Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA’s top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.

U.S. Release via Summit Entertainment, October 15, 2010. Rated PG-13.

Valentine’s Day: An all-star ensemble cast comes together in “Valentine’s Day,” which follows the intertwining storylines of a diverse group of Los Angelenos as they navigate their way through romance and heartbreak over the course of one Valentine’s Day. Couples and singles experience the pinnacles and pitfalls of finding, keeping or ending relationships in a day in the life of love.

Invictus: The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.

The Spy Next Door: THE SPY NEXT DOOR stars Jackie Chan as Bob Ho, an undercover CIA superspy who decides to give up his career in espionage to settle down with his next-door neighbor and girlfriend, Gillian (Amber Valletta). But Bob has one more mission to complete before Gillian agrees to marry him: winning over her three opinionated kids.

When Gillian suddenly has to leave town, Bob volunteers to babysit the children so he can earn their approval. But when one of the kids mistakenly downloads a top-secret formula from his computer, Bob’s archenemy, a Russian terrorist, moves in for the attack, forcing Bob to juggle the roles of spy and prospective stepfather in the most challenging mission of his career!

Extraordinary Measures: Inspired by a true story, this drama is centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher who might have a cure for their two children’s rare genetic disorder. From the Academy Award® winning screenwriter of Chocolat and Producers of Erin Brockovich! Based on the Wall Street Journal article and subsequent book, “The Cure”, by Pulitzer Prize – winning writer Geeta Anand.

The Messenger: Partnered with a hard-line officer Tony Stone (Academy Award® Nominee Woody Harrelson), Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma) plays a battle-scarred war hero home from Iraq and newly assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. He faces this formidable mission while seeking comfort and healing back on the home front when he falls for the wife of a fallen soldier (2-Time Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton).

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday,February 2, 2009 by by actress Anne Hathaway and Academy President Tom Sherak. Were there any shockers?… not really, in my opinion. The nominees are:

Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Actor in a Supporting Role

Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Animated Feature Film

“Coraline” Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
“Up” Pete Docter

Art Direction

“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Cinematography

“Avatar” Mauro Fiore
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger

Costume Design

“Bright Star” Janet Patterson
“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
“Nine” Colleen Atwood
“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell

Directing

“Avatar” James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman

Documentary (Feature)

“Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
“The Cove” Nominees to be determined
“Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
“Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa

Documentary (Short Subject)

“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
“Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
“Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

Film Editing

“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
“District 9” Julian Clarke
“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz

Foreign Language Film

“Ajami” Israel
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” Argentina
“The Milk of Sorrow” Peru
“Un Prophète” France
“The White Ribbon” Germany

Makeup

“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Music (Original Score)

“Avatar” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
“Up” Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)

“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best Picture

“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
“The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined
“District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
“The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined
“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

Short Film (Animated)

“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park

Short Film (Live Action)

“The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
“Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
“Kavi” Gregg Helvey
“Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
“The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Sound Mixing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects

“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
“District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

**Sign up for our Oscar prediction giveaway!**

We have 50 admit-two passes for the screening on Monday, December 7 at 7:30 PM at the AMC Studio. We are making this giveaway special. In honor of the admirable Clint Eastwood we would like you to share your favorite Clint Eastwood film.  Whether it be from his directing or performance we want you to share your pick and why that is your choice. Winners will be chosen on December 3. The winners will receive an email with instructions on how to print out their pass. Make sure to bring the pass with you to the screening. Be sure to get there early. These screenings are overbooked to fill every seat. Only ONE entry per email address. Only eligible for Kansas/Missouri metro area residents. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

INVICTUS

From director Clint Eastwood, “Invictus” tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Spyglass Entertainment, a Revelations Entertainment/Mace Neufeld production, a Malpaso production, “Invictus,” starring Oscar® winners Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby,” “The Dark Knight”) and Matt Damon (“Good Will Hunting,” the “Bourne” franchise).

Release Date: Friday, December 11, 2009

MPAA Rating: THIS FILM IS RATED PG-13 FOR BRIEF STRONG LANGUAGE.

Clint Eastwood’s best work was in…

Boyd: Dirty Harry

Pamela: Grand Trino

Susan: million dollar baby

Jeremy: Changeling. It never hurts to have some eye candy like Angelina in your film.

Judy: the Good, Bad, and Ugly

Lynn: Gran Torino

Ted: The Ded Pool

Martha: Million Dollar Baby

Tina: Play Mystey For Me

Zach: Dirty Harry

Patty: Bridges of Madison County and Gran Torino

Ryan: In the Line of Fire

Vicky: “Any which way you can”

Kelley: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Allegra: Million Dollar Baby

Phil: Kelly’s Heros

Ben: His recent directing of films have been some of his best work… I’ll have to stick with Million Dollar Baby as my top pick.

Elissa: I loved him in Gran Torino He still has it!

Shereka: Dirty Harry

A.D.: Gran Trino

Chirsty: Million Dollar Baby

Larry: Gran Torino

Martha: Grand Torino

Bryan: Space Cowboys

Marie: The Outlaw Josey Wales

Grace: Letters from Iwo Jima

Mitchell: Gran Torino

Gregory: Unforgiven

Kim: Dirty Harry

Dave: Grand Trinio

Maxine: Gran Torino. He showed a tender side to his tough guy exterior.

Michelle: His newest Grand Torino, he is a great actor and often even better at making movies than in acting in them…

Robert: Dirty Harry

Mike: Million Dollar Baby

RJ: gran torino

Robin: million dollar baby as a director/Gran Torino as both!

Tosha: Paint Your Wagon

David: The Unforgiven

Emily: Million Dollar Baby

CJ: Grand Trinio

Matt: Dirty Harry

Gregory: Dirty Harry, “Make my day.”

Jenna: Million Dollar Baby

Brett: Every Which Way But Loose

Dana: Bridges of Madison County was my favorite movie starring Clint Eastwood. I’ve had a crush on him since he was a cowboy on the TV series Rawhide. That dates me certainly, but I’ve seen all his movies. It was nice to see him play a role where he wasn’t shooting a gun! : )

William: million dollar baby how he takes hillary swank in as if she is family and took care of her even though he was teaching her to box.

Cheryl: gran tarino……i loved how he took the boy under his wing and protected him and gave him his prized possession his gran torino.

Edwina: million dollar baby….I love how hard he was and then how soft he got and basically became her family and took care of her as if she was his own daughter.

C: Gran Trinio

Darlene: Mystic River

Vicki: The Outlaw Josey Wales

Ron: Unforgiven

Laurie: Gran Torino — directing and acting

Jo: DIRTY HARRY

CJ: Gran Trinio

Lakeisha: million doller baby. loved it!

DK: I appreciated the historical prospective that he provided in the Changeling

Lynn: Dirty Harry

John: Gran Torino.

Doris: Gran Torino

John: Iwo Jima movies

D John: Dirty Harry

Suzanne: Gran Torino I thought it was a really good movie

Larry: Gran Torino I thought the acting was great and the story line was good.

Kelsey: Mystic River!

Phil: Unforgiven as the rugged man who had to do his duty.

Eduardo: I think that some of his best work so far is the grandturino.

Bruce: I would have to say by far, Letters from Iwo Jima really stood out from amongst his extensive body of work. I know it was a two sided story with the other side being told through the movie Flag of Our fathers, but this one shined bright as it gave an often stark look at war and how it was seen through the eyes of the Japanese.

Jill: Honkey Tonk Man… he is AMAZING at the end of that film… a kind, messed up man, who you wanted to hate, but grew to love… and the movie was with his son. LOVED his work in that movie… and he sang! =)

Stefan: Million Dollar baby !!!!!!!!!!!

Jeremy: Dirty Harry

Carrie: gran torino!!!

Dean: As director, “Mystic River”.

Paula: Grand Torino

Drahomira: Dirty Harry

Danielle: Dirty Harry

Elizabeth: Million Dollar Baby. It was a knockout

A.D.: Grand Trinio

Penny: Dirty Harry

Teri: any movie he’s done. He’s so very talented!!!

LaTashia: Dirty Harry.

Susan: million dollar baby

Milack: Gran Torino

Chris: Dirty Harry

Mike: Million Dollar Baby

Tyler: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Dave: Gran Trinino

RJ: Bloodwork and Gran Torino

Asleigh: A Perfect World.

Thomas: Dirty Harry. Make my Day and give me a screening pass.

Sharon: Play Misty for Me. Best Thriller

Sharon: dirty harry

Kim: Gran Torino

Saundra: Million Dollar Baby

Lawrence: Play Misty for me

Martha: Million Dollar Baby

Earnestine: The good The bad The Ugly

Scott: Every Which Way But Loose

Pete: THE 3 SPAGETTI WESTERNS … REAL GOOD
STUFF …

Judy: The good, Bad and the Ugly

Kyle: Million Dollar Baby. Good movie, very good movie. I really enjoyed it.

Todd: Play Misty for Me

Nancy: Changeling

Amber: Rawhide. I remember watching that when I was a little girl. I loved it!!

Raysa: Grand Tarino

Diana: Gran Torino

Luke: Dirty Harry! Duh!!!

Diana: Grand Torino- He played such a diverse character- not used to seeing him play that kind of bad boy, used to seeing him as a cowboy or some other rough neck, outstanding work.

Nik: Dirty Harry

Shelley: Unforgiven

Christy: Million Dollar Baby

Martha: Dirty Harry

Charles: Unforgiven

Bridget: Dirty Dozen

Shaunta: Grand Terino

Amar: Million Dollar Baby

Levera: Dirty Harry because he kick butt

Rachel: Gran Torino. He was so haunting and amazing!!!

Amanada: His best work was in Gran Torino. That movie was amazing and he was the reason why it was.

Lauren: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

John: I have to divide my answer into categories. I think Mr. Eastwood’s (total respect for the man) best acting was his last role in Gran Torino. It was a believable character that required different emotions, come on he actually sheds a tear in that film..
His best directing job was Letters from Iwo Jima, that was a brilliant idea and a fantastic film.
The first R rated film that I saw was Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. I went with my Dad who was embarrassed about the sex scenes in that movie. I was 14 and back then did not go to the movies very often.

Dave: Grand Trinio

Robert: Dirty Harry, without a doubt.

Diane: Dirty Harry

Harriet: Gran Torino because his character was tough, yet he had a super nice side that helped to very great kids make it through bad neighborhood.

Khadijah: I’m not that old and really haven’t got into all that yet but I did like Gran Torino , Million Dollar Baby, and my moms turned me on to Dirty Harry, Letters to Iwo Jimo. Those are a few GREAT works, Jo…

Jonna: Million Dollar Baby – Just a great movie all the way around.

Pamela: Every movie he has done

Michelle: Grand Torino

John: In the Line of Fire. He used all of his best acting traits to make the character come to life.

Tyler: dirty hairy

RJ: bloodwork…although he did extremely well in gran torino.

Nathan: dirty hary

Amy: Dirty Harry. All of them. Loved him then and love him now. Enjoy sharing with my sons!

Peggy: Gran Torino

Virginia: The Bridges of Madison County – a real tear jerker. even reading the book made me cry!

Virginia: Gran Torino – best old fart ever!

Ginny: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly – best spaghetti western ever!

Virginia: Dirty Harry – cool cop!

Ginny: “Million Dollar Baby” – great acting & directing. Really brought out the best in Hillary Swank.

Jon: Unforgiven. No question.

Paul: Gran Torino (2008)

Isaac: Gran Torino. So good at being a racist old man. We all know a number of people (mostly over a certain age) that have similar opinions. And they usually aren’t bad people, they just won’t win any PC awards.

Larry: DIRTY HARRY/UNFORGIVEN

Laurie: A PERFECT WORLD/MILLION DOLLAR BABY

In theatres on September 11
(Dark Castle Entertainment)

Director: Dominic Sena

Writers: Screenplay by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber and Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes

Based on the graphic novel by Greg Rucka and Steve Lieber, published by Oni Press

Producers: Joel Silver, Susan Downey, David Gambino

Executive Producers: Steve Richards, Don Carmody, Greg Rucka

Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short, Tom Skerritt, Alex O’Loughlin, Shawn Doyle

Action Thriller

Carrie Stetko, the lone U.S. Marshal assigned to Antarctica, is investigating the continent’s first murder, which draws her into a shocking mystery.  Now, with only three days until winter, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer.

This film has been rated R for violence, grisly images, brief strong language and some nudity.

http://www.whiteoutmovie.com

THE INFORMANT!

In theatres on September 18 (Limited)/October 9 (Wide)
(Warner Bros. Pictures)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Writers: Screenplay by Scott Z. Burns

Based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald

Producers: Gregory Jacobs, Jennifer Fox, Michael Jaffe, Howard Braunstein, Kurt Eichenwald

Executive Producers:  George Clooney, Jeff Skoll, Michael London

Cast: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Melanie Lynskey

Offbeat Comedy

What was Mark Whitacre thinking?  A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Whitacre suddenly turns whistleblower.  Even as he exposes his company’s multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion.  But before all that can happen, the FBI needs evidence, so Whitacre eagerly agrees to wear a wire and carry a hidden tape recorder in his briefcase, imagining himself as a kind of de facto secret agent.  Unfortunately for the FBI, their lead witness hasn’t been quite so forthcoming about helping himself to the corporate coffers.  Whitacre’s ever-changing account frustrates the agents and threatens the case against ADM as it becomes almost impossible to decipher what is real and what is the product of Whitacre’s rambling imagination.  Based on the true story of the highest-ranking corporate whistleblower in U.S. history.

This film has been rated R for language.

http://www.theinformantmovie.com

THE INVENTION OF LYING

In theatres on September 25
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Radar Pictures/Media Rights Capital)

Directors: Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson

Writers: Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson

Producers: Lynda Obst, Oly Obst, Ricky Gervais, Dan Lin

Executive Producer: Ted Field, Paris Kasidokostas Latsis, Terry Dougas, Sue Baden-Powell

Cast: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Fionnula Flanagan, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey

Romantic Comedy

From Ricky Gervais, the award-winning creator and star of the original BBC series “The Office” and HBO’s “Extras,” comes the new romantic comedy “The Invention of Lying,” which takes place in an alternate reality where lying—even the concept of a lie—does not exist.  Everyone—from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street—speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences.  But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards.  In a world where every word is assumed to be the absolute truth, Mark easily lies his way to fame and fortune.  But lies have a way of spreading, and Mark begins to realize that things are getting a little out of control when some of his tallest tales are being taken as, well, gospel.  With the entire world now hanging on his every word, there is only one thing Mark has not been able to lie his way into: the heart of the woman he loves.

This film has been rated PG-13 for language including some sexual material and a drug reference.

http://www.the-invention-of-lying.com

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

In theatres on October 16
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures)

Director: Spike Jonze

Writers: Screenplay by Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers

Based on the book by Maurice Sendak

Producers: Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Maurice Sendak, John Carls, Vincent Landay

Executive Producers: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Bruce Berman

Cast: Catherine Keener, Max Records, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker

Adventure

Innovative director Spike Jonze collaborates with celebrated author Maurice Sendak to bring one of the most beloved books of all time to the big screen in “Where the Wild Things Are,” a classic story about childhood and the places we go to figure out the world we live in.  The film tells the story of Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are.  Max lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions.  The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just as Max longs for a kingdom to rule.  When Max is crowned king, he promises to create a place where everyone will be happy. Max soon finds, though, that ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more complicated than he originally thought.

This film has been rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language.

http://www.wherethewildthingsare.com

THE BOX

In theatres on October 30
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Radar Pictures/Media Rights Capital)

Director: Richard Kelly

Writers: Screenplay by Richard Kelly

Based upon the short story “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson

Producers: Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly, Dan Lin

Executive Producers: Edward H. Hamm Jr., Sue Baden-Powell, Ted Field,
Paris Kasidokostas Latsis, Terry Dougas

Cast: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella

Thriller

What if someone gave you a box containing a button that, if pushed, would bring you a million dollars…but simultaneously take the life of someone you don’t know?  Would you do it?  And what would be the consequences?  The year is 1976.  Norma Lewis is a teacher at a private high school and her husband, Arthur, is an engineer working at NASA.  They are, by all accounts, an average couple living a normal life in the suburbs with their young son…until a mysterious man with a horribly disfigured face appears on their doorstep and presents Norma with a life-altering proposition: the box.  With only 24 hours to make their choice, Norma and Arthur face an impossible moral dilemma.  What they don’t realize is that no matter what they decide, terrifying consequences will have already been set in motion.  They soon discover that the ramifications of this decision are beyond their control and extend far beyond their own fortune and fate.

This film has been rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images.

http://www.thebox-movie.com

THE BLIND SIDE

In theatres on November 20
(Alcon/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Director: John Lee Hancock

Writers: Screenplay by John Lee Hancock

Based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis

Producers: Gil Netter, Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove

Executive Producers: Molly Smith, Erwin Stoff, Tim Bourne

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron, Lily Collins, Jae Head

Drama

“The Blind Side” depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential.  At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome.  As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.

NINJA ASSASSIN

In theatres on November 25
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures/Dark Castle Entertainment)

Director: James McTeigue

Writers: Screenplay by Matthew Sand and J. Michael Straczynski

Story by Matthew Sand

Producers:  Joel Silver, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski, Grant Hill

Executive Producers: Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Steve Richards

Cast: Rain, Naomie Harris, Ben Miles, Sho Kosugi, Rick Yune

Action

Raizo is one of the deadliest assassins in the world.  Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth.  But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them…and vanishes.  Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge.  In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East.  Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow, Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders.  Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi, to silence her forever.  Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated.  Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive…and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.

This film has been rated R for strong bloody stylized violence throughout, and language.

http://www.Ninja-Assassin-Movie.com

INVICTUS

In theatres on December 11
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Writers:   Screenplay by Anthony Peckham

Based on the book Playing the Enemy by John Carlin

Producers:  Clint Eastwood, Lori McCreary, Robert Lorenz, Mace Neufeld

Executive Producers: Morgan Freeman, Tim Moore, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum

Cast: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon

Drama

The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar, to help unite their country.  Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid.  Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

In theatres on December 25
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures)

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writers:  Screenplay by Michael Robert Johnson and Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg

Screen Story by Lionel Wigram and Michael Robert Johnson

Producers: Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey, Dan Lin

Executive Producers: Michael Tadross, Bruce Berman

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Kelly Reilly

Action-Adventure Mystery

In a dynamic new portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous characters, “Sherlock Holmes” sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge.  Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.

http://www.Sherlock-Holmes-Movie.com

One of the most successful films of this year, “The Dark Knight” has been hailed by both critics and audiences since its original release last July. In addition, the filmmakers behind “The Dark Knight” have been honored by their peers, with Christopher Nolan receiving a Directors Guild of America Award nomination; producers Nolan, Charles Roven and Emma Thomas garnering a Producers Guild Award nomination; and a Writers Guild of America Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay going to Chris Nolan, Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer.  Cast member Heath Ledger received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, and has also won a Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award and numerous other critics groups’ awards for Best Supporting Actor.

“The Dark Knight” also won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Action Film, and swept the People’s Choice Awards in five categories, including Favorite Movie and Favorite Cast. “The Dark Knight” stars Christian Bale, reprising his role from “Batman Begins,” Academy Award® nominee Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”), Academy Award® winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”), Gary Oldman (the “Harry Potter” films), Aaron Eckhart (“Thank You for Smoking”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Stranger than Fiction”), and Academy Award® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”).

Originally released on July 18, 2008, “The Dark Knight” broke virtually every possible box office record to become the top-grossing film of 2008 and the second-highest grossing movie (domestically) of all time.“The Dark Knight” is distributed worldwide in IMAX and theatres by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.  The film has been rated PG-13 for “intense sequences of violence and some menace.”

Dealing with the Joker’s menacing antics is not the only problem plaguing the city, bringing down the mob is another priority for the new District Attorney and Batman. Harvey Dent is being assisted in the take down of the crime bosses by the beautiful Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). It does not take long for the Joker to take front and center while the mob is set aside. As the Joker’s psychological mind games intensify, and the death toll in his path rises, it becomes a priority to stop him. As Batman begins to tackle with this new villain, we see him come to life improving his tactical skills and martial arts fighting. Superheroes always offer an explosive ending and this film is no exception. Will Batman be able to restrain the Joker and return Gotham to order after the community is in chaos and ruins?

The Dark Knight is a true villain versus hero film. The special effects and stunt work are some of the best produced this year and possibly from the previous year. Definitely the finest work brought to the big screen all around with impressive performances offered by the full cast. Christian Bale really settled into the Batman character this time around and has found his niche portraying the character. Aaron Eckhart offered a pendulum performance, going from the dutiful District Attorney to the disorderly “Two Face”.

Ultimately, as we all know, this films prized performance goes to Heath Ledger, outshining the previous Joker portrayed by award winning Jack Nicholson in 1989, a feat made to look so effortless. Ledger definitely steals the spotlight and possibly earns an Oscar nomination with his intense and marvelous performance of this complex and disconnected character. Sure to break box office records this weekend, noting sell outs of the midnight showings having added on two and four in the morning show times in some local theaters, this film is sure to surpass your wildest expectations. This is the summer film that is sure to be unforgettable and leave you craving for more.

In the fraternity there are many members, all lead by Sloan (Morgan Freeman). Upon completing his training you learn more about the Fraternity, and the secrets it holds. Before Wesley can go after his main target he must prove he is ready, proof that must be shown in the assassination of several individuals that are chosen by the fraternity. These victims are chosen as targets by a weaving code process. It is not just fate; those assassinated are chosen for a reason.

A far fetched plot that is acted out very well, this is an action film that had plenty of comedy offered by James McAvoy. Expect McAvoy to be the new action star of our time. Although Angelina Jolie did not have much dialogue; her appearance on screen is appealing enough for any fan. The visual effects were thrilling and you felt as if you were in the car for many of the stunts. “Wanted” was found to be on the outlandish side, but it has a thrilling joy ride for all to enjoy. There is a substantial amount of bloody violence throughout so this is not recommended for the younger crowd. Age aside McAvoy and Jolie can not be missed in this fast paced entertaining film.

When Edward finds a list of desires that Carter has for himself prior to kicking the bucket, Edward decides to grant his wishes, stating he has all the money needed for these life experiences and why waste anymore time. After getting Carter to jump on board with the idea, his first task is jumping out of a plane. From there on it is adventure after adventure. All along you see these two develop a deep caring relationship. That relationship has some bumps in the road as any does, when Carter tries to convince Edward to get back in touch with his daughter. When this happens the friendship breaks down.

After how close these two have become question is will Edward and Carter manage to rebuild there friendship in there final months or days? An endearing film that will bring you to tears and have you cherishing every relationship and day you have. Jack and Morgan could not have been better paired for this film and have a dynamite performance. The storyline was an amazing tale to see played out. A definite must see. This film has you laughing, crying and amazed at how many things you take for granted, but this movie certainly should not be. A feel good movie, it’s about time!