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So what’s out there this week.  Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released this Friday including the fourth installment of the Scary Movie franchise, a film that looks quite a bit like last year’s Madagascar,  and slew of films in limited release including Gretchen Mol as Bettie Page and RazorFine favorite Chiwetel Ejiofor as a drag queen!  All that and more; read on…

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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week.  Want to know more, just click on the title for film info including a full cast list.  Want a closer look, just click on the poster to watch the trailer.

Scary Movie 4

The Weinstein Co. tries to wring a little more value from this Dimension franchise.  Once again the horror spoof stars Anna Farris as dumb blonde (sigh, really can’t someone cast her as something else please!!).  If the trailers are any indication it seems most of the jokes are at least a year-old as the film spoofs War of the Worlds, Saw, Bush’s 9/11 response (or lack of), and more.  Also returning are Leslie Neilsen, Simon Rex, Carmen Electra, and Regina Hall as the sassy black friend.  Joining the fun this time around are Craig Bierko and Shaquille O’Neal.  David Zucker returns to direct.

Madagascar The Wild

So….Disney’s so out of ideas they’re going to start ripping off Dreamworks animation now?  In a film that much more than slightly resembles last year’s Madagascar some NY Zoo animals break-out to try and find their friend and go after him into The Wild.  No that doesn’t sound that similar, well at least the characters don’t include a lion and a giraffe…oops.  Voices for this one include Kiefer Sutherland, James Belushi, Janeane Garofalo, and Eddie Izzard.  Just how un-anticipated is this film, well no one was willing to shell out cash for the merchandise rights.  Even Adult Swim’s lamest shows have toy deals.

Kinky Boots (limited release)

RazorFine favorite Chiwetel Ejiofor takes a turn on the wildside playing drag queen Lola who comes to the aid of a young Charlie (Joel Edgeton) who just inherited a shoe factory from his father and has no idea how to keep it open.  The chance encounter leads to a partnership as the old-stuffy factory workers begin producing Kinky Boots.  Interesting British film that should find a niche in art houses also includes stories about Charlie’s fiance (Jemima Rooper) who’s interested in his money and the factory worker who believes in him (Sarah-Jane Potts) and the stuffy factory workers learning the lesson about a wider world and accepting Lola into their lives.

The Notorious Bettie Page (limited release)

Bettie Page was the pin-up girl in the 1950’s and the success of her risque bondage photos even drew the attention and ire of the Senate Investigating Committee.  Director Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol) caused quite a stir when she picked blonde character actress Gretchen Mol for the starring role, but it just might turn out to be inspired casting.  Harmon reunites with writer Guinevere Turner (American Psycho) for the screenplay.  David Strathairn, Lili Taylor, Chris Bauer, Jared Harris, Cara Seymour, John Culllum, and Sarah Paulson also star.

Hard Candy (limited release)

A 32-year-old photographer (Patrick Wilson) picks up a 14-year-old girl (Ellen Page) on the Internet and takes her home, but finds trouble when she traps him into answering for his pedophilia and the disappearance of a young girl from a local coffee shop.  Director David Slade (Do Geese See God?) and screenwriter Brian Nelson have received mixed praise and condemnation for this touchy feature.  The film has all the makings of a good psychological thriller or a laughable exceptionally-bad-taste-disaster.  Early screenings have found more favorable responses from audiences than reviews from critics.

la mujer de mi hermano (limited release)

A bored wife (Barbara Mori) married for ten years to a rather plain man (Christian Meier) begins fantasizing about a relationship with her husband’s more passionate and artistic brother (Manolo Cardona), but when the fantasy becomes a reality the world of all three shatter as secrets are reveiled and betrayal and revenge tear them apart.  An Argentinian import in Spanish with English subtitles, the film is the feature debut for director Ricardo de Montreuil, was picked up by Liongate who isn’t pushing it very heavy so you’ll probably have to hunt through local art houses for this one.

Preaching to the Choir (limited release)

Two estranged brothers, a hip hop star (Billoah Greene) and a Baptist preacher (Darien Sills-Evans), each facing their own crisis come together and help each other out and begin to repair their relationship.  The supporting cast sports some familiar faces including Patti LaBelle, Tim Reid, and Eartha Kitt.  The story takes place in Harlem and much of the shooting was done on location in Harlem and other New York locations.  Principal photography finished way back in 2003 (under the then title “On the One”) it’s been sitting on the shelf awhile.  The screenplay was adapted by Kevin Heffernan of Broken Lizard.

Kekexili (Mountain Patrol) (limited release)

A Chinese film about the true story of volunteers protecting antelope from poachers in the mountains of Tibet.  The film has wowed audiences and critics alike with its cinematography and documentary style winning the Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival, the Don Quixote Award-Special Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival, and Best Picture and Best Cinematography at the Golden Horse Film Festival.  The second film by writer/director Chuan Lu (The Missing Gun) includes a cast of mainly first-time actors.

I swear I didn’t make this up folks.  The truth is often stranger and sadder than fiction.  Jessica Simpson has snagged a role in the new moive version of Baywatch.  As horriffic as a Baywatch movie sounds staring Ms. Simpson that’s not the scariest part.  Evidently studio execs saw her in last summer’s The Dukes of Hazzard and liked what they saw:  “She was the unanimous choice for the Baywatch role…has all the assets to make the part her own.”  Just kill me.

Baywatch
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No, not that Peabody (sorry I just couldn’t resist the pic).  Seriously Sherman, South Park has won it’s first Peabody Award.  The show was praised by judges who believe it “pushes all the buttons, turns up the heat and shatters every taboo,” and “through that process of offending it reminds us of the need for being tolerant.”  Kudos Trey Parker and Matt Stone (who needs that Isaac Hayes anyway?).  The George Foster Peabody Awards are given out annually to recognize excellence in radio and television and have become the most prestigiuous award for television series, journalism, and educational and children’s programming.  Previous winners of the award include Captain Kangaroo, A Charlie Brown Christmas, M*A*S*H*, 60 Minutes, The Wonder Years, SNL, Hill Street Blues, and NYPD Blue.  So who else picked up one this year?  Battlestar Gallactica, Boston Legal, The Sheild, and the HBO documentary Children of Beslan.

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So what’s out there this week.  Well today we’ll take a look at the films scheduled to be released this Friday including the Josh Hartnett in a case of mistaken identity, Antonio Banderas shaking his booty with a bunch of high school kids, a film that stars Rob Schneider and David Spade (God help us!), Jennifer Aniston in her first film of the year, and more.  Read on…

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Here’s what’s scheduled to hit theaters this week.  Want to know more, just click on the title for film info including a full cast list.  Want a closer look, just click on the poster to watch the trailer.

Lucky Number Slevin

A case of mistaken identity leads an unsuspecting man (Josh Hartnett) into a battle between two crime bosses (Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley), the sights of a killer (Bruce Willis) and the bed of a beautiful woman (Lucy Liu).  I’m not a big Hartnett fan but hey, any movie where he gets punched repeatedly in the face I’m all for!  Directed by Paul McGuigan (Wicker Park) the film wants to be Kiss Kiss Bang Bang but never makes it to that level.  Still, the cast is good and the story is interesting enough to keep your attention through its twists and turns.  Check back for a full review on Friday.

Take the Lead

Hey I think I’ve seen this before!  Antonio Banderas plays a former professional dancer who takes a gig teaching high school students dance (funny, they don’t have a budget for drama, music, or band programs but they can offer a class on classical dance??  Just what kind of public school is this?)  At first his style clashes with his students and then they learn to respect each other and discover that classic dance is really cool as their teacher decides he can incorporate some hip hop movies into the dancing.  The film is directed by music video veteran Liz Fridlander and also stars Alfrie Woodard and Ray Liotta.

The Benchwarmers

Three luckless losers (David Spade, Rob Schneider, and Jon Heder) decide to make up for missed childhood experiences and form a three-man baseball team.  Even Heder fans have slim hopes for this one.  Directed by Dennis Dugan who’s given us such classics as Saving Silverman, Big Daddy, Problem Child, and Beverly Hills Ninja.  Yet another Adam Sandler produced film starring his bud Schneider (see Dooche Bigelow, The Hot Chick, The Animal and more) so expect tons of SNL cameos from the likes of Jon Lovitz, Norm MacDonald, and Tim Meadows (is he still alive and acting?) and tons of dick and fart jokes. 

Phat Girlz

Mo’Nique (Domino, Soul Plane) stars as a plus-size fashion designer looking for love.  Mo’Nique has been good in supporting performances but can she carry this film on her own?  This bare-budget indie was brought to screen by first time writer/director Nnegest Likke (so what this is going to be like is anybody’s guess).  Also starring in the film are Jimmy Jean-Louis Godfrey, Jack Noseworthy, Eric Roberts (Eric Roberts? soooo…who does he kill and/or have sex with?), Kendra C. Johnson, and Crystal Rivers.  Don’t expect this one to stay around too long before it hits the DVD shelves.

Friends with Money (Limited Release)

Great cast for writer/director Nicole Holofcener’s (Lovely & Amazing, Walking and Talking) latest film.  Jennifer Aniston (in her first of two films including this summer’s The Break-Up with Vince Vaughn) plays a successful career woman who quits her teaching job to work as a part time maid and then questions whether she still fits in with her successful friends (Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand).  The film as stars Greg Germann, Simon McBurney and Jason Isaacs.  As the opening film at Sundance it recieved some notice but the the buzz you’d expect from a quality ensemble cast (though the film does cast Aniston firmly as the main lead). 

On a Clear Day (Limited Release)

In a last ditch effort to salvage his self-esteem after losing his job a 55 year-old shipbuilder (Peter Mullan) decides to swim the English Channel.  In training he grows closer to his friends (Billy Boyd, Ron Cook, Sean McGinley) keeping his quest a secret from his wife (Brenda Blethyn) and estranged son (Jamie Sives).  And as always in films like this the journey teaches the lead character truth about life, how to confront his problems, and how to reconnect to those around him.  The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and McGinley took home Best Supporting Actor at the IFTA Awards.  Directed by Gaby Dellal, the film was shot in Glasgow and Dover.

When Do We Eat (Limited Release)

Passover was never so funny!  When one of the kids slips his overbearing father (Michael Lerner) a hit of Ecstasy right before the seder the night becomes one to remember.  The cast includes Jack Klugman, Lesly Ann Warren, Max Greenfield, Mili Avital, Shiri Appleby, and Adam Lamberg.  Co-written and directed by Slavador Litvak who waited 11 years to put out his second film.  Distributed by ThinkFilms (who did a great job getting The Aristocrats out last year) so unless you live in NY or LA expect this one to take a little while to get to your town.