashton Kutcher… Kutcher stars as Maverick cocky Jake Fisher, the “best of the best,” who trains with famous rescue swimmer Ben Randall (Kevin Costner) to work in Alaska saving lives and learning about life. Anybody else think this sounds like Lifetime Television for guys? The supporting cast includes Clancy Brown, Shelby Fenner, John Heard, Leigh Hennessy, Dule Hill, Sela Ward, Bonnie Bramlett, Matt Laub, Neal McDonough, Melissa Sagemiller, and (the awesomely named) Danny Cosmo Higginbottom. The Guardian starts drowning theater goers this Friday.
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If you’re not a Beatles fan just scroll down to the next film. John Lennon was the man. More than just the front man for the biggest rock band in England, or the world, Lennon was an idealist and visionary. The new documentary examines the life of Lennon and his struggles against the war in Vietnam. The documentary is the latest from the writer/director team of David Leaf and John Scheinfeld (The Unknown Marx Brothers, Dean Martin: That’s Amore, Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of “Smile”). After playing two weeks in select cites, the film will be release wide on Friday. (Read our review here).
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A businessman (Bill Paxton) flees the United States for the Cayman Islands with his daughter (Agnes Bruckner) to avoid prosecution. After arriving their fates become intertwined with a local (Orlando Bloom) planning a crime that will shock the nation. Written and directed by Frank E. Flowers (Swallow) the film also stars Zoe Saldana, Victor Rasuk, Lee Ingleby, Sarah Carter, Rachel Miner, and Robert Wisdom. The film has languished in the festival circuit for two years (it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2004). It’s been playing in select cities for a few weeks and opens wide on Friday. Check back for our review.
The Science of Sleep (Science des reves, La)
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As the lights came up I sat in the theater trying to put my experience of watching this film into words. What I came up was simply this – bizarrely fascinating. The film centers around a man (Gael Garcia Bernal) who lacks the ability to separate his dream world from reality, with dizzying results, and his love for his new neighbor (Charlotte Gainsboroug). Nowhere near conventional, the film reminds me of Terry Gilliam’s early work (before he went crazy and started making “films” like Tideland and The Brothers Grimm). It was released in select cities last week (read our review) and Friday begins its wider release.
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
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Writer/director Dito Montiel’s autobiopic stars Robert Downey Jr. ad Montiel returning home to Astoria, NY to come to terms with his past. Seriously, how cool is it for Robert Downey Jr. to play you in your life story? Shia LaBeouf plays Mentiel’s young self, and the film has a nice supporting cast that includes (RazorFine fav) Rosario Dawson, Chazz Palminteri, Dianee Weist, Channing Tatum, Melonie Diaz, and Eric Roberts. Montiel’s personal story did well at Sundace pulling in both the Director’s Award and the Special Jury Prize for ensemble performance. The film opens Friday exclusively in New York and Los Angeles.
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Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (the pair gave us 2005’s The Boys of Baraka) present this documentary look at children who attend the “Kids on Fire” summer camp for born again children. The film focuses on three children from 9 to 12 years-old, and examines the broader impact of the Evangelical movement still strong in the Midwest. Oddly enough, the film is being marketed to Christians despite it’s slightly slanted view in the other direction (Michael Moore looooves it). It’s been a big hit on the festival circuit, including here in Kansas City. Jesus Camp opens in select cities on Friday.
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Another football coach movie? Grant Taylor (Alex Kindrick, who also directs and co-wrote the script with his brother Stephen) isn’t the great football coach or motivator; his teams have lost consistantly for years, he’s about to be fired, and his wife is infertile. Deciding he has nothing left to lose he turns to God to help inspire his players. Not to misquote Star Trek, but what does God need with football? The film was put together by an all volunteer Baptist cast in Albany, GA. The inspirational pro-Christian message is sure to play better in red states. It opens Friday in select cities.