Battle of the Exes in US Christmas Box Office

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt movies went head-to-head at the box office this Christmas weekend. Find out who wins!

Owen Wilson and a golden labrador helped Jennifer Aniston beat ex-husband Brad Pitt in holiday weekend box office.

Marley & Me, another heartwarming dog story, hit $37 million to top the US box office from Friday to Sunday.

Brad Pitt’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took in $27.2 million during the same period, which was only good enough for third place.

On the other hand, Adam Sandler’s Bedtime Stories grossed $28.1 million. The Disney fantasy movie placed 2nd to Marley and Me.

Top 10 Movies in the US Christmas Box Office

1. Marley & Me, $37 million
2. Bedtime Stories, $28.1 million
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, $27.2 million
4. Valkyrie, $21.5 million
5. Yes Man, $16.5 million
6. Seven Pounds, $13.4 million
7. The Tale of Despereaux, $9.4 million
8. The Day the Earth Stood Still, $7.9 million
9. The Spirit, $6.5 million
10. Doubt, $5.7 million

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2008/12/29/battle-of-the-exes-in-us-christmas-box-office/

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Donkey Punch (2009)

Rated: R for a scene of strong sexual content involving an aberrant violent act, graphic nudity, violence, language and drug use
Runtime: 90 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Theatrical Release: Jan 23, 2009 Limited
Starring: Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian Morris, Jay Taylor, Jaime Winstone
Director: Olly Blackburn

Synopsis
Kim (Jaime Winstone), Tammi (Nichola Burley) and Lisa (Sian Breckin) are best friends on a girl’s weekend in Mallorca, away from grey Leeds. Feisty Kim and carefree Lisa are determined to party and... Kim (Jaime Winstone), Tammi (Nichola Burley) and Lisa (Sian Breckin) are best friends on a girl’s weekend in Mallorca, away from grey Leeds. Feisty Kim and carefree Lisa are determined to party and distract Tammi from an ex-boyfriend back home. They hit the town, giggling, dancing and flirting, they’re up for fun and maybe a little bit of trouble too, and find both with three middle-class London boys: smooth operator Marcus (Jay Taylor), bad boy Bluey (Tom Burke) and fresh-faced Josh (Julian Morris).

They hit it off instantly and, while sipping stolen champagne on the beach, the boys brag about the luxury yacht they are crewing on for the summer, and lure the girls back to the boat for sunset tunes and bubbly. Despite Tammi’s hesitation, Kim and Lisa are keen to party and Lisa finally coaxes Tammi onboard, but only after they’ve spotted the rather lovely Sean (Robert Boulter) who’d stayed behind on the boat while the boys were bar-hopping.

Josh gives the girls the grand tour and they are suitably impressed. Bluey jumps on the DJ decks and Sean, who turns out to be Josh’s older brother, shows his sensible nature demanding Bluey turn the music down. Marcus decides they should head out to sea where noise won’t be a problem.

The scene is idyllic. The sun is shining, the ocean is crystal blue and Bluey, (wannabe rude-boy, drug-dealer and DJ) can pump the music as loud as he wants, because there’s no one around for miles.

Bluey distributes some pills and, while they take a dip in the sparkling water, talk turns sexual. To get a reaction, Bluey explains the meaning of the phrase “donkey punch” to the shocked group and an embarrassed Josh, who’d claimed he’d mastered it.

As the ecstasy kicks in, the girls and guys begin to pair up. Bluey and Marcus decide to take the action below deck, leading Kim and Lisa into the master bedroom, while Josh scampers after them to watch. The video camera comes out and the ‘fun’ starts. While Tammi and Sean talk about deep and meaningful relationships above deck, downstairs things quickly become raunchy and out of control. Bluey is clearly an instigator and Lisa is open to experimentation. Stoked by drugs, the masculine sexual bravado is taken one step too far, when suddenly a game of dare has become a horrific fatal accident, and Lisa is dead.

Forced to straighten up and think on their feet, rash decisions are made and the girls see the boys veer swiftly from charming to cold and calculating as they see their comfy middle-class futures disappearing before their eyes. The boys turn against the girls and against each other as drug-fuelled paranoia sets in and the true nature of each character comes to the fore. Trying first manipulation and then brute force the boys try to get the girls to agree they’ll tell the police Lisa just fell overboard. While only Sean is left with some empathy for the horrific situation, in order to protect his brother he agrees to throw the body overboard. But, as the girls desperately struggle to outwit the boys, frayed nerves and intense paranoia make their vulnerability glaringly obvious.

Striking for its sparseness, Donkey Punch centres on the three elements; the characters, the boat and the ocean.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/donkey_punch/

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Possession 2009

Rated: PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, some sexuality and language
Genre: Dramas, Drama, Thriller, Remake
Theatrical Release: Jan 23, 2009 Wide
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lee Pace, Michael Landes, William B. Davis
Director: Joel Bergvall, Simon Sandquist

Synopsis
Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this thriller about a woman whose husband and brother-in-law are in comas after a car crash. But when her difficult brother-in-law wakes up, he claims that he's her... Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this thriller about a woman whose husband and brother-in-law are in comas after a car crash. But when her difficult brother-in-law wakes up, he claims that he's her husband, causing her to question if souls can move between bodies. Lee Pace trades in the sunny world of PUSHING DAISIES to play evil brother Roman.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009228_possession/

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Taken (2009)

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release: Jan 23, 2009 Wide
Starring: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Xander Berkeley, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Katie Cassidy, Holly Valance, Nathan Rippy
Director: Pierre Morel

Synopsis
Liam Neeson is an unstoppable force in this adrenaline-fueled thriller from director Pierre Morel. Bryan (Neeson) has taken early retirement from the CIA in order to live closer to his teenage... Liam Neeson is an unstoppable force in this adrenaline-fueled thriller from director Pierre Morel. Bryan (Neeson) has taken early retirement from the CIA in order to live closer to his teenage daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). Bryan's government work kept him away from Kim for much of her childhood, and he's now trying to make up for lost time. When Kim announces that she's taking a trip to Paris with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy), Bryan is apprehensive about her traveling on her own. His worst fear is soon realized, as Kim and Amanda are abducted upon their arrival in France. Bryan immediately springs into action, using his well-honed CIA skills to piece together clues from a single, frantic phone call he received from Kim. He hops a plane to Paris, determined to rescue his daughter before she falls off the grid completely. With some help from his old CIA buddies, he tracks down the kidnappers--an Albanian crime ring known for selling young girls into the sex trade. He quickly takes matters into his own hands, plowing his way through Paris's underworld as the clock ticks down and the bullets fly. His search propels him into the upper echelons of a massive crime ring, putting him closer and closer to his beloved daughter. Neeson is known for tackling extremely cerebral roles, so it is interesting to see him in full-on action-hero mode. In TAKEN he is no less than a crime-fighting machine--a Bourne/Bond hybrid with a deathly serious baritone. And while he spends most of the film firing Uzis and snapping necks, he still manages to deliver a moving performance as an estranged father fighting for what he loves most in the world. The film undeniably owes a lot to Neeson's acting chops. He manages to raise this rather thinly plotted, deeply violent film a bar above your typical action fare.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/taken/

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Notorious (2009)

Rated: R for pervasive language, some strong sexuality including dialogue, nudity, and for drug content
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Jan 16, 2009 Wide
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Naturi Naughton, Antonique Smith
Director: George Tillman

Synopsis
This biopic from executive producer Sean "Diddy" Combs explores the life and death of East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. Newcomer Jamal Woolard stars as Biggie Smalls, but big names fill out the... This biopic from executive producer Sean "Diddy" Combs explores the life and death of East Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G. Newcomer Jamal Woolard stars as Biggie Smalls, but big names fill out the rest of the cast: Angela Bassett plays the rapper's mother, Derek Luke costars as Combs, and Anthony Mackie plays rival Tupac Shakur. Bassett's real life counterpart, Voletta Wallace, acts as one of the film's producers.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009632-notorious/

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My Bloody Valentine 2009

Rated: R for graphic brutal horror violence and grisly images throughout, some strong sexuality, graphic nudity and language
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Theatrical Release: Jan 16, 2009 Wide
Starring: Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith, Betsey Rue, Edi Gathegi, Tom Atkins, Kevin Tighe, Megan Boone
Director: Patrick Lussier

Synopsis: Ten years ago, a tragedy changed the town of Harmony forever. Tom Hanniger, an inexperienced coal miner, caused an accident in the tunnels that trapped and killed five men and sent the only... Ten years ago, a tragedy changed the town of Harmony forever. Tom Hanniger, an inexperienced coal miner, caused an accident in the tunnels that trapped and killed five men and sent the only survivor, Harry Warden, into a permanent coma. But Harry Warden wanted revenge. Exactly one year later, on Valentine's Day, he woke up...and brutally murdered twenty-two people with a pick axe before being killed.

Ten years later, Tom Hanniger returns to Harmony on Valentine's Day, still haunted by the deaths he caused. Struggling to make amends with his past, he grapples with unresolved feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Sarah, who is now married to his best friend, Axel, the town sheriff. But tonight, after years of peace, something from Harmony's dark past has returned. Wearing a miner's mask and armed with a pickaxe, an unstoppable killer is on the loose. And as his footsteps come ever closer, Tom, Sarah and Axel realize in terror that it just might be Harry Warden who's come back to claim them...

Presented in stunningly real, cutting edge 3-D projection, My Bloody Valentine 3-D stars Jensen Ackles (TV's "Smallville" and "Supernatural"), Jaime King (The Spirit, Sin City, Sin City 2) and Kerr Smith (Final Destination, "Dawson's Creek"). A remake of the 1981 horror classic, My Bloody Valentine 3-D is directed by Patrick Lussier and produced by Jack Murray.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009617-my_bloody_valentine/

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Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)

Rated: PG for some violence, mild crude and suggestive humor, and language
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release: Jan 16, 2009 Wide
Starring: Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Rannazzisi, Shirley Knight
Director: Steve Carr

Synopsis
As a mall security guard, Paul Blart is devoted to keeping crime and mischief out of the New Jersey shopping center where he works, even if he isn't allowed to wear a gun. But Santa's helpers... As a mall security guard, Paul Blart is devoted to keeping crime and mischief out of the New Jersey shopping center where he works, even if he isn't allowed to wear a gun. But Santa's helpers decide to be naughty, taking Paul's loved ones hostage, so he has to use all his training to save them. Kevin James (THE KING OF QUEENS) brings the laughter--and the pain--as the titular law enforcer.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009530-mall_cop/

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The Unborn 2009

Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Theatrical Release: Jan 9, 2009 Wide
Starring: Odette Yustman, Gary Oldman, Meagan Good, Idris Elba, Cam Gigandet, James Remar, Jane Alexander
Director: David Goyer

Synopsis
ometimes the soul of a dead person has been so tainted with evil that it is denied entrance to heaven. It must endlessly wander the borderlands between worlds, desperately searching for a new body to inhabit. And sometimes it actually... Sometimes the soul of a dead person has been so tainted with evil that it is denied entrance to heaven. It must endlessly wander the borderlands between worlds, desperately searching for a new body to inhabit.

And sometimes it actually succeeds.

Writer/director David Goyer (Blade: Trinity, The Invisible, Batman Begins) gives a terrifying glimpse into the life of the undead in The Unborn, a supernatural thriller that follows a young woman pulled into a world of nightmares when a demonic spirit haunts her and threatens everyone she loves.

Casey Beldon (Odette Yustman) hated her mother for leaving her as a child. But when inexplicable things start to happen, Casey begins to understand why she left. Plagued by merciless dreams and a tortured ghost that haunts her waking hours, she must turn to the only spiritual advisor, Sendak (Gary Oldman), who can make it stop.

With Sendak's help, Casey uncovers the source of a family curse dating back to Nazi Germany--a creature with the ability to inhabit anyone or anything that is getting stronger with each possession. With the curse unleashed, her only chance at survival is to shut a doorway from beyond our world that has been pried open by someone who was never born.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10010150-unborn/

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Yonkers Joe (2009)

Rated: R language including sexual references
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Jan 9, 2009 Limited
Starring: Chazz Palminteri, Christine Lahti, Tom Guiry, Linus Roache, Michael Lerner, Frank John Hughes, Roma Maffia, Michael Rispoli
Director: Robert Celestino

Synopsis
Yonkers Joe is an exciting, high-stakes con film and moving family drama written and directed by Robert Celestino, and starring Academy Award-nominee Chazz Palminteri, Academy Award-winner Christine Lahti, Tom Guiry (The Black... Yonkers Joe is an exciting, high-stakes con film and moving family drama written and directed by Robert Celestino, and starring Academy Award-nominee Chazz Palminteri, Academy Award-winner Christine Lahti, Tom Guiry (The Black Donnellys), Golden Globe-nominee Linus Roache, and Academy Award-nominee Michael Lerner. An ode to old time gamblers, now outdated in an age of powerful upscale casinos, Yonkers Joe tells the story of a dice hustler (Palminteri) whose determination to make one last grab for a big score in Vegas is complicated by the reappearance of his estranged, mentally challenged son into his life.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/yonkers_joe/

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Of Time and the City 2009

Rated: Not Rated
Runtime: 72 mins
Genre: Education/General Interest
Theatrical Release: Jan 9, 2009 Limited
Director: Terence Davies


Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/of_time_and_the_city/

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Bride Wars Trailer 2009

Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release: Jan 9, 2009 Wide
Starring: Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Candice Bergen, Kristen Johnson
Director: Gary Winick

Synopsis
Anyone who has seen BRIDEZILLAS or known their own frantic fiancée understands that weddings can bring out the worst in people. This comedy stars Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as two brides-to-be who become former friends and new rivals... Anyone who has seen BRIDEZILLAS or known their own frantic fiancée understands that weddings can bring out the worst in people. This comedy stars Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as two brides-to-be who become former friends and new rivals when they schedule their weddings on the same day.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bride_wars/

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Not Easily Broken 2009

Rated: PG-13 for sexual references and thematic elements
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Jan 9, 2009 Wide
Starring: Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Hart, Eddie Cibrian, Jenifer Lewis, Maeve Quinlan, Wood Harris
Director: Bill Duke

Synopsis
Taraji P. Henson (THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS) and Morris Chestnut (THE PERFECT HOLIDAY) star in this relationship drama about a couple whose marriage is failing. NOT EASILY BROKEN is based on the book by T.D. Jakes, who also serves as a producer... Taraji P. Henson (THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS) and Morris Chestnut (THE PERFECT HOLIDAY) star in this relationship drama about a couple whose marriage is failing. NOT EASILY BROKEN is based on the book by T.D. Jakes, who also serves as a producer on the film.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/not_easily_broken/

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Silent Light 2009

Rated: Not Rated
Runtime: 2 hrs 22 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Jan 7, 2009 Limited
Starring: Cornelio Wall, Miriam Toews, Maria Pankratz, Peter Wall, Elizabeth Fehr, Jacobo Klassen
Director: Carlos Reygadas

Synopsis
With Silent Light, Mexican auteur Carlos Reygadas (Japon, Battle In Heaven) delivers an extraordinary, transcendent meditation on love and religion. To capture the innocence necessary to tell his tale, Reygadas ventured to a... With Silent Light, Mexican auteur Carlos Reygadas (Japon, Battle In Heaven) delivers an extraordinary, transcendent meditation on love and religion. To capture the innocence necessary to tell his tale, Reygadas ventured to a Mennonite community in northern Mexico, where the inhabitants live like relics from another era. Rather than falsifying his world, Reygadas cast the film with actual Mennonites who speak the German dialect Plattdeutsch, which gives the film an even greater authority--and further establishes a truly original tone. The story concerns Johan (Cornelio Wall Fehr), who is in the midst of a major spiritual crisis. A devoted father, and a husband to Esther (Miriam Toews), Johan has found himself caught up in an affair with a waitress named Marianne (Maria Pankratz). But his connection with Marianne isn't just a physical one; he fears that he's fallen in love with her. The honest and tortured Johan confesses to Esther, spurring a series of cataclysmic events that will test his faith once and for all.

From the luminous opening shot--which is without question one of the most stunning opening shots ever committed to celluloid--it becomes clear that this is a much different film than Reygadas's last, the graphic and blunt Battle In Heaven. While it appears that Reygadas was deeply influenced by Carl Theodor Dreyer's Ordet, as well as the works of Terrence Malick, Silent Light is not merely a carbon copy of those films. It is the work of a visionary filmmaker who is challenging himself and trying to address genuinely deep human issues. Beautiful and profound, Silent Light is cinema at its most breathtaking.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stellet_licht/

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Revolutionary Road (2008)

Rated: R for language and some sexual content/nudity
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 26, 2008 Wide
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Michael Shannon, Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Kathy Bates
Director: Sam Mendes

Synopsis
Based on the celebrated novel by Richard Yates, director Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is the story of a young couple (Oscar® nominees Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) trying to find fulfillment in an age of conformity. Trapped in a... Based on the celebrated novel by Richard Yates, director Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is the story of a young couple (Oscar® nominees Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) trying to find fulfillment in an age of conformity. Trapped in a world of encoded convention, they dream without faith, as lies and self-deceptions build to explosive consequences.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/revolutionary_road/

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Valkyrie (2008)

Rated: PG-13 for violence and brief strong language
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 26, 2008 Wide
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Terence Stamp, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, Kevin McNally, Carice Van Houten
Director: Bryan Singer

Synopsis
Acclaimed director Bryan Singer moves away from the worlds of Marvel and DC to helm this World War II thriller. Tom Cruise stars as Claus von Stauffenberg, a man intent on killing Adolf Hitler. Singer's talented cast also includes Kenneth... Acclaimed director Bryan Singer moves away from the worlds of Marvel and DC to helm this World War II thriller. Tom Cruise stars as Claus von Stauffenberg, a man intent on killing Adolf Hitler. Singer's talented cast also includes Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, and Terrence Stamp.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/valkyrie/

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The Class 2008

Rated: PG-13 for language
Runtime: 2 hrs 8 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Theatrical Release: Dec 25, 2008 Limited
Starring: François Begaudeau, Nassim Amrabt, Laura Baquela, Cherif Bounaidja Rachedi, Juliette Demaille, Dalla Doucoure, Arthur Fogel, Vincent Caire, Olivier Dupeyron, Patrick Dureuil
Director: Laurent Cantet

Synopsis
Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, master French director Laurent Cantet's THE CLASS is an absorbing journey into a multicultural high school in Paris over the course of a school year. François Begaudeau--an actual... Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, master French director Laurent Cantet's THE CLASS is an absorbing journey into a multicultural high school in Paris over the course of a school year. François Begaudeau--an actual teacher and the author upon whose work the film was based--is utterly convincing as François, an openminded teacher in charge of a classroom of youngsters from a wide variety of backgrounds. Of course, the mere fact that he's older and in a position of authority causes his students to challenge him on many occasions. François is stuck in the middle. In the teacher conferences, he butts heads with the harsher adults who don't appear to have any sympathy for their students. In class, his attempts to be lenient and understanding are somehow misinterpreted and he finds himself arguing with the kids that he so clearly wants to help. As the school year progresses, tensions rise, until François finds himself in a position he never imagined he'd be in. Unlike his more formally written early films like HUMAN RESOURCES and TIME OUT, Cantet proves that he has an ability to work in a more improvisational manner. Shooting on HD and working with a cast of young non-actors, he allows THE CLASS to breathe, resulting in a fictional drama that has the spirit and energy of a documentary. His startlingly assured ensemble brings the new, culturally diverse France of the early 21st century to striking life.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_class/

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Bedtime Stories (2008)

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some mild rude humor and mild language.
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release: Dec 25, 2008 Wide
Starring: Adam Sandler, Guy Pearce, Keri Russell, Richard Griffiths, Courteney Cox, Lucy Lawless, Teresa Palmer, Russell Brand, Aisha Tyler, Jonathan Pryce
Director: Adam Shankman

Synopsis
An adventure comedy starring ADAM SANDLER as Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman whose life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. He attempts to take advantage of... An adventure comedy starring ADAM SANDLER as Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman whose life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. He attempts to take advantage of the phenomenon, incorporating his own aspirations into one outlandish tale after another, but it's the kids' unexpected contributions that turn Skeeter's life upside down.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bedtime_stories/

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Marley & Me (2008)

Rated: PG for thematic material, some suggestive content and language.
Theatrical Release: Dec 25, 2008 Wide
Starring: Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner

Synopsis
John Grogan's bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog. Oscar-winner Alan Arkin costars in... John Grogan's bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog. Oscar-winner Alan Arkin costars in this comedy from director David Frankel (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA).

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/marley_and_me/

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Hurricane Season (2008)

Rated: PG for brief sexual humor.
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 25, 2008 Wide
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Isaiah Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Courtney B. Vance, Robbie Jones, Shad Moss, Jackie Long, Eric Hill, Jarod Einsohn, Lil Wayne
Director: Tim Story

Synopsis
In this drama based on a true story, a high school basketball team learns about victory and defeat in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Oscar winner Forest Whitaker leads a cast that also includes Isaiah Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Courtney... In this drama based on a true story, a high school basketball team learns about victory and defeat in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Oscar winner Forest Whitaker leads a cast that also includes Isaiah Washington, Taraji P. Henson, Courtney B. Vance, Lil Wayne, and Shad Moss (aka Bow Wow). HURRICANE SEASON is directed by Tim Story (BARBERSHOP).

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009472-hurricane_season/

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Rated: PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 25, 2008 Wide
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas, Julia Ormond, Peter Badalamenti
Director: David Fincher

Synopsis
Director David Fincher and Brad Pitt team up for a third time with this adaptation of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. Pitt plays a man who is born 80 years old, but instead of aging, he grows young. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett costars, along... Director David Fincher and Brad Pitt team up for a third time with this adaptation of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. Pitt plays a man who is born 80 years old, but instead of aging, he grows young. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett costars, along with Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/curious_case_of_benjamin_button/

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Spirit 2008

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content and brief nudity
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release: Dec 25, 2008 Wide
Starring: Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gabriel Macht, Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, Jaime King
Director: Frank Miller

Synopsis
Adapted from the legendary comic strip, THE SPIRIT is a classic action-adventure-romance told by genre-twister FRANK MILLER (creator of 300 and SIN CITY). It is the story of a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead as the... Adapted from the legendary comic strip, THE SPIRIT is a classic action-adventure-romance told by genre-twister FRANK MILLER (creator of 300 and SIN CITY). It is the story of a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead as the SPIRIT (Gabriel Macht) to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His arch-enemy, the OCTOPUS (Samuel L. Jackson) has a different mission: he’s going to wipe out Spirit's beloved city as he pursues his own version of immortality. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City’s rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront ... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader. Surrounding him at every turn are ELLEN DOLAN (Sarah Paulson), the whip-smart girl-next-door; SILKEN FLOSS (Scarlett Johansson), a punk secretary and frigid vixen; PLASTER OF PARIS (Paz Vega), a murderous French nightclub dancer; LORELEI (Jaime King), a phantom siren; and MORGENSTERN (Stana Katic), a sexy young cop. Then of course, there’s SAND SAREF (Eva Mendes), the jewel thief with dangerous curves. She’s the love of his life turned bad. Will he save her or will she kill him? In the vein of BATMAN BEGINS and SIN CITY, THE SPIRIT takes us on a sinister, gut-wrenching ride with a hero who is born, murdered and born again.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_spirit/

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The Brothers Bloom (2008)

Rated: PG-13 for violence, some sensuality and brief strong language.
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release: Dec 19, 2008 Limited
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane, Maximilian Schell
Director: Rian Johnson

Synopsis
Though THE BROTHERS BLOOM seems to be equal parts THE STING and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, director Rian Johnson's second feature is still strikingly original. Adrien Brody (KING KONG) and Mark Ruffalo (ZODIAC) star as the siblings of the... Though THE BROTHERS BLOOM seems to be equal parts THE STING and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, director Rian Johnson's second feature is still strikingly original. Adrien Brody (KING KONG) and Mark Ruffalo (ZODIAC) star as the siblings of the title, who have been working as conmen since they were children. There is a constant tug of war between them, with Bloom (Brody) desperate to get out of the game, while his brother Stephen (Ruffalo) drags him back. Like so many other films, THE BROTHERS BLOOM hinges on "one last job;" here, it is to steal millions from lonely, bored heiress Penelope (Rachel Weisz, THE CONSTANT GARDENDER) while they pose as antique dealers. But Bloom falls in love with the charming Penelope, and the con gets even more complicated. Johnson's directorial debut, BRICK, was a critically aclaimed exercise in style, and THE BROTHERS BLOOM proves to be even better crafted. In both its gorgeous aesthetic and its witty script, this is a film that is incredibly modern while it remains in the spirit of classic con films such as PAPER MOON. Director of photography Steve Yedlin is a wonder with camera angles and lighting, while costume designer Beatrix Aruna Pasztor perfectly creates a vintage-inspired wardrobe for the stars. With these visuals, it might be difficult for actors to stand out, but Johnson has assembled a fantastic cast that more than holds their own. His three leads are great together, and he gets wonderful supporting work from BABEL's Rinko Kikuchi as a nearly silent explosives expert and Harry Potter favorite Robbie Coltrane as a Belgian who may or may not be on their side (and, in fact, may or may not be Belgian). There are plenty of twists and turns on this road, but this fun film proves there's joy in the journey.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brothers_bloom/

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My Name is Bruce (2008)

Rated: Not Rated
Runtime: 86 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release: Dec 19, 2008 Limited
Box Office: $105,521
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Grace Thorsen, Taylor Sharpe, Ted Raimi
Director: Bruce Campbell

Synopsis
My Name is Bruce is the heroic struggle of a small mining town (Gold Lick, Oregon) to rid itself of a vengeful monster. Guan-di (Jamie Peck), the Chinese god of war and protector of the dead, has been unleashed by cemetery desecrating... My Name is Bruce is the heroic struggle of a small mining town (Gold Lick, Oregon) to rid itself of a vengeful monster. Guan-di (Jamie Peck), the Chinese god of war and protector of the dead, has been unleashed by cemetery desecrating teenagers to protect the graves of Chinese miners lost in a deadly cave-in of yesteryear.

The deadly demon’s mission is to eradicate all those who transgressed against the tomb (relatives included), which is virtually the entire population of Gold Lick. The inbred community has to find a solution so Jeff (Taylor Sharpe), the sole survivor of a deadly Guan-Di encounter, takes it upon himself to kidnap his idol, Bruce Campbell (Bruce Campbell), star of countless B-movie horror films, and recruit him to be their local savior.

Mortified at first, Bruce eventually goes along with Jeff’s prank, convinced that it’s all an elaborate birthday present from his agent (Ted Raimi), and begins to enjoy the spoils of being a movie hero, including free liquor and Jeff’s attractive mother, Kelly (Grace Thorsen).

But Jeff’s scheme goes horribly wrong when his hero, known more for fighting directors than mythical warriors, haphazardly leads the town in battle against Guan-Di. Confronted by a monster that’s not a guy in a rubber suit, and with the blood of innocents on his hands, Bruce abandons the harsh reality of Gold Lick for the sanctity of his former, artificial life.

In his ramshackle desert trailer, Bruce resumes the daily grind of genre sequels, poor housekeeping and cheap whiskey, but a gut-wrenching call from his biggest fan, Jeff - now forced to take on Guan-Di alone - prompts the actor to re-evaluate his destiny.

Against his better judgment (and the angry citizens of Gold Lick), Bruce returns to defeat Guan-Di, save Jeff, and snag his hot mother. In the climactic, mano-a-monster, Bruce tries to rise above the miserable, off-screen schmuck that he is and become a hero…in real life.

Be afraid, Gold Lick – be very afraid.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1196557-my_name_is_bruce/

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Seven Pounds 2008

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/seven_pounds/

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Nothing But the Truth (2008)

Rated: R for language, some sexual material and a scene of violence
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 19, 2008 Limited
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett, Alan Alda, Vera Farmiga, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance, Noah Wyle, Floyd Abrams, Preston Bailey
Director: Rod Lurie

Synopsis
A new thriller inspired by actual events starring Kate Beckinsale (Click, Serendipity), Vera Farmiga (The Departed), Matt Dillon (Crash), Noah Wyle (Fail Safe, ER), David Schwimmer (Madagascar, Friends) with Academy Award winner... A new thriller inspired by actual events starring Kate Beckinsale (Click, Serendipity), Vera Farmiga (The Departed), Matt Dillon (Crash), Noah Wyle (Fail Safe, ER), David Schwimmer (Madagascar, Friends) with Academy Award winner Angela Bassett (What’s Love Got to Do With It?) and Golden Globe and mulit-Emmy winner Alan Alda. A Washington DC reporter (Kate Beckinsale), writes an explosive story about a government scandal in which she reveals the name of a covert CIA agent (Vera Farmiga). When a special government prosecutor (Matt Dillon) demands she divulge her source she refuses and is sent to jail. Unexpectedly finding herself behind bars she struggles to maintain her principles and relationship with her family. “Nothing But the Truth” is about the struggle to maintain one’s principles and dignity in the most dire of circumstances.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nothing_but_the_truth/

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The Tale of Despereaux (2008)

Rated: G
Genre: Childrens
Theatrical Release: Dec 19, 2008 Wide
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Robbie Coltrane, Dustin Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Kevin Kline, Frank Langella, William H. Macy, James Nesbitt, Tracey Ullman, Sigourney Weaver, Frances Conroy, Tony Hale, Ciaran Hinds, Christopher Lloyd, Stanley Tucci, Emma Watson
Director: Sam Fell, Rob Stevenhagen

Synopsis
Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, raucous laughter aplenty and gallons of mouth-watering soup. But a terrible accident left the king broken-hearted, the princess filled with longing and the... Once upon a time, in the faraway kingdom of Dor, there was magic in the air, raucous laughter aplenty and gallons of mouth-watering soup. But a terrible accident left the king broken-hearted, the princess filled with longing and the townsfolk despondent. All hope was lost in a land where sunlight disappeared and the world became dreary gray. Until Despereaux Tilling was born... A brave and virtuous mouse, Despereaux is simply too big for his small world. Though tiny, wheezy and saddled with comically oversized ears, Despereaux refuses to live a life of weakness and fear...believing he was destined to be celebrated in the tales of chivalry he so adores. When he's banished from his home for not following the rules that society expects of a mouse, Despereaux befriends fellow outcast Roscuro, a good-hearted rat who can't bear to look in the mirror and hopes to live far from the grim underground of his kind. While Despereaux begins his noble quest to rescue Pea--a princess who can't see beyond her distorted view of the world--his pal Roscuro receives a painful rejection from her highness that sets him on a course of self-destruction. Along their parallel adventures, the two encounter colorful characters from a serving girl who wishes to be a princess to the evil leader of the sewer rats, who plots revenge on humans from his fiefdom in the subterranean shadows he relishes but Roscuro can't abide. From the highest turrets of the glittering castle to the dankest dark of Dor's sewers, friendships will be tested as Despereaux and Roscuro embark upon a journey that will change the way they look at their world--and themselves--forever. In this tale of bravery, forgiveness and redemption, one tiny creature will teach a kingdom that it takes only a little light to show that what you look like doesn't equal what you are.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tale_of_despereaux/

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Yes Man

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for crude sexual humor, language and brief nudity.
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release: 2009
Starring: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, Rhys Darby, John Michael Higgins, Danny Masterson, Terence Stamp, Sasha Alexander, Rocky Carroll, Anna Khaja, Brent Briscoe, Patrick Labyorteaux, Luis Guzman, Molly Sims, Fionnula Flanagan
Director: Peyton Reed

Synopsis
Jim Carrey stars as Carl Allen, a man who signs up for a self-help program based on one simple principle: say yes to everything...and anything. At first, unleashing the power of “yes” transforms Carl’s life in amazing and unexpected ways,... Jim Carrey stars as Carl Allen, a man who signs up for a self-help program based on one simple principle: say yes to everything...and anything. At first, unleashing the power of “yes” transforms Carl’s life in amazing and unexpected ways, but he soon discovers that opening up his life to endless possibilities can have its drawbacks.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1191436-yes_man/

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Reclaiming the Blade 2008

Rated: Not Rated
Runtime: 78 mins
Genre: Education/General Interest
Theatrical Release: Dec 15, 2008 Limited
Starring: Bob Anderson, Viggo Mortensen, John Howell, Richard Taylor, Karl Urban
Director: Daniel McNicoll

Synopsis
The sword plays a central role in many of history, literature, and film's most essential stories, but it has been overtaken in modern narratives by the presence of guns. Narrated by LORD OF THE RINGS star John Rhys-Davies, this documentary... The sword plays a central role in many of history, literature, and film's most essential stories, but it has been overtaken in modern narratives by the presence of guns. Narrated by LORD OF THE RINGS star John Rhys-Davies, this documentary examines the history of the weapon in both Europe and Asia, featuring interviews with experts, as well as actors and crew in Hollywood, including Bob Anderson, Viggo Mortensen, Karl Urban, and Richard Taylor.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/reclaiming_the_blade/

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Delgo 2008

Rated: PG for sequences of fantasy action violence
Genre: Childrens
Theatrical Release: Dec 12, 2008 Wide
Starring: Freddie Prinze, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Anne Bancroft, Chris Kattan, Val Kilmer, Malcolm McDowell, Louis Gossett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Eric Idle, Kelly Ripa, Burt Reynolds, Sally Kellerman
Director: Jason Maurer, Marc F. Adler

Synopsis
The land of Jhamora is torn apart by the mutual prejudice of two peoples—the winged Nohrin, masters of the skies, and the terrestrial Lockni, who harness the mystical powers of the land. When Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), a reckless Lockni... The land of Jhamora is torn apart by the mutual prejudice of two peoples—the winged Nohrin, masters of the skies, and the terrestrial Lockni, who harness the mystical powers of the land. When Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt), hostilities between the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled Empress (Anne Bancroft) to exact her revenge and reclaim her rule.

Falsely imprisoned, Delgo and his faint-hearted best friend, Filo (Chris Kattan), must put aside their differences to join forces with a sworn enemy (Val Kilmer) and travel to the mysterious land of Perran, where they discover more than just a scorned Empress and her two bumbling servants.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1201910-delgo/

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Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)

Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements including some sexual dialogue, and brief drug references
Theatrical Release: Dec 12, 2008 Wide
Starring: Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, Jay Hernandez, Melonie Diaz

Synopsis
If theres one thing everyone can agree on, its that family time isnt always a walk in the park. In Nothing Like the Holidays, two of todays most talented actors, John Leguizamo (The Happening, The Take) and Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under,... If theres one thing everyone can agree on, its that family time isnt always a walk in the park. In Nothing Like the Holidays, two of todays most talented actors, John Leguizamo (The Happening, The Take) and Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under, Bobby), join Debra Messing (Will & Grace, The Starter Wife), Alfred Molina (The Da Vinci Code, Spider-Man 2), and director Alfredo de Villa (the award-winning Washington Heights) to tell the humorous and heartwarming story of one unforgettable family holiday.

Its Christmastime and the far-flung members of the Rodriguez family are converging at their parents home in Chicago to celebrate the season and rejoice in their youngest brothers safe return from combat overseas. For Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez), coming home has rekindled feelings for an old flame, although she cant seem to forgive him for leaving. His older sister Roxanna, a struggling actress, has been chasing her Hollywood dreams for years with little to show for it. And much to the dismay of their mother Anna (Elizabeth Pe�� eldest brother Mauricio (John Leguizamo) brings home a high-powered executive wife (Debra Messing) who would rather raise capital than a child.

In the course of one eventful week, traditions will be celebrated, secrets revealed and major life decisions made. It all begins when Anna announces to her children she is divorcing their father Eduardo (Alfred Molina). The shock waves from this familial upheaval prompt Roxanna, Mauricio and Jesse, each in their own way, to reevaluate the past and rethink the future. But when the Rodriguezes learn that one of their own is facing a true crisis, they instinctively pull together: Old resentments are forgotten, familial bonds are re-affirmed and the healing power of laughter works its magic as the family discovers they are much stronger than they ever realized.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nothing_like_the_holidays/

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Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for some sci-fi disaster images and violence
Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Theatrical Release: Dec 12, 2008 Wide
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, Jon Hamm, Kyle Chandler, Kathy Bates
Director: Scott Derrickson

Synopsis
Klaatu Barada Nikto! In this remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic, Keanu Reeves stars as the alien who comes to earth. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL also stars Oscar winners Jennifer Connelly and Kathy Bates, as well as Golden Globe winner Jon... Klaatu Barada Nikto! In this remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic, Keanu Reeves stars as the alien who comes to earth. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL also stars Oscar winners Jennifer Connelly and Kathy Bates, as well as Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm (MAD MEN) and Jaden Smith (THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS).

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1193610-day_the_earth_stood_still/

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Doubt (2008)

Rated: PG-13 for thematic material
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 12, 2008 Limited
Starring: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
Director: John Patrick Shanley

Synopsis
John Patrick Shanley brings his Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play to the screen as a gripping story about the quest for truth, the forces of change, and the devastating consequences of blind justice in an age defined by moral... John Patrick Shanley brings his Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play to the screen as a gripping story about the quest for truth, the forces of change, and the devastating consequences of blind justice in an age defined by moral conviction.

It’s 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A vibrant, charismatic priest, Father Flynn (Academy Award® winner Philip Seymour Hoffman), is trying to upend the schools’ strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Academy Award® winner Meryl Streep), the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. The winds of political change are sweeping through the community, and indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James (Academy Award® nominee Amy Adams), a hopeful innocent, shares with Sister Aloysius her guilt-inducing suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Now, without a shard of proof besides her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn which threatens to tear apart the community with irrevocable consequence.

Academy Award® winning screenwriter John Patrick Shanley (“Moonstruck”) adapted his own play for the screen and directs Doubt, starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. The film is produced by Scott Rudin and Mark Roybal, with Celia Costas as executive producer.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009492-doubt/

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Defiance (2008)

Rated: R for violence and language
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release: Dec 12, 2008 Wide
Starring: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Allan Corduner, Mark Feuerstein
Director: Edward Zwick

Synopsis
Based on an extraordinary true story, DEFIANCE is an epic tale of family, honor, vengeance and salvation in World War II. The year is 1941 and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being massacred by the thousands. Managing to escape certain death,... Based on an extraordinary true story, DEFIANCE is an epic tale of family, honor, vengeance and salvation in World War II. The year is 1941 and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being massacred by the thousands. Managing to escape certain death, three brothers take refuge in the dense surrounding woods they have known since childhood. There they begin their desperate battle against the Nazis. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star as brothers who turn a primitive struggle to survive into something far more consequential – a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones by saving thousands of others. At first it is all they can do to stay alive. But gradually, as whispers of their daring spreads, they begin to attract others – men and women, young and old – willing to risk everything for the sake of even a moment’s freedom. Tuvia (CRAIG) is a reluctant leader and his decisions are challenged by his brother, Zus (SCHREIBER) who worries that Tuvia’s idealistic plans will doom them all. Asael (BELL) is the youngest – caught between his brothers’ fierce rivalry. As a brutal winter descends, they work to create a community, and to keep faith alive when all humanity appeared to be lost.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009458-defiance/

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Wendy and Lucy

Rated: R for language
Runtime: 80 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 10, 2008 Limited
Starring: Michelle Williams, Walter Dalton, Will Oldham, Larry Fessenden, John Robinson, Will Patton
Director: Kelly Reichardt

Synopsis
On the heels of her critically lauded OLD JOY, Kelly Reichardt delivers another deeply resonant portrait of a dying America with WENDY AND LUCY. In OLD JOY, two men provided the heart and soul of the story. This time, the film is centered on a... On the heels of her critically lauded OLD JOY, Kelly Reichardt delivers another deeply resonant portrait of a dying America with WENDY AND LUCY. In OLD JOY, two men provided the heart and soul of the story. This time, the film is centered on a young woman, played with utter conviction and selflessness by Michelle Williams (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN). Williams is Wendy, a down-on-her-luck woman who has driven across-country with her dog, Lucy, in search of a better life in Alaska. Wendy can barely support this journey, and when her car breaks down in Oregon and she becomes separated from Lucy, her predicament becomes even more dire. In a world that doesn't seem to know she even exists, Wendy befriends a local security guard (Wally Dalton), who gives her a tiny fraction of hope. Considering this film together with OLD JOY, it's obvious that Reichardt has shot up in the ranks of American auteurs. She is becoming a master of minor features that feel like the best short stories, a sort of cinematic Raymond Carver. Credit is obviously bestowed upon the marvelous Williams, who is in almost every shot of the film, and who delivers an astonishingly honest performance. But everything about this film reeks of truth, most noticeably Sam Levy's restrained but beautiful cinematography, and Reichardt's patient editing. WENDY AND LUCY is a tribute to marginalized characters that the movies, and the real world, would usually rather ignore.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wendy_and_lucy/

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The Reader 2008

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for some scenes of sexuality and nudity.
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 10, 2008 Limited
Starring: David Kross, Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz
Director: Stephen Daldry

Synopsis
Director Stephen Daldry (THE HOURS) brings another literary neo-classic to the screen with this adaptation of a novel by Bernhard Schlink. In post-World-War-II Germany, an illness brings together 15-year-old Michael and the much.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009498-reader/

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Let Them Chirp Awhile

Rated: Not Rated
Runtime: 85 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 5, 2008 Limited
Starring: Justin Rice, Brendan Sexton, Laura Breckenridge, Zach Galligan
Director: Jonny Blitstein

Synopsis
Bobby (Rice) is a struggling screenwriter who tries to get romantically involved with a friend by agreeing to take care of her dog. He's also stuck on an idea for an arty screenplay involving talking pigeons. His friend Scott (Sexton... Bobby (Rice) is a struggling screenwriter who tries to get romantically involved with a friend by agreeing to take care of her dog. He's also stuck on an idea for an arty screenplay involving talking pigeons. His friend Scott (Sexton III) is a depressed musician bored with his girlfriend and miserable in his day job. When Bobby tells Scott the idea for his new script, Scott leaks the info to Hart, (Galligan) Bobby’s nemesis, a playwright whose campy drama about 9/11 has won awards and a run at an off-Broadway theater. What begins as a quirky comedy about relationships and writer’s block becomes a coming-of-age tale about competition and self-reliance among the “me-generation”.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/let_them_chirp_awhile/

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Nobel Son 2008

Rated: R for some violent gruesome images, language and sexuality
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 5, 2008 Limited
Starring: Alan Rickman, Bryan Greenberg, Shawn Hatosy, Mary Steenburgen, Bill Pullman, Ted Danson, Ernie Hudson, Lindy Booth, Tracey Walter, Eliza Dushku, Danny DeVito
Director: Randall Miller

Synopsis
Directed by Randall Miller (BOTTLE SHOCK) and written and produced by Miller and Jody Savin, NOBEL SON is a venomous tale of familial dysfunction, lust, betrayal and ultimately revenge. Barkley Michaelson (Bryan Greenberg) is... Directed by Randall Miller (BOTTLE SHOCK) and written and produced by Miller and Jody Savin, NOBEL SON is a venomous tale of familial dysfunction, lust, betrayal and ultimately revenge. Barkley Michaelson (Bryan Greenberg) is struggling to finish his Ph.D. thesis when his father, the learned Eli Michaelson (Alan Rickman), wins the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. But Eli’s past indiscretions begin to collide with the present. When Barkley is kidnapped on the eve of his father accepting the prize, Eli refuses to pay the ransom. So starts a game of intrigue and deception that proves that payback’s a bitch.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1200985-nobel_son/

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Dark Streets 2008

Rated: R for some sexual content, drug use and brief violent images
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
Theatrical Release: Dec 5, 2008 Limited
Starring: Gabriel Mann, Bijou Phillips, Izabella Miko, Elias Koteas
Director: Rachel Samuels

Synopsis
An atmospheric film noir musical fantasy, Dark Streets tells the story of Chaz Davenport (Gabriel Mann), a dashing bachelor who owns what promises to become the hottest new nightclub in town—if only the lights would stay on. Surrounded by... An atmospheric film noir musical fantasy, Dark Streets tells the story of Chaz Davenport (Gabriel Mann), a dashing bachelor who owns what promises to become the hottest new nightclub in town—if only the lights would stay on. Surrounded by the sumptuous blues music he adores, and with his pick of the gorgeous women who perform their sensual dance numbers onstage every night, Chaz is the envy of every man.

But with the city thrown into darkness by frequent blackouts and a menacing loan shark closing in, Chaz is in danger of losing the club—and far more. At the same time, he finds himself embroiled in a love triangle with the club’s alluring star singer, Crystal (Bijou Phillips), and a new arrival at the club—the mysterious and seductive chanteuse Madelaine (Izabella Miko).

When people close to Chaz begin turning up dead, he doesn’t know where to turn or whom to trust. And the harder he tries to uncover the truth, the further he’s drawn into the darkness of lies and betrayal—a darkness as black as the city’s streets during yet another power outage. Welcome to the Blues.

Directed by Rachel Samuels (The Suicide Club) from a screenplay by Wallace King, the film stars Gabriel Mann (The Bourne Supremacy), Bijou Phillips (Choke), Izabella Miko (Coyote Ugly), Elias Koteas (The Thin Red Line), Michael Fairman (Thirteen Days) and Toledo (Don’s Plum). The film is produced by Andrea Balen, Claus Clausen, Corina Danckwerts and Glenn M. Stewart; and executive produced 2 by Steffen Aumueller. The film’s rich blues score is composed by George Acogny (Blood Diamond), featuring BB King.

Dark Streets features 12 original songs written by James Compton, Tim Brown Tony DeMeur and Bijou Phillips. The film’s stylish and sultry dance numbers are choreographed by Keith Young (Rent) and performed by sensational underground performer Toledo and a stage full of L.A.’s most talented dancers. The Dark Streets soundtrack will be released by Atlantic Records in November 2008.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1202483-dark_streets/

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Ciao (2008)

Rated: R for langage including sexual references.
Runtime: 87 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Dec 5, 2008 Limited
Starring: Adam Neal Smith, Alessandro Calza, Ethel Lung, Chuck Blaum
Director: Yen Tan

Synopsis
A man dies very unexpectedly and leaves behind two men: Jeff, his best friend and Andrea, an Italian he’s been corresponding with online. Jeff informs Andrea of Mark’s passing; Andrea writes back to express his shock and sympathies. On a... A man dies very unexpectedly and leaves behind two men: Jeff, his best friend and Andrea, an Italian he’s been corresponding with online. Jeff informs Andrea of Mark’s passing; Andrea writes back to express his shock and sympathies. On a whim, they continue their correspondence and a rapport grows between them. They eventually meet, where they extend their e-mail exchanges into more personal and intimate conversations. They talk about their respective countries, their jobs, their families, their lives. Mostly, they talk about Mark. What began as a tragedy that linked two strangers from different ends of the world becomes a deeply realized friendship that may change their lives forever.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10010465-ciao/

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