So what’s out there this week. Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released this Friday including the fourth installment of the Scary Movie franchise, a film that looks quite a bit like last year’s Madagascar, and slew of films in limited release including Gretchen Mol as Bettie Page and RazorFine favorite Chiwetel Ejiofor as a drag queen! All that and more; read on…
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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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The Weinstein Co. tries to wring a little more value from this Dimension franchise. Once again the horror spoof stars Anna Farris as dumb blonde (sigh, really can’t someone cast her as something else please!!). If the trailers are any indication it seems most of the jokes are at least a year-old as the film spoofs War of the Worlds, Saw, Bush’s 9/11 response (or lack of), and more. Also returning are Leslie Neilsen, Simon Rex, Carmen Electra, and Regina Hall as the sassy black friend. Joining the fun this time around are Craig Bierko and Shaquille O’Neal. David Zucker returns to direct.
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So….Disney’s so out of ideas they’re going to start ripping off Dreamworks animation now? In a film that much more than slightly resembles last year’s Madagascar some NY Zoo animals break-out to try and find their friend and go after him into The Wild. No that doesn’t sound that similar, well at least the characters don’t include a lion and a giraffe…oops. Voices for this one include Kiefer Sutherland, James Belushi, Janeane Garofalo, and Eddie Izzard. Just how un-anticipated is this film, well no one was willing to shell out cash for the merchandise rights. Even Adult Swim’s lamest shows have toy deals.
Kinky Boots (limited release)
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RazorFine favorite Chiwetel Ejiofor takes a turn on the wildside playing drag queen Lola who comes to the aid of a young Charlie (Joel Edgeton) who just inherited a shoe factory from his father and has no idea how to keep it open. The chance encounter leads to a partnership as the old-stuffy factory workers begin producing Kinky Boots. Interesting British film that should find a niche in art houses also includes stories about Charlie’s fiance (Jemima Rooper) who’s interested in his money and the factory worker who believes in him (Sarah-Jane Potts) and the stuffy factory workers learning the lesson about a wider world and accepting Lola into their lives.
The Notorious Bettie Page (limited release)
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Bettie Page was the pin-up girl in the 1950’s and the success of her risque bondage photos even drew the attention and ire of the Senate Investigating Committee. Director Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol) caused quite a stir when she picked blonde character actress Gretchen Mol for the starring role, but it just might turn out to be inspired casting. Harmon reunites with writer Guinevere Turner (American Psycho) for the screenplay. David Strathairn, Lili Taylor, Chris Bauer, Jared Harris, Cara Seymour, John Culllum, and Sarah Paulson also star.
Hard Candy (limited release)
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A 32-year-old photographer (Patrick Wilson) picks up a 14-year-old girl (Ellen Page) on the Internet and takes her home, but finds trouble when she traps him into answering for his pedophilia and the disappearance of a young girl from a local coffee shop. Director David Slade (Do Geese See God?) and screenwriter Brian Nelson have received mixed praise and condemnation for this touchy feature. The film has all the makings of a good psychological thriller or a laughable exceptionally-bad-taste-disaster. Early screenings have found more favorable responses from audiences than reviews from critics.
la mujer de mi hermano (limited release)
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A bored wife (Barbara Mori) married for ten years to a rather plain man (Christian Meier) begins fantasizing about a relationship with her husband’s more passionate and artistic brother (Manolo Cardona), but when the fantasy becomes a reality the world of all three shatter as secrets are reveiled and betrayal and revenge tear them apart. An Argentinian import in Spanish with English subtitles, the film is the feature debut for director Ricardo de Montreuil, was picked up by Liongate who isn’t pushing it very heavy so you’ll probably have to hunt through local art houses for this one.
Preaching to the Choir (limited release)
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Two estranged brothers, a hip hop star (Billoah Greene) and a Baptist preacher (Darien Sills-Evans), each facing their own crisis come together and help each other out and begin to repair their relationship. The supporting cast sports some familiar faces including Patti LaBelle, Tim Reid, and Eartha Kitt. The story takes place in Harlem and much of the shooting was done on location in Harlem and other New York locations. Principal photography finished way back in 2003 (under the then title “On the One”) it’s been sitting on the shelf awhile. The screenplay was adapted by Kevin Heffernan of Broken Lizard.
Kekexili (Mountain Patrol) (limited release)
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A Chinese film about the true story of volunteers protecting antelope from poachers in the mountains of Tibet. The film has wowed audiences and critics alike with its cinematography and documentary style winning the Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival, the Don Quixote Award-Special Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival, and Best Picture and Best Cinematography at the Golden Horse Film Festival. The second film by writer/director Chuan Lu (The Missing Gun) includes a cast of mainly first-time actors.