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New Movie Friday – This is It! And a bunch of others in limited release!

Jane Boursaw — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:10:19 +0000

The only big new movie this week is Michael Jackson’s “This Is It,” which actually hit theaters on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009.

It’s the documentary about Michael Jackson’s big concert tour, which abruptly screamed to a halt upon his death. Fortunately, there’s plenty of film of the rehearsals and his creative process putting the tour together.

Check out the official site, the trailer, and all of Film Gecko’s coverage.

Also released today are several films in limited release, including:

“The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” – Sequel to “The Boondock Saints” about bloody murders in the underworld of Boston. Stars Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Clifton Collins (read my interview with Collins here).

“Gentlemen Broncos” – Offbeat story about a home-schooled kid who gets ripped off by a legendary fantasy novelist. Stars Michael Angarano and Jennifer Coolidge.

“The House of the Devil” – The title says it all. Stars Jocelin Donahue and Tom Noonan.

“How to Seduce Difficult Women” – Do men need to be reminded how to seduce women? Yeah, maybe.

“Labor Day” – A documentary about how Election Day was turned into Labor Day. Appearances by Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Ted Koppel and others.

“Looking for Palladin” – A comedy about an arrogant Hollywood talent agent (David Moscow) who’s sent to Guatemala to find Oscar winning actor Jack Palladin (Ben Gazzara).

“Skin” – Story about a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners. Stars Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neill and Alice Krige.

Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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New Movie Friday: Couples Retreat! Free Style! St. Trinian’s!

Jane Boursaw — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:27:00 +0000

New in theaters today is a fun family movie, a fun romantic comedy, and an edgy comedy about a school for girls. Here’s the rundown:

Couples Retreat (PG-13). Vince Vaughn, Kristen Bell and a cast of stars populate this romantic comedy about a group of couples who go on a retreat to a lush tropical island. [Trailer] [Film Gecko Links] [Official Site]

St. Trinian’s (PG-13). The tagline for this edgy flick is "School for Bad Girls," and it stars Mischa Barton, Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, and Lena Headey in a story about a girls’ school suffering with financial problems. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, drug and alcohol content, sexual material and language. [Trailer] [Official Site]

Free Style (PG). Corbin Bleu, Madison Pettis and Penelope Ann Miller star in this movie about a young man who dreams of winning a spot on the Grand National motocross racing team. In limited release beginning Oct. 9, 2009. [Film Gecko Links] [Official Site]

Also opening in limited release: Adventures of Power, An Education, Bronson, The Damned United, From Mexico with Love, Good Hair, Peter and Vandy, Trucker.

Image: Universal Pictures

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New Movie Friday: The Invention of Lying, Whip It, Zombieland, and Toy Story in 3D!

Jane Boursaw — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:47:27 +0000

Some old favorites (Woody, Buzz Lightyear and pals) hit screens in 3D today, as well as some new zombietastic characters. Here’s the rundown on what’s new in theaters this weekend:

Zombieland (R ). Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg battle zombies and each other in this horror comedy. [Film Gecko Preview & Trailer] [Official Site]

Whip It (PG-13). Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page have some roller derby fun in this flick about a girl who finds her tribe. [Film Gecko Preview & Trailer] [Official Site]

The Invention of Lying (PG-13). Ricky Gervais actually CAN tell a lie. It’s the rest of the characters in this comedy – including Jennifer Garner – who can’t. [Premiere Pics] [Official Site]

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D (G). Andy’s toy pals are back, and they’re in 3D! [Tim Allen Video] [Official Sites]

In Limited Release: A Beautiful Life, A Serious Man, Afterschool, Chelsea on the Rocks, Do Knot Disturb, More Than a Game.

Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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New Movie Friday – Jennifer’s Body, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Informant!, Love Happens

Jane Boursaw — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:55:00 +0000

This week at the movies, Megan Fox has a guy complex, Anna Faris goes food crazy, and Matt Damon gets goofy. Take a look at what’s new in theaters this weekend:

Jennifer’s Body (R). A sexy horror film starring Megan Fox as a demon-possessed teenager out to kill all those pesky guys. Also stars Amanda Seyfried, Adam Brody, and J.K. Simmons. [Images] [Official Site]

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (PG). The classic children’s book comes to animated life with Anna Faris, Bruce Campbell, Bill Hader and Andy Samberg voicing the characters. [Preview & Trailer] [Red Carpet Premiere] [Official Site]

The Informant! (R). Matt Damon plays a rising star at an agri-industry company who turns whistleblower to bring down the bad guys. Also stars Scott Bakula and Joel McHale. [Red Carpet Premiere] [Official Site]

Love Happens (R). Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston star as two people who meet the right person at exactly the wrong time. [Official Site]

Opening in limited release: Bright Star (PG), The Burning Plain (R), Paris (R).

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New Movie Friday – 9! Sorority Row! Tyler Perry!

Jane Boursaw — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Elijah Wood, Tyler Perry, Rumer Willis and Kate Beckinsale are heading to theaters today. No, not them in person, but the next best thing – their movies! Here’s the rundown:

9 (PG-13). It’s a post-apocalyptic world with ragdoll muppets. Ok, not really muppets, more like burlap bag castoffs. Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer and Martin Landau (who’s still going strong at 78) star in this dark animated film. [Clips] [Official Site]

Whiteout (R). Kate Beckinsale plays a U.S. marshal tracking a serial killer in Antarctica. [Trailer and Red Carpet Video] [Official Site]

Sorority Row (R). It’s a sorority prank gone horribly wrong, and what are Rumer Willis, Briana Evigan and Leah Pipes to do? [Images] [Official Site]

Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself (PG-13). Tyler Perry continues to rule the cinematic universe with his latest installment, in which everyone’s favorite pistol-packing grandma Madea catches a 16-year-old doing something oh so wrong. [Official Site]

Opening in limited release this week: Walt & El Grupo, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, White on Rice, The Red Canvas

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New Movie Friday – Halloween II! Final Destination!

Jane Boursaw — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:25:02 +0000

Whoa, we’ve got some major horror action in theaters this weekend. Take a look and pick your poison!

Halloween II (R). Rob Zombie’s sequel finds the unstoppable killer Michael Myers (Tyler Mane) pursuing an injured Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) and wreaking havoc in general. [Film Gecko Preview & Trailer] [Rob Zombie Interviews]

The Final Destination (R). Offered in both 3D and conventional formats, this thriller finds a group of young friends cheating death, but uh oh. Death doesn’t like to be cheated. [Film Gecko Preview & Trailer]

Opening in limited release: “Taking Woodstock,” “Big Fan” (read my preview here), “The September Issue”

Image: New Line Cinema

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The Hangover still tops at box office – June 12-14, 2009

Jane Boursaw — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:45:00 +0000

“The Hangover” is a smart, funny movie, and audiences are liking it, too. The buddy flick scored high at the box office this weekend, even though it’s been out for two weeks. Here’s the rundown from Box Office Mojo:

The Hangover, $32.79M
Up, $30.76M
The Taking of Pelham 123, $23.37M
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, $9.61M
Land of the Lost, $8.99M
Imagine That, $5.50M
Star Trek, $5.45M
Terminator: Salvation, $4.78M
Angels & Demons, $4.11M
Drag Me to Hell, $3.93M

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New in Theaters: Pelham 123, Imagine That

Jane Boursaw — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:52:11 +0000

New in theaters this weekend are a couple of very different movies, featuring John Travolta as a bad guy and Eddie Murphy as a clueless dad:

The Taking of Pelham 123 (R). It’s a little sad watching John Travolta play a bad guy and thinking about all the grief he’s had this year after losing his son. Still, this movie has couple of great character studies, with Travolta and also Denzel Washington as a subway navigator who’s forced into a take charge position. [Film Gecko Preview & Trailer] [World Premiere Pics] [Official Site]

Imagine That (PG). It’s a familiar story of a distant dad (Eddie Murphy) bonding with his little girl (Yara Shahidi), but the two share some sweet moments. And Thomas Haden Church plays a goofy Native American character – well, sort of! [Film Gecko Preview & Trailer] [Official Site]

In limited release: "Call of the Wild 3D"; "Food, Inc."; and "Moon." "Away We Go" expands this weekend, as well.

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Terminator, Night at the Museum in Theaters – May 22, 2009

Jane Boursaw — Sun, 24 May 2009 05:49:19 +0000

I saw “Terminator Salvation” yesterday and loved it. Tomorrow, it’s “Night at the Museum,” and I’ll report back with a review. Here’s what’s new in theaters this weekend:

Terminator Salvation (PG-13). Christian Bale takes on the role of John Connor, leading a group of resistance fighters against the non-stop Terminators. [Film Gecko Review] Trailer] [53 Images] [Official Site]

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (PG). When the Museum of Natural History is closed for renovations, the pieces are moved into federal storage at the Smithsonian, causing security guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) to go on a rescue mission for Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Octavius (Steve Coogan). Also being shown in IMAX theaters. [Preview and Shawn Levy Interview] [Official Site]

Dance Flick (PG-13). It’s a “Scary Movie”-type flick, only parodying dance movies like “Step Up,” “You Got Served,” and “Flashdance,” with the Damon Wayans, Jr. treatment. [Official Site]

Opening in limited release: The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story, Burma VJ, The Brothers Bloom (expands), Easy Virtue, The Girlfriend Experience

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New in Theaters – May 15, 2009

Jane Boursaw — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:58:04 +0000

The long-awaited "Angels & Demons" is in theaters right now, along with Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody in "The Brothers Bloom." Here’s the rundown:

Angels & Demons (PG-13). When Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) discovers the resurgence of an ancient brotherhood called the Illuminati, it could pose a serious threat to the Catholic church and the world. A fun look inside the mysteries of the Vatican. [Film Gecko Links] [Official Site]

The Brothers Bloom (PG-13). Con-men brothers Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody go on a cross-global adventure. [Preview & Trailer] [2-Minute Clip] [Official Site]

Management (R ). Jennifer Aniston, Steve Zahn, and Woody Harrelson star in this romantic comedy about two people trying to find their place in the world. [Jennifer Aniston at the NYC Screening] [Official Site]

Image: Angels and Demons, Sony Pictures Releasing, 2009

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